1. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
Learn about Dr. Martin Luther King’s life, how he grew up to stand up for civil rights and social justice.
2. Municipal Market of Atlanta
This market has everything from fresh produce to delicious homemade pastries. Get some of the best BBQ at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.
3. Centennial Olympic Park
Learn about the history and legacy of the Olympics and the year-round community events the park supports.
4. South-View Cemetery
Take a self-guided tour through the cemetery home to MLK Jr.’s parents Daddy King and Alberta Williams and Alonzo F. Herndon.
5.Oakland View Cemetery
Take a self-guided tour through the cemetery home to Gone With the Wind’s Margaret Mitchell and Atlanta’s First Black Mayor Maynard Jackson.
6.CNN
Take a behind the scenes tour of the world’s largest news organization started by Ted Turner in Atlanta, Georgia. Are you a beer nerd? Stopover at the Porter Beer Bar and drool over the 36 beers on tap.
7.Margaret Mitchell’s House
Tour the home of the author, Margaret Mitchell who wrote, Gone With the Wind.
8.Stone Mountain Park
Take the Summit Skyride cable car up to the top of the mountain for a magnificent view of Georgia or walk up to the top via the Cherokee trail.
9.Atlanta History Center
Learn about Atlanta’s history and how this city has grown to be one of the top cities for music, film, and food culture.
10. City Market
Walk the Georgian historic open-air market of four blocks. Stop and eat at The Grey, a Greyhound bus station terminal converted into a restaurant.
Looking for more travel ideas around the United States and abroad? Check out my list of domestic and international travel posts here.
You might look up and feel like you have seen this architectural wonder before. The Foshay Tower was modeled after the Washington Monument in DC. 32-story office tower turned into a 230-room hotel (W – Minneapolis – Foshay).
At the top of the floor is a museum and observation deck with magnificent views of downtown Minneapolis. Stay for the weekend. Go down downstairs and around the corner to Manny’s Steakhouse or Key’s Cafe located on the first floor of the hotel.
Make room for a nightcap on the 27th floor of the hotel to the Prohibition Bar and take in the 360-degree views.
2. Minneapolis Stone Arch Bridge
It’s the only bridge made completely out of stone. A former railroad bridge now serves as a bike and pedestrian lane. It’s the second-best place to watch the 4th of July fireworks from.
The first best place is in a kayak nearby on the Mississippi River sitting front row with the boats and folks looking on above.
3. Eat Street
You know you are in the right place when you start taking in the strong smells and aromas. You will find yourself standing on the street corner trying to distinguish the smells from one another and deciding which place to start eating first.
Located near Downtown Minneapolis on Nicollet Avenue, within a few blocks are 40 restaurants that will be delighted to see you. The street passes through Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington, and Burnsville.
Yup, you can just start at one end, drive and eat until completely full.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxbDUDbNGmU
4. Canal Park
Duluth has lots to discover: new breweries, skiing, formal and informal dining, old mansions, an aerial lift bridge, the north scenic railroad, lighthouse, and the annual Grandma’s Marathon.
Visit Duluth in the wintertime and walk on Lake Superior to the Apostle Islands to see beautiful crystal formations in the caves.
Return in the summer and drive over to Bayfield, Wisconsin, and go kayaking around the Apostle Islands (in total there are 21 islands) and visit shipwrecks.
5. Nicollet Island
An island surrounded by a major city in the Mississippi River with picturesque views of Saint Anthony Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge. Nicollet Island sits in the middle between downtown and northeast Minneapolis.
There are plenty of biking and walking paths that lead you away from the noise of the city to being covered by trees out of sight out of mind.
For years I would drive across the Hennepin Bridge that connects Downtown and Northeast Minneapolis without knowing what was below me.
Staying for a couple of hours isn’t enough. Stay overnight at the Nicollet Island Inn and enjoy a horse carriage ride.
6. Taylor’s Falls State Park
Minnesota isn’t just known for its 10,000 lakes, but also for its state parks and close proximity to nature.
Just short of a two-hour drive from Minneapolis, this place is for you if you like rock climbing, hiking the bluff, and learning about the history of glacial potholes and Devil’s Parlor.
Rent a kayak and float down the St. Croix River or go on a scenic boat tour and see how the glaciers carved out the St. Croix River Valley to make Taylor’s Falls one of the top tourist destinations in Minnesota.
7. AVEDA Institute of Minneapolis
A company with a conscience. AVEDA founded by Horst Rechelbacher in 1982 is considered the “the father of Safe Cosmetics.” A Minnesota based company that combines the ancient practice of Ayurveda and connecting by taking every person who walks in on a sensory journey of holistic beauty and wellness.
The inside of the school/store looks like an elegant museum. The next time you walk past someone and smell a distinct aroma, we won’t be offended if you give us the biggest compliment of, “you smell like AVEDA.”
I am such a fan that instead of packing a tote of necessities for a previous overseas deployment, I filled the tote full of AVEDA products to get me through the 12 months.
8. Wahlburger’s at the Mall of America (MOA)
I must have walked past this place a million times asking why there was always a line wrapped around the corner. When Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on the Block decided to open a burger joint with his brothers, I admit it, I was a skeptic and for good reason.
Minneapolis invented the Juicy Lucy burger. It wasn’t until I watched their reality show, The Wahlbergs that I decided I needed to check myself, put my money where my mouth was and go wait in that line.
We had one thing growing up that converted me, government cheese. Of course, explore the rest of MOA. Come for the burger, stay for the legos.
9. Mill City Museum
Minneapolis at one time was the “Flour Milling Capital of the World.” Ever heard of Gold Medal Flour? An explosion destroyed part of the mill. Over time it was taken over by the homeless.
Today it’s been transformed into the Mill City Ruins. Concerts are held there and if you are lucky to get tickets, you can view the 4th of July fireworks. Mill City Summer Opera hosts an outdoor opera inside of the ruins every July.
Want to see more of Minnesota? Go on a culinary tour of our Twin Cities, Minneapolis/St. Paul. Check out my blog, 15 Places to Eat in the Twin Cities.
Vancouver Island is located in the Ring of Fire where a mild climate allows for all year round exploring, hiking, kayaking, and recharge in British Columbia, Canada.
You have a couple of choices to get here either drive, fly, or my favorite take a ferry from either Portland Oregon or Seattle Washington.
To give you a better visual other than photos, here is a sneak peek of what you can expect to see on Vancouver Island in this YouTube video made by Tyler Cave.
Cannon Beach in Oregon
I have always wanted to visit Oregon after seeing a picture of Haystack Rock in a National Geographic magazine.
Instead of making two trips to the Northwest, I decided to fly to Portland, rent a car, drive up the coast and stay overnight in Cannon Beach.
The air is so fresh smelling off the ocean and birch wood burning that even though it was wintertime, I cranked up the heat in my Mustang rental, rolled down all windows and set off driving up and down windy roads for the next couple of hours.
Cannon Beach didn’t disappoint. Located nearby was Ecola State Park.
It’s a great place to go hiking if you are a fan of that and take in the views of the Pacific Ocean.
The next stop was Seaside where I had some of the best oysters.
After exploring the town and buying a couple of art pieces, I was off to Seattle Washington where I would stay overnight at the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Seattle before taking a ferry ride to Vancouver Island.
BC Ferries offers package deals that include a round-trip ferry ride and hotel to Victoria. I chose to stay for two nights. If your stomach gets queasy on boats, check out my post, Simple Ginger Drink Recipe to Heal Your Gut.
It’s a good idea to have travel insurance in case something goes wrong. You can purchase travel insurance from World Nomads. World Nomads provides travel insurance to travelers from over 140 countries and is backed by reputable insurers and 24-hour assistance providers.
You can click here to get a quote. Read the policy details to ensure that it’s right for you.
Sightseeing Solo and Group Tours
After sleeping in, I hit the ground running and did a walking food tour of Victoria. For 45 USD, you go on a 2-hour culinary journey.
Other places I recommend visiting are:
The Butchart Gardens
Royal BC Museum
Beacon Hill Park
Craigdarroch Castle
Victoria Butterfly Gardens
Depending on how much time you have, you can visit these places separately or save yourself some time and book a tour through Viator.
Looking for more adventure? Take another ferry and go island hopping around the San Islands before returning by ferry back to Seattle Washington.
Mixing up how you travel, whether it is by plane, train, car or bus, each mode of transportation changes your perspective of how you see your surroundings. I recently drove round trip from Minnesota to Arizona.
I was not only nervous but wondered if it was a good idea to travel solo and could physically and mentally make the long trek.
In total, the trip took 4 days and around 30 hours one way.
I thought it would be fun to do some sightseeing along the way. I had never been to Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico or Arizona except for brief airport layovers.
Driving through the southwest is not only beautiful, but the amount of hospitality given to me during my brief stays reminded me of how we treat people in the Midwest.
Bellevue in Nebraska
The drive from Minneapolis to Bellevue is a little over 6 hours. Driving through Iowa is a treat seeing the wind turbines, farm, the smells of manure, and the never-ending rows of cornfields.
I stayed overnight at the Candlewood Suites Bellevue where there was a kitchenette to make a home-cooked meal and indulge in an Epsom salt bath. Check out my post on DIY Food Recipes for at Home and on the Road.
Colorado Springs in Colorado
The 9-hour drive to Nebraska is anything, but exciting. Cell reception is poor and you are left to your own thoughts. The journey doesn’t have to be completely boring.
Download some audiobooks or podcasts for those dead spots and learn about a new topic. Each time I have made this trip, I have stated in either Denver or Colorado Springs.
If you stay in Denver, be sure to eat at The Fort Restaurant and try some bone marrow, tongue, or the wild game plate. Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater is a couple of miles away. I recommend going online to check and see the latest concert playing.
If you stay in Colorado Springs, you have to make a stop to Pikes Peak Cog Railway and take the train to the top or hike it.
It’s a great workout if you are preparing to climb some of the tallest peaks in the world like Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Everest. Don’t forget to visit the Olympic Training Center as well.
Albuquerque in New Mexico
Upon crossing into New Mexico from Colorado, take a detour before arriving in Albuquerque, NM and visit Aztec, NM. Aztec National Ruins Monument is a World Heritage site. Hike your ride your mountain bike around for a look before stopping at the gift shop to buy pottery made with horsehair.
Continue on to Albuquerque and treat yourself to some shaved ice. Sites like Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway and Petroglyph National Monuments are places I recommended seeing.
Take the tram right before sunset and observe the fiery reds and oranges fluttering down to the horizon. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Albuquerque Historic Old Town.
Arizona
Once in Arizona, you have many options of where to lay your hat. I recommend either staying in Sierra Vista or Tucson. Tucson is a good central location if you want to take a day trip to Phoenix.
Or you can extend the road trip traveling around Arizona and see the changing landscape change from desert to snow.
A must-see is Antelope Canyon in Arizona. Continue north to Utah and visit Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. Don’t forget the Grand Canyon!
In southern Arizona, you have to visit the mining town turned the hipster town of Bisbee. Local artists, great food and an annual blues festival will have you calling a realtor to buy some land.
In my opinion, they have the best coffee shop. Food is out of this world. Continue on to Tubac for art galleries, pottery, and jewelry.
You can’t leave Arizona without visiting Tombstone and grabbing a couple of donuts in Benson for your trip back to Minnesota or the place you call home.
On the return home, I recommend staying in Truth or Consequences, NM followed by Colorado Springs or Denver and finally Omaha. Make sure when you are making the long stretch from AZ to NM to stop and fill up.
The trek from NM to CO can result in driving a long time before seeing a gas station. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with little or no reception.
Since you are stopping in Omaha, check out the ice cream shop featured on the show, Shark Tank. You won’t miss it as you will see a line wrapped around the block waiting. Go Greek and visit Feta’s Greek Restaurant.
The hotel is connected to the airport with a security lane only accessible to hotel guests with carry-on only. Going through security can take less than 5 minutes. The checkpoint opens at 5 a.m. You might be good until 8 or 10 a.m.
The hotel provides free shuttle service to and from the Mall of America (MOA). The two restaurants at the hotel aren’t too bad either and might make you want to stay in and skip that trip to MOA.
When the volume of screenings increase, TSA personnel are moved to the other security checkpoints. No worries. There are plenty of shops and restaurants to hang out in.
2. VIP Seating
Boeing 717-200 has one seat in an exit row by itself. You don’t have to worry about bumping elbows with your neighbor. The only requirement, in the event of an emergency and plane evacuation, is to read the safety guidelines in the seat pocket and be prepared to help your fellow passengers out.
The stewardess will ask everyone in the exit row to answer “yes” to assist in the event of an emergency. If you don’t agree and are not willing and able, you will get moved to another seat. It’s okay to let someone else do it instead if you are not comfortable.
But if you are prepared to assist, sit back, relax and splurge on that $8 drink. Just know others are thinking just like you so book your VIP seat early.
3. Delta Sky Club
If you have a first-class ticket or a Delta Sky Miles credit card, you can access the Delta Sky Club for free or at a discounted rate and enjoy complimentary wine and snacks. It is an excellent option if you have an early flight and none of the shops are open yet.
4. Eat Like a King or Queen in Economy
Visit Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and get a caramel apple with your favorite fixings chopped for you to indulge on your trip without making a mess. Throw in a pretzel drizzled with while milk chocolate to eat later.
The other passengers will stare at you with envy wishing they would have thought about the same things. If you have a dog traveling with you, they also sell tasty doggy treats.
5. First Dibs on Overhead Cabin Space
Most airlines allow active members of the military to board the plane first. When the boarding announcement is made, if you are traveling in civilian clothes, take out your military ID and show it with your boarding pass.
Be prepared that you may be the only one in a sea of people currently serving in the military. Don’t be alarmed if someone comes up to you and says, “thank you for your service.”
A couple of years ago I decided to embark on my first Alaska cruise. What took me so long to get to Alaska was decided based on cost and how much I could see for my money.
At first, I thought to do a road trip from Washington through Canada, and ending in Anchorage, Alaska made sense. It does if you have nothing to do for a month.
In the end, I decided on the cruise option. The itinerary was similar to my proposed road trip except I wasn’t in the driver’s seat and I could spend more time taking pictures and taking in the scenic views.
I would fly into Vancouver, British Columbia, stay for one night, and then off to sail the seas the next day. I stayed at the Holiday Inn and Suites Vancouver Downtown.
The Vancouver Self Paced Foodie Tour
For my 48-hour adventure in Vancouver, I knew they had a large Chinese population. The first stop was Chinatown. To get there, I took the SkyTrain and bought a Compass Card pass. For a one day fare, it costs $10.25.
The next day, I took a ferry to Granville Island and did the Small-Group Granville Island Market Tour. What a treat. One thing I have learned traveling to different Canadian provinces, the locals pride themselves on growing local produce and for good reason. The food is delish!
Exploring Alaska
I chose Norwegian Cruise Line to go on my Alaskan adventure because it was the cheapest. The seven-day cruise which found me cruising along Alaska’s coast to Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and ending in Seward.
In Ketchikan, you get to watch something extraordinary, the spanning of salmon. It was very interesting to watch.
Glacier Bay
In Sitka, I learned about the Tlingit Indian tribe and took in the views kayaking in the Pacific Ocean. Juneau was all about food and craft beers.
It was hard to get back on a cruise ship after indulging in fresh seafood caught a couple of feet away from me.
We made a one hour stop in Glacier Bay to view the large glaciers and listen to a park ranger talk about the area and the state of the glaciers.
In a couple of days, we would debark in Seward, but I had no plan on what I was going to do next except to see the Alaska SeaLife Center. The Valdez oil spill devasted the area.
Part of the monetary settlement was used to establish an aquarium. Go on a behind the scenes tour and have close encounters with puffins, octopus, harbor seals, sea lions, and other marine life.
Learn how this rescue/rehabilitation center promotes public understanding of the marine ecosystem and stewardship. Once an animal is rehabilitated, it gets released back into the wild.
The Journey Home Begins with a Train Ride
After exploring Seward for a couple of days, I decided to take the train to Anchorage for one final scenic tour before flying home from Anchorage.
Depending on what time of year you visit Alaska and fly, don’t be afraid to ask the pilot to take a different route to get a view of the northern lights.
A couple of India requested this. They chose Alaska to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
They had never witnessed the sky spectacular before. There were no guarantees from the pilot. After a couple of minutes, the couple was suddenly glued to their seats. The beautiful greens and blue were dancing happily in the sky.
My flight from Alaska stopped over in Seattle, Washington before continuing on to Minnesota.
If you are looking to extend your stay, check out my blog post, Solo Road Trip to Vancouver Island, British Columbia and see another side of British Columbia, Canada. What a great way to end a two-week journey.
It’s a good idea to have travel insurance in case something goes wrong. You can purchase travel insurance from World Nomads. World Nomads provides travel insurance to travelers from over 140 countries and is backed by reputable insurers and 24-hour assistance providers.
You can click here to get a quote. Read the policy details to ensure that it’s right for you.
In Part 1 of 2, Voluntourism in the Galapagos National Park, I shared how combining travel to another country and helping others at the same time is a great way to learn about someone else’s culture and use acquired skills to improve the quality of life of others.
In Part 2, I will share our daily schedule of what activities you can expect to engage in should you decide to volunteer with non-profit organizations: Jutan Sacha, Global Volunteers Network or, UBELONG.
Monday
7 a.m.: Breakfast with the group.
Filling plastic cups.
8-11:30 a.m.: Volunteers were split up into two groups. One group collected leaves to use for compost while the other group worked in the nursery filled plastic cups with soil in preparation for the planting of seedlings and coffee.
12 p.m.: Lunch with the group.
1-2 p.m.: Free time or siesta!
2-4 p.m.: Cut down mora as a group to make the area available for future planting.
4-6 p.m.: Free time!
6 p.m.: Dinner with the group.
Tuesday
7 a.m.: Breakfast with the group.
8-11:30 a.m.: Volunteers were split up into two groups. One group built and repaired fences while the other group collected fruit for the kitchen.
Volunteers repairing a fence with new barbed wire.
1-2 p.m.: Free time or siesta!
Siesta time in the hammock.
2-4 p.m.: The group cut down mora to make the area available for future planting. One note on dressing appropriately for cutting mora. Wear long sleeves and socks or else mora will give some love back in the form of cuts and scrapes.
4-6 p.m.: Free time!
6 p.m.: Dinner with the group.
Wednesday
7 a.m.: Breakfast with the group.
8-11:30 a.m.: Volunteers were split up into two groups. One group collected leaves to use for compost while the other group worked in the nursery filled plastic cups with soil in preparation for planting.
Collection of leaves to make compost.
12 p.m.: Lunch with the group.
1-2 p.m.: Free time or siesta!
2-4 p.m.: Cut down mora as a group to make area available
for future planting.
4-6 p.m.: Free time!
6 p.m.: Dinner with the group.
Thursday
7 a.m.: Breakfast with the group.
8-1 p.m: Volunteers can go on a tour to visit and learn about tortoises, swim at Puerto Chino and hike up to Crater Lake for some amazing views of the island. On a clear day, you can see Espanola and Santa Cruz island in the distance.
At the Natural Giant Tortoise Reserve.
1-2 p.m.: Free time!
2-4 p.m.: Group hike with educational lectures on the ecosystem and wildlife.
6 p.m.: Dinner with the group.
We made it to the Pacific ocean after an eco group hike from the biological reserve.
Friday
7 a.m.: Breakfast with the group.
8-12 p.m.: Light work in the nursery watering plants and repairing barbed wire fences to keep the cows out from going into the nursery and eating the plants. Volunteers depart throughout the day to go into town for the weekend.
Cows are so cute until they eat your days work of filling plastic cups of plants.Even though a door was built, apparently cows can fly and jump fences.
Saturday and Sunday
When we weren’t knee-deep in conservation work ridding the area of mora on San Cristobal Island Monday through Friday, we spent time in town getting up close with the sea lions and turtles.
Saturday and Sunday was our time to explore the island.
Some volunteers would leave Friday evening and take a taxi into Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and spend two nights in a cheap hostel and return Sunday evening for a group dinner.
Not bad for the all-day million dollar views and animal encounters.
Voluntourism is a win-win for an adventurous traveler combining traveling to another country while helping others at the same time.
It is a great way to learn about someone else’s culture and use acquired skills to improve the quality of life of others.
Voluntourism not only contributes to the local economy but also can save you money.
Travel to the Galapagos Islands suddenly becomes more affordable.
Volunteer packages typically include lodging, meals, and round-trip transportation to and from the airport.
Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve
My servant leadership calling led me to the Galapagos National Park on San Cristobal Island through Jutan Sacha, a non-government organization (NGO).
Other organizations involved in conservation work on San Cristobal Island are UBELONG and Global Volunteers.
Most organizations require volunteers to stay a minimum of a week up to a couple of months.
I went through Global Volunteers and spent two weeks at the biological reserve. The reserve is located in the rainforest of the highlands. Volunteers work Monday through Thursday.
Friday is generally used for a group hike in the morning before volunteers depart to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno for the weekend and return Sunday evening.
Volunteer group on top of the mountain after a morning hike.
Conservation Challenges
Conservation efforts range from prepping cups with soil for seeding, planting trees, and cutting invasive species plants mora (similar to blackberries) with a machete introduced to the island.
As a result of the infestation, some birds have disappeared and have migrated to Santa Cruz. Without these birds, this has led to an increase in mosquitos.
By planting coffee or other plants where the mora once grew, the number of invasive plants is reduced. As the birds return, the number of mosquitos decreases. It would be easy to get rid of the mora in one day by spraying pesticides.
By doing so, you are introducing toxic chemicals to an already very fragile environment. There are no diseases like Zika on the island. The disease resides on the mainland of Ecuador.
Anything introduced to this environment can easily disrupt the ecology of this place.
Most of the species and plants are endemic meaning they only exist in Galapagos and nowhere else.
If you are thinking about taking a finch home as a pet, please don’t. The bird will die.
Who wants to breathe in smog and live in non-Galapagos paradise conditions?
Don’t worry, you can always come back and visit the finches in their natural habitat anytime you want.
How To Get To San Cristobal Island
You can catch a flight from Quito or Guayaquil. If you are flying out of Quito, the plane will stop in Guayaquil to pick up passengers.
Passengers will either wait in the transit area before getting back on the plane or stay on the plane and wait for passengers to board.
From there the plane will continue on to San Cristobal Island.
Don’t Leave Home Without Travel Insurance
In case something goes wrong during your trip, I recommend buying travel insurance. You can purchase travel insurance from World Nomads.
World Nomads provides travel insurance to travelers from over 140 countries and is backed by reputable insurers and 24-hour assistance providers.
You can click here to get a quote. Read the policy details to ensure that it’s right for you.
Upon arrival, visitors pay a $100 USD entrance fee to Galapagos National Park.
From there you can take a taxi to town or arrange a taxi ahead of time through one of the program coordinators to take you to Jatun Sacha where you will begin volunteer work the next day.
The sky is as blue as a baby bluebonnet, clouds as white and as fluffy as snow, the mountains are majestic.
This was my first impression on Quito from the airport to the city center where I would spend a couple of days exploring before continuing on to San Cristobal Island, Galapagos.
After I drop my luggage off in my room and unwind for a minute or two, the first thing I think about is food and trying something new.
For my first stop, I decided on a coffee shop in which I ordered chocolate cake and cappuccino with whipped cream. Never knew you could have a cappuccino with whipped cream.
Yummy goodness cost me only $4. Fast food places serve chicken, beans, and rice. For $3, the portions easily fill you up. I was so full that for dinner, I had a light snack.
VISIT SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND ON THE CHEAP
Skip The Hotel And Stay Local For Less
For lodging, I would skip the hotels and stay at a B&B. I stayed at Posada Del Maple B&B in the La Mariscal district. It’s situated in a quiet residential area among other hostels. A double bed with a balcony and breakfast cost me $32 per night.
If you are feeling adventurous, hop on the local bus. Just be forewarned, it might get a little crowded like an NYC subway. Bring a jacket with you.
Mornings are cool and afternoons can be hot as there is little cloud cover so the sun is rather intense. Going south of the equator, I now have permanent rosy cheeks.
A very crowded bus
Towards the evening, it cools down again. The locals are friendly and won’t hesitate to teach you Spanish. I would practice Spanish with my driver and teach him some English. If you know very little Spanish like me, the iTranslate app will help.
You can look up words, save them as favorites, and revisit them on the move. It’s a great way to quickly learn and practice Spanish on the run. If you are continuing onto the Galapagos, plan on arriving at the airport 2.5 hours before departure.
You will need to bring the credit card or paperwork showing that you purchased your ticket with that same credit card.
San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands
Tell me Lady Galapagos giant tortoise, what is your secret to looking so young?
The Galapagos is something out of a fairy tale storybook that doesn’t seem quite real until you are on the beach or in town and a sea lion wobbles past you. Or you see a large lizard chilling on a rock at the pier.
You don’t have to go far to encounter wildlife. From sea lions to lizards, finches, and tortoises, they are everywhere. You won’t ever want to step foot into a zoo again.
Upon arrival, I was told Galapagos was expensive. Well, it depends. If this has been your life long dream and you are going all out for this trip, this article may not be for you.
If you are worldly traveler, and don’t need to be like a herd of cattle and go on every single tour to have a good time, but show up as a visitor, engage with locals who know the best things to do and locations, you can easily create your own Galapagos experience on your terms.
Non-Profit Organization: Global Volunteers
I found the non-profit organization Global Volunteers. The organization partners up with the Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve to engage in nature conservation work to eradicate invasive species and reconstruct natural habitats by planting seeds.
For the price of staying two weeks, volunteering during the week and having weekends off, you’re helping an island in much-needed conservation efforts.
Tortoise Reserve
Seeing the challenges first hand with animals and humans trying to co-exist with one another is worth the trip and conservation.
I spent two weeks living in the rainforest and waking up to the sounds of animals as my alarm clock.
I didn’t wear a watch. We stayed in a bungalow with only screens on them. At night I slept under a net.
During the day we worked on the biological reserve and in the afternoon (after enjoying a brief siesta) we would go for a hike down to the Pacific ocean.
The weekends were free to explore San Cristobal or take a ferry to another Galapagos island.
Mora The Invasive Species
Invasive species are destroying the ecosystem. We used machetes to cut mora, a plant similar to a blackberry.
Mora cut down with a machete.
The plants were introduced by humans along with goats.
As you know blackberries spread like wildfire.
To make sure the plant doesn’t grow again, you have to cut it down to the root.
You could spray herbicide, but there is some wonderful about organic and bird-friendly coffee that grows in the mountains.
My vote is to keep the coffee organic and use the volunteers to get an arm workout cutting mora.
Close Animal Encounters
If you think taking a finch home with you as a pet is a good idea, the bird will die.
What tropical bird wants to live in Minnesota in the wintertime or go to a major city with smog?
Baby sea lion.
One thing I saw on the beach that annoyed me was a tourist jumping in front of a baby sea lion to take a selfie on the beach. Mama sea lion wasn’t having it.
The tourist was lucky she didn’t get bit. Since no one hunts the animals, sea lions are very comfortable with being in close proximity to humans.
If you go snorkeling, it’s guaranteed a group of sea lions will be swimming next to you without even trying. The babies are very curious creatures too.
Getting around the island is cheap and easy by taxi, water taxi or by renting a bike for the day.
There are two tours I can recommend that are worth the cost. Going to Kicker Rock ($80), hiring a taxi driver to bring you to La Galapagos, Puerto Chino and Crater Lake ($70 split between each person).
At Kicker Rock, you will go snorkeling and diving and see an abundance of sea life. I have to warn you, the water is murky, you may not see anything. Some of my friends did the tour and simply loved it. The boat ride to and from the pier is 2 hours.
ATM
Most of the mom and pop shops, hotels, and restaurants only accept cash due to the cost per credit card transaction which can be up to 28%. I found three ATMs in town. One is in Spanish and never worked for me. The other two are next to a mini-market. The one on the right accepts Visa.
Snorkeling
A great way to see wildlife up close is to swim with them. Renting snorkel gear is easy to find at many shops by the pier. $3 for a mask, $5 for fins, and $10 for a wetsuit. Or you can buy and bring your own snorkeling set.
I recommend going to the Chalo Tours office located one street behind the hotels and up the large set of stairs. The water can be a little chilly at first. When the sun is out with not a cloud in the sky, the water is a welcomed relief from the heat.
There are plenty of beaches to go swimming with sea lions and tortoises. If you are lucky, you might see some hammerhead sharks. I recommend the beaches past the Interpretation Center.
There are some trails behind it that will take you down to two beaches, hiking trails, and lookout points.
You will see sea lions and their babies taking a siesta on the beach or playing around in the ocean. Bring your Go Pro or waterproof camera.
Travel Foodies Unite
You can easily get a decent meal or snack from a local shop for less than $5. Go to the Mockingbird Café for the $5 lunch special consisting of rice, beans soup and either the catch of the day or meat.
Don’t skip the cup of Galapagos coffee for $2. For breakfast, I recommend the Hotel Miconia. They have a decent-sized breakfast for $8.25.
I decided to try a crepe with ice cream, a fruit milkshake, and coffee with milk.
If you are lucky, a finch may pull up a chair next to you and ask for a bite.
The food portions are enough to hold a person over until lunchtime. For some good views and people watching, I recommend going to the second floor for breakfast.
Galapagos Coffee
If you like Galapagos coffee, you can buy a bag of the whole beans from one of the tourist shops.
Be sure to look at the packaging. The island’s coffee production is small as coffee is considered rare and can be expensive.
The coffee plantation is near the highlands where it is produced locally. The coffee doesn’t have to travel far.
Do not spend more than $10 for a bag of whole bean coffee or $6 for ground coffee.
Beware Of Fake Coffee
They are easy to spot as they are in a coffee sack. If you buy it in a shop, ask for the price. You could go to one shop and get it for $10 or two shops down for $14. There are some in fancy packaging.
The real deal.
You will pay more for it and get less coffee. What to do when you run out of your coffee stash at home?
You have the option of flying back to South America to get more or order online through Tree Frogs Coffees.
Sorry, you will pay 3 times more, but it’s worth it. It’s the best coffee I have ever had.
Very little needs to be added to it. It’s good by itself and it’s good with a little maple syrup and heavy cream over ice.
Only 5,000 bags are allowed for worldwide exportation each year from Hacienda El Cafetal. I feel lucky I can order it. Next time I visit, I am bringing an empty suitcase to haul my coffee back.
2 For 1 Drinks
Passion Gin
A good drink is hard to come by and expensive. I found a hotel that made unique and interesting drinks called the Golden Bay.
The hotel does a happy hour from 10-6 two for one drinks for $10.
My three favorite drinks were the whiskey sour, passion gin and a ginger drink served with slices of ginger.
Island Hopping Via Ferry
If you want to see more of the Galapagos, from San Cristobal, you can continue on by ferry to the other islands like Isabela. The ferry to Santa Cruz departs daily at 7 a.m. from the pier.
It’s a two-hour trip. In the morning the water is less choppy. You can sit anywhere. On the way back, the boat ride can be bumpy.
You will want to sit towards the back by the motor. Once there, you have four hours to explore areas like the lava tubes.
Take the return ferry at 2 p.m. or stay overnight and take another ferry to Isabela and swim with the penguins. The cost of the ferry is $30 each way.
Hotels and Hostels
If you want to be in the center of everything in town on the cheap, for $15, the San Francisco hostel is a good choice.
For a private room and bathroom, $30. If you want to lounge a place with a pool, for $70 you can stay at the Miconia.
If you don’t mind being in the center of it all and want to enjoy a home-cooked meal and wonderful hospitality, for $25, you can stay at the Cucuve Eco Hostel.
Lounging by the ocean isn’t just for happy hour folks.
Breakfast is $5, well worth the splurge. The owner Alfredo can drive you in town for $1.50 or you can enjoy a good stretching of the legs and walk 30 minutes to town and see what the locals are up to.
If you want to do some island hopping, you can easily find a tour company offering last-minute Galapagos cruises to see three to four islands of the Galapagos for one week or more for less than $2,000.
It is cheaper than the well known commercial cruise ships which can set you back $5,000 or more.
It’s a good idea to have travel insurance in case something goes wrong. You can purchase travel insurance from World Nomads.
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You can click here to get a quote. Read the policy details to ensure that it’s right for you.
I remember the days where it was cool to pack everything and the kitchen sink. Now with checked baggage fees, the culture has changed to stuffing all you can in that little carry-on and the race to get on the plane first.
One event changed my luggage behavior and becoming a carry-on bag minimalist in Ireland. A group of friends and I decided to go to Ireland for a couple of weeks.
Getting there wasn’t smooth sailing. We eventually got to Ireland and had a wonderful time.
Delayed Flight
Traveling from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, there is a 99% guarantee that your flight will be delayed. I know this from experience. Flying back from a military training exercise in Germany, my group had a 3-hour layover in Chicago.
Of all the times stopping over at O’Hare International Airport, that was the one time, I didn’t experience a flight delay. I think someone heard that I really wanted to get home.
Due to weather, the flight to Dublin, Ireland was delayed. As folks waited in line trying to reschedule their flights, we got on the phone with the airline to figure out what our options were.
We had already booked our lodging ahead of time. To fly out the next day, we would have to change two week’s worth of bookings. Not cool.
A flight was available, but we would have to fly to New Jersey and then get on another flight. A tip to those flying, if your flight gets delayed and you feel compelled to wait in the customer service line, that is cool do what you gotta do.
You can stand in line, but you better have your airline app open and be trying to switch your flights so you can get out of line as soon as possible.
Minimalist Packing Born
We flew on a different carrier non-stop to Ireland except my carry-on made it there and my two friends checked luggage didn’t. Their luggage decided to make a stop in New Jersey before continuing on to Dublin.
And this is why I switched to bringing just a carry-on when I travel. It’s not easy to pack for two weeks or more, but it’s doable. One thing I know about myself is I pack for just in case scenarios.
The clothes I pack, I end up not wearing them. I end up finding some mall and buying clothes. Now I only pack a couple of outfits that I can layer so there is room to bring a new wardrobe home. This is what I pack into my carry-on.
Bag Balm might have been made for cow udders, but this tube is good for healing cuts, softening skin, and makes a great night eye cream. Have two eye creams for day and night?
Ditch those and switch to this. You won’t regret it. If you use nasal sprays and get nose bleeds in dry climates and wintry months, putting some outside of the nostrils will do the trick.
2. Bamboo Travel Utensils
Ever find yourself without a fork when you are getting ready to eat a to-go meal because the cook forgot to pack it? You no longer have to worry about that. The set includes a fork, spoon, knife, and chopsticks. The utensils can be reused over and over again.
3. Reusable Glass Straws
I can’t say how many times when I order coffee at a coffee shop and forget to grab a straw. The straws can be reused over and over again. The set comes with a brush to clean and a carrying case. No more excuses for not making that nutritious smoothie on the road.
Eating out can get expensive while on the road. Save up and pay for unique meals you can’t find at home. The rest, leave to the mini rick cooker.
It comes with a book of recipes you can make with little fuss like chicken noodle soup, pineapple fried rice, broccoli mac and cheese, and chocolate cake.
When packing in your carry-on, turn the cover inside the cooker and wrap clothes around it to secure in place. It’s for the just in case your carry-on doesn’t fit overhead of a smaller plane and has to go under with the checked luggage. This helps to avoid the glass top breaking.
5. Magic Bullet Blender
This blender might be tiny, but you can make easy recipes like creamy tomato soap and matcha tea lemonade drinks without breaking a sweat.
6. Sleep Eye Mask and Earplugs
Block out light and don’t get woken up by the pub-goers underneath you at the hostel. The earplugs are good for concerts when you have front row seats like electronic dance music.
Too tired to wash your face from a night out at the club? These wipes will ensure your complexion keeps that glow the next day and not wake up with raccoon eyes. No washing required.
8. Irish Wool Shawl
Blarney Woollen Mills has been around since 1823. All knitwear, sweaters, and wraps are 100% made in Ireland. Shawls can work as a blanket on planes or when rolled up, a comfy neck pillow.
9. AVEDA Essential and Composition Oils
Mix oils into your moisturizer to create a unique scent. Add a couple of drops in your Epsom salt bath for a sensory journey. For composition oils, I rotate between shampure, beautifying, and rosemary mint. For essential oils, I like mixing peppermint, eucalyptus, and orange together into a hot bath.
AVEDA is a Minnesota based company owned by Estee Lauder that sells beauty plant-based products. Anytime you walk into an AVEDA store, someone will always great you and offer some tea.
The tea is a fusion of licorice root and peppermint. Great for an upset stomach. At-home tip: take one tea bag, add hot water to a mason jar, let it steep overnight. You will have a tea brew worth bragging about.
11. AVEDA Travel Products
Some of my favorites travel-size products (meets TSA requirements) are: Be curly co-wash, scalp benefits shampoo and conditioner, damage remedy intensive restructuring treatment, dry remedy daily moisturizing oil, and texture tonic.
12. Portable Electric Kettle
A foldable electric kettle that doesn’t take up space and boils water fast in less than 30 seconds.
13. Compression Calf Sleeves
Do you suffer from shin splints, tight calves or plantar fasciitis? These are great for long hauls on the airplane and wearing while running or after. The socks are good to have also. Sometimes my heel pain comes from tight calves.
When that happens, I wear the compression calve sleeves. Sometimes it’s my feet and so I will wear the compression socks with the calve sleeves, but not separate. Sleeping with them aggravates my plantar fasciitis.
14. Elvis and Kresse Medium Wash Bag
You need something to carry all of those AVEDA travel-sized products with right? When you purchase an item from Elvis and Kresse, you help to support a company give back by donating 50% of profits back to charities.
The raw materials used to make accessories are decommissioned fire hoses from London’s Fire Brigade. If your products leak, the mess will stay in the wash bag.
The wash bag comes in large as well. I use the large one for when I am traveling for more than 2 weeks. You can personalize it with your initials.
Ever get to a country and realize the outlets are completely different from home? Never again. The all-in-one international power adapter covers 150+ countries.
19. Portable Laundry System
A foldable wash bag that can clean clothes in less than 3 minutes. I put a couple of laundry pods in a 4oz mason jar (in case they melt). When its time to do some laundry, I just pop one in and scrub away.
I bring a couple of bungee cords to hang my clothes. The cords work to keep items from moving in my carry on like my mini rice cooker.
20. Headache Ice Pack Relief Band
Last, but not least a cold pack for headaches. I suffer from migraine and sinus headaches. Before I put the relief band on, I rub AVEDA’s cooling balancing oil concentrate .24 oz roll-on stick on my temples and the back of my neck.
The aroma of peppermint calms me down. The roll-on stick can be used for relieving tension from muscles. Foot massage after walking all day, anyone?
21. Travel Yoga Mat
Take your yoga practice anywhere. I like to do Ashtanga yoga. I bring a laminated Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series sequence sheet to reference when I am doing my yoga practice.
Kino McGregor demonstrates these poses on her YouTube channel.
And there you have it. The list seems like a lot, but these items are so small, you will have plenty of room to bring home a new wardrobe or souvenir.
