Ecuador
Welcome to Canoa, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
Surf & Swell - Located on the equator along the Pacific Coast of South America, Ecuador is in a unique position to receive year-round swell from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Ecuador's multitude of beach and point breaks make it an ideal location for first-time and long-time surfers.
People & Culture - Filled with a variety of vibrant indigenous cultures, well-preserved architecture, volcanic landscapes, and dense rainforests, Ecuador is the ideal environment for anyone looking to volunteer abroad. The official language in Ecuador is Spanish, and the
official currency is the US Dollar.
Canoa, Ecuador - The tiny and relaxed fishing village of Canoa, Ecuador, is located along the main highway between Bahia de Caraques and Esmeraldes. Dirt access roads run the four blocks through town, from the highway toward the sea. Canoa's treasure is its 800m wide isolated beach that attracts international surfers of all levels.
Less than 1 degree south of the equator, Canoa is 265km (164 miles) west of Quito, 299km (430 miles) northwest of Guayaquil, and 19km (12 miles) north of San Vicente.
Isla Isabela, Galapagos Islands -
Much like the revolutionary scientific idea it's becoming synonymous with, the Galapagos Islands may inspire you to think differently about the world. Nowhere else can you engage in a staring contest with wild animals and lose. You can't help thinking you've stumbles upon an alternate universe, some strange utopian colony organized by sea lions -- the golden retrievers of the Galapagos -- and arranged on principles of mutial cooperation. What's truly special about the Galapagos Islands is that the creatures that call the islands home act as if humans are nothing more than slightly annoying paparazzi.
Most of the Galapagos Islands are devoid of vegetation and look more like the moon than Hawaii, although the islands are just an isolated speck of land over 1,000km (620 miles) from mainland Ecuador.
The islands have taken on a mythological status, yet you don't have to be an evolutionary biologist to appreciate one of the few places on the planet where the footprint of the human presence is kept to a minimum.
Despite its size -- Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago -- and imposing skyline of volcanoes, most still active, it's the delicate sights of frigates flying as high as the clouds or penguins making their way tentatively along the cliffs that will reward you most. Isabela is a relatively recent island and consists of a chain of five fairly young and intermittently active volcanoes, including Volcan Sierra Negra which erupted last in 2005. The island is home to the largest tortoise population in the Galapagos, however feral goats continue to threaten the tortoises by out-competing them for the limited food available on the island.
Villamil is a quaint palm-fringed village fronted by a beautiful white-sand beach and backed by a lagoon that is frequented by Galapagos Flamingos.
Tomas de Berlanga is a small community located at the base of Volcan Sierra Negra. With a population of roughly 100, its two schools are void of nearly all learning materials.
Canoa, Ecuador - The tiny and relaxed fishing village of Canoa, Ecuador, is located along the main highway between Bahia de Caraques and Esmeraldes. Dirt access roads run the four blocks through town, from the highway toward the sea. Canoa's treasure is its 800m wide isolated beach that attracts international surfers of all levels.
Less than 1 degree south of the equator, Canoa is 265km (164 miles) west of Quito, 299km (430 miles) northwest of Guayaquil, and 19km (12 miles) north of San Vicente.
Isla Isabela, Galapagos Islands -
Much like the revolutionary scientific idea it's becoming synonymous with, the Galapagos Islands may inspire you to think differently about the world. Nowhere else can you engage in a staring contest with wild animals and lose. You can't help thinking you've stumbles upon an alternate universe, some strange utopian colony organized by sea lions -- the golden retrievers of the Galapagos -- and arranged on principles of mutial cooperation. What's truly special about the Galapagos Islands is that the creatures that call the islands home act as if humans are nothing more than slightly annoying paparazzi.
Most of the Galapagos Islands are devoid of vegetation and look more like the moon than Hawaii, although the islands are just an isolated speck of land over 1,000km (620 miles) from mainland Ecuador.
The islands have taken on a mythological status, yet you don't have to be an evolutionary biologist to appreciate one of the few places on the planet where the footprint of the human presence is kept to a minimum.
Despite its size -- Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago -- and imposing skyline of volcanoes, most still active, it's the delicate sights of frigates flying as high as the clouds or penguins making their way tentatively along the cliffs that will reward you most. Isabela is a relatively recent island and consists of a chain of five fairly young and intermittently active volcanoes, including Volcan Sierra Negra which erupted last in 2005. The island is home to the largest tortoise population in the Galapagos, however feral goats continue to threaten the tortoises by out-competing them for the limited food available on the island.
Villamil is a quaint palm-fringed village fronted by a beautiful white-sand beach and backed by a lagoon that is frequented by Galapagos Flamingos.
Tomas de Berlanga is a small community located at the base of Volcan Sierra Negra. With a population of roughly 100, its two schools are void of nearly all learning materials.
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