Moon Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands

This full-color guide to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands includes vibrant photos and easy-to-use maps to help with trip planning.

Seasoned traveler and journalist Ben Westwood leads adventurers to off-the-beaten-path experiences in Ecuador, from riding a train up the steep switchbacks of the famous Nariz del Diablo (Devil’s Nose) to diving off of the Galápagos Islands, where the waters are abundant with ocean life. Complete with information on exploring the colonial architecture of Quito's Old Town, enjoying the lively waterfront of the Malecón 2000 in Guayaquil, and climbing volcanoes in Sangay National Park, Moon Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Moon Handbooks give you the tools to make your own choices.
Can’t-miss sights, activities, restaurants, and accommodations, marked with M
Suggestions on how to plan a trip that’s
perfect for you, including:

• "The Best of Ecuador"
  
• "Galápagos Expedition"
  
• "Adrenaline Rush"
  
• "Wildlife Wonders"
  
• "Sun and Surf: Ecuador’s Best Beaches"
  
• "Indigenous Past and Present"

37 detailed and easy-to-use maps
The firsthand experience and unique perspective of author Ben Westwood

Ben Westwood dreamed of being a writer and musician from an early age. Growing up in England, he combined the two by studying music and getting involved in student journalism in London. He wrote his first travel journal during a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia.

After graduating from college, Ben decided to follow his passion for travel; with an English-language teaching qualification under his belt, he set off for Ecuador in 1998. In the year he spent there, he fell in love with the country—and one of its citizens. He returned to the UK newly married to study a postgraduate diploma at the country’s top journalism school, City University.

Ben worked for five years for The Daily Telegraph and Telegraph.co.uk as a travel journalist and online travel editor, writing articles on everything from encounters with Maoist guerrillas in Nepal to encounters with (equally scary) drunken Brits in Greece. After a brief stint working in adventure tourism, Ben moved to Ecuador with his wife and children in 2007 to combine his passions for teaching and travel writing (and to avoid traveling to the office on English trains). Since then, he has contributed to the The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget and The Daily Telegraph.

Ben currently teaches journalism, travel writing, English language, and the history of popular music at UEES, one of Ecuador’s best universities. He still finds time to sing and play the guitar, and has released one self-funded album, titled Keep Dreaming—which is exactly what he intends to do.