Gordon

My wife and I wish to take a three week tour to E. & G. How serious is the "safety problem" in Ecuador and is there a "concern" regarding any of the ships which tour the islands.

Carl Z

Ecuador is as safe as houses and NO there is no "concern". <BR>

Escritora

Gordon: A more fleshed-out question would make a more complete answer possible. Where do you plan to be in Ecuador, and what are your safety concerns? Anti-malarials aren't necessary for the Galapagos, Quito and Andean villages, for example, but would be needed if you planned a week on the beaches at Guayaquil. And what specific concerns are you anticipating with regard to the ships? If you can be more specific you're more likely to get a more satisfactory answer.

Gordon

I would like a tour to the "jungle area". We are interested in wildlife and native markets.I had seen photos of older vessels which concerned me. Do not plan on any beach time. Love to walk and explore - safety?

Escritora

Gordon: Which tours are you considering? Again, you are being very vague and making it difficult for anyone to give you useful information. If you ask about specific tours people who have taken them will be able to comment. Likewise specific ships. Likewise these safety concerns you have, which you've yet to detail. <BR> <BR>How do you plan to divide your time between the Galapagos Archipelago and the mainland? I assume that by "the jungle" you mean the Amazon rainforest--is that correct? Do you want to spend any time in Quito? South America's largest Indian market is a couple of hours from Quito in Otavalo. There are no markets to speak of in the Galapagos, although there is extremely tourist-oriented shopping (think one T-shirt stand after another) on Santa Cruz island on the road that leads from the Darwin Research Station to where the boats embark. <BR> <BR>Do your preliminary research (books, Web sites, travel agencies) and then come here with as much information as you can and you will get a much more satisfactory response on this board.