Another early start so we can squeeze in one more excursion before we return home. At 06.00 we board the pangas for an hour’s trip around the mangroves on Santa Cruz in the hope of seeing baby sharks and rays.

We are not disappointed. We see both, as well as mosquitos and biting horseflies. Time to copiously coat ourselves with repellant which does appear to work.

It is a perfect morning, clear blue skies and windless so the water is glasslike.

Solaris then ups anchor and heads the short distance across the straits to Baltra, whilst we eat breakfast. Then it is final farewells and our last trip in the pangas. Our departure is delayed slightly as there is a large oil tanker coming in to dock. Fabian tells me it docks every three weeks and supplies all the oil to the islands.

There is a longish queue to check in at the airport. There is no shortcut. Check-in in advance is not an option. An hour later we have cleared customs. There are lots of little shops and I find myself buying some last minute gifts – and some for me…. We wait in the shade of the solar panel-roofed walkway before boarding our flight.

The flight to Guayaquil is on time and smooth. I am shocked to see significant flooding as we come in to land. It is only three weeks since Guayaquil suffered a 6.3 earthquake and now there is flooding as far as I can see. True hardship for the local people whose homes are isolated and surrounded by flood water.

At Guayaquil the domestic arrivals is cordoned off so we have no option but to go through passport control. The customs officer seems confused and then directs me back to domestic arrivals which has now been opened. That was an unnecessary walk and half hour of my life! Guayaquil airport is much more sophisticated than I had imagined.

We are met and taken to our hotel – The Wyndham, which is on the riverbank and we have a great view from our room. We pass a strange statue of a capuchin monkey on our way there.

I do not know what I expected Guayaquil to be like. It is certainly nothing like Quito in climate or structurally. It is hot, humid, low lying and booming. There is huge wealth here which I guess is largely generated from the oil industry, but there is poverty too. It is just not so overt.

We have been given a double room instead of a twin, but the hotel are very accommodating and install another single bed in our room. Jane and I are good friends but the one bed seems a bit too cosy! The views over the city are extensive.

We have a relaxed afternoon and enjoy the simple pleasure of a burger and chips in the restaurant. The boat food was good, but sometimes you just need comfort carbs!