Ecuador and Galapagos

Upon arrival, our guide will be waiting to welcome you to Ecuador and transfer to your hotel in the city.

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Quito. 

Meals included: none

History, colonial art, tradition and sophistication, local flavors and spectacular views will amaze you. After breakfast, your English-speaking guide will pick you up for a walking city tour. The colonial center of Quito was already named world cultural heritage by the UNESCO in 1978. Visit the Plaza Grande and the beautiful churches La Compañía and La Basílica, and walk down the oldest street of Quito, La Ronda. Then we will participate in a cooking class, where you will learn from the hand of their local chef how to prepare traditional Ecuadorian dishes, with fresh products picked from the local market. Afterward, we will take you to Pomasqui (24 km north of downtown) to learn about the fascinating culture of the agave plant or cabuya, you will find knowledge, uses, tools, agave garden, tasting, and all the magic of this ancestral Ecuadorian tradition. The visit will include a tasting of the products born from this plant, such as agave honey and the spirit called Miske! We will continue the journey to the northwest area to stay in a nice hotel in Mindo.

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Mindo.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch.

Today we'll explore the lush green cloud forest of Mindo. The western slopes of the Andean highlands give this region mild temperatures and lots of rainfall. Thanks to the favorable conditions, the Mindo forest has incredibly high biodiversity. You'll get the chance to see some of the countless birds, butterflies, and insect species that call the region home. Visit the butterfly garden, hike to beautiful waterfalls. Later, learning how to make chocolate, we can watch, and learn the entire process of chocolate making. We will see every step, from the fresh cacao fruits to the finished bars of chocolate. We include a brief history of Cacao at the beginning and a full tasting of all delicious chocolate products at the end. In the afternoon, we will drive to Otavalo area, where we will spend the night. 

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Otavalo 

Meals included: Breakfast.

After breakfast, we will go to the Otavalo village to have a rich encounter with the Andean kichwa communities. After a warm welcome, an indigenous family will invite you to take part in their daily activities. Test your bartering skills and pick up the perfect gifts at the bustling market, famed for Spanish textiles and handcrafts. Next visit Cotacachi, which is famous for its finely crafted leatherwork, including jackets, gloves, belts, bags, hats, and shoes. Nearby is the glorious caldera of Cuicocha (Guinea Pig Lagoon). Hiking or boating across the lake gives you an opportunity to see the guinea pig shaped islet as well as the lake’s immense beauty. In the afternoon we will return to Quito. And will make a stop in Quitsato, a great sun clock of 52 meters of diameter located on the equatorial line. It shows the solstices and equinoxes, as well as the hours of the day. These lines can be seen by the projection of the shadow of a 10 meters pole, which is located just in the middle of a circular platform. We will arrive at the hotel by the end of the afternoon. 

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Otavalo 

Meals included: Breakfast

Nature lovers have unique spaces to visit in Ecuador, one of the most emblematic is, without a doubt, the Cotopaxi National Park. This National Park is a protected area located on the border of the provinces of Cotopaxi and Pichincha. It is home of Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world and which is, together with Galapagos, the best-known Ecuadorian attraction Worldwide. On our tour, we will first visit the Interpretation Center known as “Mariscal Sucre”, this place has several exhibition rooms, a souvenir shop and a cafeteria. Then we will move to the Cotopaxi National Park parking lot, in this place the trained guide will give us general information about the place, flora, fauna and, of course, about the Cotopaxi volcano. Later we will start our walk to the first refuge "José Rivas" that offers food to the visitants, also here there is the option of staying as part of the coupling process before the crowning of the volcanoes. We will return to the parking lot and take a walk around the Limpiopungo Lagoon. At this site, there are different viewpoints where you can see various species of waterfowl such as coots, ducks, and seagulls. Due to the slopes that surround it, the lagoon fills with water according to the time of year, this makes it an ideal habitat for biodiversity. Finally, we will drive not too far from the Cotopaxi area to overnight at a local hacienda.

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Cotopaxi area.

Meals included: Breakfast.

This day, we'll visit Quilotoa crater-lagoon located in Los Illinizas Ecological Reserve. First, we will enjoy the view of the lagoon and the Crater from the Mirador, the guide will give us some important information about the climate conditions, topography, flora, and fauna. Then we will continue with the descent to the base of the lagoon where we can enjoy the flora of the place, in addition, they will have the opportunity to enjoy activities such as kayaking (optional), after a relaxing time on the site we will start the ascent again the same as you can do on foot with the guide or rent a mule with the community (optional). Finally, we will visit the Toachi Canyon and will continue our trip to Baños for overnight. 

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Baños.

Meals included: Breakfast

Located in a valley of waterfalls and hot springs, the city of Baños has much to offer its visitors. After breakfast, we will visit the cathedral of Baños. Later we will have a fantastic hike through the jungle forest, which will take us to several waterfalls such as "Agoyán", "El Manto de la Novia" and "El Pailón del diablo". Enjoy the adventure crossing the canyon by zip line and take the most iconic picture of Baños in the swing at the end of the world. In the afternoon, we will drive back to Quito. 

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Quito 

Meals included: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport to take the flight to the Galapagos Islands. Upon your arrival, your guide will pick you up from Baltra airport to Santa Cruz Island to start the adventure, with a first visit to the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island. On the way to our first stop in the Primicias Ranch, we will observe changes in the vegetation which is dry in the lower part and humid in the highlands. Once on the ranch, we will appreciate giant tortoises in their natural environment and some emblematic species of flora as Asclepias and Palo Santo. You will enjoy a typical lunch and visit an impressive lava tunnel 300 meters deep; this tunnel was created because the outer part of the lava cools faster than the inner part. Finally, you will reach to your hotel in Puerto Ayora. Then we will visit the "Charles Darwin Foundation" (CDF), an institution that supports the conservation in the Galápagos Islands. 

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Puerto Ayora. 

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

You will have breakfast and head to Seymour Norte or Plazas Sur or Bartolome. (The island to visit depends on the availability).

OPTION 1: NORTH SEYMOUR

We will leave from the Itabaca channel towards North Seymour. North Seymour is a small island with an endemic population of flora and fauna with species like the royal frigate and the blue-footed booby. If you are lucky, you may observe the interesting mating ritual of these species; the frigate puffs up its red jacket at its throat, and the blue-footed booby performs a kind of unique dance. North Seymour also has a big colony of land iguanas and sea lions near the coast. You will walk along different trails for 1 hour and 30 minutes, where you will admire the wildlife. Then you will enjoy a box lunch on board. After lunch, you will have the option to practice snorkeling, very close you can see hammerhead sharks, turtles, and a wide variety of reef fish during this activity.

OPTION 2: SOUTH PLAZAS

We will go to the Itabaca channel towards Plazas Sur. The navigation will take approximately 2 hours. At the disembark, you will be able to observe one of the largest sea lion colonies in the archipelago. During a small hike, you will spot land iguanas and birds as blue-footed boobies, forked nesting gulls, frigates, and pelicans. A curious fact about the vegetation on the island is that it changes its color according to the season; it is dark green in the rainy season and orange or purple in the dry season.

OPTION 3: BARTOLOME

We will navigate from Itabaca Channel to Bartolome. Once in Bartolome, you will walk along a volcanic path of lunar appearance until you reach the highest part of the island to observe the landscape that includes Santiago Island, the immense ocean, and the white sand beach. During this tour, it is possible to find penguins, sea lions, white tip sharks, a great variety of reef fish, and sea turtles. In the afternoon, you will return to the hotel in Santa Cruz to get a good relaxation. 

Meals included: Breakfast, box-lunch.

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Puerto Ayora.  

This day is yours to do as you wish and check out some of the things you have not been able to see so far. Maybe you would like to rent bikes and head to the beach Playa Garrapatero. Perhaps take an afternoon kayaking trip in Tortuga Bay. The tour of Bahía de la Academia in Puerto Ayora takes you to gorgeous Las Grietas, out into the bay to see the marine life and have a lovely view of the coast, and perhaps to La Lobería with snorkeling and swimming opportunities along the way. You could also relax at the beach “Playa Los Alemanes”, even taking a walk from there to “Las Grietas” and swimming at both places. So many possibilities! In the evening, find a restaurant that you think looks interesting or has great reviews and check it out. Enjoy the local food and maybe even have an extra-special meal. Depending on the time of year, you might find local lobsters on the menu – and you can even personally select yours and have it cooked just the way you choose. 

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Puerto Ayora.

Early in the morning, we will go to the pier to take the speed boat to San Cristobal Island, after 2 1⁄2 hours of navigation we arrive to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and transfer to a local restaurant for breakfast. Later, we’ll check out the national park visitor center in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Here we’ll get some background information about how the islands were formed and the species that make their homes in them. After lunch, we ́ll visit the beach La Lobería. There we can swim and snorkel with the resident sea lions after whom this rocky beach was named. In addition to the numerous sea lions, you are likely to see frigatebirds, Darwin finches, yellow warblers (the only yellow bird found in these islands!), and iguanas, all of which are common in this area. 

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. 

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we’ll head toward Kicker Rock or Lobos Islands (The site to visit depends on the availability).

OPTION 1: KICKER ROCK

León Dormido, known in English as Kicker Rock. The Spanish name comes from the perception that the rock looks like a sleeping lion; whereas, the English name has an unclear origin but appears to be in reference to the historical sea markers in Hampshire, England, that were known as Gilkicker and Kicker-Gill. In any case, it’s an impressive rock formation, shaped largely by erosion. The walk takes about an hour from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. On the way, we pass through a variety of landscapes and vegetation zones. Keep your eyes open on the way because you might spot some interesting wildlife or plants as we walk. Once we reach León Dormido, we can swim or snorkel with the sea lions, sea turtles, and sharks – whitetipn reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and Galápagos sharks. Additionally, many birds frequent the area such as frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, and lava gulls.

OPTION 2: LOBOS ISLAND

Lobos Island is aptly named after the many sea lions that reside here resting and playing along the rocky shores. It is also home to many different birds like pelicans, frigate birds and their nests, yellow warblers, and more. Within the small channel, the waters are very clear, making it easy to find sea turtles, sea lions, stingrays, and perhaps even white-tipped sharks. Back in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, you can take a nice walk along the gorgeous beach; take a break to relax and enjoy the scenery; or read by the ocean. 

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. 

Meals included: Breakfast, box lunch.

The end of the trip has come. After breakfast, we will drive to the airport. In the airport, the guide helps us with any last-minute things and makes sure we’re all checked in. Then we say goodbye, both to the people and to these enchanted islands, before returning to the mainland of Ecuador. You end this adventure with the transfer to the airport. Once you land in Quito, you will have a transfer to your hotel. 

Accommodations: Tourist superior hotel in Quito.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Breakfast. Day at leisure till the time for your transfer to the airport in order to take your international flight back home. 

Accommodations: Not included.

Meals included: Breakfast.