Multisport Galapagos & Ecuador Highlands 15D/14N

Private Transfer Quito Airport - Quito Hotel

Our private transportation will be waiting for you at International Arrivals and take you from Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Tababela to your hotel in the city of Quito.

The drive will be approximately 45 minutes long.

Welcome to Quito, the capital of Ecuador!

Arrive at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), at 2,850 meters (9,350 ft) above sea level, Ecuador’s dramatic capital city is the second highest in the world after Bolivia’s La Paz. Built on the ashes of the northern Inca capital following the 1533 Spanish conquest, Quito is nestled in a valley surrounded by majestic Andean peaks, among them the restless Volcán Pichincha.

The entire city of Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, standing at an altitude of 9,350 feet (2,850 m). It welcomes visitors with its picturesque plazas situated between mountain peaks. The city has an abundance of market stands, shamanistic healers, and fourth-generation hat makers, as well as a vibrant and sophisticated culinary and nightlife scene.

Your private driver will meet you for approximately a 45-minute transfer to your accommodation in the city center. Along the way, you'll get a short introduction to Quito´s history and a quick briefing on the next day's activities.

Meals included: -

Overnight:  Quito

Private group

Today, after breakfast, your English-speaking guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you on a morning walking city tour of Quito and in the afternoon, you will defy gravity by visiting the Middle of the World (Mitad del Mundo).

The colonial center of Quito was already named world cultural heritage by UNESCO in 1978 and is home to many beautiful, historic buildings and squares. You will visit the Plaza Grande and the beautiful churches La Compañía and La Basílica and walk down the oldest street of Quito—La Ronda.

After lunch, you will visit the equatorial monument, Mitad del Mundo, located just 26 km (16 miles) north of Ecuador’s capital city, Quito.

Here, French scientists determined the position of the central line many years ago. Ecuador is the place to come to stand on the Equator line, nowhere else on the planet is it easier to visit the Equator line or strike a pose with one foot in each hemisphere. Even Ecuador’s name was born of its location at latitude zero. You will visit the museum exhibits including a planetarium, ethnographic museum, art exhibits, a small-scale model of Quito city, an old train station, a beer museum, cocoa & chocolate exhibits, and a small chapel, for an unforgettable experience today.

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight:  Quito

Small group

Early in the morning, we leave Quito and after driving south until reaching the park entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive through the pine forest and soon we arrive at the Visitors Center of the park. After visiting the Center, we continue the ascent in our 4-wheel drive vehicle until we reach the highest point of the tour, 4.500 meters/15.000 feet. The view from this point is stunning and on a clear day, we can see 8 volcanoes.

We then put on helmets, gloves, and protection pads and the bike adventure on the world’s highest active volcano can begin. The first 8 km will take us down 700 m. on dirt roads through volcanic ash and the páramo landscape. At 3.800 m. you must do some pedaling while we head down another 8 km between volcanic rocks and wild horses to our lunch spot by an Inca ruin at 3.700 m. With some luck, we might see a condor or a caracara. We put the bikes back on the car and head for the lake of Limpiopungo at 3.800 m. where we start the 16 km biking on dirt roads.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Cotopaxi Area.

Private group

Wake up early in the morning, after a delicious breakfast at your hotel, you will visit Quilotoa Lagoon, which is a blue-green volcanic crater lake, that sits in the rugged Andean countryside south of Quito.

Your expert guide will lead you through tropical forests to one of the area's most beautiful lagoons. Make stops at a quiet village and local markets as part of this incredible day away from the city. Once you arrive at this magical place, you have the option to walk along the crater’s rim to enjoy the splendid view or hike down a path to the crater lake. After about 45 minutes of hiking down the Lagoon, you arrive at the crater. From where the water shimmers in another, greener color and kayaks will be waiting for you to explore the lake and enjoy the beautiful weather.

If you wish, there is a jetty there that you can walk on, or you can just sit on the beach and enjoy the view instead. The return can become a bit longer, so you have the option to rent a mule for the uphill hike.

In the afternoon, you will arrive at Baños where you will spend the night.

Altitude: 3878 mt.

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight: Baños

Canyoning in Baños

Small group

The guide will pick you up after your breakfast to start your day with some adventure: today, canyoning is on your agenda! Leave Baños around 09:00 AM and spend the morning canyoning at Casahurco. Enjoy a wet, wild, and fun day full of adventure! Casahurco is one of the most thrilling sites in Ecuador and it is known as one of the world’s top locations for canyoning. The tour will be accompanied by a professional and certified guide, and we will provide all the equipment and the round-trip transportation from and back to Baños.

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight: Baños

Pailon del Diablo - Baños - Quito

Private group

In the morning, you will drive along the "Avenue of Waterfalls." Driving south from Baños, you will follow the Pastaza River on its way through the valley of the same name. Passing several waterfalls, you will reach the village of Rio Verde, where you will stop to visit the well-known El Pailon del Diablo (The Devil's Cauldron) waterfall. After visiting the thermal pools of Baños or the famous "Casa del Arbol", you will return to Quito.

Difficulty Level: Low.

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight: Quito

Transfer to Quito Airport for Galapagos Flight

Private transfer

The big day is here! Today you will be taken to the airport to catch your flight to the Galapagos Islands!

Your private transportation will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the Airport, so you arrive 3 hours before your flight, so you have time to purchase the TCT, get your luggage ready, and get everything neat for your flight!

Welcome to Galapagos: Santa Cruz Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station

Private group

Welcome to the beautiful Santa Cruz Island! After arriving at Baltra Airport, your guide will be waiting for you to take you to Santa Cruz Island.

You will be amazed to see giant tortoises in the wild (in their natural habitat) with our first stop at a local farm in the highlands where there are dozens of giant tortoises, and you can wander around at will and enjoy a delicious lunch, to then continue to the port in Puerto Ayora to check into the hotel.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Charles Darwin Station, where scientists from all over the world meet and work together on environmental projects such as water analysis, animal protection, effects of tourism on nature, etc., and the most famous place to see Giant Tortoises in the Galapagos where the animals are raised before being released into nature. The actual name of the tortoise area here is the “Fausto Llerena” Breeding Center, named after the Galapagos National Park ranger who cared for Lonesome George. This is the best place in the Galapagos to view numerous different species and see how their tortoiseshell shapes have evolved differently to match the terrain and vegetation of the islands they are native to.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Puerto Ayora- Santa Cruz Island.

Kayaking Adventure in Tortuga Bay & Afternoon Bay Tour of Santa Cruz Island

Small group

We have reserved kayaks for you, and our adventure stars! You will begin with a 45-minute hike from Puerto Ayora to the heavenly Tortuga Bay, famed for its soft coral sand and spectacular scenery, this stretch of coast is considered one of the archipelago's most picturesque spots.

Take a kayak out onto the water to see marine life up close and admire the coastline from a different perspective—observing colonies of marine iguanas and marine birds, as well as mangroves, cacti forests, and fascinating coastal flora. You may spot interesting array of bird residing here; pelicans and finches are locals here, and near the salt lagoon that backs onto the mangroves, you even may spot flamingos wandering.

After kayaking at the nearby cove, sunbathe on the beach before returning to Puerto Ayora.

In the afternoon you will be taken on a bay tour on a small boat to visit exotic places along the bay of Santa Cruz, and visit one, or if time allows it, or more of these fantastic sites:

You will arrive at the small islet called La Lobería named for the great colony of sea lions where you can snorkel around sea lions and tropical fish displaying a dazzling show beneath the surface against interesting underwater formations.

Afterward, at the Shark Channel, you may spot harmless white-tip sharks and blue-footed boobies, you’ll come upon the Canal del Amor where you may find sea turtles and many tropical fish varieties. Taking a 10-minute walk you’ll see marine iguanas in their natural habitat and have plenty of opportunities to take pictures.

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight: Puerto Ayora- Santa Cruz Island.

Exploring an Uninhabited Island

Small group

After a very early breakfast, today you will enjoy an amazing day trip to an uninhabited island.

Depending on the weather, scheduling, and permissions granted by the National Park, you'll visit one of the following islands: Santa Fé, South Plazas, Bartolomé, or North Seymour where you will follow trails to discover their richness, while in the afternoon you will have the opportunity to explore the waters around.

Santa Fé and South Plazas are home to endemic land iguanas, while Bartolomé is known for its beautiful lava flows. On North Seymour, look for frigate birds and blue-footed boobies. Each island is unique, offering spectacular scenery and opportunities to see rare wildlife.

Lunch is included onboard, as well as walking and a snorkeling activity to maximize your experience. In the evening, return to Puerto Ayora to enjoy some free time.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight:  Puerto Ayora - Santa Cruz Island

Adventure: Cycling at Cerro Mesa Reserva & Kayaking at Garrapatero Beach

Private group

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up to enjoy a day at beautiful Garrapatero Beach on this eco-day trip from Puerto Ayora.

Bike across a lovely stretch of Santa Cruz Island to the protected Cerro Mesa Ecological Reserve, where you can enjoy a guided nature walk and fantastic island views from a lookout, afterward enjoy a delicious lunch (included).

At Garrapatero Beach, relax with a waterfront picnic on the pristine white sand, venture into the crystalline waters on an optional kayak ride and soak up the serene, unspoiled landscape populated by birds like flamingos and mallards. It is a perfect site with a white sand beach, you can see the flora and fauna native and endemic to the area, has a spectacular landscape and is surrounded by mangroves

You will return to your hotel for a well-earned rest for the night!

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Speedboat from Santa Cruz to Isabela Island

Early in the morning, your guide will pick you up at your hotel in Puerto Ayora to take you to the docks so you can catch a speedboat that will take you to Isabela Island.

Excursion to Los Tuneles

Small group

Get ready for more wildlife encounters with a thrilling excursion to Los Tuneles, a perfect snorkeling spot. A series of lava flows have produced unique geological formations, like arcs and tunnels underneath and above the water, which makes the area a truly excellent place to swim around. In the shallow waters, you can find tropical fish, rays, turtles, sea horses, and white-tipped reef sharks! Keep your eyes open for penguins sitting on the rocks and prepare yourself for the possibility of swimming with majestic sea turtles.

At night, you can rest or explore Isabela Island as you wish.

Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch

Overnight:  Puerto Villamil- Isabela Island

Hiking the Sierra Negra Volcano

Small group

The majestic Sierra Negra Volcano will occupy today's agenda.

Our adventure starts with a journey from Puerto Villamil to the beginning of the trail. Once there, we will prepare our backpacks and start our walk through the relatively young woods, which suffer from constant geological changes.

You'll do a six-hour roundtrip hike to its summit, from where you'll get to see the second-largest volcanic crater in the world. Walk around spectacular lava landscapes, taking in the northern volcanoes in Isabela and Fernandina Islands.

During your climb, make sure to be on the lookout for the unique vegetation that inhabits the area.

Your finishing point is the edge of the Sierra Negra Volcano’s crater, this volcano is still active. Once at the edge of the crater, you will have spectacular views of the crater and the volcanoes that surround it. The circumference of the crater is huge, with a diameter of almost 10 km along with its widest point.

You'll have some free time after you get back to Isabela Island. If you still have energy, you can head to a beach or snorkel at Concha Perla.

Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch

Overnight:  Puerto Villamil- Isabela Island

Rappelling in Trillizos - Biking back to Puerto Villamil

Small group

Your guide will pick you up early in the morning and take you to Puerto Villamil, you will head to Los Trillizos Volcano which is an amazing spot for rappelling. Here you will be able to descend 150 meters (493 ft) in a unique experience, to explore the interior of this magical island.

Here you will have a perfect box lunch to recharge your energies and will hop on a mountain bike to descend downhill back to Puerto Villamil. The biking path is actually very pleasant and a great opportunity to observe the birds of the islands and enjoy its dense vegetation until you reach the town where you will spend the night.

Difficulty Level: Medium

Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch

Overnight:  Puerto Villamil- Isabela Island

Experience Stand Up Paddle Boarding in Puerto Villamil

Small group

You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and taken to the dock, after a safety talk given by the guide, you’ll get ready and go around Puerto Villamil Bay observing mangrove and rocky shores where the crabs' rest; you also might have the opportunity to spot blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and frigates while you paddle and enjoy the peacefulness of the Bay. After this activity, your guide will take you to Concha Perla to snorkel.

**The bay of Puerto Villamil generally has calm waters which makes it possible for people of all ages with or without experience to practice paddleboarding here**.

Speedboat from Isabela Island to Santa Cruz

You will catch a speedboat from Isabela Island to Santa Cruz Island

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight:  Puerto Ayora – Santa Cruz Island

Transfer to Airport on Baltra Island for your flight back to Mainland

If there is enough free time before your transfer to the airport, do some last-minute souvenir shopping or take a last stroll through Puerto Ayora.

At the designated time, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Itabaca Channel, which you will cross on a ferry. For the last part of your trip to the airport, take the public shuttle bus to the terminal, where your program ends with your return flight to the mainland.

Connect with your flight back home (Galapagos - Departure)

Upon arrival from the Galapagos Islands to Ecuador's mainland airport, you will connect on the same day with your international flight so you can return home with some everlasting memories.

See you next time!

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight:  -