Day 1
Quito
Welcome to Quito! On arrival you'll be met and transferred to your hotel to check in. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore this preserved colonial city - declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. Meet your tour leader and the rest of the group this evening in a welcome meeting at 18:00 in the hotel lobby. At this time, you can discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure.
Overnight: Standard - Swissotel Quito (Dinner Included)
Day 2
Quito
After breakfast enjoy a city tour, exploring the narrow streets in the old town visiting important monuments such as: La Basilica church, la Compania De Jesus gold church, the main independence square, Cathedral church and el Panecillo natural lookout of the city. Afterwards you will visit the nearby markets with a local expert to buy local products such as vegetables, fruits, grains etc for lunch. You will help prepare your lunch with a knowledgeable local cook who will introduce you to the best flavours of the Ecuador Andean Highlights.
Overnight: Standard - Swissotel Quito (Breakfast and lunch included)
Day 3
Quito to Mindo Cloud Forest
Today your adventure begins by driving north to witness the equator monument complex, where you are able to stand on both sides of the hemisphere at the same time, visiting the middle of the world is a must! On your way you will stop to view the Pululahua crater, which is the third largest inhabited volcanic crater in the world, home to more than 400 people. Your next stop is the little town of Mindo, nestled into the cloud forest filled with a wide variety of plants and animal life. A great introduction to the diversity of Ecuador and a birdwatcher’s paradise for hummingbirds.
In the afternoon you will visit a chocolate distributor for a guided tour to learn the process of the cocoa, from harvesting the seed to its final product, a delicious bar of chocolate.
Overnight: Standard - Septimo Paraiso Lodge (Breakfast included)
Day 4
Mindo Cloud Forest
Explore the pristine cloud rainforest of Mindo by crossing cable cars, hiking along waterfalls surrounded by lush green forest filled with the iconic toucans and hummingbirds. In the afternoon you have some free time to explore on your own or join an optional excursion such as; white-water rafting, tubing through thrilling rapids or zipline over the beautiful canopy of the cloud forest. A highlight of the day is a visit to the butterfly nursery where you will watch gargantuan butterflies dry their wings after emerging from their cocoons.
Overnight: Standard - Septimo Paraiso Lodge (Breakfast included)
Day 5
Mindo Cloud Forest & Otavalo market
Your adventure continues by driving back into the highlands and reaching the Pan-American Highway to the famous indigenous town of Otavalo. Upon arrival you have some time to stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets, visit the market for colourful textiles, native paintings, ceramics, jewellery, tapestries and handicrafts made by the locals.
This afternoon you will drive to Cotacachi to witness the impressive leather goods the town has to offer whilst enjoying the beauty of this small village. Here you have some free time to explore the shops or sit people watching whilst sipping one of the best coffees in Ecuador in the main plaza.
Later you will arrive at the beautiful, historical Hacienda Pinsaqui where you will be greeted with a typical Andean cocktail and learn the history of the place.
Overnight: Standard - Hacienda Pinsaqui (Breakfast and dinner included)
Day 6
Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve & Papallacta Hot Springs
Your first stop of the day will be to Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve to see the breathing scenery of the crystal-clear waters of the active volcano and surrounding area. You will hike the hour long walk along the rim of the Cuicocha Crater lake to join a boat ride to the centre of the crater to observe the bubbling waters of the volcano.
Later you will travel to the small village of Peguche, located in the heart of the Andes. You will help the local people prepare a delicious lunch using fresh produce harvested the same day from the surrounding organic fields. Late afternoon you will reach the luxury volcanic hot springs resort of Papallacta, where you have the chance to relax in the open-air hot springs whilst being surrounded by the majestic Andean mountains.
Overnight: Standard - Papallacta Spa & Resort (Breakfast and lunch included)
Day 7
Cotopaxi Volcano National Park to Quito
Drive south on the Pan-American Highway to Cotopaxi, highest active volcano in the world. The snow-capped volcano is surrounded by the national park, home to and abundant of plant life, rich in fauna and Inca ruins. You begin your visit at the interpretation centre at the entrance of the park, before continuing your drive across the paramo to Limpiopungo lake. Observe a variety of birds and stunning views of the symmetrical cone of Cotopaxi volcano during a short walk around the lake. Afterwards, drive to Quito for dinner.
Overnight: Standard - Dann Carlton Hotel (Breakfast included)
Day 8
Quito to Galapagos Islands
Today board a morning flight from Quito to the Island of Baltra, Galápagos Islands, about 600 miles from Ecuador’s coast. Upon arrival, you'll transfer by the Lobito bus to the nearby island of Santa Cruz and cross the narrow Itabaca channel by water taxi, continuing on to the highlands, home to the iconic giant Galápagos tortoises. While here visit a private ranch for lunch and go for a stroll to try and find these gentle giants. The famous tubes (formed when the surface of a lava stream solidifies) will also be a highlight of our tour. This afternoon take a private transfer to the hotel and meet your local guide who will explain the itinerary for the next few days. Spend the evening however you please.
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Silberstein (Breakfast and lunch included)
Day 9
Galapagos Islands – Isla Lobos Island
Following a delicious breakfast, we’ll set off on a half-day tour of Academy Bay (you’ll need to pack for this trip). Snorkeling equipment will be provided free of charge to anyone wishing to snorkel. During the tour, we’ll sail to Academy Bay and swim and snorkel with sea lions and exotic marine life. The sea lions may swim next to you underwater! Academy Bay is also home to blue-footed boobies, so prepare to see lots of those.
Next, we’ll climb to a viewpoint and keep an eye out for white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below, before strolling along Playa de los Perros where sea iguanas are known to sunbathe on the shores. The enormous cacti, the ochre-red colour of the rocks and the turquoise waters make it a great place for taking photos.
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Silberstein (Breakfast and box lunch included)
Day 10
Galapagos Islands – Santa Cruz Island
The morning will be spent on a guided tour of the Charles Darwin Research Station, learning about the national park’s efforts concerning conservation which was once home to the famous lonesome George, a figure of the last male Pinta Island tortoise – the rarest creature in the world before his death in 2012.
In the afternoon we’ll take a transfer from the hotel to the dock of Santa Cruz before boarding a boat to the island of San Cristóbal (the journey is approximately 2.5 hours). Upon arrival, meet with a local guide who will explain the exciting itinerary, before spending the evening at leisure.
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Blue Marlin (Breakfast included)
Day 11
Galapagos Islands – San Cristobal Island - Isla Lobos Tour
After breakfast head to the dock and take a boat ride to the nearby Isla Lobos. En route, feast your eyes upon extraordinary marine life. When we arrive, we’ll take a guided tour and observe Frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, manta rays, sea lions and maybe even sharks.
San Cristóbal’s powdery beaches invite endless wandering, so make sure you go for a swim before returning to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Blue Marlin (Breakfast and box lunch included)
Day 12
Galapagos Island Hopping
Today you are free to explore the island at leisure.
Alternatively, you can opt to take a boat to Kicker Rock, also known as the ‘Sleeping Lion’. Kicker Rock is located off the coast of San Cristóbal and forms the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea. It consists of two vertical rocks rising 500 ft (150m) above the ocean to form a small channel navigable by small boats. Kicker Rock is home to Frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies and beneath it, you’ll find crystal-clear waters filled with kaleidoscopic fish (such as rainbow fish, hammerhead and white tip sharks). After lunch relax on the beach for a while before making your way back to the hotel.
Overnight: Standard - Hotel Blue Marlin (Breakfast included)
Day 13
Galapagos Islands – Guayaquil
After breakfast, transfer back to Baltra’s airport for your flight back to Quito on the mainland to catch your international flight home.
Breakfast included
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