Ecuador AND ITS GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS

Our extensive city tour of Quito will include the colonial center, the Campania Church (one of the richest in the Americas), Independence Square, the Government Palace and the main Cathedral. We will also visit the Equatorial Museum, which depicts the culture of the different indigenous groups around the world who live along the Equator. At the museum you can stand with one foot in the Northern hemisphere and the other in the Southern hemisphere.  Overnight at the Hotel Mercure Alameda.  

Overnight: Quito.

Meal plan: Breakfast /- / Dinner  

Early in the morning we depart towards north west, we’ll take the Pan-American Highway amid a series of small villages, grazing lands and farming fields that create delightful landscapes, todays drive will take us from the high altitude Andes to the Rainforrest, pur first stop will take us to the Pululahua Volcanic reserve, in an effortless walk we will arrive to the biggest inhabited volcano crater in the world, where we will learn a little bit more about the volcano activity in Ecuador and the importance of it in our lives, also a great photo stop.

So during the days we´ll experiment many different landscapes, altitude changes and a great variety of flora and temperature.  

Arriving for lunch time at the Sachatamia Lodge, a private nature reserves famous for the great amount of hummingbirds.

In the afternoon will have an easy walk to enjoy of some of the rainforest wonders, with a little bit of luck we can find the howler monkeys

Overnight: Mindo

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

This day is one of the highlights of the tour we will visit the heart of the Rainforest we will learn about the jungle’s incredible variety of flora and fauna and also its medicinal plants. A large percentage of Ecuador's rainforest plants, animals and insects were only discovered within the last few decades.

After lunch we will have the chance to learn more about the Cocoa tree and the delicious Ecuadorian chocolate on an special tour, this is a great opportunity to enjoy and learn about one of the best Ecuadorian ambassadors our great dark chocolate.

Overnight: Mindo

Meal plan: Breakfast /-/Dinner

Morning walk in one of the nearby paths, to get in touch with the nature, we´ll have a local expert to show us the interesting flora and fauna.

Afternoon it will be a much more leisure activity there is a chance to visit the Butterfly conservatory and enjoy more than 35 species of local butterflies and hummingbirds.  

Overnight: Mindo

Meal plan: Breakfast /- / Dinner

This is the end of our magical rainforest experience, and today we will travel towards the south to the City of Baños, on the way we will have the chance to visit the beautiful Cotopaxi National Park where we can have some incredible views of highest active volcano in the world, and have the chance to walk around Limpiopungo lake to discover some of the varieties of plants and animals of the high Ecuadorian mountains, a great contrast form Mindo Rainforest. We will enjoy lunch on the Tambopaxi mountain lodge.  In the afternoon continue to Baños, a city that is famous because it is near to one of the most important volcanoes of Ecuador, the mighty Tungurahua, how is on activity for the last 12 years, letting the visitors with a little bit of luck to spot the volcano eruptions.

Overnight: Baños

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / -  

After breakfast, we will have the chance to visit one of the most beautiful waterfalls of South America, the “Pailón del Diablo”, an easy hike in the middle of the cloud forest we´ll take us to the view point of this hidden jewel. After this visit we´ll have a little adventure by crossing the Zamora river cannon on board of a cable car.  Later arriving in the city of Baños for a well deserve rest and time for lunch.

In the afternoon we´ll continue our way up to the Andes, where will see some of the most important and representative Volcanoes as the Chimborazo (Heights in Ecuador 6300 mts.), Altar, Tungurahua witch creates incredible landscapes, later in the afternoon we´ll arrive to the Riobamba City.  

Overnight: Riobamba

Meal plan: Breakfast /- / Dinner

After breakfast we´ll start our drive towards the south lands of Ecuador, leaving behind us the volcanoes, we are going to explore a different formation where the landscapes and production changes, on the way will stop at the Nizag indigenous community Tourism project, to have a close look at the mountain fields, enjoy and learn from this ancestral indigenous community.

Leisure time for lunch.

 In the afternoon we’ll start our way to Cuenca taking a detour to visit the Archaeological Complex of Ingapirca the best preserved and most important Inca Site in Ecuador.  

Overnight: Cuenca

Meal plan: Breakfast /- / Dinner

Cuenca is waiting for us to be discover, we start the day strolling through the cobbled streets of this beautiful World Cultural Heritage, crossed by four rivers that add up to the splendor and give the city its complete name. Squares, balconies and churches will make perfect pictures. The “chola cuencana” traditional costumes will splash with color our experience and the outstanding pink marble Cathedral is for sure going to take your breath away. There will be a chance to learn about the ancestral cultures of Ecuador in an interesting museum and to enjoy the magnificence of the Tomebamba River and the panoramic view of the city from the Turi Hill. One of the most interesting visits of the day will be to the museum and factory of the famous, but misnamed, Panama Hats…a true symbol of Ecuador.  

Overnight: Cuenca

Meal plan: Breakfast /- / Dinner

After breakfast, we will start driving towards the El Cajas National Park, world known for its over 300 lake system. We will have a short stop at the 4000 meters (13000 feet) for photos and bathrooms, after this short stop we´ll continue our trip and in a few hours, we’ll pass from the high moorlands to the biodiversity of the cloud forest then to the vastness of cacao and banana plantations to arrive and witnessing the frantic activity of the main port and economical center of Ecuador the city of Guayaquil.

Leisure walk in the city center and Malecon 2000, later will have a dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight: Guayaquil

Meal plan: Breakfast/ Box Lunch /Dinner

Arrival in Baltra 13:00 – transfer in to Puerto Ayora.

Check-in selected hotel.

P.M. Guided tour of the Charles Darwin Station in Santa Cruz Island where we can visit the lonesome George.

Overnight: Santa Cruz

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Departure 9 AM for a sea excursion to Santa Fé Island or Pinzón Islet. the yacht

It has capacity for 12 people, is comfortable and provides towels and equipment for snorkeling. They will have a hot lunch on board, drinks and soft drinks. Naturalist Guide included. Aprox Return to Santa Cruz at 3pm

Overnight: Santa Cruz

Meal plan: Breakfast / Box Lunch / Dinner

Departure 7 AM from the municipal dock of Puerto Ayora.

Arrival at port Villamil 9:15 AM. Transfer and check-in to selected hotel.

Visit of Sierra Negra Volcano, one of the most important, active and interesting volcanoes in the islands, we can have a hike for a couple of hours to enjoy of breathtaking views and the Galapagos flora and fauna.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon we´ll have a visit of the Turtle Center and the Flamingo Pool.

Dinner in our hotel.

Overnight: Isabella

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

9 AM. Visit to Tintoreras islet, one of the most iconic visit areas in Galapagos, well known for the Galapagos sharks, Galapagos penguins and other iconic species.

Leisure walk in the islet and a great opportunity for snorkel activity.

Lunch in a local restaurant  

We return to our hotel to collect our luggage at 2 pm and head back to the pier.

3Pm. Return sail aboard our yacht to Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.

Overnight: Santa Cruz

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A.M. Transfer departure at 6 AM from the hotel to the air terminal in Baltra.

Depending on the departure time of our flight, we will make a brief stop at “Los Gemelos”, two craters of natural geological formation that are in the Upper part of the island for photography. Ferry transfer through the Itabaca canal. Air terminal check-in.

Arrival in Guayaquil and transfer to the local hotel.

Farewell dinner .

Overnight: Guayaquil

Meal plan: Breakfast /-/ Dinner

Transfer on time to the airport to take our flight back home.

Meal plan: Breakfast