Discovering Ecuador : Cities, Andes & Galapagos 11D/10N

The place to start exploring Ecuador is Colonial Quito: a city of narrow cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed walls and, rising above, the steeples and cupolas of the city´s many spectacularly decorated historic churches. The city has one of the best preserved colonial centers in all South America, and its integrity was assured in 1978 when the United Nations declared Quito a World Cultural Heritage site. Morning visit to colonial Quito. We will walk through the Main Plaza, where you will see the Government Palace, La Compañía, and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries, including the San Francisco Monastery which was started 5 days after the founding of the city in 1534. Then we will visit the city’s famous La Ronda street, where we will learn about traditional work in Colonial Quito. For our last stop, we will also be visiting the ‘Panecillo’, the hill that dominates the South of the city, and where we will be able to admire the famous statue of Our Lady of the Panecillo and enjoy spectacular views of Quito.

Overnight stay in Quito

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leisure Day!

Spend the day in Quito at your leisure, exploring the city or simply taking some time to enjoy the beautiful climate and natural environment.

We recommend enjoying one of our optional excursions with extra cost:

Optional Quilotoa Excursion: Today we’ll visit the Quilotoa volcano crater, where we will be able to appreciate the crater’s serene mysterious green lake. We’ll have the option of a short walk of about 1.7 kilometers / 1.1 mile along the crater’s rim. On the way back, we will stop to visit an art gallery in the community of Tigua, where we will be able to appreciate paintings representative of the folklore of this part of the Andes. The brightly colored style of the area’s artists, currently the third generation, has transcended local boundaries and is now internationally renowned.

Optional Mindo Excursion: Leaving Quito after an early breakfast at your hotel, we stop at the Pululahua volcanic crater (optional) for a peek into the crater with its patchwork fields far below on the crater floor. When we reach the Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve we will climb to the top of the mountain, once again with fabulous views, enjoy the flurry of the hummingbirds, or take a hike into the forest on the reserve’s variety of trails. An incredible one hundred and seventy species of birds have been recorded at Bellavista, and the list continues to grow: Tanager – finch, Giant Antpitta, Swallow-tailed Nightjar, Plush-capped Finch, Beautiful Jay, and the White-face Nunbird can all be found here, while everybody enthuses over the brightly colored Tanagers and the Platebilled Mountain-Toucan. Optional Cotopaxi National Park Excursion: We will visit Cotopaxi National Park where, weather permitting, you will be able to see the snowcapped summits of the Cotopaxi and Antisana volcanoes. We will also visit the Interpretation center to learn about the history of this spectacular volcano’s major eruptions, as well as the local flora and fauna. We will then visit Lake Limpiopungo and explore the surrounding area on foot. If you feel like a longer walk, a 2 hour hike will take us to Mt. Cotopaxi’s J. Ribas refuge (4,800 m) where you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the volcano and the surrounding Andean peaks.

Note: You only can book one of these excursions, lunch not included

Overnight stay in Quito.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Otavalo Full day Otavalo Indian Hues

The Indian market in Otavalo is famous for its craft work, and is a must for all visitors to the northern Andes of Ecuador. Here, under the watchful gaze of the majestic Mount Imbabura, visitors will find the quiet and harmony typical of this primarily Quichua speaking region. We depart early in the morning, heading north on the Pan-American highway to Otavalo market one of the most well known throughout the Andes. Our first stop is at the Intiñan Museum, a cultural-tourist place located at La Mitad Del Mundo. We continue our trip until we arrive to Otavalo. The town´s famous craft market is one of the most visited sites in Ecuador, and with good reason. The market is filled with interesting colourful and sometimes rare objects and crafts. Do remember to bargain, but only if you´re interested. The market is held every day on one of the town squares at the foot of the majestic Mt. Imbabura. And to help you navigate the market your hosts will present you with a short explanation of the market´s and provide a map of the area.

Overnight stay in Otavalo.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Spend the day at your leisure in Otavalo, relaxing at your own pace or exploring the surrounding highlands and volcanic walking trails.

Overnight stay in Otavalo

Meals Included: breakfast

Early morning transfer from Otavalo to the airport for a flight to Galapagos Islands

Excursion Highlands Puerto Ayora

The guide will pick you at the airport to start the visit to the highlands. You will visit shelters for the giant tortoises, lava tunnels and the twins that are geological formations formed by collapse over time. One of our visit is El Chato that provides the opportunity to marvel at the celebrated Giant Galapagos Tortoise roaming in its natural habitat. You will have the option to visit geological formations like a natural lava tunnel or twin pit craters “The Gemelos” or both, depending on your energy level! The “Gemelos” or Twin Pit Craters, located in the Scalezia zone of the island, are a great place for bird watching. Look out for Darwin Finches, Galapagos Doves and Cattle egret.

Charles Darwin Research Station

The Charles Darwin Research Center is the matrix of all the scientific researches in the Galapagos Islands. It is from these headquarters from where all the most sensitive conservation projects are being directed. The conservation and preservation of giant tortoises, marine iguanas among others are some of the examples of the Center labor. We can walk along the core of the Research Center where we can find the corrals where the giant tortoises are being breed as well as the corrals where the land iguanas are being studied. The Research Center offers a brand new Interpretation Center with some of the most important samples of the Center Collection.

Overnight stay on Santa Cruz.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leisure day!

Spend the day at your leisure, enjoying the beautiful beaches or the wonderful wildlife

We recommend enjoying our optional excursion with extra cost:

*Optional Tour: Navigable Tour to neighbor islands

Embark our motor yacht and enjoy of a daily excursion with a welcoming crew members and knowledgeable naturalist guide as you experience the remote islands in comfort and style. Our daily excursions will take you to experience the Galapagos Islands in a safe and comfortable manner. We can visit North Seymour and Bachas, South Plazas, Santa Fe Island or Bartolome, and Sullivan Bay. Along the way, we might see leaping rays or other sea life, while enjoying the vastness of the Pacific. The yacht tour lets you see the Islands and their wildlife in their most pristine state. Island visited may vary according to National Park regulations

Overnight stay on Santa Cruz.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Delight in a stunning view of this colorful town from a different perspective. Depart from Puerto Ayora main pier and ride around the bay, enjoy the vibrant feeling of this particular nautical lifestyle while searching for the perfect spot to relish a wonderful sunset surrounded by the intriguing wildlife. Overnight stay on Santa Cruz.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leisure day!

Spend the day at your leisure, enjoying the beautiful beaches or the wonderful wildlife.

We recommend enjoying our optional excursion with extra cost:

*Optional Tour: Navigable Tour to neighbor islands

Embark our motor yacht and enjoy of a daily excursion with a welcoming crew members and knowledgeable naturalist guide as you experience the remote islands in comfort and style. Our daily excursions will take you to experience the Galapagos Islands in a safe and comfortable manner. We can visit North Seymour and Bachas, South Plazas, Santa Fe Island or Bartolome, and Sullivan Bay. Along the way, we might see leaping rays or other sea life, while enjoying the vastness of the Pacific. The yacht tour lets you see the Islands and their wildlife in their most pristine state. Island visited may vary according to National Park regulations

Overnight stay on Santa Cruz.

Meals Included:Breakfast

Head back to the mainland, with a flight from Baltra. Arrive in Guayaquil.

Guayaquil City tour Quito is Ecuador’s colonial and political capital, but Guayaquil is the country’s largest city and busiest port. Situated on the impressive, slow moving, River Guayas, this bustling city has an endearing, tropical atmosphere. There is plenty to see, and this is an important stop on every Ecuadorian tour. On this day tour we will visit several of the city’s highlights, such as the Malecon 2000.

Overnight stay in Guayaquil.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy a delicious breakfast and at indicated time you will be transferred to the airport for your international flight.

Meals included: Breakfast.

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