Day 01: Departure from your destination – arrive in Quito

Welcome to Ecuador!

Arrival at Quito´s airport, reception, and transfer to the hotel in the Quito district, check

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 02: Quito City Tour / Mitad del Mundo / Cable Car

Pick up from the hotel in Quito. The tour will then continue from the Basilica Church, where we will make a brief stop to visit it. After walking through the colonial streets, we will then stop at the Independence Plaza to admire the Cathedral and the Government’s Palace. We will also visit the Company Church, The Sagrario´s Church and San Francisco´s Church, which was built during the 17th century, you will also have the chance to taste Ecuadorian chocolate. After visiting the historical sights, we will go to the Teleferico. This is one of the best ways to enjoy our city with views of beautiful valleys, snow-capped mountains and the capital, Quito. From a point at more than 13,000 feet (4000 m), you will enjoy magnificent views of the city. After lunch, you will head to the Middle of the World monument, where you can stand right in the middle of the equatorial line and straddle the two hemispheres. In addition, you will have a chance to participate in several experiments at the Intiñan Museum.  You will also enjoy the amazing landscape in Pululahua inhabited crater just 5 minutes from the Equatorial line. Accommodation in Quito

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 03:  Cotopaxi Volcano & Quilotoa Lagoon

The excursion starts at 7:00 from your hotel in Quito. Meet your guide and board a vehicle heading south of Quito and go along the Avenue of the Volcanoes and pass through the towns of Latacunga and Pujilí. Stop to visit an indigenous local house from the “Paramos” to learn about their traditions and way of life. Continue up to the Quilotoa volcano, where you will be able to descend to the lake located inside the crater or just walk around the crater. You will also be able to enjoy an unforgettable experience by kayak in the lagoon(optional). Lunch and drive back towards Cotopaxi National Park.  Once you reach the National Park, you will visit the Interpretation Center and Limpiopungo lagoon. Take a short hike in the surrounding Limpiopungo valley. Overnight in Cotopaxi

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

Day 04: Baños – Puyo

 Breakfast in the hotel. You will depart to Puyo, where you will enjoy lunch, and walk in the jungle in the Reserve Hola Vida for 2 hours, to learn about the plants and trees of the Amazon and visit a waterfall where you can swim. Visit the indigenous community where you can participate in traditional dancing, and use the blowpipe; in their museum, you can purchase some handicrafts like necklaces, bracelets, or pottery. Overnight in Baños.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 05: Baños – Pailon del Diablo waterfall

Breakfast in the hotel. A day of exploration of the town of Baños and the picturesque Valley of the waterfalls. The Pailon del Diablo is the largest and most spectacular Ecuador´s falls but other smaller ones are also impressive. Also, visit Manto de la Novia waterfalls and the Tree House. There is also an opportunity to practice extreme sports where our guide and driver are at your disposal for the whole day to give you the maximum flexibility in the visits that you would like to make such as a canopy or rappel in the waterfalls.

Overnight in Riobamba

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 06: Alausí – The Devil´s Nose Train – Ingapirca Ruins – Cuenca

Breakfast in the hotel.

Early in the morning, we depart to Alausí, a beautiful old town with a hundred colonial houses. Time to take the spectacular train considered the most difficult train of the XX century. You will descend gradually from the highlands to the lowlands, at times zigzagging or hugging the cliffs. In the descending at the lowest point the incredible devil’s nose an interesting rock will appear on the horizon. The train descends and then returns to Alausí again. After lunch, we´ll depart to Cuenca.  A short stop on the way to visit the ruins of Ingapirca, Ecuador’s largest archeological Inca. Overnight in Cuenca.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

Day 07: Cuenca – Chordeleg & Gualaceo artisans’ markets

Breakfast in the hotel.

In the morning we depart to Chordeleg. The tour begins with a visit to the picturesque town of San Bartolomé, famous to produce guitars.  There are several workshops along the main road. On the way, we observe the famous Cholas Cuencanas, women who weave Panama hats while they walk or wait for the bus.  At the old town of Chordeleg, where work in gold, silver, filigree, wood, ceramics, and more catch your attention.  We´ll visit the central park and its church and allow free time for shopping.

We will also visit the typical Food Market of Gualaceo, where you may try the typical delicious Hornado (Roasted Pork).  A dish that consists of baked pork with llapingachos (potato) and salad.

Finally, we arrive at a workshop on Chales or “Macanas”, a typical outfit of our Cholas Cuencanas.  The artisans explain the process of making these famous and unique fabrics.

Overnight in Cuenca

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 08: Local chocolate farm – Guayaquil City Tour

Breakfast in the hotel. Early in the morning, we will depart to Guayaquil (a 4-hour drive) from Cuenca. On the way, we will visit a local farm for an interactive chocolate tour and lunch.  In the afternoon, we will walk along the length of the Malecon 2000, visit the Integration Plaza, the Glass Palace, and Olmedo Plaza, etc. We will also visit the colorful barrio of Las Peñas, famous for its wooden architecture and art galleries. From the Fort of Santa Ana, we’ll have a beautiful panoramic view of Guayaquil and the Guayas River.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

09: Baltra – Santa Cruz

Pick up at the airport by your guide. Then, we will move to the Itabaca Canal and cross on a ferry. Later we will drive with the vehicle to the ranch “El Chato” in the highlands to see giant outdoor turtles. We will visit the Charles Darwin Station, which is primarily an international scientific research station located on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora. We will go to your interpretation center to learn about the geology, climate, natural history, and conservation of the Galapagos Islands. In the evening, you can choose from many restaurants near the pier for dinner on your own. Overnight in Santa Cruz

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

Day 10: Full day navigable tour

Breakfast in the hotel. Depending on the dates and/or navigable site available, pick-up from the hotel will be early in the morning (6-or 7:00 am) to take you to the small vessel at the embarkation point in Puerto Ayora for a unique experience with Galapagos wildlife and endemic vegetation. The destination can be either Santa Fe, South Plazas, North Seymour, Pinzon, or Floreana. The activities will include hiking, snorkeling, swimming, and breathtaking sightseeing. After land and sea excursions, we will return to the hotel in Santa Cruz where you can relax and later have dinner at the restaurant specified by the guide. Overnight in Santa Cruz.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

Day 11: Isabela – Tintoreras

 At 6:30 am, you will take the speed boat to Isabela, (2 hours). At arrival, a guide will transfer you to your hotel and you will have the rest of the morning free. If you want, you can walk to the nearby flamingo lagoon to spot these graceful birds or visit (entrance free) the tortoise breeding center. In the afternoon, we will visit “Las Tintoreras,” a chain of small islets full of the cove and hidden beaches. The islet of Tintoreras is situated in the south of Puerto Villamil. It has a bay where it is possible to see sea lions, marine turtles, iguanas, manta rays, etc. This bay is connected by a superficial crack with crystalline water which is closed off during low tide. In this crack, it is possible to see the sharks from Blanca Point swimming with the rest of the tropical fish and sea lions (snorkel).  Overnight in Isabela.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

Day 12: Isabela – Cabo Rosa Tuneles

Breakfast in the hotel. Departure by boat to Cabo Rosa (45 min by boat), where lava flowed into the ocean and formed beautiful lava tunnels. There you will see penguins, blue-footed boobies, and sea turtles. However, the highlight is diving. You can see sharks, turtles/sea lions, sea lions, rays, seahorses, and much tropical fish. The tour to Cabo Rosa lasts approximately 5 hours. The rest of the day is free. You can enjoy the beautiful beach of Isabela or snorkel in the Laguna de la Concha de Perla. Overnight in Isabela.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

Day 13: Sierra Negra Volcano – Hike

 Breakfast at the hotel. Pick up by our guide, then, we will be ready to walk through spectacular lava landscapes overlooking the volcanoes of northern Isabela and Fernandina. The hike to the Sierra Negra Volcano and the Chico Volcano is 16 km long. We will see the second-largest volcanic crater in the world and explore different areas of vegetation. We will have lunch and the rest of the day is free. You can enjoy the beautiful beach in Isabela, or you can dive in the Laguna Concha de Perla (the free time snorkeling equipment is not included, but it can be hired locally). Overnight in Isabela.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

Day 14: Isabela – Transfer to Baltra- Flight to your destination

 At 6:00 am a guide will pick up from the hotel and transferred to the pier to take the 6:30 boat to Santa Cruz.  At Puerto Ayora, you will have breakfast and departure for Baltra to catch your flight back to the mainland – your flight shall depart at 11:30 am minimum, not before. Board on the flight to Quito or Guayaquil. Arrival and connection with international flight.

Fly to your destination

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast