Ecuador: An Insider's View

03/29/2023

A new plan is in place for a three week tour of Ecuador. Week one - Galapagos Island; Week two - the mountains and Amazonia; Week three - the coast. I will be offering this tour twice in 2024; the first time in January and the second time in July.

Week One - Galapagos (only) $4,750Cdn

Travel day - arrive in Quito by evening
Airport to hotel transfer
Hotel San Francisco de Quito

Day 1 Historic Quito walk-about
Taxi to Tababela
Hotel Quinta La Constanza (Tababela)/shuttle service

Day 2 Fly to Galapagos
Transport from Isla Baltra to Puerto Ayora
Charles Darwin Scientific Centre
Hotel Germania

Day 3 Tour One - North Seymour Island
Hotel Germania

Day 4 Tortuga Bay a.m.
El Chato Tortuga Reserve p.m.
Hotel Germania

Day 5 Tour Two - Isla Pizon, Daphne Meyor (snorkel)
Hotel Germania

Day 6 Fly to Quito
Puerto Ayora to Isla Baltra
Airport to hotel
Hotel San Francisco de Quito

Day 7 Quito five highlight tour
Taxi to Tababela
EB Hotel with shuttle service to airport
OR Hotel San Francisco de Quito (for those staying)

Travel notes:
Sierra travellers arrive on day 6 and join the group for Quito tour on day 7

Week Two - Sierras (only) $3,250Cdn

Day 6 & 7 of week one as part of week two

Day 1 to Quilotoa to Latacunga
Villa de Tunguca

Day 2 to Baños de Agua Santa
Geothermal spa
Hotel de mi Pueblo

Day 3 Baños
Waterfall tour, Tree House
Hotel de mi Pueblo

Day 4 Baños
Amazonia tour
Hotel de mi Pueblo

Day 5 to Cuenca
El Presidente Hotel

Day 6 Cuenca
Chordeleg, Sig Sig, Gualaceo
El Presidente Hotel

Day 7 to Guayaquil
City walking tour - malecon, iguana park
Hotel Las Pinas Siglo XXI
New arrivals - airport pick up, hotel

Travel notes:
Coastal travellers arrive on Day 7
Those departing leave after Day 7 from Guayaquil

Week Three - Coast $2,700Cdn

Day 7 of week 2 is arrival day

Day 1 to Salinas
Chocolatera, beach
Hotel Casablanca

Day 2 Salinas
Beach day
Hotel Casablanca

Day 3 to Puerto Lopez
Agua Blanca
Tuzco Lodge

Day 4 Montecristi day trip
Tuzco Lodge
Shrimp dinner

Day 5 Puerto Lopez
Isla de la Plata
Tuzco Lodge

Day 6 Puerto Lopez
Free day
Tuzco Lodge

Day 7 to Guayaquil
Artisanal market
Hotel Las Pinas Siglo XXI

Travel day to go home

Prices (in Canadian $s):
Week One - Galapagos only 4,750
Week Two - Sierras only 3,250
Week Three - Coast only 2,700

Weeks One & Two 7,700
Weeks Two & Three 5,250
Weeks One, Two & Three 8,750

Travel notes:
Quoted costs include accommodations, ground travel, airfare to Galapagos, tours in the Galapagos and museum entry fees
Quoted costs DO NOT include: airfare to and from Ecuador, travel and health insurance, passport costs, and most meals (some hotels include breakfast).
Hotels will primarily be boutique hotels; the hotels identified will be the preferred hotels, however depending on when bookings are made, availability will be the primary factor. Comparable hotels will be selected if the identified ones are not available.
Minimum of three people per week are required to make this tour plan viable. If there are more than six participants, the tour price will be adjusted downward. If there are 10 participants, the tour price will be adjusted downward one more time.
12 is the maximum number of participants for any week of the tour.
With questions, contact Mark Reimer at [email protected] or 1-204-381-3490

10/27/2019

Unfortunately I did not get enough people for this trip in January, 2020. However, with a few location tweaks, I will try again for January, 2021! Keep in touch to see the ongoing efforts. I will also be putting together a tour for July, 2021, which will be during peak whale-watching season.

09/30/2019

As temperatures cool off in Manitoba, they are warming up in Ecuador. A January trip looks more and more appealing every day!

09/22/2019

This is a reminder of a few things: 1 - there will be an evening meeting at the Canada One Travel office in Steinbach (7:30, Oct 8) with information, and a chance to ask any questions you have; 2 - that early bird sign up by Oct 8 gives you a $150 price discount; and 3 - a minimum of five people are required to make this trip happen. Please help spread the word to anyone whom you think might be interested.

09/10/2019

two seats have been spoken for! three more needed to insure the trip happens. If you are interested, send me a message and let's talk.

09/10/2019

09/06/2019

https://ecuadorinsidersview.wordpress.com/

09/06/2019

09/06/2019

Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Travel day: Winnipeg, Toronto, Quito Day 2 Quito - walking tour of the historic center Day 3 Quito - city tour: teleferico (gondola to 14,000+ feet, Intiñan Museum, Pululahua Crater, el Panicillo
Day 4 Quito - tour to Otavalo (artisan market), Saint Paul’s Lake scenic view, Peguche waterfall, Cotacachi (leather goods)
Day 5 Quito - open day
Day 6 Quilotoa - crater lake (picture on bottom of next page)
Day 7 Baños - city walking tour & geothermal spa visit Day 8 Baños - waterfalls tour, “tree house” at the top of the world, night-time city overview, guava candy factory tour
Day 9 Baños - free day OPTIONAL excursion into Amazonia - Puyo
Day 10 Alausi - the Nose of the Devil train
Day 11 Ingapirka (Inca Ruins) and on to Cuenca Day 12 Cuenca - city tour & tour of cathedral and churches Day 13 Cuenca - tour to Gualeceo and Chordeleg Day 14 Cuenca - open day
Day 15 Salinas travel day
Day 16 Salinas - La Chocolatera tour and seafood feast Day 17 Salinas - beach day
Day 18 Salinas options: archeological museum & markets OR Montañita (surf & tourist town) [or another beach day] Day 19 Guayaquil - walking tour to include the malecon, Las Peñas, la Perla, the Cathedral and “Iguana” Park Day 20 Guayaquil - city tour Day 21 Travel day - Guayaquil to Quito to Toronto to Winnipeg

09/06/2019

21 Day Tour
Ecuador is known primarily for the Galapagos Islands, which are beautiful! But so is the continental part of Ecuador that few people seem to know about. Discover why Ecuador tourism suggests that “Ecuador is all you need!”
Mountains & Beaches
Our tour begins in the world’s highest capital city, Quito, and visits the #1 retirement destination on the beach, Salinas.
Your travel fee
Minimum of five travellers - $6400 includes: guides (local & Canadian), airfare, insurances, boutique hotels, breakfasts, entry fees, transportation in dedicated vehicles, and gratuities for all those who serve us. Early bird sign up bonus: Sign up by October 8 and receive $150 discount.
Cost reduced to $6150 if there are more than nine tour participants (max 15).

09/05/2019

This album contains pictures from all over Ecuador, and offers a small glimpse into the beauty, tranquility, nature that inspires a love of life in those who experience it.

09/05/2019

January 8 to 29, 2020 is going to be a journey of discovery, discovering many well known, and a few hidden gems, in Ecuador. I am leading a three week tour, with the help of Mary Jane Hiebert from Canada One Travel Agency. Please read all the details in the various posts on this page, as well as the attached flyer. Please contact me with any questions you have, and also please share this page with your friends and neighbours and ... so as many people who are considering a trip to warmer climates in January might consider this trip.