18/06/2024
Ecuador Tour & Galapagos Cruise & Stay! - South America
Itinerary:
➤Thu 14 November 2024: Quito
Flights from Heathrow Airport to Quito Mariscal Sucre Airport Ecuador via Miami Intl Airport
Reception at the airport. You will be met by a staff member with a sign with your name.
Transfer to a hotel in the northern part of the town, Mariscal. This is a convenient location in the tourist area of Quito, close to restaurants, bars, and entertainment.
➤Fri 15 Nov 2025: City Tour in Quito
Half-day private city tour in the historical part of Quito, including La Basilica Church, La Compaia Church and El Panecillo Hill. We leave the hotel, by private transportation, and will see the transformation from the new part of the city to the stunning historical and colonial part of Quito. We will have time to see all the interesting churches, plazas etc. But also simply enjoy the local atmosphere, the many shops and sellers. After these interesting sights, we continue to El Panecillo, the hill in the centre of Quito overviewing the city and the historical centre. Also from here, on clear days, we may observe several of the snow-capped volcanoes surrounding Quito.
Night in hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast
➤Sat 16 Nov 2024: Bike downhill the Cloud Forest. Visit Colibri in Nono. End in Mindo
Departure after breakfast.
The first stop is at Nono (2700 m), which is known for its birdlife, especially the Colibri.
From None, we will take the bikes and follow an unpaved Nono-Mindo Road from Nono to Tandayapa. There
is fantastic birding all along the road and we will make stops to observe the wild-growing Orchids, and the
outstanding flora and fauna.
In Tandayapa we will visit the Colibris in a reserve.
A boxed lunch is provided and will be enjoyed on the way.
Continue the last part to Mindo in the vehicle.
Arrival and check in to hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
➤Sun 17 Nov 2024: Hiking to the waterfalls & Zipline. Butterflies, Orchids / Chocolate
After breakfast, we will explore the nature of Mindo.
The first activity is hiking near the Waterfalls of Mindo. The hike starts from the Waterfalls and goes through the tropical forest. The length and duration can be from 1 to 3 hours, according to the clients and their wishes. The next activity is the Mindo Zipline. Here we will use the 10 different cables, and do a 1,5 h and 3600-meter-long tour over the treetops while enjoying the forest from above.
The zipline tour includes all the necessary safety equipment; cable with a double line, Petzel equipment, track pulleys, helmets, gloves, carabiners and 100% trained guides. It is combined to fly by the cables with short walks between arrival and departure points. During the experience, we will observe the diversity of flora and fauna (toucans, tangaras, orchids, and landscapes).
Return to Mindo for lunch.
In the afternoon, choose between 2 activities:
1: Visit the Butterfly reserve and the Orchid farm
2: Visit the chocolate factory, El Quetzal.
1: The Butterfly Reserve Mariposario de Mindo is a beautiful breeding farm dedicated to the exhibition, reproduction and conservation of butterflies. Visitors witness the whole process of the birth and flight of these lovely creatures.
Visit the Orchid farm, which houses a fascinating collection of about 200 different species. This farm also has a small viewpoint for bird watching and especially to observe hummingbirds.
2: Visit the chocolate factory, El Quelzal. Here you will have a chocolate tour with an explanation of the process from beans to bar. Visit the small farm and learn more about the harvesting and processing of cacao, with a guided tasting of the unique cacao flavors and the brownie.
Included meals: Breakfast
➤Mon 18 Nov 2024: Mindo Otavalo. Visit the Indian Market and Peguche Waterfall
Departure from Mindo after breakfast.
The drive is fascinating, driving through the relatively dry areas, caused by the rain shadow from the volcanoes and it is easy to observe the sediments suggesting the formation of this part of the Andes. We cross the Equatorial line and soon pass into the lush Otavalo region, where the Otavalo Indians have continued their proud traditions. This valley is gorgeous and surrounded by smaller volcanoes and lakes. We visit the Otavalo market where you will find all sorts of souvenirs but it is perhaps even more interesting to watch the local people and their daily life.
Before heading to the Hacienda, visit the waterfall Peguche. The Peguche waterfall is powerful, and the beauty is best appreciated from the viewpoint.
Peguche waterfall is essential for the indigenous Kichwa culture and is used for a purification ritual for the Inti Raymi the Inca solstice and the summer solstice.
Arrive at the Hacienda by the end of the day. Here, you will have a nice dinner included.
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
➤Tue 19 Nov 2024: Otavalo Cuicocha Crater Lake Quisato Equatorial line Quito
After breakfast, visit the beautiful Cuicocha Crater Lake. It is a beautiful view of this lake and the green mountains surrounding it. The hiking around the lake takes around 1 hour. Afterwards, well continue to Cotacachi, a small village, known for its handcraft in leather materials.
On the way back to Quito, visit the Quisato Monument.
Quisato is the only monument of the Middle of the World located on the Equatorial line. It is a large sundial of 52 meters in diameter, made with a large stone mosaic that indicates the different lines of the solstices and equinoxes, as well as the hours of the day.
Return to Quito by the end of the day.
Included meals: Breakfast
➤Wed 20 Nov 2024 to Sat 23 Nov 2024: Galapagos: 5-day Cruise
We suggest a 5-day itinerary on the tourist superior catemaran Archipel I, or any of our other cruises. (The itinerary below is for the Archipel Itinerary A5.)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY VISITOR SITES
1 - Thu AM - Arrival to Baltra Airport (GPS) PM - Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre (Santa Cruz)
2 - Fri AM - Morena Point (Isabela) PM Urbina Bay (Isabela)
3 - Sat AM - Espinoza Point (Fernandina) PM - Vicente Roca Point (Isabela)
4 - Sun AM Egas Point (Santiago) PM Rabida
5 - Mon AM - Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz) Transfer to Baltra Airport (GPS)
➤Sun 24 Nov 2024: End of cruise. Travel to Isabela Island
The cruise ends during the morning hours in Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz). Some hours free to visit Galapagos biggest town, Puerto Ayora, and to enjoy the restaurants before checking in to the ferry and head for the largest (and some would say the most beautiful) island, Isabela. The ferry takes of at 2 pm and its a 3 h boat ride. Arrival to Isabela and transfer to hotel.
Included meals: Breakfast
➤Mon 25 Nov 2024: Isabela Excursion to the Sierra Negra volcano
Today there is a day excursion to the Sierra Negra volcano. Pick up at the hotel early in the morning and arrive at the foot of the crater. From the entrance, we take a 30 minute walk to the crater, with an amazing view of the 1450 m volcano. It is the second largest crater in the world, with a diameter of 9,6 km. The volcano is active and had a major eruption in 2005, and we can clearly see the remains of the lava rivers from this eruption. Later we visit the Chico volcano, an area not often visited, where we can appreciate clear signs of volcanic activity such as fumaroles and mineral associations.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
➤Tue 26 Nov 2024: Isabela Visit to Tintoreras Island
Depending on the time of the year, you will either have the tour to Tintoreas in the morning or in the afternoon. Pick up at the hotel and a short boat trip to Los Tintoreras, named after a shark which is abundant around the Galapagos. On this small island we have the chance to spot many marine iguanas and also the Tintoreras sharks in a canal. The snorkeling is excellent around this island, and we reserve plenty of time to enjoy the waters and the wildlife.
Included meals: Breakfast
➤Wed 27 Nov 2024: Quito
End of Galapagos tour. Early morning transfer to the peer in Villamil and ferry to Santa Cruz. From here transfer to Baltra airport. Flight to Guayaquil and international connection in the afternoon.
1 Night at Ikala Quito Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast
➤Thu 28 November 2024: Departure
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