The Best of Ecuador & Galapagos 12 Days / 11 Nights

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Quito - Quilotoa Lake - Baños
2 stops
1
You´ll drive from Quito through Andean Volcanoes Avenue heading from where you may admire Cotopaxi Volcano, the second highest volcano of Ecuador.
4 hours • Admission ticket free
2
Laguna Quilotoa
Visit Quilotoa Lake with its emerald colored lake located inside a volcano crater, is one of the Andes’ treasure. The drive to Quilotoa passes through the Zumbahua canyon and various indigenous towns and farmlands. Once here there several trails but if you are a really lover nature hiking around the crater is a great option as this nice walk that constantly goes up and down and takes you all around the crater. You are sure to not miss a single angle of its beauty. Afternoon continue driving to Baños town.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Baños surrounding area, the avenue of the waterfalls
3 stops
3
La Casa del Arbol
This is a super famous place to visit, also known as the Swing at the End of the World located just 20 minutes driving from the main town. It’s a little treehouse with swings on either side that go over the steep slope of the mountain. The swing overlooks the Tungurahua volcano, which is an amazing sight on a clear day.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
4
Cascada el Manto de la Novia
Visit the route known as the “Ruta de las Cascadas”, or “Waterfall Road”. It lives up to it’s name. There are three tunnels on the way. These are for motor vehicles. If you want to survive the trip, do not enter these tunnels on bike. Along the way, you’ll see tons of really nice waterfalls along the way such as Agoyan, Manto de la Novia and others. These include some cable cars and zip lines sending every visitor over a gorge with a pretty view.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
5
Cascada El Pailon
Once getting on to the Pailon del Diablo, there are two paths to can take to see the waterfall which offer a different experience. The Lower path takes you down through an area that has a really nice jungle feel to it. It’s a bit more of a hike, but you’ll be able to get to a little suspension bridge that will take you across the river where you can get a really awesome view of the waterfall. If you want a shorter hike and more of a view of the actual waterfall up close, take the upper path. Finally, afternoon it's time to back to Baños.
3 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 3
Baños - Chimborazo Volcano - Alausi
2 stops
6
Chimborazo Province
After breakfast you will departure to Chimborazo reserve where is base the highest Volcano of Ecuador with an altitude of 6,310 meters above sea level. It will be a nice challenge for mountaineering lovers, however, in our tour, you will explore and enjoy up to the 5,100 meters and appreciate the flora of páramo and the fauna of this area as the vicuña, a species of camelid. Afternoon continue driving to the south until to get to Alausi town.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
7
This town nestles half-way down a steep hillside in a spectacular and vertiginous landscape where the western ridge of the Andes falls away to reveal a series of cloud-coated valleys and a road dropping away towards the coast.
Admission ticket free
Day 4
Alausi - Ingapirca Archaelogical Ruins - Cuenca
3 stops
8
After breakfast you will need to continue driving to your next destination which is the biggest inca-cañari archaeological ruins.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
9
Ingapirca Ruins
You will visit the archeological site of Ingapirca which is the most important place left by the Inca occupation in Ecuador, it was built by the “Cañaris” and “Incas”with marvel at the different styles of construction of the temples as well as the precise solar calculations and aqueduct system.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
10
Cuenca
Cuenca is synonymous of culture and heritage, elements that added to the warmth of its people ends up falling in love with all those who visit it.
Admission ticket free
Day 5
Explore Cuenca
1 stop
11
Cuenca
Cuenca: After breakfast you will explore around this charming colonial city, declared a Cultural Heritage site of Mankind by the UNESCO. The city gets familiar with its colonial buildings with beautifully decorated patios; it’s nice and gentle inhabitants and the cozy atmosphere. The trip up to Mirador de Turi is one of the most popular excursions in Cuenca. Turi is located in the perfect place to bask in the breathtaking panorama of the entire city of Cuenca. Near the city center you will also visit a Panama hat fabric made of the local ‘Paja Toquilla’ palm leaves, are originally Ecuadorian hats and Cuenca is one of the main cities exporting this worldwide known product.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Cuenca - Cajas National Park - Cacao Farm - Guayaquil
3 stops
12
El Cajas National Park
The park sits 30 kilometers west of Cuenca in the Ecuadorian highlands. Covering an area of over 28,000 hectares, the high altitude grassland ranges in elevation between 3,100 and 4,450 meters. This area is part of the Páramo characterized by high levels of precipitation, cool temperatures, high humidity and dry winds making this place the rick choice for hiker lovers.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
13
Visit a local organic cacao farm where you will learn the process of making cacao into chocolate. Eat the cacao raw, see the different stages of the tree’s growth, the steps in the process, and of course, try some 100% cacao, as well as processed chocolate. Finally continue to Guayaquil.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
14
Guayaquil is not only the beating commercial heart of Ecuador but a vibrant sprawling city, growing ever more confident based at the pacific coast. A half-dozen high-rises give it a big-city profile, and several hillsides are engulfed by colorful houses.
Admission ticket free
Day 7
Flight Guayaquil to Galapagos, Santa Cruz Island
3 stops
15
Guayaquil
After breakfast you will be picked up by the driver to go to the airport to catch the plane to Galapagos Islands.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
16
Galapagos Islands
The Enchanted Island are a bucket-list destination and thanks to its abundance of friendly and plentiful wildlife makes the Galapagos Islands a perfect destination for animal lovers. After all, there’s no other place where you can experience the concentration of so much natural wonder with a unique environment as its flora and fauna.
3 minutes • Admission ticket free
17
Rancho Primicias
After a flight of 2-3 hours you will reach the Galapagos islands. The first visit will be to the Twins “Gemelos” not real craters, these formations were created by the collapse of surface material in underground fissures and chambers. Afterwards, we continue to one of the ranches in the highland area with abundant green vegetation, where you may observe Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat. Another attraction here is an excursion through the lava tunnel. Lunch will be served here and finally continue to Puerto Ayora town.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 8
Santa Cruz Island, Visit Charles Darwsin Station - boat to Isabela Island
2 stops
18
Charles Darwin Research Station
Today you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, founded in 1959, which carries out educational and developmental projects in support of the National Park Service, such as conservation and sustainable management of flora and fauna. Their aim is to preserve this natural habitat in every aspect, allowing visitors to appreciate the original ecosystems.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
19
Puerto Ayora
In the afternoon you will board a public yacht to the largest island of all, Isabela island where you will be transfer by our local driver to the hotel located at Puerto Villamil based at 3 minutes from the main pier.
Admission ticket free
Day 9
Isabela Island: Excursion to Wetland area and Snorkel at Tintoreras Islet
2 stops
20
Isabela Island Wetlands Complex
You will visit the Wetland area that consist of lagoons where a number of flamingos live among swamps and mangroves. A variety of unique bird species, such as common stilts, gallinules and white-cheeked pintails also inhabit the area.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
21
Las Tintoreras
Las Tintoreras is one of the most well-known places of Isabela Island for snorkeling activities. This small islet receives its name from the reef sharks also known as white-tip sharks that can be seen swimming along with fish and sea lions in the channels when the tide is low. You will get a boat to get there and take a short trail that takes you to see sea lions and a spectacular water alley full of resting sharks. Afterwards back to boat the get ready to jump in to the water and admire the marine life.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 10
Isabela Island: Hike to Sierra Volcano - Boat to Santa Cruz Island
2 stops
22
Sierra Negra
After breakfast be ready to drive up to explore the Sierra Negra Volcano, make sure you will be handling comfortable walking shoes and possibly a rain jacket, ensuring our cameras are stored in waterproof bags, with sunscreen, hats, water and a boxed lunch from the hotel. You will travel some 45 minutes by truck or bus to the start point of the 12 km hike. The hike is long but fairly easy, without steep climbs or descents to the second-largest crater in the world, measuring 6 miles in diameter, and 300 feet deep. If the time allows you will also visit Volcan Chico, which provides a spectacular view of the incredible moonlike terrain. At noon back to the town.
5 hours • Admission ticket free
23
Puerto Ayora
In the afternoon you will board a public yacht to Santa Cruz Island where you will be transfer by our local driver to the hotel located at Puerto Ayora based at 5-15 minutes from the main pier.
Admission ticket free
Day 11
Free day at Santa Cruz Island
1 stop
24
Puerto Ayora
Today you will spend the day by your own at the Puerto Ayora Town to visit other places such as Las Grietas, Tortuga Bay or just relax at your hotel before return to the mainland.
8 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 12
Flight Galapagos to Quito or Guayaquil
1 stop
25
Baltra
After breakfast, get ready to get on your private transportation to Bactra’s airport, to board a plane returning to Quito or Guayaquil. END OF SERVICES.
1 hour • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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