Best of Ecuador and Galapagos Cruise

Make your own way to the airport for your international flight to Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. Enjoy inflight meals and services.  Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met at the airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Quito is the largest colonial town in the Americas and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you will see extensive architecture ranging from modern skyscrapers to colonial churches.


Overnight in Quito

After breakfast, you will enjoy a fully guided city tour of Quito. The tour begins visiting Quito`s downtown, one of the biggest and best-preserved colonial centers in South America. Our first visit will be Independence Square or “Plaza Grande”, surrounded by important historical buildings, followed by a visit to the iconic La Compañia de Jesus church, which dates to the 17th century and is considered one of the most beautiful baroque churches in South America. Among these attractions, other must-see highlights are The San Francisco Church and Monastery, built a few months after the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century and the Virgen of the Panecillo, an enormous statue built atop the Panecillo hill overlooking all of Quito, a truly unique view. After our visit to Quitos historic district, our journey continues toward the Middle of the World and a drive of about 30 km (18.6 mi) north of Quito, where the equatorial line divides the northern and southern hemispheres. First, we will visit the main monument built in honor of the French scientific expedition that arrived in Ecuador in the 18th century, and we will also visit the correct location of the equator line at the Inti Ñan Museum. After the visit we will return to Quito.




Overnight in Quito

Today, you will depart Quito and drive north to the mainly indigenous town of Otavalo driving north towards Imbabura, also known as the Lake Province, while enjoying an exciting trip by tasting exotic fruit in the Guayllabamba valley. Cross the Equatorial Line in Cayambe, where on a clear day, it is possible to admire its majestic snow-capped volcano (5,790 m. / 18,996 ft), the world´s highest point crossed by the equator. This is an ideal spot to try Cayambes famous salt biscuits with leaf cheese, this regions traditional snack. At the base of Imbabura volcano, you will be able to enjoy the picturesque view of Ecuador's largest lake - San Pablo. When we arrive in the town of Otavalo, it will be time to visit its world-famous Indigenous Market, the largest in South America. Here is where vendors proudly offer a stunning variety of weavings such as the famous ponchos, among other textiles like rugs, mittens, and scarves. This market is like a rainbow due to the colors of the textiles exhibited. Without a doubt, it is an ideal place to find handicrafts, jewelry, and other artisanal craftwork. Our trip will continue by visiting the small town of Cotacachi, which is well known for its hand- crafted leather products. Methods of tanning, stretching and molding the leather skins have been passed down through the generations and perfected into an art. In the afternoon drive to Papallacta.




Overnight in Papallacta

This morning you will travel the same route which was taken by Francisco de Orellana on his way to explore the legendary “El Dorado”, in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region, towards the moors of the Eastern Mountain range. During this trip, you will see a radical change in scenery due to the changing altitude. Surrounded by a beautiful landscape at 3,300 m above sea level, you will discover the Papallacta Hot Springs, where you can enjoy a relaxing bath in the natural hot waters.




Overnight in Papallacta

This day after the lunch we will continue to Misahualli is an interesting tourist place in Ecuador located in the Amazon region of the Napo Province. Enjoy nature, adventure and gastronomy. The road will end at Punta Ahuano, a tiny port town on the northern bank of the Napo River, where canoes will await you for a short ride downstream to your lodge. Enjoy a refreshing welcome cocktail and unwind in the beautiful gardens full of jungle plants and flowers before enjoying a delicious dinner, accompanied by the nightly sounds of the Amazon Jungle.




Overnight in the Amazon

We begin the day with an early breakfast. Walking through primary and secondary forest trails, we observe distinct species of birds and insects as well as a great variety of trees and medicinal plants. The guides explain how such plants are used not only in medicine, but also in construction and other local activities. Along the trails, there are several opportunities to up the adventure factor, with hanging bridges and vines for swinging from tree to tree like Tarzan. We go on to experience the true adventure of explorers past, building and navigating a raft! On a small river island our guide shows us how to bind balsa logs together with rope to form a ‘vessel, so those who wish can float down the Napo for about an hour, en route back to La Casa del Suizo. The duration of this visit is around 4 hours. Lunch at La Casa del Suizo, followed by “The Island”: a one-hour walk around a totally flat river island where we can spot a great variety of plants and insects. Later we visit the Mariposario (Butterfly House) where we witness the awesome life-cycles of butterflies.




Overnight in the Amazon

After breakfast we depart for the trip up the mountains and continue to Baños. We will visit Baños, which is a small city is located in a valley with waterfalls and hot springs. One of the main attractions is the Tungurahua volcano and a variety of adventure sports. Baños waterfall route is one of the best natural attractions in Ecuador. Along a 20-kilometre stretch of the Pastaza River, there are over eleven waterfalls all worthy of seeing. The first waterfall we will see directly on the Pastaza River is the Agoyan Waterfall. This double waterfall is certainly impressive, but the best part is definitely the cable car that carries you over the top. Translated as Brides Veil Waterfall, the “Manto de la Novia” waterfall makes it easy to see how this it got its name. The 40-metre-tall, thin, and veil-like waterfall is best seen up close as the River Chinchín flows into the Pastaza. The “Pailon del Diablo” (Devils Cauldron) waterfall is easily the most impressive around Baños, if not the whole of Ecuador! Water flows forcefully over the 80-metre drop leaving everything and everyone around soaking wet.




Overnight in Banos

After the breakfast, we will continue to the Cotopaxi National Park During the journey, we can enjoy the marvelous view of the Cotopaxi Volcano, one of the highest active snow-capped volcanoes in the world, which stands at 5,897 m (19,347 ft.). To enter the national park, we will drive along the Pan-American Highway, until we reach the entrance of Cotopaxi National Park and drive on a dirt road through a pine forest until we arrive at the Limpiopungo Lake, a glacial Andean Lake located at 3,800 m (12467 ft) above sea level. From this site, we can have a magnificent view of the impressive Cotopaxi volcano and its surrounding Paramo landscape. Then continue to Quito.




Overnight in Quito

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island, one of the world-famous Galapagos Islands. As you prepare to land in Baltra, look out the window. The landscape below will seem otherworldly – you will truly be landing in a place that is like no other. The Galapagos Islands are unique, and you will certainly see why! Upon arrival, you will be met by our cruise staff and escorted to your boat. Afternoon enjoy the highlands, visit a tortoise Ranch, and see some of the amazing volcanic formations on Santa Cruz. Take an excursion to the Highlands of Santa Cruz and get a chance to see the Galapagos giant tortoise in its natural surroundings. Explore the area and its incredible underground lava tunnels, some are more than 1km long! Wander along the volcanic tubes and keep an eye out for the nocturnal barn owls and sometimes roost here.


Overnight Onboard Cruise

This morning travel to the west coast of Santa Cruz to Visit Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) for some prime birdwatching. Take a short walk from the beach to a hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon frequented by pink flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks, and other species of birds. Pass through a Scalesia tree forest; endemic to the area, there are only 400 specimens of Scalesia trees left in the world. Your journey continues to arrive at a small uniquely shaped island off the southern tip of santiago called Chinese Hat. Here it is often possible to see galápagos penguins, and the marine life is fantastic for snorkelling. There is also a large sea lion colony as well as many marine iguanas that can be seen while walking amongst the volcanic scenery. Trek to see good views of the island's volcano. Explore Chinese Hats beautiful landscape and spectacular white-coral sand beach. Snorkel right from the white-coral sand beach and come face to face with playful sea lions and large schools of tropical fish. Keep an eye out for marine iguanas and penguins too!


Overnight Onboard Cruise

Visit the beautiful and remote Genovesa Islands. This northern island, famous for its red-footed colony, is a paradise for bird lovers. It is estimated that about 200,00 Red-footed boobies live on this island. Start our day with the visit to El Barranco or Prince Phillipss Steps as otherwise known. It was named after a visit by the British Monarch in 1964, El Barranco's steep 81-foot stairway leads up to a high cliff-face that opens out onto the plateau surrounding Darwin Bay offering you an amazing view of the surrounding. Once at the top of the stairway meet Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds, and finches along the way of a palo santo trail. It will also be possible to see wedge-rumped storm petrels swarm and short-eared owls. Next sail to visit Genovsa Islands also known as Darwin Bay, formed by the collapse of the flooded caldera of Tower Island. After landing at a small sand and coral beach, it easy to realize why this island is a bird lover paradise. Among the bird species found here, the most common are swallow-tailed and lava gulls, mockingbirds, yellow-crowned night herons, lava herons, Galapagos doves and yellow warblers. Continue on a short and flat trail to encounter red-footed booby and great frigatebird nests. Visit a tidal lagoon where sea lions swim playfully ending our path on a cliff with magnificent views of this remote part of the Galapagos.


Overnight Onboard Cruise

Explore the mangroves by panga to find rich marine wildlife between the fresh and salt waters. Keep any eye out for manta rays and sea turtles in this tranquil ecosystem. Whitetip reef sharks can also be seen gliding by.

In the afternoon you will be transferred to Baltra Airport for your flight to Quito to connect to your flight back home.