EN Xplore Ecuador & Nearby Amazon & Galapagos Islands FIT
EN Xplore Ecuador & Nearby Amazon & Galapagos Islands FIT
EN Xplore Ecuador & Nearby Amazon & Galapagos Islands FIT
15 Days Starting in Quito and ending in Guayaquil
Visiting: Quito, Puerto Misahuallí, Latacunga, Riobamba, Ingapirca, Cuenca, Puerto Ayora, Guayaquil
Tour operator:
Tour code:
54431
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 10
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Day 1 Arrival in Quito. Transfer to the hotel Day 2 Quito - Nearby Amazon Day 3 Daily tours around the lodge Day 4 Amazon-Papallacta - Quito Day 5 Quito free day / optional tours Day 6 Quito- Latacunga Day 7 Latacunga -Cotopaxi -Riobamba Day 8 Riobamba-Balbanera-Ingapirca-Cuenca Day 9 Cuenca city tour Day 10 Cuenca -El Cajas Park -Guayaquil Day 11 Guayaquil-flight to Galapagos Islands Day 12 Santa Cruz Day 13 Santa Cruz Day 14 Santa Cruz - flight to Guayaquil Day 15 Guayaquil - international flight
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : (✈) Arrival In Quito
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: HOTEL VIEJA CUBA
Arrival at Quito International Airport.
Meeting and welcome by your English-speaking guide and transfer to your hotel.
Advantages of LatinXplore:
- Delivery of your welcome kit
- Dinner on your own. Due to the time difference and late arrival, many passengers prefer to sleep directly after the snack provided by the airline.
- Early check-in option with extra charge for passengers who arrive earlier
Dinner on your own
Hotel accommodation
Driving time 38 km / 40 min – Altitude 2850 m
Services included: ☒ Transfer ☒ English-speaking guide ☒ Accommodation ☒ Welcome kit
Day 2 : Quito: Trip To The Nearby Amazon
Location: Puerto Misahuallí
Accommodation Name: SAYANI LODGE
Breakfast at the hotel
Advantages of LatinXplore:
-Depending on the category of lodge you choose (3* and 4*) the itinerary may vary a little.
Departure to the nearby Amazon, descending the slopes of the Andes.
Arrival at La Punta Ahuano beach. Get off the bus for a short canoe ride to the Lodge. The goal of this day is to enjoy the Amazonian atmosphere and relax in the afternoon by the pool.
Lunch included at the Lodge with stunning views of the Napo River, a tributary of the Amazon River
In the afternoon relaxation and exchanges. The Lodge also has an observation tower, a swimming pool, games and relaxation areas, and the possibility of massages.
Dinner included
Accommodation at the Lodge
Possibility of night walk to observe wildlife
Driving time 220 km/ 5h15 – Altitude 600 m
Services included: ☒ Transfer ☒ English-speaking guide ☒ Entrance fees ☒ Lunch and dinner ☒ Accommodation
Day 3 : Amazon: Local Activities
Location: Puerto Misahuallí
Accommodation Name: SAYANI LODGE
For this second day in the Amazon, you will leave early in the morning to La Isla Island, to observe the endemic birds. Afterwards, return to the Lodge for the buffet breakfast.
Breakfast at the Lodge
The morning will be dedicated to a jungle walk with a native guide, accompanied by your English-speaking guide. This is an opportunity to observe the fauna and flora and learn about the medicinal plants and the way of life of the indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest.
Buffet lunch included at the Lodge
The afternoon will be dedicated to meetings, with the presentation of a community and its inhabitants. The idea is to share their way of life, with two highlights, the blowgun, a hunting weapon, and the chocolate extracted from their jungle plantations.
Dinner included.
Accommodation at the Lodge
Canoe rides / 2 hours of walking – Altitude 600 m
Services included: ☒ Transfer ☒ English-speaking guide ☒ Lunch and dinner ☒ Accommodation ☒ Entrance fee
Day 4 : Amazon: Papallacta Hot Springs – Quito
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: HOTEL VIEJA CUBA
Breakfast at the Lodge
Departure to Papallacta, where we will take the time to enjoy the hot springs.
Lunch on your own
Continuation towards Quito. Installation in the hotel.
Dinner on your own
Hotel accommodation
Driving time 220 km – 5h15 - Altitude 2850 m
Services included: ☒ Transfer ☒ English-speaking guide ☒ Accommodation ☒ Entrance
Day 5 : Quito Free Day Or Optional Activities In Quito Or Region De Los Lagos / Otavalo
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: HOTEL VIEJA CUBA
Breakfast at the hotel
Free day or optional activities
Lunch and Dinner on your own
Hotel accommodation
Altitude 2850 m /
Services included: ☒ Accommodation
Day 6 : Quito: Visit Of The Colonial City / Latacunga (Cotopaxi)
Location: Latacunga
Accommodation Name: HOTEL CUELLO DE LUNA
Breakfast at the hotel
Advantages of LatinXplore:
- Overnight in an Andean hostel
Departure to the historic center with your English-speaking guide. Visit the center of the largest colonial city in South America, witness to the indigenous, colonial, inquisition and republican eras.
Lunch on your own
Departure towards the south of the city, following the famous Avenue of the Volcanoes, named after Alexander Va Humboldt. You arrive at your Lodge, on the slopes of the Cotopaxi Volcano.
Dinner on your own
Hotel accommodation
Driving time 70 km / 1h30 min in 2 trips – Altitude 3750 m
Services included: ☒ Transfer ☒ English-speaking guide ☒ Accommodation ☒ Entrance fees to visiting sites
Day 7 : Cotopaxi: Visit Of The Park And The Cotopaxi Volcano / Riobamba
Location: Riobamba
Accommodation Name: HOTEL CASA REAL
Breakfast at the hotel
Cotopaxi National Park, visit the Limpiopungo lagoon, climb to the first refuge (by vehicle if the weather permits).
Lunch on your own
In the afternoon, departure to the south, continuing through the Ecuadorian Andes until reaching the sultan city of the Andes, Riobamba.
Dinner on your own
Hotel accommodation
Driving time 190 km / 3h50 min – Altitude 2750 m
Services included: ☒ Transfer ☒ English-speaking guide ☒ Accommodation ☒ Entrance to the National Park
Day 8 : Riobamba – Balbanera – Alausà –Ingapirca Cuenca
Location: Ingapirca
Accommodation Name: HOTEL LOS BALCONES
Breakfast at the hotel
LatinXplore "advantages"
- Explore the archaeological site of Ingapirca
Visit what is recognized as the first Hispanic church in the country and discover the vegetable ivory, the Tagua. Continue to Pitishi Viewpoint, weather permitting, to admire and understand the Devil's Nose Railway. A true engineering feat of the time. It was here that the exchange of goods took place between the cultures of the Andes and those of sea level.
Arrival in Ingapirca, a small town in the mountains next to the Inca site of Ingapirca.
Lunch on your own
Guided tour of the site. Continuation towards the city of Cuenca.
Dinner on your own
Hotel accommodation
Travel time 192 km / 3h50 completed in 3 trips – Altitude 2560 m
Services included: ☒ Transfer ☒ English-speaking guide ☒ Accommodation ☒ Entrance fees to visiting sites
Day 9 : Cuenca: City Tour
Location: Cuenca
Accommodation Name: HOTEL LOS BALCONES
Breakfast at the hotel
LatinXplore "advantages"
- Learn more about the museum, which features pieces from the country's various indigenous cultures.
- Enjoy the afternoon and evening freely, and the numerous gastronomic options in the city
Visit to a hat factory in Panama, originally from Ecuador. Belonging to a well-known family from Cuenca who opened their small store where they display a wide variety of hats. Afterwards, your guide will give you a tour of the city. You can enjoy the largest private collection of pre-Hispanic art in the country, at the Museum of Aboriginal Cultures.
Lunch on your own
Free afternoon to enjoy this beautiful city of English architecture, very pleasant and well organized for pedestrians. Your guide will remain at your disposal.
Dinner on your own to enjoy the city's wide gastronomic offer.
Hotel accommodation
Driving time 5 km / 20 min – Altitude 2560 m
Services included: ☒ Transfer ☒ English-speaking guide ☒ Accommodation ☒ Entrance fees to visiting sites
Day 10 : Cuenca: El Cajas National Park – Guayaquil – City Tour
Location: Cuenca
Accommodation Name: HOTEL IBIS STYLES
Breakfast at the hotel
LatinXplore "advantages"
-Visit the unique Cajas National Park with its paramo vegetation.
Passing and visiting the El Cajas National Park. Magical, wild, bewitching landscapes, with one of its majestic lagoons – La Toreadora.
Continuation to Guayaquil
Lunch on your own
Panoramic tour of the city, with the Malecón, the Iguana Park, the Cathedral and the La Peñas neighborhood.
Dinner on your own
Hotel accommodation
Travel time 203 km/ 4h in 2 trips – Altitude 0 m
Services included: ☒ Transfer ☒ English-speaking guide ☒ Accommodation ☒ Entrance to the national park
Day 11 : Guayaquil: Baltra (✈) / Arrival At Santa Cruz De Galapagos – Twin Craters And Turtle Ranch Excursion
Location: Puerto Ayora
Accommodation Name: HOTEL DEJA VU
Breakfast at the hotel
Your English-speaking guide will accompany you to the airport for your departure to the Galapagos.
Meeting and welcome by your guide upon arrival at Baltra airport and then transfer to the capital, Puerto Ayora. You will travel to the upper part of the island of Santa Cruz to discover the twin craters, volcanic formations caused by the sinking of the surface layers of the earth. Observation of flora and fauna. Continue with a visit to one of the local ranches with free-ranging giant tortoises. You will then pass through an end-to-end lava tunnel for a distance of 300m underground. The lava tunnels, splendid volcanic formations, show by their magnitude how these islands originate from large underwater volcanic eruptions.
Lunch on your own
Continuation to Puerto Ayora and check-in at the hotel.
Dinner on your own
Hotel accommodation
Flight time: 10 minutes by shared bus; 10 minutes by boat; 45 minutes by private bus.
Services included: ☒ Transfers ☒ English-speaking guide ☒ Accommodation ☒ Entrance to the Ranch
Day 12 : Santa Cruz / Galápagos: Optional Excursion To Tortuga Bay And Charles Darwin Station
Location: Puerto Ayora
Accommodation Name: HOTEL DEJA VU
Breakfast at the hotel.
Free day or optional excursions
Lunch on your own.
Dinner on your own
Hotel accommodation
45 minutes’ walk – Maximum altitude 0 m
Included services: ☒ Accommodation
Day 13 : Santa Cruz / Galápagos: 1/2 Day Tour To Franklin Bay
Location: Puerto Ayora
Accommodation Name: HOTEL DEJA VU
Breakfast at the hotel
Embark on a boat to observe blue-footed boobies, frigates, seagulls and other endemic birds. Snorkel in Franklin Bay, where you can see a wide variety of colorful fish of all sizes, sea turtles, small sharks, blue sharks from the creek which are completely harmless. You will disembark to observe the vegetation of the island as well as the marine iguanas, to continue towards Las Grietas, lava fissures, you will also visit the salt mines and a natural pool where the salt waters of the sea meet the fresh water of the upper part of the island. Ideal place to swim with fish and snorkel.
Lunch on your own
Free afternoon to explore Puerto Ayora
Dinner on your own
Hotel accommodation
Boat and 45 minutes’ walk – Max altitude 0 m
Services included: ☒ Transfers ☒ English -speaking guide ☒ Accommodation ☒ Entrance fees to visiting sites
Day 14 : Santa Cruz / Galápagos – Guayaquil (✈) / Arrival In Guayaquil
Location: Guayaquil
Accommodation Name: HOTEL IBIS STYLES
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Guayaquil.
Lunch on your own (at Santa Cruz airport or in Guayaquil)
Arrival in Guayaquil and transfer to the hotel.
Dinner on your own
Hotel accommodation
10 minutes by boat and 1h15 by bus, in 3 trips – Max altitude. m
Services included: ☒ Transfers ☒ English speaking guide ☒ Accommodation
Day 15 : Guayaquil (✈) / Departure Transfer International Flight
Location: Guayaquil
Breakfast at the hotel
Lunch on your own
Depending on the departure time of your flight, transfer to the airport is coordinated.
Night on the plane
Altitude 0m
Services included: ☒ Transfer ☒ English-speaking guide
What's Included
-
Hotel Accommodation
All hotel nights in a double room (breakfast included) in the hotels mentioned or equivalent depending on the hotel category you choose.
-
Ground Transfers
All ground transfers in private service for the entire program.
-
Guides
Private English-speaking guide for the continent; for Galapagos, guides in shared services.
-
Activities
All the activities mentioned in private services according to conditions and availability; for Galapagos in shared services.
-
Entrance Fees
Entrance fees for the continent.
-
Domestic Flights
Domestic flight to the Galapagos Islands round trip.
-
Meals
The meals as mentioned. Breakfast; for the Amazon full board.
-
Continuous Assistance
Continuous assistance from our Office and our operators along the entire route.
-
All hotel nights in a double room (breakfast included) in the hotels mentioned or equivalent depending on the hotel category you choose
-
All ground transfers in private service for the entire program
What's Not Included
-
Drinks
Drinks (meals included).
-
Unmentioned Meals
Meals not mentioned in the program.
-
Optional Visits
Visits mentioned as 'optional'.
-
International Airfare
International airfare.
-
Migration Card for Galapagos
Migration card for Galapagos (20 USD).
-
Galapagos National Park Fee
Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (200 USD).
-
Personal Equipment
Personal equipment: sunglasses; sunscreen; warm clothing (windbreaker and fleece; hat; gloves; socks); walking shoes; hat and personal first aid.
-
Luggage Carriers
Luggage carriers.
-
Tips
Tips to guides and drivers.
-
Travel Insurance
-
Drinks (meals included)
-
Meals not mentioned in the program
-
Visits mentioned as "optional"
-
International airfare
-
Migration card for Galapagos (20 USD)
-
Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (200 USD)
-
Personal equipment: sunglasses; sunscreen; warm clothing (windbreaker and fleece; hat; gloves;socks);walking shoes; hat and personal first aid
-
Luggage carriers
-
Tips to guides and drivers
Mode of Transport
All ground transfers are provided in private service throughout the program, including a domestic round-trip flight to the Galapagos Islands. Enjoy a mix of bus, boat, and canoe rides to explore various destinations.
Accommodation
Enjoy comfortable stays at carefully selected hotels with excellent reviews, including Hotel Vieja Cuba in Quito, Sayani Lodge in the Amazon, Hotel Cuello de Luna near Cotopaxi, Hotel Casa Real in Riobamba, Hotel Los Balcones in Cuenca, Hotel Ibis Styles in Guayaquil, and Hotel Deja Vu in Santa Cruz.
Check out our Q&As
-
What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes hotel nights in double rooms with breakfast in carefully selected hotels that have a minimum rating of 4/5 and 8/10 on online review sites. The hotels are located in charming historical places.
-
Are meals included in the tour package?
Breakfast is included for all hotel stays. For the Amazon portion of the tour, full board is provided. Other meals are included as mentioned in the itinerary, such as lunch and dinner at the Lodge in the Amazon.
-
Is there an English-speaking guide available throughout the tour?
Yes, an English-speaking guide is available for the entire program on the continent. For the Galapagos portion, guides are provided in shared services.
-
What kind of activities are included in the Amazon part of the tour?
In the Amazon, activities include a canoe ride, relaxation at the Lodge, a jungle walk with a native guide, observing endemic birds, and visiting a local community to learn about their way of life and chocolate production.
-
What is the transportation arrangement for the tour?
All ground transfers in private service are included for the entire program. Additionally, a domestic round-trip flight to the Galapagos Islands is provided.
-
Are there any optional activities available during the tour?
Yes, there are optional activities available on free days, such as in Quito and Santa Cruz/Galapagos. These can be arranged based on your interests.
-
What kind of experiences can I expect in the Galapagos Islands?
In the Galapagos Islands, you will visit the twin craters, a turtle ranch, and lava tunnels. You can also take a half-day tour to Franklin Bay for snorkeling and observing marine life, and there are optional excursions to Tortuga Bay and the Charles Darwin Station.
-
Are entrance fees included in the tour package?
Yes, entrance fees for the continent and the Galapagos Ranch are included in the tour package. However, the entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (200 USD) and the migration card for Galapagos (20 USD) are not included.
-
What should I bring with me for the tour?
You should bring personal equipment such as sunglasses, sunscreen, warm clothing (windbreaker and fleece, hat, gloves, socks), walking shoes, a hat, and a personal first aid kit.
-
Is travel insurance included in the tour package?
No, travel insurance is not included in the tour package. It is recommended that you arrange your own travel insurance.
-
How does Today Voyages work?
We are an Online Travel Agency, specialized in Group Vacations and Private Vacations. We have been in business for over 30 years through our sister company Go West Tours and, throughout the years, have developed an extensive network of trusted professionals around the world and a structured methodology to screen our suppliers. Today Voyages offers a selection of tours that are designed, managed and operated by our network of trusted Tour Operators and DMCs. Our database is connected with our partners so that when you make a booking with us this will immediately be received and processed by the Tour Operator.
-
Where should I buy the flights to reach my destination?
Today Voyages does not sell flights directly. None of our tours come with flights included. Why? Because we prefer to give full flexibility to our valued customers to select the airlines and the booking platform they prefer. As soon as your flight is booked and confirmed, we invite you to update your flight plan within your Today Voyages booking confirmation page by entering your flight number, departure and arrival times, as well as your Passport information (if needed). None of these fields are mandatory but we highly encourage you to provide as much information as possible. This will allow us to provide you with the excellent service you are looking for.
-
What is an additional excursion or tour optional?
Certain tours might show a selection of additional excursions/optional activities that you may want to add to our standard itinerary. These services are priced separately and can be added to the cart before completing the booking. We believe these optional services to contribute to making your vacation unforgettable; however, you are in no way obliged to purchase them. All our tours are awesome with our without optional services!
-
What is the difference between Group Vacations and Private Vacations?
If you purchase one of our Group vacation packages, you will be escorted by a professional tour guide and will be traveling with other like-minded travelers you may not know. The group size depends on the tour you select. If you purchase one of our Private vacation packages, you will be traveling only within your group of friends. You may or may not be escorted by a professional tour guide; this depends on the type of private tour you are interested in.
-
When and how will I receive the travel documents (vouchers)?
If you book one of our Group or Private tours, you will receive your travel documents via email approximately 20 days prior to travel date. If you reserve one of our Vacation Rentals, you will hear back from the property manager via email a few days prior to checking-in. We recommend checking your emails on a regular basis as this is our most reliable method of communication. If you have questions or need additional support, you can always chat with us or email us directly.
-
What happens if a Group tour does not get confirmed?
It is very simple... you will be offered an alternative departure date or be refunded the full amount you pre-paid. No questions asked!
-
What happens after I book?
The majority of our tours are confirmed at the time of booking. This means that, after submitting the payment online, you will receive an order confirmation email; make sure to save this email and to note down your confirmation number for any future communication with us. Some tours may be sold on a 'on request' basis. This means that for these tours we reserve the right to check the availability of your spot(s) with the Tour Operator before confirming the tour to you. As soon as you submit the payment online for a 'on request' tour you will receive an email notification that confirms your order request. Within 72 hours, you will receive either a confirmation email or a denial email. Do not worry... we will do everything we can to confirm your tour!
Reviews of this operator
Book with Confidence
-
Free Date Changes
Today Voyages allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 65 days before the start of the tour.
-
Low Deposit
Today Voyages requires a minimum deposit of 30% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of today voyages charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.