Tour Dates: April 7th to 23rd, 2023
From $5,550.00 CAD per person based on double occupancy
Discover the magic of Ecuador’s biodiversity and culture on an exploration of the rural and urban charms of one of South America’s most rewarding destinations.
Along the Andean Mountain range, we admire the contrast between the equatorial lushness in the valley and glacial volcanoes. Find treasures at the largest market in South America where numerous Indigenous groups come to barter, and later slip into a world of “ahhh” in a mountain hot spring. Our tour takes us into the Amazon to see jungle wildlife, its impressive landscapes with exotic flora, fauna and rich culture. Best of all, all these flavours are packed together, so you can be in the jungle in the morning and at the foot of a glacier by the evening. Ecuador also has one gem found nowhere else: the pristine and fragile Galápagos Islands made famous through the writings of Charles Darwin.
The ultimate experience for animal lovers awaits in the Galápagos Islands, where an incredibly diverse and unique array of wildlife prosper among fertile lands and volcanic formations. The most attractive aspect of this trip is that it is not a cruise, but rather a land-based adventure that allows for more time and greater immersion in not only the natural splendour of this special place but also in its unique and little-known island culture.
Quito (2 nights), Otavalo (1), Papallacta Hot Springs (2), Amazon (3), Banos (1), Quito (1), San Cristobal Island (2), Santa Cruz Island (3), Quito (1)
Tour Highlights:
- Quito City tour
- Visit the community of San Clemente and enjoy lunch in a local home
- Overnight in a historic hacienda
- Explore the Otavalo handicraft market
- Learn about traditional weaving during a visit to an artisan’s studio
- Relax at Papallacta hot springs
- Explore Ecuador’s Amazon rain forest—on foot and by boat
- Drive the spectacular Avenue of the Volcanoes, lined by some of Ecuador’s highest peaks
- Walkthrough Omaere Ethnobotanical Park and learn how Ecuador’s indigenous peoples use native plants in their daily lives
- Interpretive island walks to learn about Galápagos wildlife
- Meet endangered Galápagos giant tortoises
- Encounter unique species and pristine landscapes
- Snorkel and kayak in waters rich with shimmering fish, sea turtles, penguins, and playful sea lions.
- And much more…
Tour price includes:
- 15 nights’ accommodation based on double occupancy
- Meals: all breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
- All admissions and cultural visits listed in the itinerary
- Transit Control Card & Galapagos Park Fee
- Internal Flights
- Air-conditioned motorcoach transportation
- Fully escorted by a Canadian Tour Leader and Ecuador & Galapagos (naturalist) guide
Not included: Travel insurance, airfare and transfers if you are deviating from the scheduled group transfer.
In order to make each tour a special experience, space is limited to 20 people. We encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment and for the best airfares.
Flights: Call us for flight and airfare information from your closest airport in Canada as we can often access flights not easily found on the Internet and offer alternatives.
Itinerary
Day
1
April 7th/Quito – Swissotel Quito – 2 nights
Perched high in the Andes, Quito is dramatically situated, squeezed between mountain peaks whose greenery is concealed by the afternoon mist. Thanks to one of the largest and best-preserved colonial cores in Latin America, Ecuador’s capital was named the very first UNESCO World Heritage site. Its best-kept secrets are hidden in the narrow cobblestone streets, candlelit monasteries, and leafy plazas that reveal themselves when the mist clears.
Arrive and transfer to your hotel.
Day
2
April 8th/Quito – Swissotel Quito
Following an orientation, we set out to explore the rich history of Ecuador’s capital, while experiencing the modern city. Visit Quito’s ancient and bustling Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We stroll through its maze of narrow cobbled streets and into the wide-open Plaza San Francisco where Ecuador’s oldest Monastery stands. Explore the fine collection of Ecuadorian art at Museo de Arte Colonial. Travel to over 4100m elevation on the Teleferiqo for a spectacular view of Quito and the surrounding Andean valley and volcanic peaks.
Breakfast and Dinner Included
Day
3
April 9th/Otavalo – Hacienda Pinsaqui – 1 night
Meet with a local family in the highlands community of San Clemente to learn about their everyday life, before enjoying a traditional lunch.
Spend a night in the Otavalo area and visit its world-famous handicrafts market, the largest in South America. Villagers from the surrounding countryside come here every week to sell handmade goods as well as livestock, fruits, and vegetables.
Breakfast Included
Day
4
April 10th/Hotel Termas Papallacta – 2 nights
This morning we visit a cooperative of female artisans from the Pijal Alto community, located in the northern Ecuadorian Andes. These women carry out sustainable weaving traditions and use the income to support their families, generating long term quality of life for their entire community.
Continue to the Papallacta Hot Springs Resort for onsite hot springs, optional spa treatments, and hiking excursions. There is plenty of time to soak, relax, and enjoy the mountain views.
Breakfast Included
Day
5
April 11th/Hotel Termas Papallacta
Enjoy a morning walk through the Guango Cloud Forest Reserve to learn about the unique flora and fauna of the region.
A free afternoon to enjoy the beautiful mountain settings and hot springs.
Breakfast Included
Day
6
April 12th/Tena – Itamandi Amazon Eco-Lodge – 3 nights
Next stop, the Amazon! Along the way we stop for lunch in Misahualli to view the cheeky Capuchin monkeys who call this town home. Continue to Tena to catch our motorized canoe to the Amazon lodge.
Settle in and receive a briefing from the local naturalist guide about the lodge and area.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Day
7
April 13th/Tena – Itamandi Amazon Eco-Lodge
Embark on the Arajuno River to visit AmaZOOnico, an animal rescue center that rehabilitates, reintroduces, and cares for animals who are victims of illegal trafficking.
The balance of the day is free to enjoy the eco-lodge.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Day
8
April 14th/Tena – Itamandi Amazon Eco-Lodge
For bird lovers we take a canoe ride upstream early in the morning to visit a parrot clay lick (Saladero). These clay walls are a natural formation caused by erosion where parrots, parakeets and macaws go daily to eat the mineral-rich clay which helps them digest fruits or seeds. The spectacle is just impressive not only for the color diversity but for the incredible acoustic show of different sounds bids do when licking the clay.
Later, enjoy a unique cultural experience at a local family’s home to learn about their traditions and what daily life is like living in the Amazon. Tonight, there is an optional night walk to learn about the nocturnal creatures of the Amazon.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Day
9
April 15th/Banos – Casa de Luis – 1 night
Depart the Amazon to Baños, a stunning town surrounded by volcanos. Along the way we stop to visit the Omaere Ethnobotanical Park and discover ethnobotany – the study of the relationship between cultures and the plants around them.
Breakfast Included
Day
10
April 16th/Quito –Swissotel Quito – 1 night
As we make our way to Quito, we stop at Cotopaxi National Park to enjoy a beautiful hike around Limpiopungo Lake and learn about the volcano ecosystem. Spot many species of birdlife and learn about the flora and fauna of these unique National Parks in the Andean ranges.
After our lunch picnic, we return to our Quito Hotel to get ready for our Galapagos adventure.
Breakfast and Lunch Included
Day
11
April 17th/San Cristobal Island – Hotel Blue Marlin – 2 nights
Fly to San Cristóbal, the easternmost island of Galápagos and one of the oldest. The principal town is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galápagos.
After lunch, visit the Interpretation Centre and learn more about the history of the Galápagos, sometimes referred to as “the Enchanted Islands.” Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing on Mann Beach or swimming with playful sea lions as the frigate birds glide on the thermals.
For dinner, enjoy a sample some of the island’s fresh fish and produce.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Day
12
April 18th/San Cristobal Island – Hotel Blue Marlin
The day begins with a short boat ride to Isla Lobos, an islet populated by numerous sea lions, which give the island its name. Spend the day snorkeling – a fantastic opportunity to observe the abundant marine life that Galápagos is renowned for. Snorkeling right off the beach in peaceful Isla Lobos, you will see families of sea lions and their inquisitive pups looking to play. You can spot nesting frigate birds and the famous blue-footed boobies resting on the shore. Be sure to bring your camera to catch some snaps at this prime wildlife watching haven.
Back aboard the boat, sail to San Cristóbal and have free time to enjoy the beaches and surrounding areas. Option to hire a bike for a ride around the island or rent snorkeling equipment and search for marine life. Choose to take a walk around the area and enjoy island life.
Breakfast and Lunch Included
Day
13
April 19th/Santa Cruz Island – Hotel Silberstein – 3 nights
Travel by boat to Santa Cruz Island. On arrival, visit the highlands of the island to see Galápagos giant tortoises in the wild. Explore the area and its incredible underground lava tunnels – some are more than 1km (.6 mi) long! Wander along the volcanic tubes and keep an eye out for the (mainly) nocturnal barn owls that sometimes roost here.
Please note: We leave early morning when the seas are the calmest to avoid rough seas. Please bring sea sickness medication if you need it.
Breakfast and Dinner Included
Day
14
April 20th/Santa Cruz Island – Hotel Silberstein
Grab a life jacket and go for a kayak adventure in the mangroves of Tortuga Bay. Keep an eye out for a wide variety of marine life, including colorful reef fish, rays, and sea turtles, as you paddle the blue waters. Relax after on a beautiful fine white sand beach, and soak up some sun – you may spot some iguanas also trying to catch some rays on the shore.
In the afternoon we will visit Pan Animalia project, a stray dog shelter created to reduce the percentage of homeless dogs and cats throughout Santa Cruz Island.
Breakfast Included
Day
15
April 21st/Santa Cruz Island – Hotel Silberstein
crystal-clear water. Named for the sea lions that inhabit the beach, Loberia is a coral sand beach with an abundance of wildlife. Keep an eye out for the sea lions as they bask on the beach.
Afterwards, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, a science organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos’ ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. Tour the exhibition centre to see photo displays of recent volcanic eruptions, charts outlining geological formations, and drawings of the evolutionary development of endemic species. The station is also a great place to observe many species of tortoises and land iguanas in captivity, brought back from the brink of extinction.
Breakfast Included
Day
16
April 22nd/Quito – Swissotel Quito – 1 night
Travel over the island of Santa Cruz en-route to Baltra Island for our return flight to Quito.
Breakfast and Dinner Included
Day
17
April 23rd/Quito
Aidos! Today we transfer to the airport for flights home. (or you can extend your stay and join our Inca Explorer Tour in Peru)
