1st day: Arrive in Quito. Transfer tio yuor hotel

Upon arrival to Quito and after entrance formalities, we meet our guide and proceed to our hotel. Ecuador, South America’s second smallest country is a vibrant indigenous culture, with many natural and cultural wonders.

2nd day: Quito City Tour & Middle of the World

Breakfast in the hotel. First we visit is the imposing neo-Gothic church Basilica del Voto Nacional the basilic of Quito, Then we walk around the independence square; the heart of Quito surrounded by the Government Palace The façade of Cathedral church, the Archbishop's Palace, and the city hall. Our next point is the Sagrario church. The interior of the church of la Compañia de Jesus which is full covered by gold leaf and then we continue to San Francisco square in where we can admire the beauty and legends of this religious order. Then we continue to El Panecillo, a hill located at 3000m (10000 feet), where the statue of the virgin of Quito is waiting for us. From this hill we will get one of the best views of the old and new city.

A few kilometers from the city of Quito is located the middle of the world, we visit the Inti Nan museum an interesting museum, that shows experiences that occur only in this part of the planet.

3rd day: Quito – Cotopaxi – Baños

Breakfast in the hotel. Early morning we will drive South via the Avenue of the Volcanoes to reach the Cotopaxi National Park, to the base of the Cotopaxi Volcano, the highest active volcano in the world. Cotopaxi was established as an ecological sanctuary with unusual opportunities for nature lovers. We visit the interpretation center and Limpiopungo lakes (paramo grasslands / Ecuadorian equivalent of the arctic tundra), drive up to 15.000 ft and trek up to Padre Rivas mountain climbing refuge (1 1/2 hrs). We will have to opportunity to touch and lay on the volcanic snow.

4th day: Baños – Ingapirca – Cuenca

Breakfast in the hotel. We visit the balsawood birds carving workshop, the tagua (ivory nut) jewelry stores. Later we continue our trip to Agoyan and Devils cauldron, (amazing waterfalls). We will take the taravita (Air cable) to see the majestic Manto de la novia Waterfall. We continue to the biggest Incan archeological site in Ecuador, Ingaprica. This citadel was built in the 15th century on the Inca Trail that connects Quito to Cusco. The ruins include, courtyards, terraces, temples, houses, and a “castle” possibly a “Temple of the Sun.” We continue to Cuenca, the most beautiful colonial city in South America. Today Cuenca is “A World Cultural Heritage Site.”

5th day: Cuenca City Tour

This morning after our breakfast, we enjoy a city tour of Cuenca a quaint colonial city. Cuenca is well known for its handicrafts including pottery, embroidery, filigree jewels, and the world famous Panama Hat. We see the Main Square, New Cathedral, and the colorful Flower Market on Plaza del Carmen. On Plaza of San Sebastian, we see a very colorful artisans market. We also see the Court of Justice, the Municipal Palace, the Governor’s Palace, and the Church El Sagrario. In the afternoon we will take our flight back to Quito.

6th day: Cuenca – El Cajas – Guayaquil

Breakfast in the hotel. Then we drive through spectacular El Cajas National Park, with rocky lunar landscapes and more than 200 lakes scattered among its jagged peaks. We continue to the economical capital of Ecuador, Guayaquil. Ecuador’s largest city and main sea port of the country. During a panoramic city tour, we see the old district “La Penas” the Botanical Garden, the cathedral and the only place in the world that has Land Iguanas living downtown. Overnight..

7th day: Guayaquil – flight. Galapagos: The highlands

Breakfast in the hotel. Our guide will pick up us from our hotel and take us to the airport in order to take our flight to Galapagos: Upon arrival to Baltra Island, our guide will be waiting for us and will take us to our hotel in Puerto Ayora. After lunch we will take an excursion to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The Scenery will continuously change as we ascend through all seven vegetation zones of the Galapagos. We will be able to view the giant tortoises at a farm in the highlands. Then we will visit the twins (los Gemelos), a pair of large pit craters or sinkholes where we find the bright red male vermilion flycatcher. Then we visit "the tunnels", the largest lava tunnels found in Galapagos.

8th day: Sail to Bartolome Island

Your guide will pick you up from the Hotel at 05h50. You will be transferred to the Itabaca channel. Here you will take the yacht that will embark on the first leg of your journey. Breakfast is included on the tour and will be served on the boat. Bartolome Island has some of the most beautiful landscapes throughout the archipelago. The most famous rock formation here is the Pinnacle Rock, which resembles an obelisk raised to the edge of the ocean. Upon arrival, you are presented with a wood stairway climb of 600 meters in length, so we suggest wearing comfortable shoes. Once we reach the Summit (about 30 to 40 minutes), you are rewarded with a spectacular view of the landscape with two beautiful bays. The fascinating formations of lava and volcanic cones give this area an out-of-this-world aura, and will make you feel as if you were walking on the moon.

Bartolome Island is the perfect place to observe the Galapagos penguins swimming in these tropical waters. On the south part of the island you can also find marine turtles, stingrays and Galapagos sharks, among other unique marine species. Relax in the afternoon with 45 minutes of snorkeling at Sullivan Bay.

9th day: Charles Darwin Station – ferry – Isabela Island: Flamingos lake

Breakfast in the hotel. This morning, we visit The Charles Darwin Station. Scientist and park rangers make a huge effort to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site. The unique flora and fauna of these islands helped Darwin to formulate his theory of Evolution. The research center is also a tortoise breading and rearing center, where tortoise are prepared to reenter their national habitat.

At 15h00 our speed boat leaves from the main dock from Puerto Ayora, and after a 2 hours sail we reach Islabela Island. Here, another guide welcomes us and takes us to our hotel. Then we will visit the west of Puerto Villamil where there are various salt and brackish lagoons which house an impressive variety of coastal and sea birds. Here, we can also find the largest concentration of flamingos.

10th day: The Tunnels. Cabo Rosa

After breakfast, our guide will pick up us from our hotel and take us to Puerto Villamil dock where we will board a boat for 45 minutes to Cabo Rosa (Tunnels). Here we can see lava formations that have cooled in contact with the sea and have formed massive tunnels full of life. We will have a tour of the arches for approximately 30 minutes where we will be able to be close to the blue footed boobies, often with chicks or sitting on their eggs. Here we will have two places to snorkel. One is El Finado and the other the Tunnels, where we can closely observe sharks, penguins, seahorses, manta rays, giant sea turtles, schools of colorful fish, sea lions and much more.

11th day: Isablea Island – Puerto Ayora – Baltra Island – flight – Quito

Our guide will pick us up from our hotel at 05h40 and will take us to the pier of Isabela Island in order to take our boat to Puerto Ayora. Then we drive to Baltra Island in order to take our flight to Quito. It departs at 12h30 and arrives in Quito at 16h30.

12th day: Quito – flight back home

Breakfast in the hotel. Our guide Will pick up mus from our hotel and take us to the airport in order to take our flight back home.