WHOLE ECUADOR WITH GALAPAGOS

Day 1 : Quito

Arrival: Mariscal Sucre International Airport 

Transfer to the hotel. (1 hour)

Accommodation:  Hilton Mercure 4*         

Day 2 : City Tour - "Mitad Del Mundo" (Equator Line)

Breakfast at the hotel.

This charming historic city, situated along the equator and built atop the ruins of an ancient Incan city, is one of the world’s highest capital cities. It is also the first city center to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved colonial buildings, with the best-preserved and least altered historic center in all of Latin America.

Start off your visit by taking a walking tour of the beautiful and scenic historic city center, where you will get to learn about the local colonial art, architecture, culture, traditions, and legends. In the historic center, you’ll find stunning colonial buildings, inviting cafes and restaurants, the presidential palace, and the stunning Basilica del Voto Nacional, the largest neo-gothic basilica in all of the Americas, with its jaw dropping, intricately detailed sky-high towers.

At the afternoon, you will visit: “Cuidad Mitad Del Mundo” and Intiñan Museum  

Ciudad Mitad del Mundo :

Your city tour will take you to see the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, situated precisely at Earth’s midpoint, near the geographical orientation of 0 degrees latitude, and lies perpendicular to the Earth’s axis, so the distance from the equator to the poles is exactly the same. Here you can have the popular photo taken of one leg in one hemisphere and the other leg in another, or holding hands with someone in a different hemisphere, or get your passport stamped from the equator in the middle of the world. But don’t forget to check out the planetarium before heading over to the location now considered accurate since modern GPS technology proved the “real” center of the Earth, the Intiñan Museum. 

Intiñan Museum :

The Intiñan Museum is located nearby, showcasing the interesting aspects of Ecuador’s culture, including exhibits depicting what life of the native tribes and indigenous communities looked like. And of course you will get to see exhibits on how the Incas determined the middle of the Earth, as well as unique interactive science experiments visitors can try out. There is also a shadow clock exhibit which is a solar clock- a stone tool used by the ancient Ecuadorians to tell time. And one enticing exhibit you must not miss is for all chocolate lovers- learn about Ecuador’s cacao-producing regions, see an actual cacao tree, and taste some pure cacao nibs and try their delicious local chocolates.

Return to the hotel.

Accommodation:  Hilton Mercure 4*  

Meals : Breakfast

Day 3 : Mindo

Breakfast at the hotel.

Mindo is a tiny town set amidst some of the most beautiful and peaceful countryside in the entire country. It is a centre for both nature and for adventure activities.
You are going to visit a butterfly farm where you will also be able to see orchids and an array of colourful humming birds. Mindo has a great biodiversity. The forest landscape is home to over 500 species of birds and 400 species of orchids.

You cross the forest area in a cable car, located approximately 30 meters above the ground, then we will walk through the woods.

Another of the most popular activities in Mindo is the zip-lining canopy runs between towers high in the forest.

Also you have a chocolate tour which includes a demonstration of the chocolate-making process.

Accommodation:  Hilton Mercure 4* 

Meals : Breakfast

Day 4 : Quilotoa

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast we will drive to the famous Quilotoa Crater Lake. Don’t miss Ecuador’s most beautiful lake called Quilotoa Crater Lake, a sparkling emerald-colored crater lake formed by a collapsed volcano, that is fortunately off the beaten path for most tourists so your view (and photos) will be this pure natural breathtaking setting. Take the hike up to the wooden lookout platform for sweeping panoramic views from above, then hike down to the shores of the lake for your unique views from inside the crater. To complete the experience be sure and hire some kayaks to glide through the still mirror-like water, taking in your serene surroundings. And for extra excitement, opt to take the mule ride back up.

There are two more options for the most adventurous. Hiking the Quilotoa rim, which is a 3-5 hour hike 7.5 miles around the upper rim of the crater, although among rough terrain, a narrow path, and steep dropoffs. And second, for those with time, the Quilotoa Loop is considered by avid hikers to be one of the best hikes in the world. This multi-day 124 mile hike loops from Latacunga, through remote Andean villages and small traditional settlements, following streams, crossing a river, trekking across deep valleys and rolling hills, arriving at the gem of a crater lake. It is said to be a bucket-list adventure, and a guide is not needed, even for the inexperienced. Kayak on the lake (optional).

Accommodation:  Hilton Mercure 4* 

Meals : Breakfast

Day 5 : Quito – Galapagos

Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to the airport - flight to the Galapagos Islands.

When you land in Baltra a guide will be waiting for you. You will arrive at Santa Cruz Island crossing the Itabaca Channel, it is a waterway that connects two islands,(Baltra and Santa Cruz), in 10 minutes.

Then we continue to Highlands of Santa Cruz. 

This island is a big dormant volcano with two wide pits known as “The Twins” and were formed from magma chambers collapsing during an eruption which hardened on the outside but kept flowing on the inside, creating a unique visual experience. There is a nice trail that takes you through the forest below up to the rim of the craters. The island also has beautiful beaches and notable wildlife, among others, being the giant land tortoises which reside in the hills of the highlands where you will see them roaming around and lounging near pools. Another special wildlife treat on this island is at a lake on the north side of the island where you can spot pink flamingos.

This island is an important location as well due to it being the home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, continuing scientific research and conservation efforts initiated by Darwin himself.

You would not want to come to the Galapagos without snorkeling, and Tortuga Bay is a stunning beach which is also a turtle nesting site and a great place to snorkel to see marine iguanas and baby reef sharks.

And for the scuba divers, one of the best dive sites in the Galapagos is Gordon Rocks, which is an eroded crater of a submerged cone with a large variety of marine life to observe, including hammerhead sharks. Another nice dive, which is better for beginners as it is quite shallow, is the Camaño Islet, where you can see sea lions, large groupers, batfish, seahorses, and the possibility of seeing a marine iguana looking for food near the surface.

Later you will have free time to explore the town of Puerto Ayora, where you can several souvenir shops. 

Accommodation: Hotel Ikala, Suite 4* 

Meals : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 6 : Bartolome Island

Breakfast at hotel

Bartolome Island is a volcanic islet in the Galápagos Islands group. It is a volcanic islet just off the east coast of Santiago Island. It is one of the "younger" islands in the Galápagos archipelago. With a total land area of just 1.2 km², this island offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the archipelago. The island consists of an extinct volcano and a variety of red, orange, green, and glistening black volcanic formations. 

Bartolome has a volcanic cone that is easy to climb and provides great views of the other islands. Bartolome is famous for its Pinnacle Rock, which is the distinctive characteristic of this island, and the most representative landmark of the Galápagos.

It has two visitor sites. At the first one, you may swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock; the underwater world there is really impressive. You can snorkel with the penguins, marine turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and other tropical fish.

Accommodation: Hotel Ikala, Suite 4* 

Meals : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 7 : Seymour Island Or Plazas Island

Breakfast at hotel

North Seymour Island :

North Seymour is a small island near to Baltra Island in the Galapagos Islands. It was formed by uplift of a submarine lava formation. The whole island is covered with low, bushy vegetation.

This island is home to a large population of blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. It hosts one of the largest populations of frigate birds in Galapagos. 
North Seymour has a visitor trail approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) in length crossing the inland of the island and exploring the rocky coast.

North Seymour is an extraordinary place for breeding birds, and is home to one of the largest populations of nesting blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds. Pairs of blue-footed boobies can be seen conducting their mating ritual as they offer each other gifts, whistle and honk, stretch their necks towards the sky, spread their wings, and dance—showing off their bright blue feet.

Plazas Island :

South Plaza is a small island off the east coast of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. It has an area of 0.13 km and a maximum altitude of 23 metres. South Plaza was formed by lava up streaming from the bottom of the ocean. Despite its small size it is home to a large number of species and it is famous for its extraordinary flora. That is why this island is very popular with visitors.

On the steep banks it is possible to see a great number of birds such as nesting Red-billed Tropicbirds and Swallow-tailed Gulls, but most of all, enjoying the beautiful view from atop the steep banks or strolling along the base of the cliff is an extremely pleasurable experience. Very attractive are the beautiful prickly pear cactus trees (Opuntia echios) and of course the large colony of Galapagos Land Iguanas. Depending on the season, the Sesuvium ground vegetation changes its colour from intense green in the rainy season to orange and purple in the dry season.

Accommodation: Hotel Ikala, Suite 4* 

Meals : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 8 : Galapagos Islands - Departure

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Quito or Guayaquil. 

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