Amazing Ecuador & Galapagos

Once you reach Quito, receive a warm welcome from our guide who will assist you in getting transferred to your hotel.

You get 1 night stay at Mercure Alameda Quito where a Superior Room will be booked to your name with Bed & Breakfast service.

Mercure Alameda Quito

Make your stay at Quito, Ecuador's capital, a memorable one at this fantastic 5-star hotel located close to a popular craft market and the historic centre. The hotel offers well-decorated and comfortable rooms, a fitness centre, one main restaurant and another cafe serving light meals. There's a party room with plenty of entertainment, along with a nice rooftop pool.

Begin your tour at Quito, a magnificent historic centre. Next, visit the city’s notable attractions where the guide is going to share insights as you walk through the picturesque colonial streets and other interesting spots such as an authentic local market featuring more than 250 stalls displaying vegetables, fruits, meat and seafood, and more. You can try some nice Ecuadorian fruits.

Further, continue your downtown exploration through its squares and churches which will give you a glimpse of the history of Quito (also renamed as the Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO).

Your guide is going to further take you to the city of Tena which is set in a beautiful setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills. It is also a nice vantage point to plan a trip to the Misahuallí river.

The place holds a lot of potential for memorable experiences - you can just relax on the riverbanks as you see Capuchin monkeys flocking around. And, try really delicious traditional food such as Maito, which is like beef, fish or chicken cooked in ‘Bijao’ leaf and presented with salad, rice and yucca. Do give a go to the unique delicacy of Chontacuro, which is a roasted worm found in the Amazon Rainforest.

Late in the afternoon period, you will arrive at Itamandi Eco Lodge offering eco-tourism and sustainable travel in one of the most sought-after destinations i.e., Amazon rainforest.

Enjoy a pleasant night walk which is an excursion for approximately one hour where you hear and witness the mesmerising sounds of the night from the distant wild inhabiting the area.

Here you get 2 nights stay at Itamandi Eco Lodge, Tena, where you get a Standard Room with Full Board service included in your package.

Itamandi Eco Lodge

Experience the true Amazon Rainforest lifestyle with the local Kichwa culture during your stay at this Itamandi Eco Lodge. The hotel offers wonderfully clean and comfortable rooms, excellent food, drinks and cocktails, and service. Enjoy your time relaxing at the pool area and bar after exploring the river regions. Uncover the rich biodiversity of the region and the magnificence that the Amazon hides.

In the early morning (with the weather being a factor), get on a canoe ride which takes 15 minutes upstream to visit the Saladero de Loros where you will find hundreds of parrots and parakeets on treetops and gulping on the mineral-rich soil. Binoculars are recommended.

After this, you return to the lodge to have breakfast. Once done, continue your adventure as you walk-through the primary and secondary forest (activity time period - 2 ½ to 3 hours). In the afternoon, have lunch.

After this, you will get into a cultural activity. You will arrive at an Amazonian Kichwa community who will welcome us and you will be learning about their life’s ways and how they live in harmony with the forest.

A major reason for visiting here is to relish the delicious ‘chicha’ which is a fermented yucca drink which is famously part of their daily consumption and also during festivities. Moreover, we are going to participate in making this drink and also relish some nice traditional dishes.

Lastly, the tour ends as you end a beautiful traditional dance beautifully performed by the children in the community. Get yourself some handcrafts made by these indigenous people as souvenirs. Dinner is included.

Note: the itinerary is subject to change because of weather conditions and various operations requirements.

To start with, have a nice breakfast and later head back to the beautiful city of Quito. On the route, take some to visit and explore the amazing Itiñan Museum.

In the afternoon, you will visit the famous Equatorial Monument, which is a major tourist attraction in Quito.

At the middle of the world's Intiñan Equator Museum, you will take part in various experiments such as balancing an egg on a nail or watching water spin opposite ways, which are very entertaining.

Further, the Intiñan Museum offers an overarching view of Ecuador's culture which includes the stunning Galapagos Islands and Amazonian tribes.

You get 2 nights stay at Mercure Alameda Quito where a Superior Room will be booked to your name with Bed & Breakfast service.

On this day, get transferred to the Cotopaxi area where you visit the beautiful national park located in the majestic central highlands of Ecuador having stunning volcanoes.

Here, you have the active volcano Cotopaxi (last erupted in October 2015). Feel mesmerised watching the gorgeous snow-covered peak which is a major highlight experience on the tour. Also, the park is filled with various wildlife such as deer, foxes, and unique bespectacled bears. You will find a naturalistic guide accompanying you and informing you about the region's various medicinal plants and much more.

Post-visit, a guide is going to take you to Hacienda Hato Verde hotel, located close-by where you will be spending the remainder of the afternoon and evening as per your leisure.

Relish a decent breakfast before you are transferred to the airport (get assistance) to board your flight to the world-famous Galapagos Islands.

Once you arrive at the airport in San Cristobal, an island in Galapagos, a travel representative will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. Meet one of our coordinators who will be providing you with an informative session informing you regarding the remainder of the itinerary.

You get 3 nights stay at Casa Opuntia, San Cristobal, where you get a Standard Room with Bed & Breakfast service included in your deal.

Opuntia Hotels

Set in a truly stunning location on the seafront in Puerto Baquerizo, San Cristobal, Opuntia Hotels is a refreshing, chic boutique hotel. The rooms are unique, bright, beautifully decorated and very artistic. The property has two outdoor swimming pools and one children's pool. It has one on-site restaurant. The hotel staff is super friendly and helpful for any of your requirements.

Prepare yourself to explore the mesmerising San Cristobal Highlands. Begin your day with a 30-minute drive with your first stop being El Junco Crater Lake, only sweet water lake on the Galapagos Islands.

Further, continue your tour by driving to the stunning white sandy beach of Puerto Chino. (Be careful of the horseflies here.) You will be driving en route by the beautiful Opuntia cactus before arriving. Proceed for a small hike here as you go through a colony of lazy sea lions snoozing on the beach. Then, sight the beautiful blue-footed boobies birds on the rocks.

When on the top, you will enjoy spectacular views of sea turtles floating on the majestic blue waters.

After this, head back to the car as you head to the region’s famous breeding centre, La Galapaguera having wooden walkways. To arrive there, you have to walk towards the incubation centre (for around 20 minutes).

On a small boat, set sail for the majestic lava formation located somewhere in the middle of the ocean known as Kicker Rock (more famously, León Dormido in Spanish as it looks like a sleeping sea lion).

On the rock, circle around the formation to witness various bird species using the rock for nesting.

Later, the boat will anchor and you can get on a thrilling snorkelling experience through the canal in between the rock formations.

Important Note: currents can be strong here as you will be snorkelling in open waters without seeing the bottom.

You may even spot shark species (even hammerheads!) along with rays, turtles, and other sea creatures. In case, there are jellyfish, you will be given a wetsuit for precaution.

Post snorkelling, continue your tour to Manglecito (or a similar beach). Here you will enjoy a box of lunch on board.

You can walk comfortably around the beach or alternatively, relax and swim in the shallow waters before heading back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno city.

Note: it is a day tour; both lunch and snorkelling equipment are included.

Enjoy the final hours at the island before you are transferred to the San Cristóbal airport and get on a flight to Guayaquil City. You will find transportation at the airport which will be taking care of your transfer to your hotel.

The afternoon is for you to explore Guayaquil City, also known as the Pearl of the Pacific. A bilingual guide will be accompanying you who will give you insights into the city’s magnificent sights and savour some delicious snacks once you visit the Las Peñas neighbourhood.

Enjoy 2 nights stay at River Garden Hotel + Suites, Guayaquil, where you get ‘Run of the House Room’ with Bed & Breakfast service included in your deal.

Today, you get on private transport which will take you to the Manglares Churute Reserve which is just 2 hours from Guayaquil.

A bilingual guide (Spanish-English) takes you further along the Path of the Flower where you will be giving insights on the regional flora and fauna of the reserve. Later, get on a boat ride through the beautiful mangroves where you will witness spectacular bird species living in this unique ecosystem.

Further, you will be spotting Howler Monkeys. You will be walking for an hour to spot the loud howler monkeys in the trees of the beautiful Manglares Churute reserve.

Relish a sumptuous box of lunch or have lunch at a nearby cacao farm. Once you are done with the lunch, enjoy a tour around the farm.

On this 1.5 hours of tour, learn about the interesting cacao process where a local guide will be present telling you about the growing of one of the finest cacao in the world.

At the end of this exciting day with lots of good memories, return to Guayaquil via private transport.

Note: the itinerary is subject to changes in the weather conditions and operational decisions.

On this day, you hit the road as you go ahead to your next destination to further explore the beauty and culture of Ecuador. You get a private transfer that will take you to the airport for your onward journey.