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• Reception at the airport and private transfer to your hotel.
• Overnight at your preferred hotel in Quito.
• For 4 hours, we will visit downtown Quito to relish in this urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture, which is partly a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The visit starts at the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building, and the Archbishop’s Palace.
• Visit the temple of La Compañía de Jesús and its impressive gilded interior.
• Continue to the Monastery of San Francisco, with its impressive façade and atrium that lead to its Baroque interior influenced by Moorish style.
• Then continue to the Equatorial Monument, 25 km (16 miles) North of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. You will receive a certificate for having crossed the Equator.
• Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the different native American groups living in Ecuador.
• Besides the monument, there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs.
• Overnight at your preferred hotel in Quito.
• Breakfast included.
• Early departure from Quito by car on the Pan-American Highway to the south, to visit the Cotopaxi National Park, an ecological sanctuary of 88,920 acres, around the magnificent Cotopaxi Volcano, which rises 5897 meters (19,347 feet) above sea level.
• The evergreen landscape of the Ecuadorian highlands is one of the principal attractions, along valleys and mountains covered by multicoloured fields.
• Upon arrival to the park, there is an introductory briefing about the habitat of the Andean panorama or moorlands, its flora and fauna.
• Continue to the Limpiopungo Lagoon to observe a variety of birds and occasionally wild horses. On bright days, the Cotopaxi Volcano is the magnificent backdrop.
• A short walk around the lagoon allows the observation of the Andean flora.
• Lunch is served at a restaurant in the area before returning to Quito in the afternoon.
• Overnight at your preferred hotel in Quito.
• Breakfast and lunch included.
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
• In the morning, we bring you from the hotel to the airport.
• You will fly directly from Quito to Galapagos.
• Arrival by plane to San Cristóbal Island and transfer to the luxury cruise ship Santa Cruz.
• Cabin assignment, lunch and introductory presentation.
Punta Pitt
• In the afternoon, disembark to the eastern tip of the island, Pitt Point. This is an eroded tuff cone; the trail that ascends from the beach provides spectacular views of the shoreline. This is the only site on the Galapagos where the three species of boobies can be found together, as well as the two-frigate species, plus a colony of bachelor sea lions along the beach.
• After the walk, if conditions are favourable, there is a chance to swim from the beach or snorkel at the nearby islets.
• Expedition plan for the next day and dinner.
• Overnight on the luxury cruise ship Santa Cruz.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Santa Fe Island
• After breakfast, we take a small boat to reach an idyllic sandy-white beach populated by many sea lions.
• The giant prickly pear cactus found here live up to their name with tree-sized trunks!
• The endemic Land Iguana, unique to this island, may be spotted during the afternoon walk. Snorkelling and swimming from the beach rounds off the rewarding experience, or if guests prefer, the glass bottom boat for non-snorkelers.
• Lunch on board.
South Plaza Island
• Disembark (dry landing) in the channel between North and South Plaza Islands, where the island tilts toward the water.
• The approach makes for a lavishly colourful sight! The turquoise waters of the channel contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline.
• The rocks have grown thick with green seaweed in places, speckled with bright orange ‘Sally Lightfoot’ crabs.
• Further up the shore, a carpet of scarlet Sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus. Yellow-grey land iguanas sit beneath these, waiting patiently for pears to drop.
• Along the coastline, one finds sea lion colonies, while frigates, swallow-tailed gulls and shearwaters glide playing with the thermals that form along the cliffs of this small but amazing island.
• Expedition plan for the next day and dinner.
• Overnight on the luxury cruise ship Santa Cruz.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Puerto Ayora
• In the morning, we disembark (dry landing) for our visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest home to many land birds.
• These are the headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the National Park administration.
• Following our visit, we board our transport to enjoy lunch in the cooler highlands of Santa Cruz Island, an entirely different ecosystem.
Santa Cruz Island
• We have several options available for the afternoon, which can be discussed in advance with your expedition leader:
o Trek along trails through the highland forest, which is home to many elusive birds including the dark-rumped petrel.
o Mountain bike (mostly downhill) to Garrapatero Beach.
o Sea kayak and relax on a beautiful, sandy beach.
o Experience sustainable agriculture in an organic coffee plantation. At the end of the afternoon’s activities, we return to Puerto Ayora and embark on the luxury cruise ship Santa Cruz.
• Overnight on the luxury cruise ship Santa Cruz.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Punta Suárez
• An exciting walk awaits at Punta Suárez, where we enjoy its unique sea bird colonies, including Galapagos albatross (April – December), Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, and swallow-tail gulls as well as a view of the Galapagos’ famous “blow-hole”. Also, look out for red-green-black marine iguanas. Back on board for lunch.
Gardner Bay
• In the afternoon, the picture-postcard white coral beach of Gardner Bay provides a beautiful setting for observing sea lions, mockingbirds, finches as we relax. You can expect great snorkelling in this area.
• Overnight on the luxury cruise ship Santa Cruz.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
• Disembark from Baltra Island.
• Private transfer to the airport to take the flight back to Quito.
• We receive you at the airport and bring you to your hotel.
• Overnight at your preferred hotel in Quito.
• Breakfast included.
• This full-day excursion goes north, to the land of the Otavaleños and South America’s most famous Indian fair.
• Early departure from Quito towards Calderón, a small village that keeps the tradition of making colourful dough figurines of Indian dolls, llamas, flowers and even adorable Christmas ornaments. Guests can observe how each figure is moulded by hand, with dough of different colours carefully put together.
• Continue on the Pan-American Highway through dramatic mountain scenery to the textile market of Otavalo, where guests will enjoy visiting the many stalls full of ponchos, scarves, blankets, wall hangings, woven belts, hats, handbags and much more.
• Then, you proceed to Peguche, an Indian village very near Otavalo that is home to the artisans who do the weaving in their homes. Guests can learn about their culture and beliefs.
• Lunch is at one of the charming country inns or haciendas of the area like Pinsaqui, Puerto Lago or Cusin.
• Overnight at your preferred hotel in Quito.
• Breakfast and lunch included.
• Enjoy your free day in Quito.
• Overnight at your preferred hotel in Quito.
• Breakfast included.
• Unfortunately, now it´s time to say Good-Bye, and we bring you back to the airport, to take your flight home.
• We are very proud to welcome you again in the future and to show you other marvellous and fantastic parts of the world.
• Breakfast included
