LUXURY QUITO, CLOUD FOREST & GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

• Reception at the airport and private transfer to the selected 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 imposing 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 the central square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs.
• 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; then it is baked and varnished.
• Continue on the Panamerican 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.
• Here, the Otavaleños barter in silence, in marked contrast to the raucous noise of other markets. Take your time to negotiate the best bargains.
• 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.

• Your departure time from Quito is early in the morning.
• We take the highway north of Quito, passing the Equator Monument and Latitude 0, and then we climb over the pass and from here on, it’s downhill towards the Pacific Ocean.
• After about two-and-a-half hours, we arrive at the entrance to the Mashpi Rainforest Biodiversity Reserve, which extends over the surrounding 1,300 hectares (3,212 acres) – a haven for wildlife and biodiversity.
• Here, we’ll stop at the Hummingbird Viewpoint to learn more about these irrepressible flying machines, enjoy a drink.
• We then wind our way 6 km (3.75 miles) further aboard electric buggies until we reach the lodge itself, at approximately 12 pm.
• Here guests are welcomed with a refreshing drink and checked in to their rooms.
• Lunch is served soon after, followed by a short time to relax.
• After lunch, the afternoon’s activities begin.
• These events will depend on factors such as group size, physical abilities and weather conditions.
• Before dinner, guests will meet their naturalist guides for a short briefing about the next day’s activities.
• Optional night walks head out from the hotel following dinner.
• Overnight at Mashpi Lodge.
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

• For those who want to enjoy the beauty and magic of dawn in the forest – which is when most birds are active and calling, as well as when views are often most spectacular – early morning activities are organised before breakfast.
• Following breakfast, we head out from the lodge to explore, returning for lunch and rest, before enjoying an afternoon amid Nature, then dinner, night walks and sleep.
• Overnight at Mashpi Lodge.
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

• On the last day, there’s an early breakfast, followed by a shorter morning activity and check out.
• Then there´s time to relax at the Lodge, watch a video presentation or birdwatch from the terraces.
• A substantial snack is served at 10.30 am, and we leave the hotel at 11 am.
• About an hour away, we visit the intriguing archaeological site of Tulipe.
• We then drive back eastwards, winding our way up the Andes towards the capital, arriving at Quito hotels in the afternoon.
• Overnight at your preferred hotel in Quito.
• Breakfast included.

• Enjoy your free day in Quito.
• Overnight at your preferred hotel in Quito.
• Breakfast included.

• Transfer from the hotel to the airport.
• Flight from Quito to Galapagos.
• Morning arrival at Baltra Airport, transfer to the Itabaca Channel.
• A small ferry will take us across the channel to the north shore of Santa Cruz Island.
• We board our bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, where guests will learn about the unique montane ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Lunch at a local restaurant.

El Chato (Santa Cruz Island)
• After lunch, travel by bus to El Chato Reserve, one of the best places in the archipelago to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat.
• The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering around, eating grass and leaves and wallowing in the small pools that are common in the reserve.
• You may also spot some highland birds, like cattle egrets, mockingbirds, finches or flycatchers.
• You can visit several lava tunnels in the reserve, a great place to spot the barn owl.
• There is also a small lagoon covered in red algae where gallinules and Galápagos pintails can be found.
• Let´s go back to Puerto Ayora to board La Pinta Yacht.
• Following we present an introductory briefing including the expedition plan for the next day, welcome cocktail and dinner.
• Overnight at La Pinta Yacht.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

• Visit the Whale Bay (Bahía Ballena).
• After breakfast disembark (wet landing) at a beautiful olivine beach (a volcanic crystal that forms in fast-cooling lava).
• The area has historical relevance since a small community lived in this area in the late 1900s, collecting lichen (Rosella Tictoria), used in the textile industry.
• The trail leads guests to an old water hole used by the former settlers.
• There are also boobies, birds and beautiful views of the northwest side of Santa Cruz Island to enjoy.
• Several activities are possible after the walk, such as snorkelling or a panga ride along the shoreline. Back on board for lunch.

Sombrero Chino Islet
• Less than a quarter-of-a-square-kilometre in size, the tiny island of Sombrero Chino gets its name from its appearance: a Chinese hat.
• Lying just off the southeastern tip of San Salvador Island (James), this islet invites to explore it and walk along its 400-metre long trail, which begins at a crescent-shaped white sandy beach.
• Several species of shorebirds can be spotted, along with marine iguanas, lava lizards, Galápagos penguins and sally lightfoot crabs.
• The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkelling opportunities with white-tipped reef sharks and tropical fish.
• Briefing and dinner.
• Overnight at La Pinta Yacht.
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

• Disembark at Bartolomé Island (dry landing) for a hike to the summit.
• This is a steep climb up a wooden staircase with handrails and several restings and observation stops. The view from the top is worth the effort.
• Following the walk, a dinghy ride around colossal Pinnacle Rock, is rewarding, followed by time to enjoy the beach (wet landing) and some snorkelling, with possible Galápagos penguin sightings.
• Guests can also ride on the glass-bottom boat for great views of the underwater world. Lunch on board.

James Island – Sullivan Bay
• After lunch, board a small boat for the short ride to the landing site at Sullivan Bay on the east coast of Santiago.
• Wet landing on a white coral sand beach and a walk over lava that flowed here less than 100 years ago.
• This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of Galapagos.
• The last major eruption on Santiago was probably in the early 1900’s.
• One observer aboard a sailing vessel reported that the ship approached the lava flow so closely that the pine tar used to seal the hull of the vessel began to soften, and the captain had to hurry the ship away from the bay.
• Briefing and dinner.
• Overnight at La Pinta Yacht.
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

• In the morning, a wet landing for a leisurely stroll observing thousands of birds, mainly frigate birds, red footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds.
• Optional walk over sharp lava and uneven terrain for dramatic views, or else return to the beach to enjoy swimming and snorkelling at this beautiful natural harbour.
• The more adventurous can snorkel along the cliffs or paddle sea kayaks.
• Lunch on board.

Tower Genovesa Island – Prince Philip´s Steps
• The afternoon starts with a fascinating boat ride along the cliffs and then disembark (dry landing) on rocks for a steep climb (90 feet) up some stairs.
• Once at the top of the stairs, the land is flat, allowing for a stimulating walk of about a mile to the other side of this small island, observing large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds and storm petrels.
• Those not wishing to disembark can enjoy a longer boat ride along the cliffs (depending on weather conditions).

• Farewell cocktail, departure briefing and dinner.
• Overnight at La Pinta Yacht.
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

• Disembark on Baltra Island.
• Transfer to the airport to take the flight from Galapagos to Quito
• Reception at the airport and transfer to the selected hotel.
• 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