Ecuador 360º tour

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Once you arrived at the Mariscal Sucre airport, our local guide will take you to the hotel where you would stay during your time in Quito. On your way to the hotel, the guide will introduce you about our wonderful country Ecuador (in regards to issues such as the continental weather, history of the country, and places to visit, etc). The guide will be your personal translator, as well as the person in charge of carrying your luggage and give you support on any inquires that you might have, until arriving to the hotel (Patio Andaluz, Casona de la Ronda, Casa San Marcos o Plaza Grande, Casa Gangotena, or Rumiloma

Overnight: Quito

Meals: -/-/-

Early in the morning and right after breakfast, you and our local guide would start the travel tour at city downtown, well known as Quito Colonial. Once you arrive there, you would start your journey along the “churches´ trails” by visiting the cathedral, near the presidential house. At the San Francisco church, there is a local handcraft store called Tianguez, where you can find a variety of items from the Ecuadorian culture and cuisine. Finally we will get a typical Ecuadorian lunch (not included).

After having a succulent Ecuadorian Lunch, our local tour will continue up north to the Equator line, where you would visit the “middle of the world” park and its monument. Here you can choose between the Ethnographic museum or the Intiñan museum, both located nearby the monument of the Equatorial line. Right after watching these amazing places, the guide would take you back to the hotel. !

Overnight: Quito

Meals: B/-/-

t from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra´s airport. A naturalist guide will be waiting for you to escort you during the transfer to Puerto Ayora. On the way, you will make a stop to visit the highlands. Next you will enjoy lunch at the harbor, after taking a short break you will visit the Charles Darwin Station.

At the Charles Darwin Station, you will be able to see a variety of species of Giant Tortoises in captivity. You will watch their different size and ages, and learn more about the Islands they originally come from.

Here you will learn more about the ongoing conservation efforts directed to preserve the Giant Tortoises, as well as learning more about the entire Galapagos environment.

After all these activities you will have dinner and taken to your hotel.

Overnight: Santa Cruz

Meals: -/L/D

Early morning 6:00 a.m., our trip begins in direction to the Cayambe highway bound for one of the most representative farms in the Andes, called the Company where you will enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared in the traditional Ecuadorian way. Quito, Cayambe, Otavalo After a short rest we will have the opportunity to view the ongoing process of growing roses, delicate scent will accompany your journey full of color. Ecuador is world renowned for the quality of their roses. Quito, Cayambe, Otavalo   Arriving in Otavalo by noon we drive to the Hacienda Cusin where you will enjoy a typical lunch place as the red meat Pinaqui is a typical dish of Imbabura.

After lunch you will have the afternoon off so they can ride a horse with a guide along the paths that wind hills Imbabura volcano. The horses are very well trained and allow riders from all levels to have an exciting and memorable adventure. Mountain bikes are available for hire, if they are booked previously, before coming to the ranch. All hiking, biking and horseback riding can be done with an experienced guide that can take you through a variety of trails.

Overnight: Otavalo

Meals: B/-/-

Meals:  B/-/-

You have to option to enjoy the natural hot springs which offer different temperatures for different tastes. Papallacta Before noon we depart to the Guango Reserve while passing by a small town called San Isidro where we have lunch in a typical restaurant. While at lunch you will have the pleasure of being accompanied by beautiful hummingbirds. Also we would visit the trails in the cloud forest of San Isidro, in this forest you will have a wide variety of species of birds, including hummingbirds hundreds of lovely colors. Papallacta-Baeza-Tena

In the afternoon we arrive in the city of Tena for a small city tour and then drive to the Lodge “HAKUNA MATATA” which will be your accommodation for the next 4 days and 3 nights. This private estate of approximately 150 ha is located just 10 km from Tena, the capital of the province of Napo. It is ideal for large-an inexhaustible series of activities that the area lends itself like no other place. Papallacta – Baeza – Tena Arriving at the Lodge you will be introduced to their rooms and can enjoy a welcome cocktail and dining.

Overnight: Hakuna Matata Lodge

Meals: B/-/D

After breakfast we head to our next destination which is Baths, on the way visit the Rescue Centre Wild Animals called “AmaZOOnico” which is just outside of Tena, and we will see endemic species from animals and flora. Upon reaching the town of Puyo, famous for its handicrafts made of balsa wood, parrots, macaws and toucans. After lunch we will serve, for members of the tour is optional before starting the tour.

Once in Tena, we will visit the House of Balsa Wood, here we can see the complicated manual process to create crafts of the locality. Depending on your preferences, you can visit the botanical park, Omaere, where you will learn about medicinal plants and also about the cultures of the Shuar and Achuar. Hakuna Matata-Baños Later, we will go to the city of Bath. Arrive in time to check in at the hotel and enjoy a typical dinner of the city of Bath.

Overnight: Baños

Meals: B/-/-

Baños – Riobamba

After breakfast in the city of Bath, will make a short tour and visit the center. The city provides a pleasant subtropical climate. Then we will start the tour route of the waterfalls as this charming town is the refuge of more than 60 waterfalls, among the most visited you have: Inés María, Pailón Devil, Manto de la Novia, Hair of the Virgin, San Jorge, San Pedro, Chamana, Machay Agoyán, Phantom, El Placer, San Francisco, Cashaurco, Heart, etc.

You can visit the waterfalls using different means of transport and also can meet them walking down the ecological and magical trails bridges and pendants. You can visit them in different types of transport such as cycling, Cuadrón or goats. We can also do other activities such as Kayaking, Rafting or hiking horse. Baños    After making visits in the city of Baños, we will have lunch in a typical restaurant and enjoy the best marshmallows in Ecuador. Then we will head for our next city where we will enjoy a dinner.

Overnight: Riobamaba

Meals: B/-/-

Riobamba – Huigra – Ingapirca

After an early morning breakfast in Riobamba, we will move towards the train station cruise to start the tour from Riobamba to Huigra visiting key sites such as the Church of Banbanera. Then follow the path of the train to the “Devil’s Nose” about four hours away. Then we will be arriving in the afternoon to Huigra where the guide will be waiting to go to Ingapirca where you will spend the night and enjoy a delicious dinner in the beautiful Posada Ingapirca.

Overnight: Ingapirca

Meals: B/-/D

Immediately after breakfast, we head northwest towards Cajas National Park. After a short drive, we can take part in various activities such as hiking, fishing, bird watching, flora, fauna and more. We visit the Interpretation Centre located on Lake La Toreadora (the largest and most important in the entire complex). Here we see pictures and interpretations of the park. El Cajas After the visit in the national park we will go to the “Cañas house” where we will experience the famous route of cocoa. We start the visit through short and safe paths of maximum 100 meters.

The tour will come to the city of Guayaquil to start the night. During the evening we will go to a typical restaurant in Guayaquil called “Mannis”, where we can enjoy a delicious cangrejada. Then, you are moving to the hotel where you spend the night before traveling to the Galapagos cruise.

Overnight: Guayaquil

Meals: B/-/-

The itinerary will dependend on your arrival day, however, in this case will take an example itinerary of Seaman Journey. You can check the information of Seaman Journey.

Arrival at San Cristobal travelers pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands and to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless prepaid), and $10 for the INGALA card which is an identity card that you need . Guides will meet you, collect your luggage, and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbor.  Motorized rafts, called ‘Pangas’ will transport you to the M/C Seaman Journey and our crew will welcome you onboard.  After departure and lunch, the first island visit is made.

PM: KICKER ROCK

Also known as the Sleeping Lion because of its resemblance, it is located of the coast of San Cristobal. The remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea, the two vertical rocks rising 500 feet from the ocean form a small channel that is navigable by small boats.  This Galapagos Islands natural monument has become a favorite sight for cruises due to the many tropical birds, frigates, and boobies that fill the surrounding air. Beneath the sea the nearly crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful tropical fish and invertebrates.

LOBOS ISLAND

Isla Lobos is about an hour by boat from Port Baquerizo Moreno. The length of the trail is 850 meters and the estimated travel time is one hour.  There is a small population of blue-footed boobies and common frigate birds nesting on this site. You can observe the two species of sea lions present in the archipelago.  During the tour you go through a dry vegetation zone, substrate of volcanic rocks and a sandy area.  During the panga tour brown pelicans and several species of shorebirds can be observed; although, snorkeling, it’s common to see juvenile sea lions, manta rays and sea turtles.

SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND

AM: PITT POINT This place is on the north of San Cristobal. One can see endemic species such as lava lizards and red-footed boobies. The view is impressive when you walk up to the high part of the island. You may be lucky to see the red footed booby – the least seen of the bunch. It’s also the home of the Chatham mockingbird, only found here on San Cristobal Island. Pitt Point

PM: CERRO BRUJO Cerro Brujo beach is a white coral beach and the first coast to be stepped by Charles Darwin. In this fascinating landscape of lava, we can observe boobies, gulls and pelicans. The sheltered bay is popular for young sea turtles and rays and there are excellent opportunities for swimming. Among the most attractive fauna you may be able to see is the Chatham mockingbird and San Cristobal lava lizard, both species endemic to this island and not seen anywhere else in the Galapagos. You can also find the Canary of the Islands, the Galápagos Flycatcher and hopefully the Vermilion Flycatcher, a small red and black bird that is called Pájaro Brujo in Spanish. The vegetation covers the whole path, where you can find species such as candelabra cactus, chala, carob, Muyu and more. Cerro Brujo Beach is special for being in calm and in peace. The white sand and water clarity are the perfect combination to enjoy an incredible break.

Overnight: Galapagos Cruise

Meals: B/L/D

ESPAÑOLA ISLAND AM: PUNTA SUAREZ This rocky land spot sustains one of the most impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in the Galapagos. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea affording the visitor spectacular views of soaring birds and of the blow whole where water spouts up to 50-75 feet into the air according to the intensity of the surf. Punta Suarez

PM: GARDNER BAY Located on the north-eastern coast of Hood, Gardner Bay provides an excellent beach for relaxing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and the opportunity to observe sea lions. Here we can also observe sharks in the crystal clear ocean waters.

Overnight: Galapagos Cruise

Meals: B/L/D

FLOREANA ISLAND AM: CORMORANT POINT This site offers probably the best flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos; it is also one of the largest in the islands. It’s situated between two tuff lava cones that give the area a special atmosphere. There are various species of shorebirds to observe besides flamingos; the most frequent are common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks, and other migratory birds. It is very interesting to see the two distinct beaches: “The Green Beach” (due to its high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the “Flour Sand Beach” which is made up of coral. Galapagos Cormorant Point

PM: POST OFFICE BAY & BARONESS LOOKOUT Historically, this site is the location of a wooden barrels that wasplaced in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship.  It has been used since this time by mariners and tourists as a post office. The idea is to carry letters or postcards to their destination by hand. Apart from being the Post Office Barrel, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonists. We will continue to the north of the island and will ascent to an elevated slope to enjoy a beautiful vista at the Baroness lookout. It is said that Baroness Eloisa Von Wagner loved this place and spent several hours watching the horizon. Within walking distance (30 m) are the ruins of what is known as her house. From this lookout, the landscape covers the coastline from the Enderby islet to Post Office Bay, as well as Cerro Pajas, the pool of flamingos and wide forest of Palo Santo.

Overnight: Galapagos Cruise

Meals: B/L/D

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND AM: CHARLES DARWIN STATION

Although the great majority of Galapagos visitors come here to observe and appreciate natural wonders, it is also interesting to learn how the protection and conservation of the islands are carried out.  One of the main attractions are the National Park information center, the Van Straelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding and Rearing Center for young tortoises, Lonesome George (turtle from Pinta), and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity. Charles Darwin Station

Transfer to the airpot – Flight to Quito or Guayaquil

Overnight: Galapagos Cruise

Meals: B/-/-