Highlights
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Itinerary - click for more
Day 1 WEDNESDAY: COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK AND INDIGENOUS MARKET – BAÑOS
Drive along the Pan-American Highway known as “The Volcanoes Avenue” towards one of the world´s highest active volcanoes-Cotopaxi (5,897 m). We will reach the entrance of Cotopaxi National Park. We drive on a third class road through a pine forest to Limpiopungo lagoon, a glacial Andean lake located at 3,800 m, along the slopes of the magnificent Cotopaxi volcano. In the afternoon we will visit an Indigenous Market in this region. Afterwards we will continue to Baños, visit the city. Accommodation in selected hotel.
Day 2 THURSDAY: BAÑOS WATERFALL (B)
After breakfast. We will continue our tour to visit this city. Baños is a small city located in a valley with waterfalls and hot springs. One of the main attractions is the Tungurahua volcano. Our tour will begins visiting the famous waterfalls “Manto de la Novia” and “Pailon del Diablo”, later we search for a lookout point to see the Tungurahua active volcano. In the afternoon we will drive to Riobamba. Accommodation in selected hotel.
Day 3 FRIDAY: DEVIL`S NOSE TRAIN RIDE – INGAPIPRCA RUINS – CUENCA (B, BL)
Very early in the morning, after breakfast, we drive to the town of Alausi for a train ride to the famous “Devil’s Nose”. Due to the land topography, this portion is a masterpiece of railway engineering, commonly named “the most difficult railway in the world”. The descent is not an ordinary one, we start the ride at an altitude of 2,346 meters and go down to 1,860 meters in just 30 minutes, in a zigzag-carved railway tracks. After that we will visit Tolte Community, here you will be able to share with the community and will learn about their lifestyle, they will be able to enjoy activities like hiking, horseback riding, visiting an organic local farm, dancing show and a delicious lunch in the local restaurant of the community. After this visit we will drive to Ingapirca Ruins where a walk through this place will take you back to the past. These are the best preserved and unique Inca ruins in Ecuador. Arrival in Cuenca and accommodation in selected hotel.
Day 4 SATURDAY: CUENCA CITY TOUR (B)
After breakfast. The tour begins with a visit to the city’s Historic Center. We will visit the church San Sebastian, a picturesque and traditional neighborhood of Cuenca, the Modern Art Museum, where the famous International Biennial of Painting takes place permanently, the Calderon Park (central park), the Flower Plaza, the Church “del Carmen”, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, best known as the “New Cathedral” considered as of the biggest churches in Latin America. There is also a visit to the Cathedral “El Sagrario,” commonly known as the “Old Cathedral”, the city’s first Cathedral. Afterwards, we will visit “El Paja Toquilla” Hat Factory, where you can observe the elaboration process of the finest hats. The route continues with the visit to the “El Barranco del río Tomebamba,” which constitutes a communion between architecture and the natural environment. The houses are attached to the incline, displaying their majesty and charm. The tour will be finished at the “Mirador de Turi” (scenic viewpoint) where the landscape of a valley full of red roofs and church domes is framed by imposing mountains. Accommodation in selected hotel.
Day 5 SUNDAY: CAJAS NATIONAL PARK – GUAYAQUIL – TRANSFER OUT (B)
After breakfast. Only 30 minutes away from Cuenca we will find the El Cajas National Park; it consists of over 200 lagoons and has a surface of 28.544 hectares. It is a very important water resource for Cuenca and Ecuador. Thus achieving the international Ramsar wetland categories in 2002, area of international importance for bird conservation IBA 2003 and Candidate Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO. The rivers and tributaries that originate here flow into the Pacific and Amazon. Also, we can find the “Intercontinental Water Division” in this area. We visit the high part of the park 4.000 m.a.s.l. approximately, 45 minutes of walk. Then we move toward the Toreadora Lagoon, where we have a walk of approximately three hours. Then we will drive to Guayaquil city. Arriving, city tour of Guayaquil takes place in the downtown area where we can have a nice overview of the old city. We can see the modern Malecon 2000, located in the shores of Guayas River, as well as a fine example of original architecture in Guayaquil. Accommodation in selected hotel.
Day 6 MONDAY: TRANSFER IN – HIGHLANDS – CHARLES DARWIN STATION (B, L)
Arriving to Baltra we will take a shuttle thought out Santa Cruz Island where we will reach the highlands of the Islands with its green vegetation where we will stop to visit a Ranch, here we will be able to see Giant Turtles in their natural habitat. Lunch at the ranch. Then we will head to the Charles Darwin Station. The center is a reservoir of information on habitats and local conservation, as well as other fascinating relevant statistics. The most striking attraction of this station is certainly the Tortoise Breeding Center, where it is possible to view tortoises of varied sizes and shapes. Travelers here can freely walk and get their photos clicked with the tortoises. Among other inhabitants at the center, you can see the land and marine iguanas and different species of birds. Accommodation in selected hotel.
Day 7 TUESDAY: NAVIGABLE EXCURSION TO SEYMOUR ISLAND (B, L)
Enjoy a navigable tour to North Seymour, a 1.9 km² island located northbound from Baltra. The main fauna species of this island are Land Iguanas, the Magnificent Frigate bird with their incredible scarlet regular pouch, blue-footed boobies and their particular courtship dance and sea lions surfing across the waves. Lunch on board. After lunch we will do snorkeling in Bachas where you will be able to discover tones of different fish species and also swim with sea lions. Return to your hotel. Accommodation in selected hotel.
Day 8 WEDNESDAY: NAVIGABLE EXCURSION TO PLAZAS ISLAND (B, L)
South Plazas is situated on the east cost of Santa Cruz Island, it`s formed from uplifted marine lava and is one of the smallest island on the archipelago. This Island despite its size has a lot of concentration of wildlife. We will disembark in a small dock frequently occupied by sea lions. After this we will continue through a small forest of prickly pear cacti with their yellow flowers where could be lots of land iguanas waiting for their fruits and flowers fall of to the ground, to get finally up to the cliff, where you can often see a shoal of the endemic yellow-tailed mullet. The cliff is an excellent to view swallow-tailed gulls, tropic bird, frigate birds, pelicans, at the eastern end of the island bull sea lions congregate there to rest after losing their territory and recover energy and try to be again the beach master. Accommodation in selected hotel.
Day 9 THURSDAY: TRANSFER OUT (B)
Transfer to the airport, our English assistant will be waiting you to take you to the airport. Arrival to the airport, check-in assistance and flight back.
2018 Rates
| Galapagos Islands & Volcanoes | Double | Single Supp. |
|---|---|---|
| $2340 | $506 |
| Cities | Hotels |
|---|---|
| Quito | Hotel Fuente de Piedra I |
| Banos | Hotel Isla Baños |
| Riobamba | Hotel Casa Real |
| Cuenca | Hotel Posada del Angel |
| Guayaquil | Hotel Macaw |
| Santa Cruz | Hotel Isla Azul |
Included
Not Included
Price per person in US $ Dollars. Minimum 2 passengers
All rates and hotel availability subject to change
High season surcharges may apply
Note: Rates not valid at Christmas, New Year , Easter, Carnival or long weekends