Galapagos Cruise & Otavalo across the Andes to the coast

Day by Day Activities

Day 1: Arrive to Quito

The transfer will drop-off guests in the hotel for a warm welcome in Quito. Overnight stay.

Day 2: Quito (B)

The tour starts in the city center of Quito among churches with baroque designs, stoned carved facades and columns. The admirable work of the biggest amount of colonial art in the southern continent. Quito is filled with heritage sites.
Later on, there is a visit to the Middle of the World Complex where the Equatorial line passes through in a 0º0’0” latitude. Overnight Stay.

Day 3: Otavalo Market & Surroundings

Otavalo is located just from a two-hour drive from Quito and is well-known among visitors for being the largest and unique Indigenous market in Latin America. Indigenous people gather with stands in a city square to sell their arts and crafts which reflect their traditions and culture.
Colorful tapestries, hand-made jewelry, hand-carved wooden sculptures, Andean musical instruments are some of the items that can be found in this open market.
Other nearby town such as “Peguche” and “Cotacachi” also are known for their weaving skills and their manufacture artisanal leather goods.

Day 4: Karanki Magdalena Community, Train Ride to Salinas (B,L)

The Karanki people are a small community by the slopes of the Imbabura Volcano. They main focus is working the land with their knowledge of traditional agricultural techniques. It is a community filled with history and nowadays, they welcome visitors so they can have a multi-cultural exchange to learn more about their customs and culture.
In a short drive to Ibarra, there is the Liberty Train that will take you between great landscapes on green mountains, tunnels going through hills, to admire the highlands sceneries until it arrives to Salinas.
Salinas is another opportunity for a multicultural exchange with local Afro-Ecuadorian people that will share with visitors their local knowledge of handcrafted jewelry, local food, and their agricultural skills.

Day 5: Quito – Cotopaxi – Riobamba – Baños (B)

Going through the highlands to the west, the majestic Cotopaxi Volcano will make his appearance among smalls pine forests. The Cotopaxi is one of the highest volcanoes on the planet and his majestic appearance can also be seen on a clear morning from Quito.
Baños is a small touristic town, with a humid weather but cold temperature. It is located by the sloped of the Tungurahua volcano and it is surrounded by green humid rainforest. Main attractions and activities include the visit of several waterfalls, canopying, bunge jumping, and taking tours to the nearest rainforests to see the fauna.
After the visit in Baños, the trip continues south to reach the city of Riobamba; rich in historical architecture, for an overnight stay.

Day 6: Riobamba – Devil’s Nose Train Ride -Ingapirca Ruins – Cuenca (B,BL)

Riobamba is a small with rich natural beauty, surrounded by volcanoes located right at the center of Ecuador. It is also a jewel when it comes to colonial history, with architectural buildings that date back the XIX and he XX centuries.
A favorite attraction if the Devil’s Nose train ride that will take visitors to outstanding landscapes of the highlands going all the way south to Ingapirca Ruins. The Ruins date back from the Incan time where they built a temple to the sun and the moon. Rich in Incan history, Ingapirca will take visitors back in time.
Afterwards, guests will arrive to Cuenca for an overnight stay.

Day 7: Cuenca – El Cajas National Park (B)

Cuenca is another historic city in Ecuador, and is where the third largest population of the country lives. Four rivers pass through different zones of the city and its city center is filled with historic churches, cathedrals and squares from the colonial times.
The trip continues to the “El Cajas” National Park, which is a protected area filled with more than 170 lagoons that all drain down to the rivers in the city.
After a delicious lunch, guest will be heading to Guayaquil for an overnight stay.

Day 8-11: All-inclusive Galapagos expedition cruise (B,L,D)

Head to the Galapagos Islands in a local flight.
Visit the islands with style in an all-inclusive 3-night expedition cruise. This deluxe ship will offer all the top amenities in the cabins and in its services. It features great interiors and decorations while in the outside the open areas make guest to feel more in touch with the surroundings and landscapes. High-quality cuisine, with buffet breakfast and lunch and a-la-carte service on dinner time.
The islands are filled with unique wildlife that has adapted in order to survive in this remote archipelago. There are iguanas that graze on algae, penguins that live in the tropics, cormorants that swim, 13 different species of finches, tiny lizards that live on petrified lava fields and of course the iconic and enigmatic Giant Galapagos Tortoises.
Every animal has been shaped by the conditions of the islands, having unique geographical features and resources. Some have powder white sand, while others look like a landscape taken out of Mars, with red sand and volcanic traits.
The underwater is also another world that the Galapagos is known best for; it is one of the biggest marine reserves on the planet! The diversity is also found underwater and is a divers paradise. Optional activities are offered along the excursion such as kayaking, snorkeling, and for those wanting to stay dry, there is also a glass bottom boat.
Excursions are led by Galapagos highly qualified naturalist guides that will come along with the group for the two-daily excursions. They will explain in details about the history, the geography and the evolution of nature that have created this amazing destination.
Return to Quito or Guayaquil. Overnight stay.

Day 12: Quito or Guayaquil (B)

Transfer out. End of services.

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