Day 01 : Depart London Heathrow and Arrive Quito
According to your flight schedule, your driver-guide will pick you up at Mariscal Sucre airport and take you to your hotel to rest and prepare for your amazing journey.
Day 02 : Middle Of The World Monument – Intiñan Museum – Pulahua Crater View Point – Mindo Cloud Forest
Early in the morning, your guide will pick you up at your hotel to start your journey. You will visit the Middle of the World monument, which is only 30 minutes from Quito. Here you will have the opportunity to jump from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere. In the 18th century, the French Geodesic Expedition arrived here to carry out important research and investigate the real shape of the Earth. The interesting visit to the Intiñan Museum will be included. The main objective of the museum is to rescue a new image of the existence of a geographical center of the ancient worldview. It is located a few meters from the official monument of the Middle of the World. The Intiñan Solar Museum is crossed by a red line where the owners affirm that it is the true center of the world. Although it is difficult for the GPS signal to work here due to the mountains surrounding this point, it can be confirmed that it is very close to the 00 ° coordinate. This is an ideal place to visit near an equinox in March or September, when the sun's rays fall perpendicular to the earth and, therefore, there is no shadow.
On the way you will visit Pululahua crater view point, Ventanillas viewpoint lets you see the boiler and elevations. Right after you will go to Mindo, once you arrive to your lodge you will have time to join your guide to walk around the trails to see all the vegetation and birds around it. Overnight in Mindo
Day 03 : Mindo – Cock of the Rock Lek – Quito
4:30 AM wake up and departure private transfer to Angel Paz Reserve to see the Cockof-the-Rock and possibly Antpittas. The lek of the Andean cock of the rock, here you can see between 5 and 10 individuals (males), these are showing their power and beauty to attract the female and this show takes about 1 hour. Back to lodge about 8 AM for breakfast and guided hike in Bellavista. Giving you time for lunch you will come back to Quito. Overnight in Quito.
Day 04 : Otavalo Artisanal Market – Cotacachi Town and Cuicocha Lake
In the Otavalo market you can see our famous fabrics and paintings, you will have time to interact and buy some local souvenirs for yourself, family and friends. Right ahead you will go to Cotacachi, where you can try a traditional dish, here you will find leather products that are selling outside the country. From here you go to Cuicocha the last spot of the day, this lagoon is located in a mountain, you can take a boat ride to see the two islets in the middle of the lagoon. Overnight in Otavalo
Day 05 : Peguche Village and Waterfall – Papallacta Hot Springs
Today you will visit Peguche village, this community has an enormous tradition of artisans who build musician instruments and create fabrics too. You will visit Peguche was, a communitarian center in which you will learn about hand-woven artisan products. These crafts manifest figures inspired both by nature and by the daily reality of Andean People.
After this you will visit Peguche waterfall, 30 meters high and 6 meters wide, forms on steep slopes. You will feel the energy of the water and forest. Before we take the road, we will visit Ñanda Mañachi music workshop. José Luis Pichamba and his family have been making typical Andean instruments for years. In addition to the workshop there is also a small museum with all the instruments indicating the area of origin of each one. If you are lucky, you can even enjoy a demonstration of José Luis playing any of them.
Afterward, you will go to Papallacta hot springs to relax and pass the night. On the way, you will see amazing landscapes of the Ecuadorian paramo. Overnight in Papallacta.
Day 06 : Cotopaxi National Park
After breakfast you will go inside Cotopaxi National Park, getting from the south part of the park you will cross Machachi town seeing the local farms, on the way you will visit El Porvenir one of the all haciendas of the zone, here you can try a canelazo a local beverage to combat the cold. After this you will go to your Limpiopungo Lagoon, if the day is sunny you can take an amazing picture of the Cotopaxi volcano and the lagoon. Here you can walk around the lagoon and see many birds of the paramo and some little frogs. You will come back to Quito to take a flight to Galapagos the next day. Overnight in Quito.
Day 07 : Quito – Highlands of Santa Cruz
Flight from Quito to Baltra airport, where your guide will receive you and take you to the main town of Santa Cruz Island, Puerto Ayora. Today you will explore the natural habitat of the giant Galapagos turtles in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. On the way, you will see how the vegetation changes considerably and turns humid and green. You will visit Manzanillo Ranch, a reserve for turtles where you will observe the animals in their natural habitat and have a beautiful view over the island. In the volcanic formation of the highlands, you will also discover ancient lava tunnels. Lunch at Manzanillo. After this activity, you will go to your hotel to check-in and rest. Overnight at Hotel in Puerto Ayora.
Day 08 : Academy Bay Tour
In the morning you will do navigation along by Santa Cruz bay, With this tour, you visit the highlights around Puerto Ayora by boat. The first destination will be La Loberia where you find sea lions. Next, you will navigate for about 15 minutes to arrive at Punta Camaño Islet. Here you will snorkel with sea lions and a large variety of fish.
Also, you will go on a channel where you can spot Tintorera sharks and blue-footed boobies. Your next activity will be a visit to the Channel of Love. This is another formation by a fissure that results in a beautiful sleepy water channel with excellent scenic beauty. Finally, Playa de Los Perros. This is a 15-minute walk until you reach the beach where you will be able to observe lots of dog crabs’ colonies, lots of large marine iguanas on the island, and unparalleled scenic views.
After this you will be assisted to take your lunch in a local restaurant, after this you will have a free afternoon. Overnight in Santa Cruz.
Day 09 : Charles Darwin Station – Speed Boat to San Cristobal
In the morning you will visit Charles Darwin Research Station which gives you information about the evolution of the islands and hosts a breeding center of giant turtles. You can see different generations of Turtles. You will have time for lunch and be prepared to take the speed boat to go to San Cristobal island.
After 2 hours and a half of the navigation English-speaking assistance will pick you up at the pier and take you to the hotel to check-in and rest. Overnight in San Cristobal.
Day 10 : Lobos Island
Lobos Island is located about an hour by boat ride northeast of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. As its name implies there is a large number of sea lions with which you can swim and snorkel. The length of the trail is 850 meters and the estimated walking 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, the 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.
We have a quick pack lunch on the boat and continue to Ochoa Beach, in this area, there is a considerable colony of Galapagos Sea Lions. One of the outstanding floras in this site is Piscidia or Matazarno, this species is highly valued for its toughness and long life. Ghosts and Hermit crabs are common species in this site visit. Near the beach is a temporal pool, which is constantly visited by migrating birds and shorebirds. It is one of the sites where you can see the mockingbird endemic to San Cristobal.
Day 11 : Lobos Island
Today you will have all the time to explore the island by yourself. Even though if you want you can take a daily tour to Kicker Rock. Overnight in San Cristobal.
Optional Activity:
Kicker Rock is a famous rock formation west of San Cristóbal, because of its characteristic form, it is also called ‘Leon Dormido’, Sleeping Lion. Between the rocks, many sharks, sea lions, rays, and sea turtles are present, which makes it an excellent place for snorkeling and diving. Don’t worry, the currents around the rocks and in the channel in between the rocks are quite mild, making it a safe place for snorkeling.
You will be accompanied in the water by experienced snorkel guides, they will help you to find the best spots to see sea life. Back on the boat a delicious packed lunch is served while the captain takes you to a beautiful beach location. In the area surrounding Kicker Rock, many bottlenose dolphins can be seen.
On the beach, you can enjoy the clear blue water and small fish, aquatic birds like pelicans and blue-footed boobies and the plant species of the coastal zone and the mangrove.
**£195 Per person**
Day 12 : Lobos Island – Guayaquil
According to your flight, you will be transferred to San Cristobal airport, after 2 hours flight you will be arriving in Guayaquil. A guide will welcome you and take you to your hotel. Overnight in Guayaquil.
Day 13 : Final Departure
According to your flight, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and take to the airport to take your flight home.