A Taste of Ecuador (LFTE-11)

	Duration: 11 days Departing: Daily
	Itinerary Day 1 Transfer In Day 2 Historical City Tour in Quito & Middle of the World. Day 3 Quito – Cotopaxi - Riobamba Day 4 Riobamba – Train ride – Ingapirca - Cuenca Day 5 Cuenca - Guayaquil Day 6 Guayaquil city tour & Natural Historic Park Day 7 – 10 Galapagos Islands Day 11 Transfer out
	Package Descriptions

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Upon you arrival to the capital of Ecuador, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your charming hotel in Quito, where you will receive your full itinerary and information about Ecuador and your trip.

Day 2 - Quito City Tour

After breakfast, your will visit “Quito” the most beautiful and colonial city in South America declared by UNESCO part of the Cultural Heritage of mankind. Your visit starts in Ecuador’s House of Congress where you will appreciate its stone-carved facade depicting scenes from Ecuadorian history. Explore the Independence square, with the presidential palace, the city hall, the Sagrario church and the Cathedral. Visit San Francisco church and museum-monastery (1535), San Agustin monastery and the finest example of baroque art in America, La Compañía church (1605) and its breathtaking gilded altars. Visit the art & crafts gallery of Tianguez and finally, drive up to the Panecillo hill to have a spectacular view of Quito and to see the only winged Virgin in South America.

After visiting the Colonial center of Quito you will arrive to the Middle of the World Monument and Museum, which is located 25 km north of Ecuador’s capital. There you will find the monument on the exact equatorial line marking latitude 0° 0´0”, where you will have the opportunity to stand in both hemispheres simultaneously, and take wonderful pictures. You can also visit the ethnographic museum on site. Accommodation (B)

Day 3 - Cotopaxi Volcano

Your adventure will start driving south of Quito where you will admire the Cotopaxi (19,347 feet) the highest active volcano on earth and its National Park. Upon you arrival to the park you will visit the interpretation center where you will find history about the last Cotopaxi eruption as well as information about the flora & fauna of this beautiful national park. Afterwards you will visit the Limpiapungo Lake and admire the Andean highlands with its exotic birds, or you can start climbing up to the snow line and arrive to the Cotopaxi’s first shelter located at 15,744 ft.

Lunch will be served at a typical nearby hacienda, after lunch you will stop in a typical indigenous market where you will admire Ecuador’s highest mountain the snow capped Chimborazo (20697 ft.) in your way to Riobamba which is the birthplace of Ecuador’s first constitution (1830). Here you will have a brief tour of the city, which includes its French-influenced plazas, the Cathedral, admire the city from Quito hill and learn about Ecuador’s history from its murals. Accommodation (B - L)

Day 4 - Andean Train & Ingapirca Ruins

After an early breakfast you will continue your excursion south passing by a picturesque indigenous area in the highlands of Ecuador, here you will admire the oldest Catholic chapel in the country “Balbanera chapel”.
You are going to arrive to Alausi train Station. If the train is available, you will experience the Devil’s nose route going from the highest Andes to the low lands. After a Box lunch on the road you will arrive to Ingapirca ruins, the most important religious and political complex of Inca ruins in Ecuador. Drive to Cuenca for an overnight stay. Accommodation (B – Box Lunch)

Day 5 - Cuenca City Tour

Discover Cuenca, one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Latin America, located at 2,500 meters above sea level in a valley surrounded by 4 rivers and mountains with colorful countryside. Famous City for its art and history, admire its beautiful marble Cathedral, its cobblestone streets, graceful wrought-iron balconies, flowered plazas and museums. Continue to Gualaceo valley where you will admire the beauty of this region. After Lunch you adventure continue to Guayaquil for an overnight stay. Accommodation (B – L)

Day 6 - Guayaquil City Tour

Today you will visit Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city and one of the most important ports in the Pacific Coast of South America. Visit the living tradition of Las Peñas neighborhood, walk around the riverfront Malecon 2000 with its botanic gardens, and monuments with a view to the Guayas River. Walk up to the Santa Ana hill to have a spectacular views of Guayaquil, and drive through the “9th of October” Avenue to see Centenario park and discover the spirit of this cosmopolitan city.

After Lunch you will visit the Natural historic Park of Guayaquil, a place where it is possible to admire local flora and fauna like Caymans, Iguanas Arpee Eagles and a beautiful segment of mangrove forest. On the cultural side, visit a replica of a late nineteenth century neighborhood and an area that allows visiting a typical hacienda discover the coastal way of life. Accommodation (B – L)

Day 7 - Galapagos Islands (Santa Cruz Island)

After an early breakfast you will transfer to the airport to take your flight to the magical Galapagos Islands. Here you will board your exclusive yacht for a small group Galapagos experience.

In your first day in Galapagos you will visit the island of Santa Cruz. There you will walk around and observe the Twin pit crater and Cerro Chato where you can admire the Giant tortoises that gave name to these islands. After Lunch at the highlands of Santa Cruz you will visit the famous Charles Darwin station, where you can admire the famous giant Galapagos tortoises, and other land birds. Accommodation (B – L – D)

Day 8 (Española Island)

Today you will disembark at Suarez Point. This is one of the most important sites for bird watching. Observe Masked & Blue-footed boobies, hood mocking birds, red-billed tropical birds, Galapagos doves, hawks, swallow-tailed gulls and the largest colony of waved albatross. You will also spot large colonies of marine iguanas and sea lions. Finally you will visit a blowhole where water shoots into the air at almost 75-ft. Lunch will be served on board. In the afternoon you will visit Gardner bay a special site for snorkeling and swimming, with a white coral beach, a large colony of sea lions. You will also have the opportunity to observe Galapagos hawks, American oystercatchers, Galapagos doves, hood mocking birds, 3 species of Darwin finches, yellow warblers, lava lizards and marine iguanas. Accommodation (B – L – D)

Day 9 (San Cristobal Islands)

In the morning you will visit Ochoa beach at Lobos Island, a nice place where you can swim or practice snorkeling. After this visit you will arrive to San Cristobal Island, here you will visit The Interpretation Center where you can learn about the natural and human history of the islands. Later free time at the island for shopping or walk around.

In the afternoon the expedition will take you to Punta Pitt where you can hike to the top of this point. This will be an excellent opportunity to observe important nesting sites for many sea birds including blue & red- footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls and storm petrels. On board the yacht you will observe the Kicked rock a vertical tuff cone formation rising almost 500-ft. Accommodation (B – L – D)

Day 10 (North Seymour Island)

After a dry landing you will encountered by swallow tailed gulls and sea lions that will be found bodysurfing, it also a special nesting site for blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. Here you can also spot marine and land iguanas. After the visit you will transport to Baltra Island for your flight to Quito or Guayaquil. (B)

Day 11

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home (B)