Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Quito
You'll land in Quito and head to your hotel in Tumbaco with no scheduled activities today. There's time to rest and let your body adjust to the altitude, or if you arrive early, grab a taxi to explore downtown Quito about 45 minutes away. The hotel staff can help arrange transport if you're interested in checking out the city center.
Optional Activities
- Downtown Quito exploration with hotel-arranged taxi transport
Landmarks/POIs Pichincha Volcano - Day 2
Tumbaco to Otavalo to Peguche
This morning you'll drive north toward Otavalo, traveling through a fertile valley surrounded by mountains. Stop at Parque Condor on the way to see injured condors up close at this rescue center. After lunch at a local restaurant in Otavalo, head to the village of Peguche where craftspeople show how traditional Andean panpipes are made and play them for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant meal in Otavalo)
Included Activities
- Visit Parque Condor (condor rescue centre)
- Lunch at local restaurant in Otavalo
- Panpipe workshop in Peguche (learn how panpipes are made and listen to experts play)
Landmarks/POIs Otavalo Market Town Parque Condor - Day 3
Peguche and Otavalo
Early on you'll reach Cuicocha, a turquoise crater lake sitting at 3,100 metres, and walk around part of it for about 90 minutes through alpine vegetation while watching for Andean condors. After that, return to Otavalo and visit an indigenous community for a home-cooked lunch with seasonal dishes. The afternoon is yours to browse the local market for handicrafts or relax with hot chocolate.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Home-cooked seasonal meal at indigenous community including traditional options such as locro de papa (potato and cheese soup), fritada (fried chunks of pork with corn), yucca, or quinoa with meat and vegetables)
Included Activities
- Walk around Cuicocha crater lake (approximately 90 minutes)
- Visit to indigenous community
- Home-cooked lunch at indigenous community
Optional Activities
- Explore Otavalo market and local handicrafts (leather goods, wood carvings, weavings)
Landmarks/POIs Cuicocha Crater Lake Otavalo Market - Day 4
Otavalo to Mindo
You'll travel from Otavalo's sparse mountain landscapes down into the dense cloud forest on the western Andes slopes. Stop at a local biscuit factory to try fresh bizcochos from a wood oven, then cross the equator line at the Quitsato Equator Monument. Continue downhill to Mindo, a village in a nature reserve with over 400 bird species, and visit a chocolate producer to learn how they work from bean to finished product before tasting their chocolate.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop at local biscuit factory to try fresh bizcochos
- Stop at Quitsato Equator Monument
- Chocolate producer visit and tasting
Landmarks/POIs Quitsato Equator Monument Mindo Cloud Forest - Day 5
Mindo to Quito
Start early to catch Mindo's most active birds. Visit a hummingbird garden to see iridescent species up close, then head into the Mindo-Nambillo reserve. Ride a cable car (tarabita) up the mountainside for forest views and walk to one of the waterfalls, either 20-30 minutes to Nambillo Waterfall or up to an hour to La Reina depending on weather and fitness level. By late afternoon, you'll drive back to downtown Quito.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hummingbird garden visit
- Cable car (tarabita) ride up mountainside in Mindo-Nambillo reserve
- Walk to waterfalls (choice of Nambillo or La Reina waterfall)
Landmarks/POIs Mindo-Nambillo Reserve Nambillo Waterfall La Reina Waterfall - Day 6
Quito
Spend the day exploring Quito, one of the best-preserved colonial cities in the Americas and a UNESCO Heritage Site. See La Compania church with its elaborate gilded altars, walls and ceilings, then visit the Church of San Francisco, Quito's largest and oldest colonial church from 1553. Climb Cerro Panecillo to reach the Virgen de Quito statue for views of the city and the Andes. The afternoon is free for museums, wandering through the Old Town, or trying local Ecuadorian food.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit La Compania church
- Visit Church of San Francisco
- Climb Cerro Panecillo to Virgen de Quito statue
Optional Activities
- Visit city museums
- Explore Old Town
- Dine at local restaurants
Landmarks/POIs La Compania Church Church of San Francisco Cerro Panecillo Virgen de Quito Statue - Day 7
Quito to Cotopaxi National Park and Return
Drive through the 'Avenue of the Volcanoes' mountain scenery to Cotopaxi National Park, about two hours from Quito. You'll see Ecuador's second-highest volcano, a classic snow-covered cone at 5,897 metres. Take an easy 90-minute walk around Limpiopungo Lagoon, a glacial lake where waterfowl, hummingbirds and wild horses live. By evening you'll head back to your Tumbaco hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk around Limpiopungo Lagoon (approximately 90 minutes)
Optional Activities
- View Cotopaxi volcano peak (weather dependent)
Landmarks/POIs Cotopaxi Volcano Cotopaxi National Park Limpiopungo Lagoon - Day 8
Quito to Galapagos (Santa Cruz Island)
You'll fly to the Galapagos Islands and land on Santa Cruz, the second-largest island. Check out Los Gemelos, two volcanic depressions that show how the islands formed. Pass through evergreen highlands where giant tortoises roam. The afternoon is free to explore Puerto Ayora, the island's main town, at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Galapagos (Santa Cruz Island)
- Visit Los Gemelos (volcanic depressions)
- Passage through highlands to view giant tortoises
Optional Activities
- Explore Puerto Ayora town
Landmarks/POIs Los Gemelos Puerto Ayora - Day 9
Santa Cruz to Isabela Island
Take a speed boat from Santa Cruz to Isabela Island, about two and a half hours by water. Isabela is the largest Galapagos island, made up of five volcanoes with two still active. You'll base yourself in Puerto Villamil on the southern coast. Visit the Arnaldo Tupiza breeding centre to learn about Galapagos tortoise history and conservation. Walk 1.5 kilometres back to town through the Tunel del Estero (lava tunnel) and beaches where you might see marine iguanas, crabs, herons and lava gulls.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Speed boat transfer to Isabela Island
- Visit Arnaldo Tupiza breeding centre
- 1.5 kilometre walk back to Puerto Villamil via lava tunnel and beaches
Landmarks/POIs Isabela Island Puerto Villamil Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Centre Tunel del Estero - Day 10
Isabela Island (Sierra Negra and Snorkelling)
Head out early for a hike up Sierra Negra Volcano, a massive crater that's 12 kilometres wide and dominates southern Isabela. The three-hour climb to the top gives you spectacular views of the Pacific and neighboring islands. In the afternoon, go snorkeling at Concha y Perla where you could spot sea lions, iguanas, turtles, rays and various reef fish. Snorkelling gear is available to rent locally.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike up Sierra Negra Volcano (three hours to summit)
- Snorkelling at Concha y Perla
Optional Activities
- Rent snorkelling equipment locally
Landmarks/POIs Sierra Negra Volcano Concha y Perla - Day 11
Isabela Island (Tintoreras) to Santa Cruz Island
Take a short boat trip from Puerto Villamil to the tiny Tintoreras Islets, created from volcanic lava flow. You'll see abundant birdlife and the famous marine iguanas unique to the Galapagos. In the water, you might spot turtles, Galapagos penguins and sea lions swimming close by. The wildlife here accepts human presence, so you can often view animals from just a few feet away. By afternoon, boat back to Santa Cruz Island for the next three nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Tintoreras Islets
- Wildlife viewing on Tintoreras Islets
- Boat journey back to Santa Cruz Island
Landmarks/POIs Tintoreras Islets - Day 12
Santa Cruz Island (Island Excursion and Snorkelling)
Visit one of the smaller Galapagos islands such as Seymour, Bartolome, Santa Fe or Plazas depending on yacht schedules. Each island has different wildlife, so you might see sea lions playing offshore, land or marine iguanas, red-throated frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tail gulls or Galapagos penguins. Spend time on land exploring, then snorkel at a nearby site with included equipment. Other travelers may join you on this boat trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip to small island (Seymour, Bartolome, Santa Fe or Plazas)
- Land exploration of island
- Snorkelling at nearby site
- Snorkelling equipment included
Landmarks/POIs Seymour Island Bartolome Island Santa Fe Island Plazas Island - Day 13
Santa Cruz Island (Tortuga Bay and Charles Darwin Research Station)
Walk 5 kilometres return to Tortuga Bay and swim at one of the most spectacular beaches in the Galapagos, an important turtle nesting ground. After lunch, head to the nearby Charles Darwin Research Station, which has run conservation projects since 1959. You'll learn about the area's unique animal and plant life from the researchers there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk to Tortuga Bay (5-kilometre return walk)
- Swimming at Tortuga Bay
- Visit Charles Darwin Research Station
Landmarks/POIs Tortuga Bay Charles Darwin Research Station - Day 14
Galapagos to Quito
Fly from the Galapagos back to Quito on the mainland, possibly with a stop in Guayaquil along the way. Transfer to your hotel in the Tumbaco suburb and join the group for a final evening together.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight to Quito (possible touchdown in Guayaquil)
- Transfer to hotel in Tumbaco
- Day 15
Departure from Quito
The tour ends after breakfast at your Tumbaco hotel. You're free to leave whenever you'd like. Luggage storage is available at the hotel if your flight departs later in the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
