Itinerary
- Day 1
Frankfurt to Quito
Your flight departs Frankfurt for Quito, Ecuador's capital city located high in the Andes at 2,800 meters. The elevation here takes some adjustment, so plan to settle in and take it easy for these first two nights while your body acclimates to the altitude.
Landmarks Quito - Day 2
Quito
Head out to the equator monument just 20 kilometers away where you can stand with one foot on each hemisphere. The Inti Nan Museum shows where the true equatorial line sits and demonstrates how gravity works differently here. Later, walk through Quito's Old Town (a UNESCO site) visiting Independence Square and the cathedral along narrow cobbled streets. By evening, climb up to Panecillo Hill for city views with Cotopaxi volcano in the distance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to equator monument
- Inti Nan Museum visit and gravity experiments
- Afternoon city tour of historic Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Independence Square visit
- Cathedral visit
- Panecillo Hill viewpoint visit
Landmarks Equator Monument Inti Nan Museum Independence Square Quito Cathedral Panecillo Hill Cotopaxi - Day 3
Quito to Otavalo
Early start heading north to Imbaburra province. In Peguche, watch locals create traditional colorful ponchos and learn about indigenous instruments. You'll hike to Peguche waterfall, a relatively easy 4 kilometer walk taking about 2 hours, then have Ecuadorian stew for lunch. After that, stop at Quicocha crater lagoon from the extinct Cotacachi volcano and walk along the rim before arriving in Otavalo for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Peguche village to observe traditional poncho-making
- Local instruments demonstration
- Hike to Peguche waterfall (easy, approximately 4 km, approximately 2 hours)
- Tasting of 'Carne colorada' (Ecuadorian stew)
- Stop at Quicocha crater lagoon
- Crater rim walk at Cotacachi volcano
Landmarks Peguche Peguche Waterfall Quicocha Crater Lagoon Cotacachi Volcano - Day 4
Otavalo to Papallacta
Morning at Otavalo's indigenous market where you can haggle for souvenirs, colorful textiles, and handicrafts among the vendors. In the afternoon, travel to the thermal baths at Papallacta and relax in hot springs with Andes views around you. You'll stay the night here in Papallacta.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Otavalo indigenous market
- Thermal baths of Papallacta experience
Landmarks Otavalo Market Papallacta Thermal Baths - Day 5
Papallacta to Riobamba
Visit Cotopaxi volcano at 5,897 meters, one of the world's highest active volcanoes. Take a short walk around Limpiopungo lagoon where you might catch sight of wild horses or an Andean condor. Stop at an indigenous market on the way to Riobamba where you can chat with locals, then settle in for one night there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Short walk at Limpiopungo lagoon
- Stop at indigenous market
- Wildlife viewing opportunities (wild horses, Andean condors)
Landmarks Cotopaxi Volcano Limpiopungo Lagoon - Day 6
Riobamba to Cuenca
Go to Alausí to spend time with the Tolte community and walk to a viewpoint overlooking the 'Devil's Nose' formation. Next, check out Ingapirca, Ecuador's most important preserved Inca site. From there, continue to the colonial city of Cuenca and finish the evening with a drink on a rooftop terrace. You'll stay two nights in Cuenca.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Tolte community in Alausí
- Walk to Devil's Nose viewpoint
- Ingapirca ruins visit
Optional Activities
- Rooftop terrace drink in Cuenca
Landmarks Alausí Devil's Nose Ingapirca Ruins Cuenca - Day 7
Cuenca
Explore Cuenca's colonial Old Town (UNESCO recognized) and see the New and Old Cathedrals, the Museum of Modern Art, and the flower market. Stop at Mirador de Turi viewpoint for panoramic views. If you're interested, try cuy asado, the traditional grilled guinea pig dish. The afternoon is free for wandering on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Colonial Old Town exploration (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- New Cathedral visit
- Old Cathedral visit
- Museum of Modern Art visit
- Flower market visit
- Mirador de Turi viewpoint visit
Optional Activities
- Traditional 'Cuy asado' (grilled guinea pig) dining experience
Landmarks Cuenca Old Town New Cathedral of Cuenca Old Cathedral of Cuenca Museum of Modern Art Mirador de Turi - Day 8
Cuenca to Guayaquil
Travel down from the mountains toward tropical coastal areas, dropping almost 3,000 meters in elevation as you go. Visit a cocoa and banana plantation to see why Ecuador's cocoa is so good. When you reach Guayaquil, take in views of this Pacific city from a good vantage point, then grab a drink at a street café. One night in Guayaquil.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cocoa and banana plantation visit
Optional Activities
- Vantage point visit overlooking Guayaquil and Pacific
- Street café drink in evening
Landmarks Guayaquil - Day 9
Guayaquil to Isabela Island
Fly to Baltra Island at the entrance to Galápagos National Park. During the boat and bus transfer to Santa Cruz port, you'll pass through different climate zones and see endemic plants and animals. Then take a speedboat to Isabela, the largest Galápagos island known for its wildlife and impressive terrain. Walk along the beach to get a feel for the place. Stay two nights on Isabela.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat and bus trip through diverse climate zones
- Speedboat transfer to Isabela
- Beach walk on Isabela
Landmarks Baltra Island Santa Cruz Island Isabela Island - Day 10
Isabela Island
Morning is yours to explore at your own pace around Isabela. Ask the staff there for suggestions on what excursions to do. In the afternoon, head to Las Tintoreras, a small nearby island where you can see reef sharks and turtles in the water plus seals and various birds on the rocks. Walk across lava fields to encounter sea lizards and sea lions, and watch white-tipped sharks in a small channel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Las Tintoreras island visit
- Reef shark and turtle observation
- Seal and bird species observation
- Lava field walk
- Sea lizard and sea lion encounter
- White-tipped shark viewing
Optional Activities
- Morning leisure excursions (available on-site)
Landmarks Las Tintoreras - Day 11
Isabela to Santa Cruz Island
Cross to Santa Cruz Island and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about park conservation and see giant tortoises up close. Hike to Tortuga Bay, an easy 2.5 kilometer walk taking about 1.5 hours where you'll hear finches all around you. Then relax on the white sandy beach. Two nights on Santa Cruz.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Charles Darwin Research Station visit
- Giant tortoise viewing
- Hike to Tortuga Bay (easy, approximately 2.5 km, approximately 1.5 hours)
- White sandy beach relaxation
Landmarks Charles Darwin Research Station Tortuga Bay - Day 12
Santa Cruz Island
After breakfast, visit one of the archipelago's uninhabited islands depending on what's available that day. Your options are Bartolomé with its volcanic landscape, the small rocky island of South Plaza, or Seymour Norte, which is known for birds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Uninhabited island visit (subject to availability: Bartolomé, South Plaza, or Seymour Norte)
Landmarks Bartolomé Island South Plaza Island Seymour Norte - Days 13 - 14
Galápagos to Frankfurt
Fly back to Quito and then continue toward home. You'll arrive the following day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Quito
