Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Quito
Your flight arrives in Quito, Ecuador's capital sitting at 2,800m/9,186 ft high in the Andes. After pickup at the airport, you'll get to your hotel and have time to rest and adjust to the altitude. If you've got energy in the evening, take a walk through the old town with its bright evening lights and check out La Ronda, the historic alley with its narrow streets and colonial architecture.
Included Activities
- Evening tour of old town and La Ronda alley
Landmarks La Ronda - Day 2
Quito
A 9:00 a.m. pickup starts your guided city tour with a German-speaking guide. You'll walk through the UNESCO World Heritage old city center, seeing La Compañía Jesuit church, San Francisco Monastery, and the neo-Gothic Basilica Cathedral. These are the major historical sites in the center. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own and check out anything that caught your interest during the morning or just wander around at your pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of UNESCO World Heritage old town (includes visits to Jesuit church La Compañía, San Francisco Monastery, and Basilica Cathedral with entrance fees)
Landmarks Jesuit Church La Compañía San Francisco Monastery Basilica Cathedral - Day 3
Cotopaxi National Park
An early 6:30 a.m. departure takes you south on the Road of the Volcanoes toward Cotopaxi National Park. From the parking area at 4,654m/15,269 ft, you'll hike up to Rivas refuge at 4,864m/15,958 ft and have hot coca tea while looking out at the mountain views. After heading back down, you'll do a mountain bike downhill run to Limpiopungo Lagoon with great scenery around you. Late lunch follows, then it's the drive back to Quito.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hike from parking lot to Rivas refuge (4,864m) with hot coca tea
- Mountain bike downhill tour to Limpiopungo Lagoon
Landmarks Cotopaxi National Park Rivas Refuge Limpiopungo Lagoon - Day 4
Otavalo
Pickup at 8:00 a.m. for a 2-hour drive to Otavalo in the northern mountains. You'll meet your host family from Quichua Tours, then head to Cuicocha lagoon (Guinea Pig Lagoon) in the Cotacachi Cayapas nature reserve above 3,000m/9,843 ft. Your English-speaking guide leads you on roughly a 4-hour hike around the lake where you might see orchids and bromeliads, and on clear days you can look toward Colombia. On the way back, stop in Cotacachi, a town known for leather work and local crafts.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike around Cuicocha lagoon (approximately 4 hours) with English-speaking guide
- Visit to Cotacachi town
Optional Activities
- Shorter hike around Cuicocha lagoon
- Boat trip on Cuicocha lagoon
Landmarks Cuicocha Lagoon Cotacachi Cayapas Nature Reserve Cotacachi - Day 5
Otavalo
An early morning drive takes you into the mountains on the old smugglers' route to reach the Mojanda lagoons. You'll climb for about 2 hours to reach Fuya Fuya Mountain's summit at 4,265m/13,992 ft. After resting and taking in the views, the descent takes roughly 1.5 hours back down to the large lagoon. The drive returns you to Otavalo, and in the late afternoon your host family teaches you about medicinal plants, local agriculture, and Quichua beliefs and cosmology.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Box lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Fuya Fuya Mountain summit (4,265m) with approximately 2-hour climb and 1.5-hour descent
- Cultural exchange with host family about medicinal plants, agriculture, and Quichua cosmovision
Landmarks Mojanda Lagoons Fuya Fuya Mountain - Day 6
Otavalo to Quito
The large Saturday market at Otavalo spreads around Plaza de Ponchos throughout the city center with textiles, crafts, and local goods. From there you'll head out to rural communities nearby. In Carapuelo you'll see traditional weaving looms being used. In Peguche, a short hike takes you through eucalyptus forest to a waterfall, and then you visit a well-known folk music group to learn about Andean instruments and how they're played. The afternoon drive gets you back to Quito.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Otavalo Saturday market at Plaza de Ponchos
- Visit to traditional looms in Carapuelo
- Hike through eucalyptus forest to waterfall in Peguche
- Visit to folk music group to learn about Andean instruments
Landmarks Plaza de Ponchos Carapuelo Peguche Waterfall - Day 7
Quito to Cuyabeno National Park
After breakfast you head to Quito's bus station and take a public coach for approximately 6 to 7 hours toward Lago Agrio in the Amazon region. The route goes over 4,000m/13,123 ft altitude before descending through three national parks (Antisana, Cayambe-Coca, and Sumaco) with beautiful landscapes along the way. You'll arrive in Lago Agrio, an oil town in the Amazon lowlands. A transfer meets you and drives you to your hotel in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Antisana National Park Cayambe-Coca National Park Sumaco National Park - Day 8
Cuyabeno National Park
Hotel pickup and a roughly 2-hour minibus drive gets you to the Cuyabeno Game Reserve entrance. From there a motorized canoe takes you deep into the tropical rainforest where you'll spot birds, monkeys, and other jungle animals along the water. You'll settle into the lodge, then set off on a night hike through the forest to see glowing insects, colorful poison frogs, and animals that come out after dark.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motor canoe journey through tropical rainforest in Cuyabeno Game Reserve
- Night hike to observe nocturnal jungle animals
Landmarks Cuyabeno Game Reserve - Day 9
Cuyabeno National Park
A canoe trip downstream brings you to a Siona indigenous village. There you'll learn how cassava bread, a staple food, is made and have a chance to visit a shaman. After lunch in the village, you'll head back to the lodge and watch for river dolphins along the canoe route. As evening arrives the jungle fills with sounds of weaving birds, toucans, and toads calling to each other. Later another canoe trip goes out to spot black caimans under the stars.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in the village), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Siona indigenous village
- Learn cassava bread preparation
- Shaman visit
- Evening canoe tour to observe black caimans
Landmarks Siona Indigenous Village - Day 10
Cuyabeno National Park
You'll set off on a 3 to 4 hour hike through untouched rainforest with your English-speaking guide. The walk takes you past giant trees with stilt roots, aerial roots, and planks, plus medicinal plants and useful vegetation. If you're lucky you'll spot various animals. In the afternoon, observe the forest and its wildlife from a canoe on a large lagoon. A refreshing swim in the river and sunset viewing follow, then back to the lodge for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Rainforest hike (3-4 hours) through pristine jungle with guide
- Canoe observation tour at large lagoon
- River swimming and sunset viewing
Landmarks Cuyabeno National Park - Day 11
Arrival in San Cristobal Island, Galapagos
You'll fly from Quito to Guayaquil, then continue on to San Cristobal island in the Galapagos. After your transfer to the hotel, spend the rest of the day walking to Tijeretas viewing hill. A marked path across from Playa Man beach leads to Punta Carola, the sea lion beach. In the small bay near Cabo de Horno, you can swim and snorkel surrounded by hundreds of sea lions lounging around and moving through the fishing village.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk to Tijeretas viewing hill
- Visit to Punta Carola sea lion beach
- Snorkeling with sea lions at Cabo de Horno
Landmarks Tijeretas Viewing Hill Playa Man Beach Punta Carola Cabo de Horno - Day 12
San Cristobal Island
A boat tour starts from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno heading to Leon Dormido. You'll spot frigate birds, pelicans, tropical birds, blue-footed boobies, and Nazca boobies during the journey. Snorkeling reveals colorful fish, turtles, and hammerhead sharks in the underwater world, and Leon Dormido ranks among the best diving and snorkeling spots in the Galapagos. A deserted beach visit comes next before the afternoon return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Snorkeling tour to Leon Dormido including transportation and snorkeling equipment (snorkel, goggles, fins, wetsuits, approximately 6 hours)
Landmarks Leon Dormido Puerto Baquerizo Moreno - Day 13
San Cristobal to Santa Cruz Island
A 7:00 a.m. speedboat departure takes roughly 2 hours from San Cristobal, passing St. Fe island along the way, to reach Santa Cruz and Puerto Ayora, the largest Galapagos city. Your transfer takes you to the hotel for settling in. Afterward, check out the Charles Darwin Research Station. In the afternoon, a 2.5km hike through dry forest leads to Tortuga Bay beach, then another kilometer to Playa Mansa bay where you can swim and explore by kayak while watching for sea turtles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Speedboat transfer to Santa Cruz Island
- Visit to Charles Darwin Research Station
- Hike to Tortuga Bay beach (2.5km through dry forest)
- Kayaking and swimming at Playa Mansa
Optional Activities
- Charles Darwin Research Station entrance (10 USD)
Landmarks Charles Darwin Research Station Tortuga Bay Playa Mansa - Day 14
Santa Cruz Island
Hotel pickup for a tour of Puerto Ayora Bay includes the shark channel, Playa de Perros beach, and Las Grietas rock crevice with snorkeling chances at Lobería with sea lions. You return to the harbor around midday. In the afternoon your driver takes you to the highlands and Rancho Primicias tortoise farm, where giant tortoises roam in semi-wild conditions. After a detailed farm tour, you'll walk through a lava tunnel before the driver brings you back to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Tour de Bahia in Puerto Ayora including transportation and snorkeling equipment (snorkel and goggles, approximately 3 hours)
- Visit to Rancho Primicias tortoise farm including entrance fee and guide (7.50 USD)
- Lava tunnel walk
Landmarks Puerto Ayora Bay Shark Channel Playa de Perros Las Grietas Lobería Rancho Primicias - Day 15
Santa Cruz to Isabela Island
An early morning transfer gets you to the port for a 7:00 a.m. speedboat ride lasting roughly 2 hours to Isabela island. After meeting your transfer at the port, you'll head to your hotel in Puerto Villamil. The rest of the day is open for a long walk, about 7km one way, to the Wall of Tears, passing hidden beaches, flamingo lagoons, and viewing spots. The wall was built by convicts in the 1950s when Isabela was a prison island. Stop at the turtle breeding station on your return.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Speedboat transfer to Isabela Island
- Walk to Wall of Tears (7km one way) with views of hidden beaches and flamingo lagoons
- Visit to turtle breeding station
Optional Activities
- Bicycle rental for Wall of Tears excursion (approximately 15 USD)
- Turtle station Arnaldo Tupiza (10 USD)
Landmarks Wall of Tears Turtle Breeding Station - Day 16
Isabela Island
Hotel pickup takes you to the highlands and Sierra Negra volcano. You'll hike through strange lava landscapes with different vegetation at each level. Back in Puerto Villamil by late afternoon, you'll still have time to swim and snorkel in Concha Perla, a small bay near the jetty. Watch gannets and pelicans dive into the sea as the sun goes down.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hiking tour to Sierra Negra volcano including transportation and box lunch (approximately 6 hours)
Landmarks Sierra Negra Concha Perla - Day 17
Isabela Island
A boat tour goes along the coast where lava flowed into the sea, creating dramatic lava arches and tunnels. A short shore excursion lets you see Galapagos penguins. Snorkeling at a chosen spot shows sea turtles, white-tipped sharks, and seahorses. After around 6 hours total, you'll return to Puerto Villamil with time for a short beach walk at sunset.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Box lunch)
Included Activities
- Snorkeling tour to Los Tuneles including transportation, snorkeling equipment (snorkel, goggles, fins, wetsuits), box lunch (approximately 6 hours)
Landmarks Los Tuneles - Day 18
Departure from Galapagos
An early morning transfer gets you to the port for a 6:00 a.m. speedboat ride back to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, taking roughly 2 hours. Your transfer meets you at the harbor and drives north across the island to Itabaca Channel. A ferry crosses to Baltra, the airport island, and a shuttle bus takes you to the airport. Your return flight connects through Guayaquil and heads back to Europe.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Speedboat transfer to Santa Cruz
- Ferry crossing to Baltra
- Shuttle bus transfer to airport
Landmarks Itabaca Channel Baltra Island
