Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Quito
You'll touch down in Quito as evening settles in, then get driven to your hotel right in the city center. Welcome to Ecuador.
- Day 2
Quito and Mitad del Mundo
After breakfast, join a guided tour through Quito's historic colonial center. Head up Panecillo Hill to catch panoramic views of the city, then walk through baroque churches and plazas. Later you'll stop at a local chocolate maker for tastings. From there, head to the Mitad del Mundo equator monument and check out the Inti Nan Museum where you'll learn how equatorial physics actually works.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Quito colonial center from Panecillo Hill
- Visit to La Compañía church
- Local chocolate manufacturer visit and sampling
- Excursion to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) equator monument
- Visit to Inti Nan Museum
Landmarks/POIs Panecillo Hill Plaza Mayor (Main Square) Plaza San Francisco La Compañía church Mitad del Mundo Inti Nan Museum - Day 3
Otavalo and Cuicocha Crater Lake
Drive north on the Panamericana to Otavalo and spend time at the colorful indigenous market where textile vendors line the streets. In the afternoon, walk out to Cuicocha crater lake, which formed after a volcanic eruption over 3,000 years ago. If you're interested, there's an optional dinner at an authentic Andean house with folklore musicians later in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Otavalo indigenous market visit
- Walk to Cuicocha crater lake
Optional Activities
- Culinary journey discovery excursion with dinner at old Andean house and folklore musicians performance
Landmarks/POIs Otavalo Market Cuicocha crater lake Cotacachi volcano 
- Day 4
Amazon Jungle and Papallacta Thermal Springs
Head north across an Andean pass that sits over 4,000 meters high to reach the Amazon basin. Along the way, stop at Papallacta's natural thermal springs for a relaxing soak while looking out at the Andes around you. By evening, you'll arrive at your secluded jungle lodge in the rainforest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Papallacta thermal springs natural hot springs bath with Andes mountain views
Landmarks/POIs Papallacta thermal springs - Day 5
Amazon Jungle Exploration
Start with breakfast alongside people from a local community and try jungle specialties. Paddle a canoe down an Amazon tributary and stop at a parrot lick, then hike through the jungle with a guide pointing out plants and animals. After lunch, take a canoe trip through natural channels in a lagoon where you might spot hoatzins, monkeys, exotic birds, or the paiche fish.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast with local community members and jungle specialties), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Breakfast with local community members
- Canoe trip on Amazon tributary
- Parrot lick visit
- Guided jungle hike
- Canoe trip through lagoon channels
- Day 6
Pastaza Valley and Baños
Leave the jungle and head to Pastaza Valley where you'll cross suspension bridges through Devil's Gorge and get views of the Pailon del Diablo waterfall. Move on to Baños and check into a family-run hotel, then wander the streets to find local confectionery shops.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Suspension bridge crossing through Devil's Gorge
- Pailon del Diablo waterfall viewing
Landmarks/POIs Devil's Gorge Pailon del Diablo waterfall - Day 7
Quilotoa Lagoon Hike and Road of Volcanoes
Take an easy hike to a viewpoint for the best look at Quilotoa lagoon with its shimmering green water, formed over 700 years ago by volcanic eruption. Your guide will explain how the lagoon came to be and why the water has that distinctive color. Then continue to Lasso along the famous Road of Volcanoes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Easy hike to Quilotoa lagoon viewpoint
Landmarks/POIs Quilotoa lagoon Road of Volcanoes - Day 8
Cotopaxi National Park and Quito Return
Visit Cotopaxi National Park and cross through snow-capped mountain ranges with sweeping views all around. Get close to the volcano (which last erupted in 2015) and reach a viewing platform at roughly 4,600 meters. You can choose to hike about one kilometer more to the ranger station at 4,850 meters or stay back with coffee and cookies. Head back to Quito in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cotopaxi National Park crossing
- Cotopaxi volcano approach and viewing platform visit at approximately 4,600 meters
Optional Activities
- Approximately one-kilometer climb to ranger station at 4,850 meters
Landmarks/POIs Cotopaxi National Park Cotopaxi volcano - Day 9
Flight to Galápagos Islands
Drive to the airport and fly to the Galapagos Islands. Visit a ranch where giant tortoises roam freely, letting you get close for photos. Stop at the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about conservation work protecting these animals.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Ranch visit with free-living giant tortoises viewing
- Charles Darwin Research Station visit
Landmarks/POIs Charles Darwin Research Station - Day 10
Galápagos Island Boat Trip and Snorkeling
After breakfast, take a boat to one of the uninhabited Galapagos islands. Depending on what's available, you might visit Seymour Norte for frigate birds and blue-footed boobies, Plaza Sur with its colorful landscapes and land iguanas, or Bartolome with volcanic terrain and the famous Pinnacle Rock. Have fresh lunch on board, then go snorkeling in the underwater world. Return to Santa Cruz in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Freshly prepared lunch on board)
Included Activities
- Boat trip to uninhabited Galápagos island (Seymour Norte, Plaza Sur, or Bartolomé depending on availability)
- Island exploration and wildlife viewing
- Snorkeling in Galápagos waters
Landmarks/POIs Seymour Norte Plaza Sur Bartolomé Pinnacle Rock - Day 11
Tortuga Bay and Isabela Island Transfer
There's an optional morning boat trip to Tortuga Bay (you can book it once you're there) with a white sandy beach and wildlife including turtles, sea lions, birds, and small sharks. Walk back through lush vegetation to Puerto Ayora. Later, transfer to Isabela, which is the largest Galapagos island.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Boat trip to Tortuga Bay with wildlife viewing and beach walk through lush vegetation back to Puerto Ayora (bookable on site)
Landmarks/POIs Tortuga Bay Puerto Ayora - Day 12
Sierra Negra Volcano Hike
Hike through green landscape up to Sierra Negra volcano, which has one of the world's largest volcanic craters. Walk along the crater slope and take in views of the black lava rock landscape, understanding the volcanic forces that shaped the islands.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Box lunch)
Included Activities
- Sierra Negra volcano hike through green landscape
- Crater slope walk with volcanic landscape viewing
Landmarks/POIs Sierra Negra volcano - Day 13
Tintoreras Snorkeling and Santa Cruz Return
Join a morning snorkeling trip at Tintoreras where you'll swim with colorful fish, marine iguanas, and Galapagos turtles in the blue water. In the afternoon, return to Santa Cruz island. Have a farewell dinner together before leaving the Galapagos the next morning.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Tintoreras snorkeling excursion with marine wildlife
Landmarks/POIs Tintoreras - Day 14
Departure from Galápagos
Drive to the airport and fly out from the Galapagos Islands with memories of the unique wildlife and landscapes. If you've booked extra vacation time, your next trip begins today.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 15
Arrival at Departure Airport
Land at your departure airport and head home from Ecuador.
