13 Days Ecuadorean Escape Tour Package
Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights
Priced From: $3,328 (pp , Dbl , Occ)
Dates: Jul - Aug / 08
This specially designed family-oriented tour through one of the most thrilling destinations in South America makes for an ideal Ecuadorian adventure for parents to share with children. The capital city, Quito, entices travellers with its colonial architecture, beautiful religious buildings and stately plazas and while older generations will undoubtedly appreciate this educational step into the past, younger travellers will never be short of some activity or entertainment. From here, it's on to witness Mother Nature at her finest as we set off for a cruise around the Galapagos Islands, one of the world's premier adventure travel destinations. Each island we visit brings us face-to-face with new species of animals that have never learned to fear the presence of humans, which allows us to get up-close and personal with sea lions, tortoises, iguanas and innumerable flocks of land and sea birds. Back on the mainland, we tour Ecuador's largest metropolis, Guayaquil, and wander its most beautiful city, Cuenca, before stopping off in Mindo Cloud Forest to end our incredible adventure.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Quito
Arrive in Quito and transfer to our hotel. Quito (2788 m / 9,200 feet) is Ecuador's lovely capital city, nestled against Pichincha Volcano high in the Andes. Overnight in Quito. Reina Isabel Hotel or similar. Dinner if required.
Day 2 Quito: City Tour
Today we tour old Spanish Colonial Quito, preserved by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. As we enter the streets of Old Quito we step into the past, surrounded by centuries-old architecture. We stop at the commanding Legislative Palace, whose murals record Ecuador's history. We will see Quito's most beautiful religious buildings, including the cathedral, the Independence Plaza, San Francisco Church, and visit one of Quito's most impressive religious buildings, La Compania church whose ornate facade and solid gold altars make it one of the most famous of South American churches. We visit the famous Panecillo Hill with its towering winged statue of the Virgin of the Apocalypse with views of north and south of Quito and the surrounding mountains. This afternoon we travel 22 km (14 miles) north of Quito to the Equator line monument, known as the "middle of the world," where you can stand with one foot in the Northern and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. We also visit the excellent on-site ethnographic museum with exhibits pertaining to the many indigenous peoples of Ecuador.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to logistical reasons, this is a "floating day" that may occur at a different point of our programme. Overnight in Quito. Reina Isabel Hotel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 3 Quito - The Galapagos / Baltra & Bartolome islands
This morning we fly from Quito to Baltra Island and board our cruise vessel for our exploration of the unique and beautiful Galapagos Islands. *An archipelago of 12 large and several hundred smaller volcanic islands occupying a 4800 sq km (3,000 sq mile) area about 1000 km (650 miles) west of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands have become one of the world's premier adventure travel destinations. Over the course of your visit, you'll enjoy up-close views of unusual, specially-adapted animals, plants and terrains including sea lions, tortoises, iguanas, land and sea birds, volcanic landscapes, unusual cacti and vegetation. Little has changed about the islands since Charles Darwin's visit in 1835 to "this little world within itself" inspired his first theories of evolution. Nearly the entire archipelago is a natural sanctuary where you'll have thrilling encounters with some of the world's last completely untamed wildlife who have never learned to fear the presence of humans. We will be navigating the Galapagos on board the M/V Galapagos Legend, a 110-passenger luxury expedition ship totally converted in December 2001. The M/V Galapagos Legend has all-new passenger accommodations with 1800 sq m of social areas and was built with marine certified materials qualifying with Safety of Life at Sea specifications. All cabins are booked in outside 'superior' class with plenty of space for luggage in the wardrobe closet. Private bathrooms feature hot and cold water, shower, and a hair dryer. Also aboard, a highly trained crew, 24 hour physician, and naturalist multilingual guides. An auditorium for conferences, spacious social areas, dining room, 24 hour coffee bar, swimming pool and sun decks, observation platforms, cocktail bars, long distance calls, fully air conditioned. Upon arrival on Baltra Island, you will transfer to the ship, have lunch, and embark immediately for Bartolome Island and a dry landing (passengers step directly from a dinghy to rocks or a dock). Arriving at this island seems as if you were walking on the moon. The volcanic formations on this island include lava bombs, spatter cones, and cinder cones. There is a hike to the summit, aided by wooden steps, from where you will have an impressive view of the Islands, including Pinnacle Rock an eroded tuff cone. On your way to the top you have the possibility of admiring a large colony of marine iguanas and lava lizards. Among the flora you may find red mangroves and tequilla cacti. You will have free time for snorkelling and / or swimming from a beautiful sandy beach. Here you can spot Galapagos penguins, marine tortoises (January through March), and docile white-tipped sharks. Return to ship for passenger welcome and briefing; there is a presentation of the crew. At this time a safety drill is practiced. Free time on board. After dinner a guide's briefing on next day activities in the auditorium.
* The operators reserve the right to alter or omit any part of an itinerary, and change the order of the places to be visited or move reservation without prior notice due to readjustment of National Park policies, seasonal changes, safety reasons, weather conditions or 'force majeur' which may dictate these changes. These decisions are oriented in terms of passenger safety and in the interest of the islands' conservation. We may also substitute vessels due to scheduled or unscheduled maintenance. Overnight Galapagos cruise. All meals.
Day 4 Galapagos Cruise / Fernandina & Isabela islands
Buffet Breakfast. Urbina Bay (Isabela): Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos. Visitors learn more about the eruption of five volcanoes that flowed together to form this landmass. After a wet landing (passengers alight the tender into knee deep water with the assistance of crew) passengers will go towards the fossil beach and then to the coral area. On the way, depending on the season, it will be possible to observe many endemic species, such as: giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants. After the walk we will have time for snorkeling. Return to ship; the crew will welcome you with canapes followed by lunch. Fernandina (Espinosa Point): After a dry landing at Espinosa Point, passengers will see the biggest marine iguanas mingling with sally-light foot crabs. They will also enjoy the flightless cormorants nesting sites, the Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will note brachycereus cactus, and two kinds of lava formations "pa-hoe-hoe" lava and "AA". Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea, depicting a healthy and thriving eco-system. Return to ship; the crew will welcome you with canapes. Free time on board. Guides briefing on next day activities. Overnight Galapagos cruise. All meals.
Day 5 Galapagos Cruise / Santiago Island
Buffet Breakfast Santiago (Egas Port): After cruising through the Bolivar channel for a possible observation of whales and dolphins, we make a Panga ride and disembark to visit Egas Port on Santiago Island. We go for a medium-length walk in search land iguanas, orange-yellow in colour with large spines along their backs, as well as Flamingos and Oysterscatchers. Great possibilities for swimming and snorkelling where you can spot hammerhead sharks, white tipped sharks, Galapagos sharks, eels, groupers, and snappers. Return on board, the crew will welcome you with canapes. Lunch. Rabida (Jervis): We have a wet landing at the dark red-coloured beach of volcanic origin frequented by sea lions. It is often considered the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most diversified volcanic rocks of all the Islands. A short trail leads to a saltwater lagoon, where you will occasionally find flamingos. July thru September is a good time of the year to observe how brown pelicans nest in the salty bushes found at the far side of the salty lagoon. Also to be observed are boobies and 9 species of Darwin's finches. Dinghy ride by the reefs and an excellent opportunity for snorkelling. Return on board, the crew will welcome you with canapes. Free time on board. Guides briefing on next day activities. Overnight Galapagos cruise. All meals.
Day 6 Galapagos Cruise / Santa Cruz Island
This morning we have the chance to investigate the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here you can also admire giant tortoises, part of the breeding program. Also travellers can admire the impressive Giant Prickly-Pear Cactus forest and many land birds. The visit to the station takes around 40 minutes. After this visit, passengers have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs. Lunch. Santa Cruz (Highlands): You will have an option is to cross the highlands of Santa Cruz. Passengers will visit Cerro Chato. On this visit, you'll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises that gave the name to these islands. Additionally, travellers can walk in dormant lava tubes. Free time on the Island. Return to ship; the crew will welcome you with canapes. Free time on board. Guides briefing on next day activities in the auditorium. Overnight Galapagos cruise. All meals.
Day 7 Galapagos / Santa Cruz & Baltra islands - Guayaquil
We arrive at Black Turtle Cove located near Las Bachas beach in the north of Santa Cruz Island. This excursion provides passengers with a "panga" ride though the mangrove, during which the outboard motor of the small boat is turned off. This allows for the close observation of Sea Turtles, White Tipped Reef Sharks, Spotted Eagle Rays, and Yellow Rays. Return to the M/V Galapagos Legend, check out* and depart to the airport for our flight to Guayaquil. Upon arrival at Guayaquil, we have a sightseeing tour of this busy, vibrant port city. Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and is the focus of the nation's economy. Its economic power is due in large part to its location at the convergence of the Daule and Babahoyo rivers, just 70 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean. After suffering years of neglect from bureaucrats and corrupt officials, Guayaquil has taken its future into its own hands. Fueled by a newly discovered interest in attracting tourists and a greater commitment to small enterprise and entrepreneurs, Guayaquil is realizing its historically proven potential. Guayaquil renaissance isn't complete but signs of improvement are everywhere. We visit the downtown of Guayaquil where we will see the Hemiciclo de la Rotonda where a great marble and bronze statue is erected, commemorating the meeting between two great liberators in America: Simon Boliivar and Jose de San Martin. A walk through the historic district of Las Penas gives one a glimpse into Guayaquil's past. We also visit El Malecon, one of the most important civic-touristic-commercial center of South America. We finish with a view of the Guayas River.
* PLEASE NOTE: As an exception to our general policy regarding the inclusion of tips in our tour pricing, gratuities for the ship's crew are NOT included in tour price. (We have found that trying to pre-pay tips on your behalf does NOT work, for a number of practical reasons). Accordingly, we suggest that you allow approximately USD 30 per person for satisfactory service. Overnight in Guayaquil. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 8 Guayaquil - Cajas National Park - Cuenca
This morning we travel by private coach to Cuenca, over the continental divide and via Cajas National Park. En route we stop at a cocoa plantation and learn about its cultivation and the production of Ecuadorian chocolate. The park contains hundreds of clear, cold lakes, streams and rivers. Weather permitting (which can be highly changeable at this altitude), the park can provide an excellent opportunity for us to hike the grassland of Paramo Region or visit a forest of polelypsis trees, the highest altitude tree in the world. Recently the park's management have brought in llamas and alpacas as part of a breeding program to re-introduce these animals to the southern highlands. Keep your eyes peeled for the many bird species that make the park their home, especially for the silhouette of a soaring (and extremely rare) Andean Condor which can sometimes be spotted here riding the thermal updrafts. Continue to Cuenca. Overnight in Cuenca. Hotel Victoria or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 9 Cuenca: Walking Tour & Museo del Banco Central
Once the site of an Inca settlement, Cuenca (2648 m / 8,738 feet) today is considered Ecuador's most beautiful city. Its historical connection with Spain is marked by narrow cobblestone streets, quaint parks and romantic plazas. Charming adobe houses, wrought iron balconies, and religious art treasures capture the spirit of centuries long past. Cuenca, almost hidden away in a southern valley, was isolated until recent times; it wasn't until 1960 that paved roads were built to Quito and Guayaquil. Today Cuenca, Ecuador's third largest city, is surrounded by small villages whose citizens create intricately detailed jewellery, beautiful ceramics, and masterfully designed hand-woven shawls. This morning we have a leisurely walking tour along the main plaza, Parque Calderon, and enter the old Cathedral, renovated for the visit of Pope John Paul in 1985. We also see the Monastery of El Carmen and visit La Inmaculada Concepcion while strolling the cobbled streets. This afternoon we visit the Museo del Banco Central, which contains a permanent collection of black and white photos of 19th and early 20th century Cuenca, as well as displays of art and archaeological pieces, and ethnographic dioramas. We also visit a Panama hat factory. In 1835 Manuel Alfaro, a Spanish entrepreneur, arrived in the port of Guayaquil in the province of Guayas. He settled in nearby Montecristi and quickly realised the economic potential of the toquilla hat setting up his own chain of production from the straw plantations to circuits of weavers. His hats were soon being exported from the ports of Guayaquil and Manta to Panama which was quickly becoming an important centre and staging post for international trade and travel. Here Alfaro opened a commercial centre selling his hats, cacao and pearls, thus beginning the association of the Ecuadorian toquilla hat with Panama. Overnight in Cuenca. Hotel Victoria or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 10 Cuenca - Ingapirca - Cuenca
A scenic mountain drive brings us to Ecuador's most important Inca site, Ingapirca, located in the Canar Valley, but still at 3165 m (10,445 feet). En route we travel through the beautiful countryside worked by the Canari indigenous people for centuries. On arrival we visit the site museum and the site itself, where we can admire the Inca's superb mortarless stonework of the Temple of the Sun. Ingapirca is a monumental complex, built up on top of other Canari ruins some 500 years ago by the Inca empire. On top of the elliptical platform was built a structure made of well finished stones. The temple is surrounded by a labyrinth on one side, other walls, terraces and chambers in ruins, and a cliff. Return to Cuenca. Overnight in Cuenca. Hotel Victoria or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 11 Cuenca
Today is free to enjoy this beautiful town. Overnight in Cuenca. Hotel Victoria or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 12 Cuenca - Mindo Cloud Forest - Quito
This morning we fly from Cuenca to Quito. On arrival we make an excursion to Mindo,* located on the west side of Quito in a deep valley surrounded by native Andean forest, represented by vegetation of three different life zones, from the low subtropical forest to the cloud mountain forest and the high paramo. The drive from Quito takes approximately 2 hours. Due to the difficult access, the ridges around the valley of Mindo have not been used for agricultural purposes and the forest remains almost untouched. We arrive at a local hosteria, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy easy walks through an ecosystem that contains one of the largest varieties of birds and plant life in the world. Return to Quito. * This excursion is dependent upon the punctuality of the flight from Cuenca which, though about 90% reliable, may necessitate forfeiture from our programme should our flight be delayed, or should schedules change as they can without notice. Overnight in Quito. Hotel Reina Isabel or similar. Breakfast and dinner.
Day 13 Departure
Departure from Quito. Breakfast. BUEN VIAJE!
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8/08
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