12-days Andes, Coast & Galápagos (from Guayaquil)

Itinerary

Day 1: Guayaquil - Welcome

Pass By: Aeropuerto Internacional José Joaquín De Olmedo, José Joaquín de Olmedo, Av de Las Américas, Guayaquil 090513, Ecuador
Transfer from airport to the hotel in Guayaquil

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Palace 3½* Star Hotel or similar

Day 2: Quito - Galápagos - Transfer from Airport Baltra to the hotel in Santa Cruz Island

Stop At: Charles Darwin Research Station, Ave Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora 200350 Ecuador
Welcome at the Baltra airport and transfer by public buses to the tip of the Itabaca Canal, where you'll proceed by ferry to Santa Cruz Island.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: La Isla 3½* Star Hotel or similar

Day 3: Galapagos - Excursion in yacht.

Stop At: Galapagos Islands, Galapagos Islands
Breakfast at hotel. Excursion in yacht to one of the following Islands: Bartolomé & Bahía Sullivan, Seymour & Bachas, Plazas & Punta Carrión, Santa Fe or similar ones.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: La Isla 3½* Star Hotel or similar

Day 4: Tortuga Bay and Canal del Amor

Stop At: Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay, South-West of the town of Puerto Ayora, 200350 Ecuador
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, enjoy an excursion to Tortuga Bay Beach. After 40 minute walk, you'll arrive at one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos, with white sand and green mangroves.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Canal del Amor, Ecuador
In the afternoon, take a yacht tour of the bay, starting with a visit to La Lobería, named because of the presence of sea lions. Here, you will be able to swim or snorkel.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: La Isla 3½* Star Hotel or similar

Day 5: Galápagos - Quito

Stop At: Los Gemelos, Ecuador
Breakfast at hotel. We will pick you up at your hotel to go to the canal of Itabaca, where a ferry will take you to Baltra Island.

At the port you will board a public bus that takes you to the airport. On the route from the hotel to the canal, you will have the opportunity to make a brief stop at the craters "Los Gemelos", crater holes formed by the collapse of materials, surrounded by scalesia's forests. (Transfer operates daily at 07h00, 09h00 and 12h00). Includes only transport.
Duration: 10 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Park Inn 3½*** Star Hotel or similar

Day 6: Quito - Otavalo

Stop At: Fabrica de Bizcochos de Don Pedro., Bolivar y J.Montalvo, Cayambe 170202 Ecuador
Known for its delicious “Bizcochos de Cayambe”, a type of cracker or bread baked in a clay oven (greatly paired with local cheese or caramel sauce).
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Plaza De Los Ponchos Mercado, Plaza de los Ponchos, Otavalo 100450 Ecuador
One of the most spectacular artisanal markets in all of South America.

The activity of the Plaza de Ponchos is aimed at the commercialization of various handicrafts, both local, regional, national and international. The artisanal production representative of the fair are the Otavalo textiles, there is also artisanal production in clay, paint, wood, jewelery, goldsmith's, saddlery, marzipan, ceramics, etc.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Peguches'art, Unnamed Road, Otavalo, Ecuador
An andean instrument workshop "Ñanda Mañachi" located in the area of Peguche, to spend some special moments with the local people and understand the Andean culture.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Laguna Cuicocha, Laguna Cuicocha, Imbabura Province
This lagoon rests in a volcanic caldera in the foothills of the Cotacachi volcano and its waters change in hue according to the sun and its two islets composed of lava and volcanic rock.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Park Inn 3½*** Star Hotel or similar

Day 7: Quito - City Tour + Middle of the World

Stop At: Basilica del Voto Nacional, Carchi 122 y Venezuela., Quito 170150 Ecuador
Considered to be the largest neo-gothic temple in America
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: El Panecillo, Costado del Centro Historico, Quito 170150 Ecuador
An iconic place in the city, renowned for its beauty, and where is a giant statue of the "Winged Virgin", where you can admire a beautiful landscape of colonial and modern Quito
Duration: 25 minutes

Stop At: Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco, Cuenca 477 y Sucre, Quito 170150 Ecuador
Its structure is the largest architectural complex within the historic centers of Iberoamerica.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Plaza de la Independencia (Plaza Grande), Gabriel Garcia Moreno Entre Chile y Espejo, Quito 170150 Ecuador
It's the main square of the city of Quito where the Government Palace is located the Absobispal Palace, the municipality and the Independence's monument.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Church of the Jesuits, García Moreno N10-43, Quito 170401, Ecuador
One of Quito's best-known Jesuit churches due to its large central nave, which is deeply decorated with gold leaves, gilded plaster and wood carvings
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Calle La Ronda, Juan de Dios Morales, Quito 170150 Ecuador
It is one of the most traditional streets that are in Quito, in the old houses, workshops and galleries of artisans have been arranged.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Mitad Del Mundo, Avenida Manuel Cordova Galarza KM. 13/5, San Antonio de Pichincha, Quito 170180 Ecuador
Visit this icon of Ecuador and live experiences that defy the laws of physics and occur only in this part of the world.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Park Inn 3½*** Star Hotel or similar

Day 8: Quito - Cotopaxi + Quilotoa Full Day Tour

Pass By: Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador
Located in the largest volcanic area of Ecuador. In the central part is the Cotopaxi, one of the most active and highest volcanoes in the world. To the northwest is the Rumiñahui and between the two mountains is the Limpiopungo valley. Despite the great height, the Park has numerous species of mammals and birds.

Stop At: Hostería La Andaluza, Riobamba, Ecuador
A hundred-year-old house that has been declared Cultural Heritage of Ecuador is an exclusive site that houses centuries of history; recalling the roots of Ecuadorian culture, colonial experiences with the Spanish people, longings for freedom and setting of republican goals. The Andean landscapes, the beauty of its architecture combined with the excellence in service make Hostería La Andaluza the ideal place for rest, relaxation.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hostería La Andaluza or similar

Day 9: Transfer to the city of Alausi, passing through the towns of Colta, Guamote and Palmira.

Stop At: Alausi, Alausi, Chimborazo Province
Transfer to the city of Alausi, passing through the towns of Colta, Guamote and Palmira, getting to know a little of the indigenous communities that live here.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay Province
Cuenca - Ecuador
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Rione 3½* Star Hotel or similar

Day 10: City Tour Cuenca

Stop At: El Barranco del Rio Tomebamba, Calle Larga 12 de Abril, Cuenca 010150 Ecuador
It contains around 120 architectural structures, protected as assets of the city. It is the most important symbolic environment of the city. The formal, natural and cultural, visual and functional elements are confused in a unity of act, in a kind of urban melting pot of profound collective significance.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Plaza de las flores, Mariscal Sucre, Cuenca 010150 Ecuador
Located in the Historic Center of Cuenca, where around 25 vendors of flowers and plants, are placed with tents to sell all kinds of flowers, so it has become a tourist and traditional place for Cuenca.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: La Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Cuenca, Padre Aguirre 8-27 In front of Parque Calderon, Cuenca 010150 Ecuador
Most representative religious symbol of the city. Its location responds to the condition of centrality and religious power, in front of the central square, occupying half of the block located on the western side. Its volume, texture and color can be seen from all angles of Cuenca, including the surroundings. Its facade is made of stone and local marble, while the floor is covered with pink marbles, imported from Carrara (Italy).
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Homero Ortega, Avenue Gil Ramirez Davalos 3-86 Behind Terminal Terrestre Bus Station, Cuenca 010150 Ecuador
Panama Hat factory were you will to observe the complete process of manufacturing of the Panama hat which is undoubtedly most important to our country.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Mirador de Turi, D. Gonzalez del Barco, Cuenca 010150 Ecuador
Located at the Turi zone in the south of the city. It is a natural viewpoint that offers a spectacular view of the city of Cuenca.
Duration: 15 minutes

Pass By: Plaza de San Francisco, Presidente Cordova Between Padre Aguirre & General Torres, Cuenca 010150 Ecuador
Explore San Fransisco Market.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Rione 3½* Star Hotel or similar

Day 11: Transfer Cuenca / Guayaquil.

Pass By: El Cajas National Park, Cuenca 010219 Ecuador
Cajas is a national park located on the northwester side of the city of Cuenca; it’s formed by wetland from glacial origins with more than 200 lakes

Stop At: Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Guayas Province
Guayaquil - Ecuador
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Palace 3½* Star Hotel or similar

Day 12: City Tour Guayaquil and Transfer Out

Stop At: Malecon 2000, Sargento Vargas #116 y Av. Olmedo, Guayaquil 090150 Ecuador
It's a project of urban regeneration of the old Malecón Simón Bolívar, of 2.5 km of extension where you can enjoy the great monuments of the history of Guayaquil, such as the Hemiciclo de la Rotonda, museums, gardens and fountains.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Parque Seminario, Avenida Chimborazo y calle Clemente Ballen, Guayaquil 090150 Ecuador
Also known as Parque Bolívar or Parque de las Iguanas is a small and traditional public urban park located in the Rocafuerte sector in the center of the city of Guayaquil.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Las Penas, Guayaquil Ecuador
It's an emblematic neighborhood of Guayaquil, was declared as Cultural Heritage in 1982, for being the most representative architectural urban set of the beginning of the century. Its natural environment is the Cerro Santa Ana ideal for a panoramic view and the Guayas River.
Duration: 45 minutes

Pass By: Aeropuerto Internacional José Joaquín De Olmedo, José Joaquín de Olmedo, Av de Las Américas, Guayaquil 090513, Ecuador
Transfer to the airport

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.