Guide

A highly trained Trip Manager who brings your adventure to life. An expert driver who knows foreign roads better than Google Maps. Local Guides who make tourist traps a thing of the past. This is your team. Smart, friendly, fun, and integral to everything we do.

Transport

Transport is included. Mini-Van, Planes, Local Ferry

Meals

6 Dinner (D) 11 Breakfast (B)

Accommodation

9 nights in Hotels, 2 nights in Special Stay We always provide comfortable accommodation in a relaxed atmosphere - think comfy hotels with bright communal areas for you and your new squad to relax and socialise.

Others

Quito: Stroll around the colourful streets of the old town. See Independence Square, La Basilica de Volo Nacional and all the other highlights. Quito: Your inner science nerd will love this museum all about the Equator. Quito: Here’s your chance to snap up some brightly coloured ponchos for everyone back home. Baños: Live out all your rainforest hiking dreams as you climb past this monumental waterfall. Baños: Hungry after all that travelling? Fill up on some mouth-watering BBQ seasoned with the freshest Ecuadorian spices. Baños: If you’ve always wanted to learn this Latin dance, this is your moment. We’ve booked you in for a lesson! Quito: Swoop into the phenomenal Galápagos Islands and start your expedition of these natural wonders. #explore Isabela Island: Look out for sea turtles, penguins, sea lions and more as you glide over to the largest island in the Galapagos. Santa Cruz Island: You can’t visit the Galapagos without popping by to say hello to its most famous residents. Santa Cruz Island: Take a walk inside these incredible tunnels, made from solidified lava. Isabela Island: Your chance to get up close with turtles, angelfish, parrotfish and more at one of the world’s best snorkeling spots. Isabela Island: Get set for the adventure of a lifetime. Float around the turquoise waters surrounded by penguins, turtles and sea lions. Isabela Island: A once-in-a-lifetime chance to get up close with endangered Galápagos Giant Tortoises – and see the work that’s being done to save them. Santa Cruz Island: Marvel at the beauty. Then hike to a secluded beach with only the iguanas for company (and your Contiki crew, obvs). Santa Cruz Island: Support the crucial conservation, restoration and sustainable development work of the Galapagos scientists. San Cristobal Island: Grab your camera and get some pics with these charming locals. San Cristobal Island: On the surface, this may look like a giant red rock shaped like a shoe. But under the water, it’s a rainbow utopia of marine life. San Cristobal Island: Stretch out on the pristine sands with your Contiki crew and take in the peace and tranquility. Quito:

Optional

Rafting Experience (US$50.00) Community Visit (US$40) Adventure Zipline/Climb (US$23.00) Canyoneering (US$28.00) Horseback riding (US$40.00) Island Biking Adventure (US$30.00) Paddleboarding

Not included:

Flights

International flights are not included

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Others

Other activities and services are not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Start Quito
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start Quito

Welcome to Quito! The mood will be sky high as we gather in Ecuador’s capital. This modern day city (nicknamed the ’light of America’) is built on ancient Incan ruins and boasts one of the best preserved historic centers in America. It was also the first city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We’ll jump straight in to a team tour of the city, skip between two hemispheres at the Equatorial line. Squeezing in a visit to the IInti-Ñan Museum should round off the first day on trip pretty nicely.
Day 2 Day 2: Quito To Tena
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Quito To Tena

It’s out of the city & into the lush jungle with spectacular views en route. Not a bad way to spend the day. This stunning landscape is composed of vibrant hills and tumbling rivers that make it a white water rafting dream! If that’s not your scene, we’ll head to a humming bird sanctuary, and try and catch these beautiful birds as they buzz by. Then we’ll settle in for the night, ready for big adventures tomorrow.
Day 3 Day 3: Tena
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Tena

Today is yours to roam the city and jungle to your hearts content. Maybe unwind over a few hot sugar cane and cinnamon drinks and a traditional Guayuza, or opt to visit a local indigenous community - a pretty cool way to truly go local and give back on your trip. You’ll get the chance to meet a shaman, play soccer with the local kids and really experience what tribe life is all about in this part of the world. Like the sound of this? Maybe consider packing some extra school supplies or tasty treats in your luggage - absolutely not essential but definitely appreciated by the local children. This afternoon, take the adrenaline up a notch and and hit the river for some fast and furious rafting. Nothing like a spot of rapid riding to induce group bonding. Tonight, we’ll feast on delicious meats, sauces and salads, all traditional and sourced locally from the area. YUM.
Day 4 Day 4: Tena To Banos
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Tena To Banos

Good morning, Amazonian roamers! Today we’re off to the adrenaline capital of Baños, so time to shimmy our way out of the rainforest - our next adventure awaits... Sitting amidst tumbling valleys, waterfalls, and the still active Volcán Tungurahua, Baños is a big deal on the natural beauty front. If "Thrill Seeker" is your middle name, you’ll love to opt for today’s Zip Line and Canyoneering experiences. Afterwards, we’ll feast on DELISH spread of perfectly seasoned barbecue meats, before we burn away all those calories with salsa - with our friendly local teacher, Edith. Now, that’s night well spent!
Day 5 Day 5: Banos
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Banos

The adventure opportunities are endless today, with horseback riding, canyoneering and ziplining all on the menu. And trust us, this isn’t just any regular old zipline – we’re talking aerial bridges, rock climbing and speeding through the skies, Superman style – pretty much the ultimate aerial adventure. Don’t have such a head for heights? Horsey fun and canyoneering expeditions will keep you on your toes. Oh what a tough day this will be in Banos – deciding how best to embrace your inner adventurer.
Day 6 Day 6: Banos To Quito
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Banos To Quito

You’ve got another chance to explore this beautiful city - lucky you! At night, we’ll dine on a traditional Ecuadorian meal as our time in this wonderful country comes to an end.
Day 7 Day 7: Quito To Isabela Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Quito To Isabela Island

Rise and shine! This morning we’re taking to the skies, bound for the glorious Galapagos Islands. Excited much? You should be. On arrival we’ll appease our rumbling stomachs with some local food. Giant tortoises roaming their natural surroundings and incredible old lava tunnels will welcome us onto the island of Santa Cruz. After lunch, we’ll take to the ocean and make tracks to our home for the night – the impossibly glorious Isabela Island, where we’ll sleep amidst the spellbinding beauty of the Galapagos National Park. The inspiration behind Charles Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’, Isabela Island is home to wildlife you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Picture the scene – sandy streets, palm trees, crystal waters and seal pups playing – can it really get any more perfect? Soak it all in, as it’s home for the next little while.
Day 8 Day 8: Isabela Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Isabela Island

Well good morning paradise. The ocean is calling, and who are we to resist her? Our wildlife kayaking adventure will see us taking to the seas with beady eyes on the lookout for green sea turtles.
Day 9 Day 9: Isabela Island To Santa Cruz Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Isabela Island To Santa Cruz Island

We’ll wake up hungry for the day this morning (that’s what island life does to you), and for good reason – Santa Cruz is on the horizon. After settling in to the Santa Cruz way of life, we’ll stroll down to the beach and the cosy Tortuga Bay. Wildlife fanatics will be in their element – the island is known for sharks, rays, turtles, great blue herons, and even blue footed boobies. Spend your time sunbaking next to a marine iguana, or roam the streets stopping off in cute cafes for fresh juice pit stops.
Day 10 Day 10: Santa Cruz Island To San Cristobal Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Santa Cruz Island To San Cristobal Island

Back on our boat we’ll set sail for San Cristobal, keeping our eyes peeled for cute bathing sea lions (we won’t have to look too hard – they’re literally everywhere). Four extinct volcanoes sit across the island creating scenic highlands that are best experienced by bike – mainly cruising downhill, you’ll be happy to know. The tiny town of El Progreso will add a splash of colour to our journey, and we’ll also cross five different vegetation zones before arriving at our seaside destination – La Loberia beach.
Day 11 Day 11: San Cristóbal Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: San Cristóbal Island

It’s our last day soaking up the natural beauty of the Galapagos, and what a day we’ve got planned. Bird-watching will kick us off, followed by a cruise to the 143-metre Kicker Rock – a natural phenomenon that protrudes from the ocean and is one of the greatest icons of the area. Our Local Guide will give us the low-down on the wildlife – both above and below the water – that surrounds the rock, then we’ll jump in and explore for ourselves. Keep a look out for chocolate chip starfish and a Galapagos Shark or two, but remember the golden rule – keep those toes off the coral, as you can do serious damage to the delicate eco-system. Back on board, we’ll make tracks for Puerto Grande beach. Here, we’ll eat lunch on board and enjoy a final afternoon of Galapagos fun, before rounding off the day with a feat to end all feasts. WHAT A DAY.
Day 12 Day 12: San Cristobal Island To Quito
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: San Cristobal Island To Quito

There’s time to relax this morning & take in the beauty of the island before heading back to the mainland where your trip ends on arrival. Not done yet? Why not fly to Peru and join our Peru Uncovered trip?

12 days tour

Ecuador And Galapagos Island Hopper (12 Days)

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Ecuador And Galapagos Island Hopper (12 Days)

Day 1: Start Quito

Day 2: Quito To Tena

Day 3: Tena

Day 4: Tena To Banos

Day 5: Banos

Day 6: Banos To Quito

Day 7: Quito To Isabela Island

Day 8: Isabela Island

Day 9: Isabela Island To Santa Cruz Island

Day 10: Santa Cruz Island To San Cristobal Island

Day 11: San Cristóbal Island

Day 12: San Cristobal Island To Quito

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