The Best Of Ecuador & Galapagos 12 Days / 11 Nights

Itinerary

Day 1: Quito - Quilotoa Lake - Baños

Pass By: Cotopaxi Province, Cotopaxi Province
You´ll drive from Quito through Andean Volcanoes Avenue heading from where you may admire Cotopaxi Volcano, the second highest volcano of Ecuador.

Stop At: Laguna Quilotoa, Laguna de Quilotoa, 070701 Ecuador
Visit Quilotoa Lake with its emerald colored lake located inside a volcano crater, is one of the Andes’ treasure. The drive to Quilotoa passes through the Zumbahua canyon and various indigenous towns and farmlands. Once here there several trails but if you are a really lover nature hiking around the crater is a great option as this nice walk that constantly goes up and down and takes you all around the crater. You are sure to not miss a single angle of its beauty. Afternoon continue driving to Baños town.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel based as 3 star

Day 2: Baños surrounding area, the avenue of the waterfalls

Stop At: La Casa del Arbol, Runtun village, Banos 010151 Ecuador
This is a super famous place to visit, also known as the Swing at the End of the World located just 20 minutes driving from the main town. It’s a little treehouse with swings on either side that go over the steep slope of the mountain. The swing overlooks the Tungurahua volcano, which is an amazing sight on a clear day.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Cascada el Manto de la Novia, 11 km on the road Baños-Puyo, Banos 180250 Ecuador
Visit the route known as the “Ruta de las Cascadas”, or “Waterfall Road”. It lives up to it’s name. There are three tunnels on the way. These are for motor vehicles. If you want to survive the trip, do not enter these tunnels on bike. Along the way, you’ll see tons of really nice waterfalls along the way such as Agoyan, Manto de la Novia and others. These include some cable cars and zip lines sending every visitor over a gorge with a pretty view.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Pailon del Diablo (Devil's Cauldron), Rio Verde - 18Km From Banos, Banos Ecuador
Once getting on to the Pailon del Diablo, there are two paths to can take to see the waterfall which offer a different experience. The Lower path takes you down through an area that has a really nice jungle feel to it. It’s a bit more of a hike, but you’ll be able to get to a little suspension bridge that will take you across the river where you can get a really awesome view of the waterfall. If you want a shorter hike and more of a view of the actual waterfall up close, take the upper path. Finally, afternoon it's time to back to Baños.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel based as 3 star

Day 3: Baños - Chimborazo Volcano - Alausi

Stop At: Chimborazo Province, Chimborazo Province
After breakfast you will departure to Chimborazo reserve where is base the highest Volcano of Ecuador with an altitude of 6,310 meters above sea level. It will be a nice challenge for mountaineering lovers, however, in our tour, you will explore and enjoy up to the 5,100 meters and appreciate the flora of páramo and the fauna of this area as the vicuña, a species of camelid. Afternoon continue driving to the south until to get to Alausi town.
Duration: 6 hours

Pass By: Alausi, Alausi, Chimborazo Province
This town nestles half-way down a steep hillside in a spectacular and vertiginous landscape where the western ridge of the Andes falls away to reveal a series of cloud-coated valleys and a road dropping away towards the coast.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel based as 3 star

Day 4: Alausi - Devil´s Nose Train - Ingapirca Archaelogical Ruins - Cuenca

Stop At: Alausi, Alausi, Chimborazo Province
Aalusi After breakfast you will need to check in at the train station based few blocks from your hotel in order to take the famous Devil Nose train that enables you to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding scenery. Rolling green hills and mountain peaks dominate the landscape on all sides, but as the train zig-zags its way down it also encounters the occasional rural village and open farmland. After this excursion that lasts for 3 hours aprox. continue driving to your next destination.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Ingapirca Ruins, Ingapirca 030356 Ecuador
You will visit the archeological site of Ingapirca which is the most important place left by the Inca occupation in Ecuador, it was built by the “Cañaris” and “Incas”with marvel at the different styles of construction of the temples as well as the precise solar calculations and aqueduct system.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay Province
Cuenca is synonymous of culture and heritage, elements that added to the warmth of its people ends up falling in love with all those who visit it.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel based as 3 star

Day 5: Explore Cuenca

Stop At: Cuenca, Cuenca, Azuay Province
Cuenca: After breakfast you will explore around this charming colonial city, declared a Cultural Heritage site of Mankind by the UNESCO. The city gets familiar with its colonial buildings with beautifully decorated patios; it’s nice and gentle inhabitants and the cozy atmosphere. The trip up to Mirador de Turi is one of the most popular excursions in Cuenca. Turi is located in the perfect place to bask in the breathtaking panorama of the entire city of Cuenca. Near the city center you will also visit a Panama hat fabric made of the local ‘Paja Toquilla’ palm leaves, are originally Ecuadorian hats and Cuenca is one of the main cities exporting this worldwide known product.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel based as 3 star

Day 6: Cuenca - Cajas National Park - Cacao Farm - Guayaquil

Stop At: El Cajas National Park, Cuenca 010219 Ecuador
The park sits 30 kilometers west of Cuenca in the Ecuadorian highlands. Covering an area of over 28,000 hectares, the high altitude grassland ranges in elevation between 3,100 and 4,450 meters. This area is part of the Páramo characterized by high levels of precipitation, cool temperatures, high humidity and dry winds making this place the rick choice for hiker lovers.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Naranjal, Naranjal, Guayas Province
Visit a local organic cacao farm where you will learn the process of making cacao into chocolate. Eat the cacao raw, see the different stages of the tree’s growth, the steps in the process, and of course, try some 100% cacao, as well as processed chocolate. Finally continue to Guayaquil.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Guayaquil is not only the beating commercial heart of Ecuador but a vibrant sprawling city, growing ever more confident based at the pacific coast. A half-dozen high-rises give it a big-city profile, and several hillsides are engulfed by colorful houses.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel based as 3 star

Day 7: Flight Guayaquil to Galapagos, Santa Cruz Island

Pass By: Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Guayas Province
After breakfast you will be picked up by the driver to go to the airport to catch the plane to Galapagos Islands.

Pass By: Galapagos Islands, Galapagos Islands
The Enchanted Island are a bucket-list destination and thanks to its abundance of friendly and plentiful wildlife makes the Galapagos Islands a perfect destination for animal lovers. After all, there’s no other place where you can experience the concentration of so much natural wonder with a unique environment as its flora and fauna.

Stop At: Rancho Primicias, El Chato Area, 200350 Ecuador
After a flight of 2-3 hours you will reach the Galapagos islands. The first visit will be to the Twins “Gemelos” not real craters, these formations were created by the collapse of surface material in underground fissures and chambers. Afterwards, we continue to one of the ranches in the highland area with abundant green vegetation, where you may observe Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat. Another attraction here is an excursion through the lava tunnel. Lunch will be served here and finally continue to Puerto Ayora town.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel based as 3 star

Day 8: Santa Cruz Island, Visit Charles Darwsin Station - boat to Isabela Island

Stop At: Charles Darwin Research Station, Ave Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora 200350 Ecuador
Today you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, founded in 1959, which carries out educational and developmental projects in support of the National Park Service, such as conservation and sustainable management of flora and fauna. Their aim is to preserve this natural habitat in every aspect, allowing visitors to appreciate the original ecosystems.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Puerto Ayora, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands
In the afternoon you will board a public yacht to the largest island of all, Isabela island where you will be transfer by our local driver to the hotel located at Puerto Villamil based at 3 minutes from the main pier.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel based as 3 star

Day 9: Isabela Island: Excursion to Wetland area and Snorkel at Tintoreras Islet

Stop At: Isabela Island Wetlands Complex, Galapagos National Park, Puerto Villamil Ecuador
You will visit the Wetland area that consist of lagoons where a number of flamingos live among swamps and mangroves. A variety of unique bird species, such as common stilts, gallinules and white-cheeked pintails also inhabit the area.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Las Tintoreras, Puerto Villamil Ecuador
Las Tintoreras is one of the most well-known places of Isabela Island for snorkeling activities. This small islet receives its name from the reef sharks also known as white-tip sharks that can be seen swimming along with fish and sea lions in the channels when the tide is low. You will get a boat to get there and take a short trail that takes you to see sea lions and a spectacular water alley full of resting sharks. Afterwards back to boat the get ready to jump in to the water and admire the marine life.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel based as 3 star

Day 10: Isabela Island: Hike to Sierra Volcano - Boat to Santa Cruz Island

Stop At: Sierra Negra, Ecuador
After breakfast be ready to drive up to explore the Sierra Negra Volcano, make sure you will be handling comfortable walking shoes and possibly a rain jacket, ensuring our cameras are stored in waterproof bags, with sunscreen, hats, water and a boxed lunch from the hotel. You will travel some 45 minutes by truck or bus to the start point of the 12 km hike. The hike is long but fairly easy, without steep climbs or descents to the second-largest crater in the world, measuring 6 miles in diameter, and 300 feet deep. If the time allows you will also visit Volcan Chico, which provides a spectacular view of the incredible moonlike terrain. At noon back to the town.
Duration: 5 hours

Pass By: Puerto Ayora, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands
In the afternoon you will board a public yacht to Santa Cruz Island where you will be transfer by our local driver to the hotel located at Puerto Ayora based at 5-15 minutes from the main pier.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel based as 3 star

Day 11: Free day at Santa Cruz Island

Pass By: Puerto Ayora, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands
Today you will spend the day by your own at the Puerto Ayora Town to visit other places such as Las Grietas, Tortuga Bay or just relax at your hotel before return to the mainland.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel based as 3 star

Day 12: Flight Galapagos to Quito or Guayaquil

Stop At: Baltra, Baltra, Galapagos Islands
After breakfast be ready to get on on your private transportation to Bactra’s airport, to board a plane returning to Quito or Guayaquil. END OF SERVICES.
Duration: 1 hour

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