Compare Andes & Galapagos by Audley Travel vs Ecuador in 11 days - Private Amazon & Galapagos Experience - Charm by Exoticca
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 14 days | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 7,655 | $ 2,899 |
| Price Per Day | $ 547 | $ 264 |
| Highlights |
N/A
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | 10 breakfasts and Full-Board in Amazon. |
| Description |
Ecuador may be slightly dwarfed by other South American countries, but it punches well above its weight. It’s tempting to pass through only the mainland en route to the celebrated Galapagos Islands, but our specialists would urge you to holiday in continental Ecuador, too. They’re able to help you experience all the country’s beguiling variety in a tailor-made Ecuador itinerary. |
Discover Ecuador on an unforgettable private journey from the tropical Amazon rainforest to the wildlife-rich Galapagos Islands. Touch down in Quito, the historic Andean capital, before exploring the amazing Amazon in Tena. The island of San Cristobal is your gateway to the Galapagos Islands as you search for blue-footed boobies and sea turtles, before ending your adventure in Guayaquil. |
Day 1 : Quito
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Quito. On arrival in Quito you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 2 : Quito
Enjoy a guided city tour of Quito.
Day 3 : Hacienda Cusin
Travel north along the Pan America highway through pretty villages to your rural hacienda.
Day 4 : Quito
An early start to visit the colourful and vibrant market at Otavalo. You will have time to explore and perhaps barter for goods before returning to Quito for the night.
Day 5 : Riobamba
Travel down the Avenue of Volcanoes with your private guide, exploring en route and enjoying the views of Cotopaxi.
Day 6 : Cuenca
Onward to Cuenca, with a train ride along the Devils Nose.
Day 7 : Cuenca
Explore Cuenca colonial city with your guide, including one of the famous panama hat factories.
Day 8 : Guayaquil
Travel by road through the beautiful El Cajas National Park all the way to sea level and Guayaquil.
Day 9 : Galapagos Islands
Transfer to the airport in time for your flight to the Galapagos islands. Here you will be met by a member of your hotel who will take you to your accommodation.
Day 10 : Galapagos Islands
Today you'll take a yacht trip to either North Seymour Island or Santa Island. At North Seymour, you can take a guided walk through woods of palo santo trees in order to observe colonies of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds. At Santa, you'll follow your guide on a short hike through opuntia cacti, looking out for land iguanas, lava lizards and sea lions.
Day 11 : Galapagos Islands
Today you'll visit the crescent-shaped Plazas Islands by yacht. These small islands are dense in wildlife and plant life. Prickly pear cacti and the low-lying succulent plant sesuvium (which changes hues with the seasons) carpet the island. You have a good chance of seeing sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls and land iguanas.
Day 12 : Galapagos Islands
Today you'll visit Bartolomé Island. Here, you can climb to the island's summit for far-reaching views over the surrounding islands. It's a geologically intriguing place, with tuff cones and lava formations. The sea here is often busy with sea lions and penguins so it's worth keeping your eyes peeled.
Day 13 : International return flight
You will fly back to the mainland to connect with your international flight home.
Day 14 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
Day 1: US - Quito
Arrive at your US departure airport, ready for a flight to Quito. Arrive in Quito, the capital of Ecuador and a city famed for its high vantage point in the Andean mountains and its ancient Incan significance. Private transfer to your hotel and overnight stay in Quito. If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.
Day 2: Quito
Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day in Quito at your leisure taking some time to enjoy the beautiful climate and natural environment. We recommend enjoying our excursion to Otavalo* or booking our Pack of 3 Excursions**. Overnight stay in Quito. * Optional Otavalo Tour: Otavalo is the capital of Cantón and is a predominantly indigenous city in the Imbabura province of Ecuador. The city has about 90,000 inhabitants and is surrounded by the peaks of Imbabura, Cotacachi, and the Mojanda volcanoes. You will be transported by your private driver and will enjoy tasting custard apples and biscuits before heading to visit Cotacachi and Cuicocha. ** Optional Experience Ecuador - Pack of 3 Excursions: Experience Ecuador to the fullest with this pack of three excursions. Visit the famous Quilotoa Crater Lake on an excursion through the Andean Mountains to discover the local culture and natural wonders of the Andes. In the Galapagos Islands, enjoy an authentic cooking class on Playa Mann in San Cristobal, known for its population of sea lions, to learn the secrets of the local cuisine. Finally, take a tour of Puerto el Morro in Guayaquil to visit a natural dolphin reserve, accompanied by a professional biologist guide.
Day 3: Quito - Tena - Amazon
Breakfast at the hotel. Set off into the Ecuadorian highlands and down into the rainforest, headed for Tena, in the Amazon. Continue through verdant landscapes towards the lodge, in the heart of the jungle. Along the way, you'll stop in Guango Lodge, where you'll see many species of hummingbirds. Arrive at the Amazon Lodge in time for dinner and enjoy a night-walk to admire the nocturnal wildlife as the rainforest comes to life after sundown. Overnight stay in the Amazon. Note: Activities in the Lodge are shared with other guests.
Day 4: Amazon
Seize the day and awake early for a short canoe ride upriver to visit the Parrot Saladero, a unique place where parrots and parakeets gather in order to obtain the minerals that help them to digest the fruits or seeds they eat. Hundreds of parrots descend to the clay wall to eat the mineral-rich soil. Return to the lodge for breakfast before heading out for a nature walk through the rainforest. In the afternoon, after lunch, visit an Amazonian Kichwa community to learn about their way of life and the interaction they have with the forest. Try a traditional fermented cassava drink and some of their traditional dishes. The visit ends with a traditional dance performed by the children of the community. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. Note: Activities in the Lodge are shared with other guests.
Day 5: Amazon - Tena - Quito
After breakfast at the lodge, return to Tena and continue your journey, heading back towards the capital. At your arrival, meet a local guide who will take you on a fascinating guided tour of some most emblematic sights of Quito. Explore the Historic Center, declared a World Heritage Site for its great beauty, and also discover the city's traditional market where you can taste a great variety of tropical fruits grown in Ecuador. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Quito.
Day 6: Quito - Galapagos (San Cristobal)
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart to the airport this morning for a flight to the Galapagos Islands, a true wonder of nature known for its immense biodiversity! San Cristobal is the easternmost Galapagos island and is home to a rich array of unique wildlife, such as blue and red-footed boobies, marine iguanas and Galapagos sea lions. It's also the island that Charles Darwin first explored during his research into the islands. Upon arrival, private transfer to the hotel. Then, you'll have free time to explore the beautiful San Cristobal island on your own. Overnight stay in San Cristobal.
Day 7: Galapagos (San Cristobal)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today enjoy a private tour to the Interpretation Center & Tijeretas. There, you will get to know more about the formation of the islands, the arrival of humans and the importance of conservation. Then, during the 2 hours hike, you will find gorgeous views along the way and also a small cove in which you can snorkel. The rest of the day you be at your leasure. Overnight stay in San Cristobal.
Day 8: Galapagos (San Cristobal)
After breakfast at the hotel, the day is free for you to explore the Galapagos at your own. Overnight stay in San Cristobal.
Day 9: Galapagos (San Cristobal)
Breakfast at the hotel. Time at your leisure to continue discovering the island. We recommend you to visit some of the unhabitated islands around, you can book it at destiantion. Overnight stay in San Cristobal.
Day 10: Galapagos (San Cristobal) - Guayaquil
Breakfast at the hotel. Head back to the mainland, with a flight from San Cristobal airport. Arrive in Guayaquil, and join a private transfer to your hotel in the city centre. Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador and is located on the Pacific Coast. Later, enjoy a walking tour of the city, visiting the Malecon, Paque Iguanas and Las Peñas neighbourhood. Overnight stay in Guayaquil.
Day 11: Guayaquil - Night on board
Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, private transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. Night on board. Please note: Depending on the flight departure time you may arrive back in the US today.
Day 12: US
Arrive in the US and end your trip.
