Compare Galapagos Discovery by Intrepid Travel vs Ecuador Vacation: Quito, the Andes & the Amazon by Great Value Vacations
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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4 | Great
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| Duration | 9 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 2,310 | $ 1,175 |
| Price Per Day | $ 257 | $ 168 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Basic | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
Breakfast Daily, 1 Lunch and 2 Dinners |
| Description |
Take in the highlights of the unique flora- and fauna-rich islands of the Galapagos on this eight-day adventure. From rubbing shoulders with giant tortoises to gazing up in wonder at the spectacular blue-footed boobies’ synchronised fishing technique, the Galapagos offers the chance to see an abundance of rare creatures at close range. We’ll show you the best islands, coves and natural wonders, and give you plenty of time to explore (with local advice!) so you can spend your time the way you want. Snorkel with sea lions, swim with sea turtles and relax in paradise. |
Go on an adventure to Ecuador with this 6-night escorted tour. Ecuador is home to the colonial capital Quito, the markets in Otavalo and the Cotopaxi National Park. There is such beautiful diversity throughout Ecuador. You’ll find colorful colonial architecture in the cities before venturing the snow-capped volcanoes. This six-night getaway will escort you to Quito, Ecuador’s capital city. Constructed on the foundations of an ancient Incan city, it’s known for its Spanish colonial buildings dating back more than 500 years. |
Day 1 Quito
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Quito, Ecuador. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive with some time to spare before the meeting, consider exploring the city on an Urban Adventure like the Quito Market Discovery.
Day 2 Isla San Cristobal
Transfer to the airport and board your flight around midday (an Intrepid representative will provide detailed flight times on the evening of Day 1 during the welcome meeting). Arrive in Isla San Cristobal and meet your leader at the arrivals lounge. Meet the travellers who began their journey in the Galapagos Islands and get straight into it with a visit to the Interpretation Centre to learn about the human and natural history of the archipelago. Afterwards, go for your first snorkel at Tijeretas, a small cove where you can swim with sea turtles, rays, and sea lions!
Day 3 Isla San Cristobal
Enjoy a free day on Isla San Cristobal. You may also like to take an optional boat ride to Kicker Rock or Isla Lobos – one of the most recommended activities. You'll be able to observe the famous Galapagos marine life along the way as well as the opportunity to go snorkelling with sea turtles, eagle rays and the harmless Galapagos shark, just to name a few.
Day 4 Isla Santa Cruz
Early in the morning, take a 2.5-hour public speed boat ride to Isla Santa Cruz. On arrival, have breakfast and settle into the hotel before a mid-morning visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station's visitor centre and museums contain information about the islands and the conservation efforts being made to preserve the unique ecosystem here. It's also a great place to have close encounters with giant tortoises. In the afternoon, head to the higher part of the islands to observe these giants roaming in their natural habitat.
Day 5 Isla Isabela
Today you’ll travel to Isla Isabela where you’ll check-in to the hotel and enjoy breakfast. The island is the largest in the Galapagos and one of the most volcanically active places on earth. You have a free day here to explore at your own pace. A worthwhile optional activity today is an excursion to Las Tintoreras, where white-tipped sharks rest during the day and marine iguanas nest.
Day 6 Isla Isabela
Start the day with a visit to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre for a close encounter with these placid giants. Here you can see tortoises in different stages of development as well learn about the preservation program of this unique species. Take a bus to the highest part of Isabela Island where Sierra Negra Volcano is located. Weather permitting, go for a hike up to the crater to enjoy spectacular views and the possibility of sighting the rare vermillion flycatcher. The challenging 17-kilometre hike takes between 5—6 hours, but at the top you'll be able to enjoy spectacular views. After the hike, make your way back to town in the late afternoon for some free time to curl up with a book or venture down to the water for a relaxing swim before dinner.
Day 7 Isla Santa Cruz
Travel back to Santa Cruz in the morning and enjoy some free time. Consider taking part in some of the optional activities available, such as an excursion to Tortuga Bay, an immaculate natural paradise where you can go kayaking, observe marine iguanas and birds or swim with harmless sharks in an alcove. After lunch (own expense), jump on a boat to La Loberia where you can swim in the waters that the area’s sea lions call home. Then, it’s off to Punta Estrada to observe birds like blue-footed boobies and pelicans. Finally, visit Playa de Los Dogs to see a large number of iguanas, the only sea-going lizard in the world that lives in these volcanic landscapes.
Day 8 Quito
Say goodbye to these enchanting islands and your Galapagos leader. The flight back to Quito leaves at midday and stops in Guayaquil en-route to Quito. You should arrive in Quito in the early evening (4-5pm). A representative from Intrepid will take you from the airport to your hotel. Enjoy a free evening in Quito.
Day 9 Quito
There are no activities planned for the final day. If you want to spend more time in Quito, speak to an Intrepid booking agent to secure extra accommodation (subject to availability). You can get to know the city on an Urban Adventure. See urbanadventures.com for details.
Day 1: Arrival in Quito
Accommodation: Mercure Alameda
Welcome to Ecuador! Your transfer will escort you to the hotel from the airport. The colonial old town of Quito was the first location in the world to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 2: Quito
Following breakfast you’ll have the day at your leisure to explore Quito. Perhaps visit the Equatorial Monument “Middle of the World”, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Select our upgrade and you'll enjoy a City Tour of Quito today.
Spend the night at Hotel Mercure Alameda.
Day 3: Quito – Otavalo
Accommodation: Hacienda Chorlavi
After breakfast enjoy a full-day excursion to Otavalo. Visit of the famous Indian handicrafts market in Otavalo.
Spend the night at Hacienda Chorlavi.
Day 4: Otavalo – Misahualli
Accommodation: Casa de Suizo
After breakfast at the hotel you’ll embark on your drive to Misahualli Jungle Lodge. Partake in some activities at the Jungle Lodge. Look into jungle walks, tubing, butterfly farm, high rope course and canoe adventures.
Enjoy dinner at the hotel. Spend the night at Casa de Suizo.
Day 5: Misahualli
After breakfast you’ll spend the day at your leisure. The Misahualli Amazon Lodge, located between the Misahualli River and Napo River in the Amazon jungle offers peaceful and beautiful surroundings to enjoy a unique and unforgettable holiday in the Ecuadorian jungle.
At Casa del Suizo, if guests want to participate in some activities like jungle walks, tubing and canoe adventures, they are included in this package.
Spend the night at Casa de Suizo.
Day 6: Misahualli – Cotopaxi
Accommodation: Hacienda La Cienega
After breakfast you’ll embark on a drive to Cotopaxi. Due to the volcanic activity of the Cotopaxi, at this moment the National Park is closed to visits. On the way to Hosteria La Cienega, passengers will visit the Ecological Reserve Antisana, which is beautiful. The drive and spectacular scenery to Antisana begins with close-up views of a massive glacial moraine, dating back to 11,000 year ago, jagged rocky peaks and a vast sweep of paramo vegetation above the tree line. Vegetation is very similar to the one of the Cotopaxi.
Spend the night at Hacienda La Cienega.
Day 7: Departure
After breakfast you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
