Compare Ecuador & Galapagos Islands by Rothschild Safaris vs Galapagos Island Hopper - South America Vacation Tours by Best Single Travel

Days 1-2: Quito/ Hotel Casa Gangotena

Welcome to Ecuador! On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend your first two nights in Ecuador in luxury at Hotel Casa Gangotena, situated in the heart of Quito’s Old Town.

Spend your time here getting to know magnificent Quito, visiting the city’s historic district, enjoying this urban jewel and its artistic and architectural treasures. Drive to the Monastery of San Francisco, one of the principal religious monuments of the New World, then visit the exact middle of the planet where the equator crosses the earth at latitude 0° 0’ 0”. Here you will be able to stand with one foot in each hemisphere!

Days 3- 7: Galapagos Islands/ M/V Eclipse

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Your adventure continues as we fly you to the Galápagos Islands to begin your 5-night cruise aboard the M/V Eclipse.

During your cruise your days will be filled with morning and afternoon excursions on different islands where you will can enjoy hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, and wildlife viewing all the while! Explore Cerro Brujo’s gorgeous beach, home to many sea lions and the place where Charles Darwin first stepped foot on the Archipelago; spot land iguanas, flocks of Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and different types of finches; or visit the inside of a lava tunnel!

Overnight: M/V Eclipse

Day 8: Pappallacta/ Termas Papallacta Spa & Resort

Accommodation: Termas Papallacta Spa & Resort

This morning you will fly back into Quito for your drive to Termas de Papallacta. Here you can relax and refresh yourself, taking in the stunning mountain views while having a soak in the lodge’s hot springs, or enjoy a spa treatment.

Days 9, 10: Mashpi Cloud Forest Reserve/ Mashpi Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mashpi Lodge

Continue your journey northwest into the Mashpi Forest Reserve, a 3,200-acre haven for wildlife and biodiversity. Here, you will stay at National Geographic’s Unique Lodge of the World – Mashpi Lodge – a modern architectural marvel of glass where nature takes center stage.

Afternoon activities in the reserve will be organized depending on your group’s size and physical conditions and weather conditions. Activities include visiting the observation tower to experience life in the forest from a height of 90 feet, taking a 200-yard aerial cable ride on the “Sky Bike” through the forest canopy and visiting the San Vicente waterfalls to discover the lush secrets this forest holds. Follow the Howler Monkey Trail, which passes through primary forest, on to the Life Center and Butterfly Pavilion.

Days 11, 12: Otavalo/ Hacienda Zuleta

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hacienda Zuleta

It’s time to leave the forest behind as you journey to Ecuador’s Otavalo region. Your first stop is Otavalo Indigenous Market, one of the largest and best-known in South America. After some time perusing the local wares, you will continue on to enjoy lunch at Hacienda Zuleta – an amazing jewel tucked away amid several volcanoes.

A host of optional activities await you here, including easy mountain biking along the hacienda grounds, or a short hike around beautiful “Guinea Pig Lake.” Visit Cotacachi´s Leather Market and a family of weavers who not only have amazing wares but will demonstrate for you how they weave on their traditional back-strap looms and make striking colors from local plants. Around the corner lives a family of musicians, where you will get a feel for authentic Andean music and watch as they craft perfectly-tuned Andean flutes.

Day 13: Your Journey Ends

Today you will be transferred to Quito International Airport for your international flight home.

Day 1: Guayaquil to Isabela Island

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Meet up with your 18-35years old trip Crew this morning as we fly to Santa Cruz Island. After our flight, we’ll make our way to the cute little town of Puerto Ayora, but not before your first taste of the incredible natural habitat here – en route we’ll stop to check out the famed giant tortoises in their natural surroundings, and some of the incredible old lava tunnels (some over 1km long) winding their way under the island of Santa Cruz. We’ll stop for lunch before getting out on the water for our first boat ride to Isabela – this nature haven is home to land and sea life that will astound and amaze. Once we arrive on the island we’ll head to town for our first night in the Galapagos National Park.

As you chill and get to know your travel buddies keep an eye out for the friendly reintroduced wild tortoises roaming around. Tonight, relax over dinner & get ready for two nights in this beautiful spot.

Day 2: Isabela Island

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

This morning we’ll grab some kayaks & get out on the water around Las Tintoreras where we’ll set out in search for the Galapagos Penguin – the only penguin found north of the Equator! On return, spot colourful fish as you snorkel the underground lava tubes. This area is often frequented by green sea turtles that like to rest on the calm, sandy bottom, so make sure you are on the lookout for these incredible creatures as you snorkel through the clear blue water.  Then this afternoon we’ll walk to the Wall of Tears. From 1945 to 1959 this place held prisoners who were forced to build this wall stone by stone. At 25m tall, it took thousands of lives during its construction. Legend has it that cries of those lost can be heard at the site.

Day 3: Isabela Island to Santa Cruz Island

Meals: Breakfast

This morning we’ll head to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center to learn about the island’s natural history on a guided tour, before we take off Santa Cruz Island. Before heading to Santa Cruz Island, you can choose to chill or get active, it's up to you! If you feel like getting out and about, this afternoon’s optional activity is a guided trip to the gorgeous Tortuga Bay. After a half an hour stroll along a path you'll arrive at a stretch of white sandy beach where marine iguanas sunbathe. You also have an opportunity to kayak in the bay in search of sharks, rays, turtles, and great blue herons. This pristine beach is absolute heaven!  Not ready to wield a paddle? No worries – this is the perfect opportunity to sun bathe, body surf, surf, or look for marine iguanas, lava gulls and the famous blue- footed boobies. If you aren’t feeling up for the walk, take to the streets and go local or head to town to shop for souvenirs or relax.

Day 4: Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island

Meals: Breakfast

This morning we’ll pay a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, once home to one of the island’s most famous residents, the world-famous Lonesome George – who was 100 years old when he died. Here you’ll observe many species of tortoises and land iguanas brought back from the brink of extinction and learn about this centre and research facility. Later we're back on the boat as we head to our next island, San Cristobal. - keep an eye out for bathing sea lions that the island is known for! This island is made up of four volcanoes – all extinct – and later, we’ll head up into the highlands for a scenic downhill bike ride. Starting at a panoramic viewpoint called La Soledad, we’ll bike through the tiny town of El Progreso and five different and varied vegetation zones until we reach a beach La Loberia beach. From there you can check out some of the other locals - we’ll be able to watch cute sea lions sun bathing, playing and vying for our attention. Tonight, it’s all about relaxing over drinks at one of our favourite local spots while watching the sunset.

Day 5: San Cristobal Island

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today we take to the water to get our last glimpse of the famous and equally incredible underwater world of Galapagos. First we’ll cruise along the coast in our boat where our Local Guide will point out the species of shore birds like the Great Frigatebird and other native species.

We begin our stay in search of wildlife and then we are off to Kicker Rock (or Leon Dormido as it’s known by the locals) the remains of a tuff cone - Kicker Rock rising a massive over 143m out of the ocean (that's about 50 floors in building terms). We’ll check out the underwater landscape as we head along the edge and through a channel of this drastic compact ash formation. Your Local Guide will keep you in the know as we look out for sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, chocolate chip starfish, and, with any luck, a Galapagos Shark or two. Don’t worry, they won’t be as interested in you as you are in them, so it's perfectly safe. Later we’ll head to Manglecito, a beautiful beach which is our final stop for the day. After lunch on board, spend your time swimming in the turquoise water or snapping photos of Kicker Rock in the distance. We’ll head back to town late afternoon where we'll be treated to one of the best BBQ’s in the Galapagos at one of the local’s favorite spots to celebrate a great Galapagos trip.

Day 6: San Cristobal Island to Guayaquil

Meals: Breakfast

The trip is about to come to an end, but its not over yet. Make the most of the time you have left & soak up those last rays and have a few photos with the crew. Next up is Guayaquil, where it’s time to say ‘adios’ to your team & travel buddies as your tour ends after breakfast.