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What you can expect

Encounter beautiful wildlife on the Galapagos Islands

Explore the hidden gem that is Mindo Cloud Forest

Discover the equator and the centre of the world when in Quito

About the trip

Ecuador is the place for lovers of natural beauty, architecture, culture and history. On this tour we will begin on the mainland and the charming capital city of Ecuador, Quito, with its cobbled streets, historic churches and picturesque plazas. Whilst on the mainland, we will visit the magical cloud forest of Mindo, mix with the locals at the bustling and colourful Otavalo market as well as seeing one of the highest active volcanos within the Cotopaxi National Park. No trip to Ecuador would be complete without heading to the Galapagos Islands, with sights of natural beauty, well-preserved terrain and exotic wildlife, this one is for the bucket list. We spend a number of days here island hopping, giving you the best chance to explore this extraordinary place.

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What's included?

  • Return flights & transfers
  • Airport taxes & charges
  • All rooms for sole occupancy
  • Welcome drink
  • Daily breakfast, four lunches and two dinners
  • Walking tour of Quito, visiting Quito's Madonna statue and the equator at Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
  • Discover Mindo Cloud Forest
  • Visit to Otavalo's famous market
  • Trips out to Cotopaxi and Quilotoa Crater Lake
  • Flights to and from the Galapagos where we spend a number of days exploring
  • Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
  • Fully Financially Protected

Itinerary

  • Arrival into Ecuador
  • Quito City tour and visit to middle of the world
  • Mindo Cloud Forest
  • Otavalo
  • Cotopaxi National Park
  • Quilotoa Crater Lake and Tigua Native Paintings Gallery
  • Flight to the Galapagos and San Cristóbal
  • Full Day exploring Española
  • Kicker Rock
  • Santa Cruz
  • Explore a remote island in the Galapagos
  • Flight back to Guayaquil
  • Walking tour of Guayaquil and then in the evening transfer to the airport
  • Arrive home

Extras

  • Insurance click here
  • Transit Control Card – $20.00

What you’ll be doing

DAY 1

Arrival day - Welcome to Ecuador!

After arriving at the airport, we will be transferred to our hotel in the famous old town district of Quito, the highest official capital in the world.
  • Overnight in Quito – Patio Andaluz Hotel
DAY 2

Quito City tour and visit to the middle of the world

Today, we will walk around the old centre of Quito on a tour and explore the beautiful city monuments, before making our way over to Quito’s Madonna statue on top of Panecillo Hill. After this, we will visit the monument at Ciudad Mitad del Mundo and its Musuem where we can stand with one foot in each hemisphere either side of the equator. Once we have explored Quito, we will head to Mindo, where we can relax in the middle of the Cloud Forest (transfer approximately 2 hours).
  • Breakfast and dinner included
  • Overnight in Mindo – Bella Vista Hotel
DAY 3

Mindo

Wake up with the songs of the Cloud Forest from birds all around the lodge. Through the Canopy experience, we will admire the Cloud Forest at its best. A walk around, will give the chance to spot beautiful landscapes and local fauna. After lunch, enjoy the warm weather around a great pool. We will then transfer to Otavalo for a night stay in a Hacienda ready for the following day in the countryside (transfer approximately 3 hours).
  • Breakfast included
  • Overnight in Otavalo – Hacienda Cusín
DAY 4

Otavalo indigenous street market and the surrounding countryside (Peguche, Cotacachi, Cuicocha)

Today we visit the the famous Handicraft Market in the Plaza de los Ponchos in Otavalo. Later, in the Community of Peguche, we will attend a demonstration of different traditional weaving-techniques. After visiting the market, we will walk to the sacred waterfall of Peguche, a spot for shamanistic ceremonies at special dates. Finally, we will visit the spetacular 3,000 years old Cuicocha crater lake. After we will transfer to a hotel near Quito to then head on to Cotopaxi the following day (transfer approximately 2.5 hours).
  • Breakfast included.
  • Overnight near Quito – San José de Puembo Hotel
DAY 5

Cotopaxi

After breakfast we will transfer to Cotopaxi National Park (transfer approximately 2 hours). Cotopaxi is one of the most important National Parks of Ecuador. Here we will see one of the worlds highest active volcanos. We will have lunch in a restaurant that has a wonderful view of Limpiopungo lagoon that sits at the bottom of the Cotopaxi. At the end of the day we head to a Hacienda to enjoy local culture of the Andes.
  • Breakfast and lunch included.
  • Overnight in Cotopaxi National Park – Hacienda La Ciénega
DAY 6

Quilotoa Crater Lake and Tigua Native Paintings Gallery

Once we’ve had breakfast, we will head to Quilotoa Crater Lake (transfer approximately 2 hours). Many volcanoes overlook the Ecuadorian Andes, but Quilotoa’s crown jewel is the vibrant coloured lake sitting in the crater. From several viewpoints, we will gaze into the depth and be left in awe. In one of the communities that belonged to the Hacienda of Tigua, there is an indigenous art gallery. Bright oils depict indigenous life on the campsite; working on the fields, masquerade festivals, local legends, and their interesting cosmovision, in which waterfalls, rocks, volcanoes, and condors appear as living spirits. The unique paintings of the Toaquiza family (and others) have been exhibited in Quito, Paris, and New York. After your visit, you will certainly notice the difference between the original and their imitators which are sold on many souvenir markets. Following todays exploring, we head back to Quito Airport (transfer approximately 3 hours) and stay overnight in the hotel ready for our flight to the Galapagos Islands the next morning.
  • Breakfast included.
  • Overnight near Quito – San José de Puembo Hotel
DAY 7

Flight to Galapagos and San Cristóbal

After breakfast, we make the short transfer to the airport to fly to the Galapagos. Following the flight we head to The Interpretation Center of San Cristobal, this is a great place to start learning about the archipelago. Next, we ascend Frigate Hill and gaze the marvellous panoramic view of the rugged coastline. Finally, descend to the secluded Carola Beach for a refreshing swim amidst Galapagos sea lions.
  • Breakfast included.
  • Overnight on San Cristobel island– Miconia Hotel
DAY 8

Española

Today we will take a hiking trail of 1.6 km in Española island, the oldest one of the Archipelago, where we could see endemic species, such as the Española mockingbird, the Galapagos hawk, the green-reddish marine iguanas and Galápagos sea lions. This island is one of the greatest in the world for birdwatchers, different kinds of finches, frigates, blue-footed boobies and Nazca boobies can be found. After lunch, we will navigate to “Bajo Gardner” for snorkelling. This is a shallow area where eagle rays, golden rays, barracudas, batfish, turtles, sea lions, and white-tipped sharks might be spotted.
  • Breakfast and lunch included.
  • Overnight on San Cristobel island– Miconia Hotel
DAY 9

Kicker Rock

Kicker Rock is a magnificent landmark just off the northwest coast of San Cristobal. It holds some of the most popular sites for scuba diving and deep-water snorkelling in the entire Galapagos Marine Reserve & Shark Sanctuary; without being overcrowded.
  • Breakfast and lunch included.
  • Overnight on San Cristobel island– Miconia Hotel
DAY 10

Santa Cruz

We start the day early today where we catch our speedboat to visit the Sanat Cruz island and two of Puerto Ayora’s most popular excursions. Firstly, the Charles Darwin Research Station, with its Galapagos giant tortoise corrals, is actually a must-go for every Galapagos visitor. Beach lovers should also not miss Turtle Bay; it is only accessible on foot along a quite long but interesting nature trail (approximately 2.5km). Beyond the wild natural beach, fringed by exotic red mangroves, lies the island’s most popular recreational beach.
  • Breakfast included.
  • Overnight on Santa Cruz island – Lobo de Mar Hotel
DAY 11

Remote island tour

Today, depending on local conditions, we get to explore a remote island, options are Bartolomé, Seymour Santa Fé or South Plaza, included today is lunch, snorkel equipment and a guide to help us understand and find the best spot for snorkelling. In the evening we will have dinner at El Muelle de Darwin Restaurant to bid farewell to the Galapagos Islands. 
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
  • Overnight on Santa Cruz island – Lobo de Mar Hotel
DAY 12

Flight from Galapagos to Guayaquil

After breakfast we transfer to the airport to take our flight back to the mainland and to Guayaquil. After transferring to our hotel and we check in, then we have free time to either relax in the hotel or we can explore Guayaquil at our own pace.
  • Breakfast included.
  • Overnight in Guayaquil – Unipark Hotel
DAY 13

Walking tour of Guayaquil and then in the evening transfer to the airport

For our last morning together we have a tour of Guayaquil where we head to the Waterfront Esplanade, called Malecón Simón Bolívar, which stretches along the Guayas River. After walking a couple of blocks we will find the picturesque and colourful neighbourhood of Las Peñas, built on the Santa Ana Hill. Some of its colourful wooden houses are more than a century old and have been saved from fires that burned large areas of Guayaquil. Later today we will transfer to the airport to take our connecting, overnight, flight back home. 
  • Breakfast included.
DAY 14

Leisure day

This morning we will have our final breakfast as a group at the hotel. Today we can relax at the hotel or spend the day as we wish before we depart to the airport later this afternoon for our connecting, overnight, flight back home.
  • Breakfast included
 
DAY 15

Arrival back into the UK

Today we land back in the UK after our connecting, overnight, flight back.

Accommodation

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We stay in comfortable hotels throughout as detailed below (or similar):
  • Quito – Patio Andaluz Hotel
  • Mindo – Bella Vista Hotel
  • Otavalo – Hacienda Cusín
  • Quito – San José de Puembo Hotel
  • Cotopaxi National Park – Hacienda La Ciénega
  • San Cristobel, Galapagos – Miconia Hotel
  • Santa Cruz, Galapagos – Lobo de Mar Hotel
  • Guayaquil – Unipark Hotel

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