Ecuador & Galapagos Islands: See & Do Almost it ALL in 11 Days, 1st Class Traveling
Ecuador & Galapagos Islands: See & Do Almost it ALL in 11 Days, 1st Class Traveling
11 Days Starting in Quito, and ending in Santiago Island, Ecuador
Visiting: Quito, Otavalo, Cotacachi, Volcan Cotopaxi, Quilotoa Lake, Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Santiago Island
Tour operator:
Tour code:
199658
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 6
Physical rating:
Moderate
Age range:
18-60
Special diets catered:
Dietary Options Available
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Private Available:
Request A Private Tour
Tour Overview
You absolutely will not find another tour out there as packed with activities and attractions as this one, provided by CharlieTheTraveler. You will also not find another tour out there that offers it all "FIRST CLASS," yet for a relatively low price. We have thousands of travelers taking this specific tour every year-and that's because no competitor can beat us on quality, price & substance. Below are just some examples of what you will see, do and have on this tour: ? 6-Day Cruise Around the Galapagos Islands ? Daily Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on Your Yacht ? Going to Centuries-Old & Indigenous Markets ? Seeing Animals Found Nowhere Else on Earth! ? Donkey-Riding Around a Caldera ? Kayaking Inside a Lake ? Exploring the Colonial Capital That is Quito ? Checking Out Volcanos, a Crater & a Canyon ? Looking Over Postcard-Perfect Bartolomé Island ? Visiting Amazing Snorkeling Sites ? Rich Culture And Much, Much More...
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: A Jewel Of Colonial Architecture, Quito
Location: Quito
Our tour starts in Quito. Upon arrival, do not be surprised if you are breathing heavily. This is due to the city’s high altitude. Most visitors acclimate just fine. If you are not jetlagged and bothered by the altitude, then it is time to sightsee. The large historical center is a jewel of South American and colonial architecture.
Day 2: Centuries-Old Markets & A Volcano, Lake & Crater
Location: Otavalo, Cotacachi
From Quito, we make a daytrip. The first stop is a viewpoint overlooking Lake San Pablo and Imbabura Volcano. Next is a guided walking tour in Otavalo. The indigenous locals are famous for weaving textiles, such as handmade blankets and tablecloths. Although Saturday boasts the largest market, there is a very wide range of products available throughout the week. During the market’s peak, almost one third of the town becomes full of stalls selling tagua nut jewelry, musical instruments, fake shrunken heads, traditional costumes, hand-painted platters and trays, purses, clothing, spices, raw foods and spools of wool. Following Otavalo is a fascinating crater lake called Cuicocha. This is our final destination for today. The hike to the viewpoint only takes about 10 minutes and the views are great.
Day 3: Donkey-Riding Around A Caldera, Kayaking In A Lake & Visiting An Indigenous Family’S Home
Location: Volcan Cotopaxi, Quilotoa Lake
We are making another daytrip from Quito. Passing by an active stratovolcano called Cotopaxi, our first destination is Quilotoa Lake. Upon arrival, we are taken via a 5-minute walk to reach a viewpoint from where we can see the 3-kilometer (2 mile)-wide caldera. It was formed by the collapse of dacite volcano following a catastrophic eruption about 600 years ago. Next, we hike to the lake. There we go kayaking. We return via a donkey ride. After Quilotoa is the Toachi River Canyon. It is a nice place for taking selfies. Lastly for today is a visit to an indigenous family’s home.
Day 4: Immersing In Culture & South America At Its Most Authentic
Location: Quito
We have the whole day to explore Quito with a private and English-speaking tour guide. The capital of Ecuador is fascinating not only for its architecture, but for its people as well. This city is still a place where indigenous women wear traditional attire and carry a child on their back, wrapped in a blanket. Quito is nothing short of authentic in both its appearance and its culture.
Day 5: The Gateway To The Galapagos Islands
Location: Puerto Villamil
Today we relocate from Quito to the Galapagos Islands, staying for the evening in Puerto Villamil. Its harbor is frequently filled with sailboats and private yachts. Tomorrow we start our 6-day cruise. We see animals not found anywhere else on Earth! We snorkel. We hike. We create unforgettable memories.
Day 6: Giant Turtles, Flamingos & Volcanoes
Location: Isabela Island
This morning we check out Sierra Negra Volcano and Volcano Chico. Sierra Negra is one of the most active of the Galapagos Islands’ volcanoes. We traverse the rim of the caldera along its east side before heading into the fresh lava fields north east of the main crater. We then head to the yacht so we can eat. Following lunch is a visit to the flamingos at the lagoon in Puerto Villamil and a visit to the giant tortoise complex.
Day 7: Blue-Footed Boobies, Marine Iguanas & More
Location: Santiago Island
Cruising along the archipelago, Moreno Point (a.k.a. Punta Moreno) and Elizabeth Bay are the destinations for today. Moreno Point has a desolate and pristine landscape of very impressive black lava flows, featuring a unique system of lagoons which serve as a magnet for wildlife. Moreno Point is home to doves, penguins, blue-footed boobies, mockingbirds and flightless cormorants. Elizabeth Bay is home to rays, sharks, green sea turtles, penguins, pelicans and sealions. Nearer to the shores and mangroves we see flightless cormorants and marine iguanas.
Day 8: Darwin's Finches, Hawks & Other Birds You Never Even Heard Of
Location: Santiago Island
Urbina Bay and Tagus Cove are the destinations for today. Giant tortoises and iguanas are the highlights on Urbina Bay. Tagus Cove is home to ground and tree finches, penguins and flightless cormorants. There is an occasional sighting of a woodpecker finch as well. Other potential sightings include hawks, yellow warblers and flycatchers.
Day 9: Lava Formations, Mangroves & An Army Of Green Sea Turtles
Location: Santiago Island
Fernandina Island’s Espinoza Point (a.k.a. Punta Espinosa) and Isabela Island’s Vicente Roca Point are the destinations for today. Punta Espinosa is one of the most popular visitor sites in all the Galapagos, featuring marine iguanas, lava lizards, penguins, flightless cormorants, sealions and interesting marine life. Punta Espinosa also gives us a chance to get an up-close look at mangrove plants and different lava formations. Vincente Roca Point is renowned for its green turtles, which are very numerous on the bay. Their concentration is so great that sometimes five or six turtles can be spotted in a row, floating on the surface of the sea and cradled by the waves.
Day 10: Multicolored Crabs & The Archipelago's Most Photographed Location
Location: Santiago Island
Santiago Island’s Egas Port and Bartolomé Island are the destinations for today. The easy walk along Egas Port’s wide trails and scenic shoreline gives us the chance to see birds, marine iguanas, sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs and fur seals. Bartolomé Island offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the archipelago. It consists of an extinct volcano and a variety of red, orange, green and glistening black volcanic formations. Bartolomé Island has a volcanic cone that is easy to climb. Its outlook provides great views of the other nearby islands.
Day 11: Checking Out North Seymour Island Before Our Tour Ends Today
Location: Santiago Island
Although our tour ends today, first we visit North Seymour Island. It is home to a large population of blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. It also hosts a large population of frigate birds. What’s more, flocks of pelicans feed offshore. Seasonally, Nazca boobies can also be seen. After visiting North Seymour Island, transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport on Baltra Island.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Swissôtel is the name of the hotel in Quito where we commonly have our customers stay. For customers who need to sleep in Guayaquil the night before flying out of the country, we commonly have them stay at Wyndham Guayaquil. Note this is subject to availability. This tour includes lodging on the 5-night Galapagos cruise, specifically from night 6 to night 10. It does not include lodging in Quito nights 1-4 and lodging in Puerto Villamil on night 5. However, upon request, we can book accommodation for you for all nights at establishments which meet your needs. For years, we automatically included 5-star hotels in our travel packages. In the interest of our customers, we ultimately decided to reduce the price of our tours and encourage specifically those with higher expectations to simply request room upgrades. Why? Some of our customers want simple and clean but ultimately cheap rooms. Some of our customers want 4-star hotels and are willing to pay more. Others want nothing short of 5-star extravagance. There isn’t a way to uphold ONE standard for hotels in our travel packages considering everyone has a different budget. What we CAN uphold are the standard and quality of our tours, all of which offer nothing short of a first-class experience. Again, upon request, we can upgrade your room type for the nights included as well as book lodging for all nights on this tour. Let us know and we will provide you with pricing options.
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Meals – Full Board
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included while on the Galapagos cruise. We do our best to ensure you are being offered healthy and tasty local cuisine.
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Fully Guided
Our tour guides/drivers are licensed, speak English and know how to bring excitement to your day. What we deliver is the complete opposite of the cookie-cutting tours the big corporations offer, leaving you in complete boredom. Although our tour guides/drivers are attentive, accommodating and engaged, they also know when to give you your private space and free time. It's a perfect balance.
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Transport
We take care of almost all of your transportation needs once you are on the tour.
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Optional
Although virtually all activities on this multi-day tour are shared with other travelers, we can at least make the land tours (exploring the city of Quito and the 2-day trips from there) completely private, per your request. The Galapagos cruise is always shared. The sightseeing tour of Quito is always private. The 2-day trips from Quito are sometimes private and other times, shared. It depends on several factors.
What's Not Included
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Flights
Flights are not included in the price.
However, we would be happy to assist you in finding airfare upon request.
Below is the only domestic flights needed for this tour: Day 5: Quito through Guayaquil to Baltra Island -
Insurance
Please get your own travel insurance.
We do not offer any insurance. -
Airport Park
Galapagos Airport Park Entry Fee ($100 USD)
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Migration Fee
Galapagos Migration Fee ($20 USD) (to be paid at the airport)
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Alcohol
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Travel Visa
(only applicable to citizens of certain countries)
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Any airfare, alcohol, travel insurance, any government-imposed visa fees, the Galapagos ‘migration fee’, the Galapagos park airport tax and anything not mentioned in the itinerary
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
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Free Date Changes
CharlieTheTraveler allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 45 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
CharlieTheTraveler allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform charliethetraveler, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
CharlieTheTraveler requires a minimum deposit of 100% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 14 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of charliethetraveler charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 50 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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