8 days from $2799*

Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotels, transfers, many meals, touring and more!

Discover the wonders of Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands, a remarkable collection of landscapes, people, cultures, animals, plants, and more. Our tour covers the highlights of this incredibly diverse country. You'll visit the capital city and UNESCO World Heritage Center of Quito and the colorful and bustling Otavalo market. Round out your tour with a cruise through the Galapagos Islands, a unique, living laboratory, where Darwin, and those who followed, studied evolutionary changes that led to a new understanding of life on earth.

This is truly a once in a lifetime adventure you'll never forget, full of discovery, beauty, history, culture and more fun than you can imagine. And while there are no compromises in the quality of the hotels and the scope of touring included in our program, it's yours for a price that's as amazing as the trip itself!

Itinerary at a Glance

Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands Day   Destination/Port of Call 1   Depart USA/Arrive Quito, Ecuador  2   Quito/Cotopaxi 3   Otavalo Excursion  4   Quito & Galapagos Cruise: Baltra & North Seymour Island  5   Galapagos Cruise: Santa Cruz & Punta Cormoran (Charles Island)  6   Galapagos Cruise: Española & San Cristóbal Island  7   Quito  8   Depart Quito/Arrive USA

Detailed Itinerary

Passengers on 2009 departures follow a slightly different itinerary.

Day 1: Depart USA/Arrive Quito, Ecuador. Your exciting tour to begins today as you depart Miami for Quito, Ecuador's capital city. Your guide will greet you upon arrival and escort you to your centrally located hotel for check-in. Gran Hotel Mercure Alameda or Sheraton Quito

Day 2: Quito & Cotopaxi Today's excursion takes you to one of Ecuador's treasures—Cotopaxi National Park, home to the highest active volcano in the world (19,500 feet above sea level). Spanning an impressive 84,000 acres, this natural reserve protects a diverse array of flora and fauna, including llamas, deer, wild horses, as well as many rare species endemic to the region. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled and your cameras ready for a lucky sighting of the mythical Andean condor. After lunch at a local restaurant, return to Quito for a panoramic city tour.

Arguably one of the loveliest of South American cities, Quito enjoys a spectacular setting surrounded by mountains and several snow-capped volcanoes, including the still-active Mt. Pichincha.

The real beauty of Quito is in its wonderful Old Town, where you'll find blocks of colonial architecture, some of it dating from the mid-1500s when the Spanish founded the city. Before the Spanish arrived, Quito was an important Inca settlement, and before the Inca, other tribes lived at the site. Vintage facades line the streets and large open plazas are surrounded by cathedrals and stately public buildings, including the Government Palace, the first stop on your tour.

Even more breathtaking than the exteriors are the interiors of some of the buildings, particularly the churches, many of which gleam with real gold leaf. La Compania, the next stop on your tour, has the most ornate and richly sculptured facade and interior, complete with colored columns, 10-sided altars, and gilded balconies. Several of its most precious treasures, including a painting of the Virgen Dolorosa framed in emeralds and gold, are kept in the vault of the Banco Central del Ecuador and appear only at special festivals. Continue to the Monastery of San Francisco, Quito's oldest church. Built in the 16th century, the monastery is an exact replica of the Escorial Palace of Madrid. (B,L)

Day 3: Otavalo Excursion. After breakfast this morning, set out on a drive along the Panamerican Highway to Otavalo, whose beauty lies in its people, the Otavaleño Indians, and their market, undoubtedly one of the best in all of Latin America. Unlike other indigenous people who have given up their traditional dress for jeans and t-shirts, Otavaleños are still easily identified by their distinctive dress: women wear intricately embroidered blouses and a wealth of beaded necklaces, while men have long, braided hair and wear calf-length white trousers, ponchos and sandals.

The market takes place in the main Plaza, but don't hesitate to wander into the side streets, where the goods on display start to diversify and the prices get lower. Enjoy the cacophony of sounds as Spanish, and Quichua, the native language of the area, mix together with Andean pipe music and the explosion of color from the many fabric, fruit and craft stalls that line the plaza and side streets. Return to Quito this afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. (B,L)

Day 4: Quito, Galapagos Cruise: Baltra & North Seymour Island. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra, gateway to the Galapagos Islands. Board your first class cruiser, the M/V Galapagos Legend, your home for the next three nights. Settle into your cabin and set sail for North Seymour Island, home to one of the largest colonies of magnificent frigate birds. Other island residents include playful sea lions and, from May to November, blue-footed boobies. MV Galapagos Legend. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Galapagos Cruise: Santa Cruz & Punta Cormoran (Charles Island). Today, explore beautiful Santa Cruz Island. This is sure to be the highlight of your visit to the Galapagos Islands, as this is the place to see giant tortoises, both in the wild and in captivity. Follow the trail to Dragon Hill, which offers a breathtaking view of the bay. Thanks to the island's Charles Darwin Research Center, this area is also an important nesting site for a large population of land iguanas.

Later, land at Punta Cormoran (Charles Island), home to one of largest flamingo lagoons in the Galapagos. Be on the lookout for various other species of shorebirds, including common stilts and white-checked pintail ducks. This island is also unique for its high percentage of endemic plants and for its two distinct beaches: the "Green Beach," named after the olivine crystals in the sand; and the "Flour Sand Beach," a dazzling white coral sand beach. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Galapagos Cruise: Española & San Cristóbal Island. Land at Suarez Point on Espanola Island, where you'll walk over rugged volcanic rocks to see colonies of sea lions and throngs of marine iguanas sunning themselves. At an overlook, you'll see many sea birds, including fork-tail frigate birds, hawks and mockingbirds, but you'll have to look carefully to spot the saddleback tortoises, native to this island, which despite their large size manage to hide in the bushes. The most spectacular of the sea birds are the waved albatrosses, the largest birds in the Galapagos. From March through November, you can usually watch the birds' elaborate courtship ritual, as they bow, click their bright yellow bills, circle and honk at one another before mating for life. It's quite a show. After raising their young, the birds head out to sea, where they often spend three or four months without touching land. End this morning's excursion viewing the famous blowhole, where the water spurts about 75 feet into the air.

This afternoon, continue to San Cristobal, the easternmost Galapagos Island. Stop for an informative visit at the island's Interpretation Center, located in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Province. Built with the cooperation of the Spanish Science Center, this center provides an excellent overview of the history and biodiversity of the Galapagos. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Quito. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Quito. Enjoy some final leisure time in Quito before joining your travel companions for dinner in town. Gran Hotel Mercure Alameda or Sheraton Quito (B)

Day 8: Depart Quito/Arrive USA. Bid adios to Ecuador as you board your return flight to the USA Your exciting South American adventure ends as you touch down in Miami today. (B)

IMPORTANT NOTE: The high altitudes reached on this trip (Quito is at 9,200 feet above sea level) and the amount of walking involved, often on uneven terrain, requires that you be in good physical condition to fully enjoy the trip. We strongly suggest that you consult your physician if you have any concers regarding your ability to handle these conditions.

About Your Cruise Ship, the Galapagos Legend

Click here for specifications, deck plans and more photos of the ship.

The recently refurbished Galapagos Legend is one of the most talked-about additions to the expanding Galapagos cruising fleet. The 5-star expedition-style Legend offers all of the comfort and amenities of a larger cruise vessel, but is small and specially designed to navigate the waters of the Galapagos. With a passenger capacity of only 100, the Legend provides an intimate cruising adventure that allows you to experience up-close the unrivalled beauty of the Galapagos Islands.

The Legend's bright and spacious cabins are comfortable and well-appointed. All cabins feature adjustable climate controls, closet, safety deposit box, and a private bathroom with shower and hairdryer.

Destination FAQs

Quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Ecuador.

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands Included Features

• Round trip flights from Miami via LAN Ecuador including fuel surcharges (flight schedule)
• All ground transportation and transfers
• Accommodations in Superior and Deluxe hotels with private bath
• Three-night Galapagos Cruise aboard the first-class Galapagos Legend in Superior outside cabins with portholes
• 15 lavish meals, including 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 3 dinners
• Comprehensive guided sightseeing tours including entrance fees
• Professional English-speaking tour directors and guides

TourCode: d-000

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands Departures & Prices* Depart Return Book by Dec 11 After Dec 11 2009 DEPARTURES Nov 24 Dec 4 $3149 Dec 8 Dec 18 $3149 Dec 15 Dec 25 $3249 $3649 2010 DEPARTURES Feb 5 Feb 12 $2799 $3199 Mar 26 Apr 2 $2799 $3199 Apr 23 Apr 30 $2799 $3199

Tour prices are per person, double occupancy, including airfare. Prices in red reflect an early booking discount if you reserve by Dec. 11, 2009. * Prices do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee for this tour of $85.

Passengers travelling on 2009 departures follow a slightly different itinerary.

Taxes & Fees Service Price Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11 Security Fee   Feb 5, Mar 26, Apr 23 +$100 All other departures +$85 Galapagos Park Fee +$100 Galapagos Transit Control Card* +$10 Departure Taxes** (paid separately) +$45

* As part of increasing conservation efforts in the Galapagos Islands, the Ecuadorian government has implemented a new measure to oversee the number of visitors to the Islands. All tourists must now obtain a transit control card, which we will arrange for you prior to departure. ** All departure taxes are paid locally at the time of departure. Amount is approximate and reflects current exchange rates.

Optionals & Upgrades Service Price Single Supplement   Nov 24, Dec 8, Dec 15, Feb 5, Mar 26, Apr 23 +$1,399 All other departures +$1,299 Cabin Upgrades Junior Suite, Double Occupancy* +$300 Junior Suite, Single Occupancy +$530

* Junior suite cabins are on a request-basis and are subject to availability.

Departure Airport: This tour departs from Miami International (MIA).

Coming from somewhere else? Unfortunately, we don't offer departures from other cities for this tour, but you can book your own connecting flights separately.

Shop and Compare

Our tours may look similar to others you've seen, but we invite you to shop & compare. There are important differences that make Friendly Planet tours the best you can find.

No Compromise on Quality: Despite our extraordinary prices, there are no compromises on our South America tours. You'll stay in Deluxe and Superior First Class, centrally located hotels that are noted for their amenities and service, and you'll cruise aboard the newly refurbished, 5-star M/V Galapagos Legend.

Included Features: Your transfers as well as important visits to all the "must see" places in Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands are all included, not expensive extras as in other tours.

Free Destination Guide: You will receive a free, comprehensive Friendly Planet Ecuador & Galapagos destination guide with lots of destination information, helpful hints, plenty of night-life and restaurant suggestions, organized by cuisine and cost, so you have up-to-date spots to try on the evenings when dinners are not included. Your free guide will even include recommendations for tipping, local customs, dress, great shopping spots and much more.

Credit Cards or Cash: Whether you pay by check, money order or your favorite major credit card, your tour price on this tour is the same. No extra cost to charge your dream vacation when you book with Friendly Planet. Credit Card Authorization Form.

Personal Service: Most important of all, the extra ingredient that makes our tours stand apart from others—the wonderful, personal attention you'll receive from our friendly staff in the USA and our representatives in South America —is completely free of charge. Compare our programs to others, feature for feature. You'll see for yourself that ours are the very best value for money you'll find anywhere.

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* Prices shown are good while inventory lasts, may reflect an early booking discount, and do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee.

Though we do our best to provide accurate and up-to-date information on our site about our tours, sometimes oversights and typographical errors can occur. Please confirm all tour prices and details with us via email or phone prior to booking. We will not be held responsible for misunderstandings arising from such errors.

TourCode: d-000