Galapagos Islands Adventure

Explore the flora, fauna & spectacular scenery of two biodiverse Galapagos Islands: Santa Cruz & Isabela, with an extra night on Isabela! Optional extension to Quito

Overview

from$2999Tour + Flights 7days

price per person, double occupancy,* based on Jan 14, 2021 departure from

$600 Instant Savings. Expires Sep 3, 2020.* All prices reflect savings.

$99 deposit. Lock in your spot for less through Aug 31.^††

This trip is running! We're ready to get back out in the world, and we hope you are too. Learn about our new health & safety protocols and what we mean by Flexible, Safe, Confident Travel.

Carefree Booking. Change your travel plans with no penalties. See details & restrictions.^†

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Style	Small Group TourTravel with a small, intimate group of no more than 24 likeminded travelers (and often much fewer), escorted by an English speaking guide and/or tour manager for some or all of your journey. More of these packages Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout
Departures	November 2020 – December 2022	Group Size	15 travelers max
Themes	Active, Bucket List, Nature & Wildlife
Activity Level	Advanced
What to Expect	This fast-paced, locally hosted tour involves a significant amount of walking or hiking, often on uneven terrain, and reaches high altitudes requiring a high level of physical fitness to fully enjoy the trip.
Already booked?	Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more.

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Dates

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The Galapagos Islands are among Ecuador’s jewels. More than 600 miles offshore in the Pacific, these islands are home to fascinating species of birds and animals such as marine iguanas, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, pelicans and more! Follow in the intrepid footsteps of Charles Darwin on an active adventure and discover the unique wildlife that inspired his theory of evolution. Stay on Santa Cruz and Isabela Islands, traveling from island to island via speedboat rides for an incredible Galapagos experience, which includes flights, first-class hotels and most meals, as well as a fast-paced program of hiking, exploration, and observation of the islands' delicate ecosystems.

So lace up your boots, strap on your daypacks, and don't wait a moment longer to book this incredible adventure.

Package includes

Flights
Transfers
Hotel
Meals
Guides

Round-trip flights from Miami (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale (FLL) including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees
All transfers, ground transportation & Galapagos flights
Transportation between islands in shared charter speedboat
Superior class accommodations in Quito and in the Galapagos
10 Meals: 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 3 dinners
Comprehensive sightseeing tours with a naturalist guide on the islands
Snorkeling gear
Galapagos National Park Fee ($100), Transit Control Card ($20), & Isabela Port Fee ($10)

Optional add-ons

Optional Quito Extension

Why you'll love it

Discover Los Gemelos, two collapsed lava chambers teeming with great biodiversity.
Mingle with giant Galapagos tortoises at a 600-acre private reserve.
Explore Tortuga Bay with a small hike to the famous prickly-pear cactus forest where you will see an abundance of wildlife, such as Darwin Finches, Lava Lizards and more!
Kayak at Punta Estrada and see the iconic blue-footed boobies.
Look for whales, dolphins, and manta rays as you set off for Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island via charter speedboat.
Snorkel alongside sea lions, sea turtles, penguins and more in the islands’ warm, shallow waters.
Observe the fascinating marine life in the crystal-clear waters of Concha de Perla.

Itinerary at a Glance

1 Depart USA/Arrive Quito, Ecuador
2 Quito, Baltra Island & Santa Cruz Island
3 Santa Cruz Island & Tortuga Bay
4 Santa Cruz Island & Isabela Island
5 Isabela Island
6 Isabela Island & Santa Cruz Island
7 Santa Cruz Island & Quito, depart Quito

Dates & Prices

Instant Savings: Get $600 off if you book by Sep. 3, 2020!

Dates & Prices, with flights per person, double occupancy*"Your Price" column already reflects discounts & Instant Savings
2020 DEPARTURES
Dates	Regular Price	Instant Savings	Your Price
Departs U.S.: Thu, Jul 2, 2020 Finishes: Wed, Jul 8, 2020 Jul 2 – Jul 8	$3599	–	–	Departed
Departs U.S.: Thu, Jul 16, 2020 Finishes: Wed, Jul 22, 2020 Jul 16 – Jul 22	$3899	–	–	Closed
Departs U.S.: Thu, Aug 20, 2020 Finishes: Wed, Aug 26, 2020 Aug 20 – Aug 26	$3699	–	–	Closed
Departs U.S.: Thu, Aug 27, 2020 Finishes: Wed, Sep 2, 2020 Aug 27 – Sep 2	$3699	–	–	Closed
Departs U.S.: Thu, Sep 10, 2020 Finishes: Wed, Sep 16, 2020 Sep 10 – Sep 16	$3999	–	–	Closed
Departs U.S.: Thu, Sep 24, 2020 Finishes: Wed, Sep 30, 2020 Sep 24 – Sep 30	$3599	–	–	Closed
Departs U.S.: Thu, Oct 8, 2020 Finishes: Wed, Oct 14, 2020 Oct 8 – Oct 14	$3699	–	–	Closed
Departs U.S.: Thu, Oct 22, 2020 Finishes: Wed, Oct 28, 2020 Oct 22 – Oct 28	$3699	–	–	Closed
Departs U.S.: Thu, Nov 19, 2020 Finishes: Wed, Nov 25, 2020 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Nov 19 – Nov 25	$3699	–$600	$3099	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Nov 26, 2020 Finishes: Wed, Dec 2, 2020 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Nov 26 – Dec 2	$3699	–$600	$3099	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Dec 10, 2020 Finishes: Wed, Dec 16, 2020 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Dec 10 – Dec 16	$3899	–$600	$3299	Select
2021 DEPARTURES
Dates	Regular Price	Instant Savings	Your Price
Departs U.S.: Thu, Jan 14, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Jan 20, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jan 14 – Jan 20	$3599	–$600	$2999	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Jan 28, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Feb 3, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jan 28 – Feb 3	$3599	–$600	$2999	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Feb 11, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Feb 17, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Feb 11 – Feb 17	$3599	–$600	$2999	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Feb 25, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Mar 3, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Feb 25 – Mar 3	$3599	–$600	$2999	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Mar 11, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Mar 17, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Mar 11 – Mar 17	$3599	–$600	$2999	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Mar 25, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Mar 31, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Mar 25 – Mar 31	$3599	–$600	$2999	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Apr 8, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Apr 14, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Apr 8 – Apr 14	$3599	–$600	$2999	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, May 6, 2021 Finishes: Wed, May 12, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! May 6 – May 12	$3599	–$600	$2999	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, May 20, 2021 Finishes: Wed, May 26, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! May 20 – May 26	$3599	–$600	$2999	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Jun 17, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Jun 23, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jun 17 – Jun 23	$3799	–$600	$3199	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Jul 15, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Jul 21, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jul 15 – Jul 21	$3799	–$600	$3199	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Jul 29, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Aug 4, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jul 29 – Aug 4	$3799	–$600	$3199	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Aug 26, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Sep 1, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Aug 26 – Sep 1	$3799	–$600	$3199	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Sep 23, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Sep 29, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Sep 23 – Sep 29	$3699	–$600	$3099	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Oct 21, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Oct 27, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Oct 21 – Oct 27	$3699	–$600	$3099	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Nov 18, 2021 Finishes: Wed, Nov 24, 2021 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Nov 18 – Nov 24	$3799	–$600	$3199	Select
2022 DEPARTURES
Dates	Regular Price	Instant Savings	Your Price
Departs U.S.: Thu, Jan 13, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Jan 19, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jan 13 – Jan 19	$3899	–$600	$3299	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Jan 27, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Feb 2, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jan 27 – Feb 2	$3899	–$600	$3299	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Feb 10, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Feb 16, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Feb 10 – Feb 16	$3899	–$600	$3299	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Feb 24, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Mar 2, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Feb 24 – Mar 2	$3899	–$600	$3299	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Mar 24, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Mar 30, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Mar 24 – Mar 30	$3899	–$600	$3299	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Apr 21, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Apr 27, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Apr 21 – Apr 27	$3899	–$600	$3299	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, May 19, 2022 Finishes: Wed, May 25, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! May 19 – May 25	$3899	–$600	$3299	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Jun 16, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Jun 22, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jun 16 – Jun 22	$3999	–$600	$3399	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Jul 14, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Jul 20, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Jul 14 – Jul 20	$3999	–$600	$3399	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Aug 11, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Aug 17, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Aug 11 – Aug 17	$3999	–$600	$3399	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Sep 8, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Sep 14, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Sep 8 – Sep 14	$3949	–$600	$3349	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Oct 20, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Oct 26, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Oct 20 – Oct 26	$3949	–$600	$3349	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Nov 17, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Nov 23, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Nov 17 – Nov 23	$3999	–$600	$3399	Select
Departs U.S.: Thu, Dec 1, 2022 Finishes: Wed, Dec 7, 2022 Book by Thu, Sep 3, 2020 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Dec 1 – Dec 7	$3999	–$600	$3399	Select

If you want a few extra days to explore on your own, we may be able to arrange for you to stay later than the scheduled dates, including extra hotel nights and separate airport transfers, for an additional charge. Ask us about prices and availability when (or after) you reserve. More information Want to extend your trip?

Options & Fees

Galapagos Islands Adventure
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy	included
Single Occupancy
Jan 14, 2021; Jan 28, 2021; Feb 11, 2021; Mar 11, 2021; Mar 25, 2021; Apr 8, 2021; May 6, 2021; May 20, 2021; Jun 17, 2021; Jul 15, 2021; Jul 29, 2021; Aug 26, 2021; Oct 21, 2021; Nov 18, 2021; Jan 13, 2022; Jan 27, 2022; Feb 10, 2022; Feb 24, 2022; Mar 24, 2022; Apr 21, 2022; May 19, 2022; Jun 16, 2022; Jul 14, 2022; Aug 11, 2022; Sep 8, 2022; Oct 20, 2022; Nov 17, 2022; Dec 1, 2022	$649
All other dates	$599

Taxes & Fees
Galapagos National Park Fee of $100	included
INGALA Tourist Control Card of $20	included
Isabela Port Fee of $10	included

Quito Optional Extension¹
Quito Optional Extension
Sep 24, 2020; Oct 8, 2020; Oct 22, 2020; Feb 25, 2021; Jan 13, 2022; Jan 27, 2022; Feb 10, 2022; Feb 24, 2022; Mar 24, 2022; Apr 21, 2022; May 19, 2022; Jun 16, 2022; Jul 14, 2022; Aug 11, 2022; Sep 8, 2022; Oct 20, 2022; Nov 17, 2022; Dec 1, 2022	$649
Aug 20, 2020; Aug 27, 2020	$699
Jul 16, 2020	unavailable
All other dates	$599
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy	included
Single Occupancy	$249

1. This extension requires a minimum of 2 passengers to operate.

So that we can offer you the best deals, our packages are, like most hotels and cruises, priced based on double occupancy rooms or cabins. We charge solo travelers an extra fee to cover the extra costs of single occupancy rooms or cabins. (Consider: if you booked a $200/night hotel room solo, you would pay the $200 yourself; but if a couple booked the same room, each one would pay only $100.) But you only pay extra for the rooms or cabins, nothing else, including meals, sightseeing, tips, etc. Why are single rooms more?

Flights & Departure Cities

Departure Airports
Miami (MIA) or Ft. Lauderdale (FLL)¹	included
Los Angeles (LAX)	$450
Jul 2, 2020, Jul 16, 2020, Aug 20, 2020, Aug 27, 2020, Jan 14, 2021, Jan 28, 2021, Feb 11, 2021, Feb 25, 2021, Mar 11, 2021, Mar 25, 2021, Apr 8, 2021, May 6, 2021, May 20, 2021, Jun 17, 2021, Jul 15, 2021, Jul 29, 2021, Aug 26, 2021, Sep 23, 2021, Oct 21, 2021, Nov 18, 2021	unavailable

1. Departures will be from either MIA or FLL based upon availability when you make your reservation. Your flight itinerary showing which airport you are departing from will be emailed to you in 24-48 hours.

This package offers round-trip flights from the cities listed above, subject to availability.

Want to fly from another city? Flights from JFK are available for an additional cost. Ask us for a quote when you reserve, and we'll get back to you with the price and availability within 3 business days. Unfortunately, we don't offer flights from any other cities, but you can book your own connecting flights.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Depart USA/Arrive Quito, Ecuador

Depart the USA on your flight bound for Quito, Ecuador
Upon arrival in Quito this evening, meet our representative and transfer by hotel shuttle service to your hotel for check-in

Wyndham Quito Airport or similar

Full Day Itinerary

This evening, arrive in Quito (9,350 feet above sea level) and after customs formalities, you will be met and transferred by scheduled shuttle service to your hotel for check-in and overnight.

Day 2 Quito, Baltra Island & Santa Cruz Island

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island
Take a short ferry ride to Santa Cruz Island
Discover Los Gemelos lava chambers
Explore a 600-acre private giant tortoise reserve
Continue to Puerto Ayora for check-in and welcome drink
Enjoy a welcome dinner with fellow travelers

Hotel Solymar Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra, gateway to the Galapagos Islands, to begin your adventure. Next, you'll take a short ferry ride across Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island, and then drive through the various micro climates on your way to the village of Puerto Ayora on the south side of the island.

Today you'll see Los Gemelos (The Twins), two enormous collapsed lava chambers, an awe-inspiring visual reminder of the power of nature. The path to the lava chambers is a wonderful introduction to the great biodiversity of the Santa Cruz Highlands, teeming with endemic flora and fauna, including a scalesia forest draped in liverwort and mosses, as well as numerous birds including Darwin Finches.

Afterward, drive to a 600-acre private reserve where giant Galapagos tortoises freely roam, graze and sleep. Feel free to mingle with these gentle giants. As prehistoric as these creatures look, wait until you hear what they sound like! Galápago is Spanish for tortoise, and the islands were named for these amazing creatures. There will be a selection of field boots for your use if conditions are muddy.

Next, you'll have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the remnants of an illuminated lava tunnel. Created by ancient lava flows, the tunnel is 1,350 feet long with a ceiling nearly 20 feet high in most places, adorned with stalagmites & stalactites, mineral-colored walls, and a rippled lava floor.

Continue to Puerto Ayora to check into your hotel. You may choose to visit the Charles Darwin Center independently in the afternoon. Later this evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with fellow travelers.

Day 3 Santa Cruz Island & Tortuga Bay

Set out on tour of beautiful Tortuga Bay
See endemic native species on a walk through a cactus forest
Continue to a sandy beach to observe marine creatures in the shallow water
After a chance to swim, take a short hike to an iguana nesting site
Walk through a prickly pear forest
Kayak in Punta Estrada to visit the home of the blue-footed boobies

Hotel Solymar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

Depart after breakfast for a tour of Tortuga Bay. A short hike down a path will take you through a cactus forest, home to numerous Darwin Finches, Mockingbirds, Yellow Warblers, Lava Lizards and many more of the Galapagos’ endemic and native species. From the white sandy beach, you will have a chance to observe different marine species, like stingrays and baby reef sharks in the shallow waters of the mangroves.

After an opportunity to swim, take a short hike to a marine iguana nesting site. The walk back is through a prickly pear forest carpeted in crimson sesuvium with black lava outcroppings. Continue back to the hotel on foot or via speed boat.

This afternoon, kayak at Punta Estrada where you will paddle through towering lava channel walls to visit the home of the blue-footed boobies.

Day 4 Santa Cruz Island & Isabela Island

Morning at leisure
Board a speedboat and set off for Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island
Enjoy a short exploration of Puerto Villamil

Iguana Crossing Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, enjoy your bayside hotel at leisure. This afternoon, board a shared charter speedboat and set off for Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. The trip takes approximately two hours, and you may see some marine life such as whales, dolphins and manta rays among others. Upon arrival at Puerto Villamil, check in at your hotel. Afterwards, enjoy a short exploration of Puerto Villamil. This evening, meet with fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 5 Isabela Island

Explore a small group of islands called Las Tintoreras
Take a walk through a lava field that is home to a colony of marine iguanas
Visit the Flamingo Lagoon

Iguana Crossing Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast at the lodge, board a small craft and head out to Las Tintoreras, a small group of islands located just off the coast of Puerto Villamil. Here, you’ll take an intriguing walk through a jagged lava field, passing abundant colonies of nesting marine iguanas and sea lions, to see a small canal of shallow waters, full of resting whitetip reef sharks. After the walk, you have the opportunity to snorkel in this warm, shallow bay surrounded by mangroves, for an opportunity to see whitetip reef sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, and of course, the mystery of the mangrove below the surface.

This afternoon, visit the Flamingo Lagoon, an area where these unique birds come to rest and feed.

Day 6 Isabela Island & Santa Cruz Island

Set out to see Concha de Perla
Board a speedboat and return to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island
Enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant

Hotel Solymar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast at the lodge, set out to see Concha de Perla to observe the fascinating marine life that inhabits this natural pool of crystal-clear water.

This afternoon board a shared charter speedboat heading back to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Upon arrival at the hotel, check in and enjoy some free time. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner on your last night in the Galapagos.

Day 7 Santa Cruz Island & Quito, depart Quito

Transfer to the Baltra airport for your flight back to Quito. Enjoy the comforts of the Layover Stay lounge before your international flight back to the USA that will depart late tonight.
Arrive in the USA early tomorrow morning
Or take advantage of your already included airfare and extend your stay in Quito!

Breakfast

Inter-Island Transportation

The Galapagos Islands are connected by shared charter speedboats that take travelers from one island to another. Most of the boats tend to be small, and the trip from island to island can be choppy. Be patient with this means of transport, as it is not possible to enjoy the incredible experiences found only on these islands without being able to get from place to place. Generally the trips can last 2 hours. While the inter-island trips can be bumpy at times due to rough seas, you'll travel in the relative comfort of our boats, which are among the best in the islands.

Important Travelers Notes

Due to the fragile ecosystem on the islands, there are very few roads accessible by motorized vehicles. Some venues within the islands may be accessed by foot only. When touring the islands, you may expect considerable amount of walking, often on uneven terrain. If you are prone to motion sickness, we highly recommend that you bring medication to counter the effects of motion sickness. We strongly recommend that you consult with your physician regarding any concerns.

The hotels on this tour are the finest properties available on the Galapagos, These are small, intimate and unique hotels, with all the necessary amenities, but accommodations are more basic than lavish, as the delicate island ecosystems cannot support large luxury hotels. Click the hotel names above for more details.

Quito Optional Extension

Why not take advantage of your already-included international airfare to extend your stay in Quito! Passengers taking the post-tour extension will arrive in the U.S. 3 days later than the dates listed.

Day 7 Arrive Quito

Upon arrival in Quito this evening, transfer to your hotel for check-in

Swissotel Quito Breakfast

Day 8 Quito

City tour of Quito and Equatorial Monument

Swissotel Quito Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Today, enjoy a city tour of Quito. Arguably one of the loveliest of all South American cities, Quito offers a spectacular setting surrounded by mountains and several snow-capped volcanoes, included the still-active Mt. Pichincha. Begin your walking tour at the Presidential Palace. Continue to the Monastery of San Francisco, Quito's oldest church and the largest colonial building constructed in Latin America. Visit the largest neo-gothic basilica in the Americas, noted for its gargoyles in the form of native Ecuadorian animals such as iguanas, armadillos and Galapagos tortoises. The next stop, La Compañía de Jesús, has an ornate and richly sculptured facade and interior, with colored columns, 10-sided altars, and gilded balconies.

After lunch, drive north of Quito to the Equatorial Monument, the Mitad del Mundo ("Middle of the World"), commemorating the exact place where Charles Marie de la Condamine established the Equator, where you can stand with one foot in the northern and one in the southern hemisphere.

For those interested in seeing a spectacular panoramic view over Quito and the snow-capped surrounding volcanoes of Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, take a ride on the Teleférico. This gondola lift transitions to approximately 13,285 feet above sea level for a breathtaking experience. For those who opt out of the Teleférico ride, enjoy a visit to the Quito National Museum. NOTE: The Teleférico experience reaches high altitudes and may not be suitable for all passengers. Warm clothes are suggested.

Later this evening, join fellow travelers for an included dinner.

Day 9 Quito & Otavalo, depart Quito

Explore the Otavalo Market
Visit the Peguche Waterfall
Transfer back to the airport for your international flight home
Arrive in the USA early tomorrow morning

Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, travel to Otavalo, the land of the “Otavaleños” Ecuadorian community where all families speak Quichua as their first language and Spanish as their second. See women garbed in colorful embroidered clothing, and men in broad-brimmed hats with blue ponchos.

Explore the Otavalo Market located around the Plaza de Ponchos, the most famous indigenous market in Ecuador. The Otavaleños travel to the town to sell a multicolored variety of handicrafts including sweaters, ponchos, hats, necklaces and other handmade products.

Following lunch, visit the Peguche Waterfall that offers great views of the falls from several hiking trails and bridges.

Later today, transfer back to Quito. Enjoy the comforts of the Layover Stay lounge before your international flight back to the USA that will depart late tonight.

Hotels

Wyndham Quito Airport

First Class

Experience the warmest of welcomes when you visit the 4-star Wyndham Quito Airport hotel. With a prime location at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), the Wyndham Quito Airport is your top choice for an overnight stopover or day-room in transit. From the moment you step into the lobby, you will find impeccable services and amenities. Relax in your well-appointed room, indulge in the finest international dishes at the onsite restaurant or meet up with friends at the lobby bar for a signature cocktail.

More information

Hotel Solymar

First Class

Hotel Solymar is centrally located on Puerto Ayora's main street and within walking distance of a variety of cafes, restaurants, and shops. The hotel features ocean access on Pelican Bay, and a beautiful patio for guests to enjoy the nature of the Galapagos.

More information

Iguana Crossing

Tourist Class

The Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel sits on the waterfront of the most beautiful beach on Isabela Island. It is surrounded by the national park wetlands and overlooked by the six majestic volcanoes on the island. The friendly staff will make your stay as carefree as possible so you can relax and enjoy.

More information

Swissotel Quito

Superior First Class

Swissotel Quito is one of the city’s top luxury hotels, located in the commercial and residential area of the Floresta neighborhood.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

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Trip Details

What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
Should I purchase travel protection? Yes! Protect your travel investment with our travel protection plan, available to U.S. residents (excluding overseas territories).
What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
What should I know about Ecuador? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
What should I know about Galapagos? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.