Galapagos & Andes

You arrive in the historical city of Quito and are transferred to your hotel in the comfort of our private, air-conditioned vehicle. Quito is the most populous city in Ecuador, and the second-highest capital city in the world. Founded in 1534 by Spanish Conquistadors, it is nestled in the lower Andes mountain range, creating quite a dramatic backdrop to the colonial architecture of the center and the more modern suburbs, which sit in the rocks of the mountains themselves. Quito is located a short drive south of the equator – Ecuador is, in fact, the Spanish word for the equator, the city sits on the eastern slope of the Pichincha volcano.

Quito lies in the valley of the Guayllabamba River, flanked by volcanoes, many of which are snow-capped, and visible from the city on a clear day. Quito’s altitude is listed at 2,820 meters (9,250 feet). The colonial influence is strong in the traditional center of the city and any visit to Quito should include a stroll around this area, which was one of the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Buildings of particular interest being the Carondelet Palace, the Cathedral, the four main churches, and the Basilica del Voto Nacional. The center of Quito is the most untouched and also the biggest colonial center of any city in the Americas.

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A trip to Ecuador encapsulates a mix of history, fascinating indigenous cultures, slow winding rivers, and lush tropical forests, spectacular snowcapped volcanoes, and some of the most exciting wildlife on earth.

Our starting place today is the ‘Mitad del Mundo’, a site located just 45 minutes north of Quito, where a monument marks the equator at its closest point to the city. Archaeological evidence shows that both pre-Inca and Inca civilizations recognized and celebrated the equinox, the day the sun is directly over the equator. We make the 45-minute journey northwest to the equatorial line, where we will walk the rim of the extinct Pululahua volcanic crater. From there we visit the “Ciudad Mitad del Mundo” a group of buildings designed to explain the significance of the site, as well as the Ethnographic Initñam Museum, located right on the Equator. Here you will have the chance to plant your feet in two hemispheres at the same time!

Back in Quito, after lunch we will visit the city’s impressive colonial center, the reason Quito was the first city to be named a world heritage site. First on the agenda is a walk through the main plaza, the ‘plaza de la Independencia’, where you will see the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries, including the San Francisco Monastery, the first building built in the whole city. We wind down from a busy day’s sightseeing with an excursion all about chocolate! Ecuador’s unique equatorial climate provides the perfect environment for growing the world’s finest cocoa – Cacao Arriba. Cocoa has been revered in Latin America for over 5,000 years and Spanish explorers loved it so much they called it the ‘Food of the Gods’. Our chocolate experience starts with a guide explaining the history of cocoa in Ecuador, followed by a chocolate tasting.

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Cotopaxi is the most prominent and famous volcano in Ecuador and its almost symmetrical cone visible on the skyline from Quito. Rising to a height of over 12 thousand feet the volcano is part of a complex of volcanoes on the Ring of Fire and is home to one of the few equatorial glaciers in the world.

At the foot of the volcano is the entrance to the Cotopaxi National Park where we make a stop at the visitor center to learn about the exciting history of the Cotopaxi, past eruptions, and the impact those eruptions have had on the surrounding area, culture, and agriculture. The mountain’s colorful past also has had an impact geographically and this has, in turn, affected the wildlife. Our guide will explain how the volcano is central to life in the area and talk you through the unique characteristics of the local flora and fauna.

From there we visit Lake Limpiopungo which offers a chance for some spectacular sights. We take a walk around a part of the lake till we reach the perfect point to see the whole of Cotopaxi reflected in the lake as a mirror image. Quite often the low lying clouds can offer an additional dimension to this view and many a fantastic photograph has been taken from this viewpoint. If you feel like a longer walk, a 2-hour hike will take us to Mt. Cotopaxi’s J. Ribas refuge (4,800 m) where you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the volcano and the surrounding Andean peaks.

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Today we enjoy a full day of excursions in the beautiful spa city of Baños. The journey itself is extremely picturesque and the route carries some spectacular views as we pass through mountains, valleys, and little towns. We take advantage of the proliferation of waterfalls in this region to do a small tour of these spectacular cascades including the Manto de la Novia and Pailon del Diablo waterfalls. As part of the tour, we cross the valley in a cable car used by the locals for transport across the valley and enjoy the views offered by this alternative means of transport

Upon arrival in Baños, so-called for the hot springs that surround the town that is said to have healing powers due to the minerals in the water, we make a visit to the treehouse swing. High up in the mountaintops, and located above a valley is a small lodge that offers guests the chance to swing out and over the valley below, offering spectacular views of the surrounding valley. This excursion sounds a lot more daunting than it actually is and definitely worth doing, even for the faint-hearted as the rewards are quite special

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After breakfast, we head east to the “Termas of Papallacta”, a spa & resort located in a unique natural environment in the Andean highlands which offers complete relaxation and rest. Choose from different hikes in the Andean Forest, where you can learn about the fauna, flora, and its importance to the surrounding ecosystem. The two options for excursions vary in difficulty to ensure that there is something for everyone.

 La Chorrera Path: Viewing the waterfalls.  We take you on a gentle hike through a complex of stunning natural waterfalls that cover both sides of the path and cascade down from the crags as the river from the Peine peaks makes its descent from the Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve.

River Path: On this tour, we cross the wetlands and the high primary forest, while trekking on an ancient glacial valley where prehistoric plants and wet forest vegetation can be found.  Upon arrival at our final destination, we take a relaxing bath in the natural hot springs between two volcanoes, the Volcano Cayambe and Volcano Antisana. Papallacta’s thermal waters contain sulfates, sodium, calcium, chloride and are said to be anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and anti-rheumatic.

The afternoon is spent enjoying the facilities of the spa and the natural plunge pools, all surrounded by the peace and magic of nature.

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AM: Upon arrival, reception, and assistance at the airport, transfer from Baltra Airport to the M/C Ocean Spray.

PM: Pinnacle Rock is a volcanic cone formed by magma expelled by an underwater volcano. The sea cooled the hot lava, and as it exploded from contact, the pieces formed this huge rock of many layers of basalt. The huge rock also has a beach where a small population of green sea turtles will nest during the breeding season. Galapagos penguins gather here and swim, offering beautiful sights of colorful schools of fish and curious sea lions.

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AM: Darwin Bay used to be a shield volcano, now you can see where one of the sides of its caldera collapsed after hundreds of years of erosion.  It is known for the wide variety of birds that can be seen. Over 20,000 red-footed boobies are estimated to call this island home within the trees and bushes of Genovesa Island.

PM: In English, El Barranco is also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps.  It leads to a rocky path up a cliff that rewards guests with a remarkable view.  It is also home to a Palo Santo forest that is home to the nesting red-footed boobies and other shorebirds.

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AM: As the second Island Charles Darwin discovered, it was originally named after King James of England. Buccaneer Cove is an excellent opportunity for snorkeling and was once a refuge for passing sailors and pirates. The underwater formations provide an amazing home for the many different tropical fish species found here.

PM: Egas port is also known as James Bay, home to quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. Grottos and tide pools house all kinds of different marine species. This is also one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos.

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AM: The island was named after English nobleman Lord Hugh Seymour. Formed by uplifted submarine lava, the island is home to a huge colony of about 2,500 land iguanas and large populations of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, and frigatebirds. It is possible to see land and marine iguanas along the coast, and the biggest colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds.

PM: The Highlands of Santa Cruz are very interesting due to the rich wildlife, hills, ferns, volcanoes, and lava tubes present. Exploring the lava tubes is a surreal and unique experience. Here you can see all the different agricultural zones present in the Galapagos in one place. The variety of birds makes this a bird watcher’s delight.

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AM: This visitor site is located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour. It is a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach. Its narrowest width reaches about 160 meters and has an estimated length of 600 meters. In most of the perimeter, there is a base of lava rocks, as evidence of the lava uprising, except on the southwest side where the landing occurs. This island has one of the largest populations of sea lions. You can also observe several species of shorebirds. There have been occasional reports at this site of Orcas feeding on sea lions.

After this last visit, transfer to Baltra airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.

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