Ecuador in 12 Days • 10 Nights in Destination

Breakfast at the hotel. Our local representative will give you all the information for the next few days. Today, spend the day in Quito at your leisure, exploring the city or simply taking some time to enjoy the beautiful climate and natural environment. We recommend enjoying our full-day excursion to Otovalo* for a true local experience. Overnight stay in Quito.

*Optional Otavalo Day Tour: Full-day tour to various towns in the Andean highlands where you’ll discover some of the local gastronomy and traditional way of life. Start off your experience by tasting the interesting Cherimoya fruits in Guayllabamba, carry on to try the local biscuits made by the community in Cayambe. You will then be guided around the indigenous markets in Otavalo, Peguche and Cotacachi and get to know the story of the native people.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for a flight to Baltra, in the incredible Galapagos Islands! From Baltra, transfer to the island of Santa Cruz, crossing the Itabaca Channel by ferry. Stop in the southern port town of Santa Cruz, Puerto Ayora, where you’ll get to know the area accompanied by a local guide. The guide will illustrate the Galapagos people's ‘Galapagueños’ way of life, and take you on an exclusive visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station where you’ll learn about the formation of these magical islands and their inhabitants. Afterwards, transfer to your hotel in Santa Cruz and meet our representative on the island who will talk you through the itinerary for the coming few days. Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, enjoying the spectacular shoreline and wonderful flora and fauna of this magical island. Why not go for a swim in the temperate waters and do some wildlife spotting. We recommend an optional half-day Bahia Tour*. Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.

*Optional Half-Day Bahia Tour: Discover Santa Cruz and its bays during this incredible experience. Visit some of the most beautiful and important areas of the island and learn about the importance of the archipelago. Discover the beautiful seascapes with your knowledgeable guide.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, enjoying the beautiful beaches and wonderful wildlife. Why not look for sea turtles and brightly colored Sally Lightfoot crab at Tortuga Bay. We recommend an optional full-day excursion to the Santa Cruz Highlands* Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.

*Optional Full-Day Excursion to the Santa Cruz Highlands (Parte Alta): This day trip includes a visit to the El Chato Reserve, where you’ll observe the renowned giant turtles in their natural habitat. Discover the Lava Tunnels formed when a flow of lava quickly goes cold as it comes into contact with the cold atmosphere thus creating these interesting tube-like formations. Following this, you’ll behold an incredible view of the Twin Craters, two mind-blowing volcanic material holes formed by a long process of slow subsidence of the land, where exceptional scalesia trees, ferns, mosses and orchids can be seen. Lunch included.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, enjoying this extraordinary scenery. Why not discover more of the island and take in the unique wildlife and natural environment, with its bright red rocks, cacti and turquoise ocean. We recommend an excursion to the uninhabited islands of Seymour, South Plaza and Santa Fé, where you’ll encounter diverse wildlife such as sea-lions, the rare blue-footed boobies, land iguanas, prickly cactus and beds of brightly colored succulent plants among many other interesting species of flora and fauna.* Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.

*Excursion can only be booked at the destination via local companies and is subject to weather conditions.

Breakfast at the hotel. Head back to the mainland, with a flight from Santa Cruz airport. Arrive in Quito, and join a shared transfer to your hotel. Spend the day in Quito at your leisure, exploring the city or simply taking some time to enjoy the beautiful climate and natural environment. Overnight stay in Quito.

*Please note: The transfer from Quito airport to the hotel is with a Spanish-speaking driver.

Breakfast at the hotel. Start your day with a Colonial City Tour, visit the beautiful colonial center of Quito known as one of the most well-preserved in Latin America, walk through its small streets, enjoy its beautiful squares and taste typical Ecuadorian fruits in a local market. Afterwards, leave Quito behind and continue to the Ecuadorian highlands, towards the highest point of the road in the Papallacta moors and down to the eastern jungle of the country, until you reach the Cotundo.

Surprise excursion in the evening, enjoy a special experience where you explore the Amazon in a unique way, on a night walk. Overnight stay in Cotundo.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy a day at your leisure and explore the wonders of the mighty Amazon rainforest. Relish the opportunity to enjoy the Ecuadorian part of this jungle and immerse yourself in its sounds and its wondrous sights. Make the most of your last day and discover what the otherworldly Amazonia has in store for you. Why not explore the surrounding area independently or take part in one of the optional activities.* Overnight stay in Cotundo.

* Optional Exclusive Chocolate Making Experience: A true experience for all your senses. Really get to know this key ingredient in Ecuadorian culture. Uncover the magical properties of cacao, from its indigenous roots. You will learn its origins, uses and also make your own chocolate. Learn the entire process through practice, all the way from the cultivation of this sacred plant to creating your own chocolate sauce. A truly enchanting experience.

** Optional Waterfall Walk: Join this incredible walk where you will be guided to spectacular views of the Waterfall, and learn about the tropical fauna and flora along the way.

*** Optional Half-Day Amazonia Excursion: Discover Paikawe Lagoon on a canoe ride, with curious large fish that you can see swimming and coming to the surface. Head to Misahualli Monkey Village, this sleepy jungle town where you can meet its most popular inhabitants, the monkeys! Finally visit the Amupakin community, to understand the traditional local way of life. Including lunch.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning enjoy free time to take in your last moments of the Amazon as it’s time to head back to Quito. On route, visit the celebrated ‘Middle of the World’ where you will have the unusual opportunity to stand on the imaginary line that divides the northern and southern hemispheres. Continue your journey to the capital city and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to do some last-minute souvenir shopping, or try some delicious food in the gastronomic neighborhood of La Floresta. Overnight stay in Quito.

Breakfast at the hotel. Sadly, it's time to bring your adventure through Ecuador and the amazing Galapagos Islands to an end. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to Canada. Night on board.

Please note: Depending on the flight departure time you may arrive back in Canada today.

If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.