Breakfast at the hotel. Begin the day with a 'meet and greet' at the hotel with your guide. Later, set off to the amazing Quilotoa Crater Lake, a vibrant, green-colored volcanic lake, thought to be 250-meters deep. Here, you have the opportunity to climb to the edge of the lake to enjoy beautiful views of the crater and its surroundings. Continue to the small town of Tigua, known for its traditional folk art paintings, before arriving in Baños, home to mineral hot springs and waterfalls and nestled within a verdant natural environment. Transfer to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day exploring this unique city, known as a gateway to the Amazon Basin. Overnight stay in Baños. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for the city of Puyo to visit an indigenous community and taste a traditional local drink known as chicha. Get to know the local traditions and wildlife, including rescued animals, before getting ready to enjoy an exciting canoe ride on the Puyo River. Pass through the lush rainforest before making a stop for lunch. Afterwards, take a nature walk to the Hola Vida Waterfall, learning more about indigenous traditions and medicinal plants along the way before taking the opportunity to swim in the waterfall if you wish! End the day with an exciting 'vine jump' at Indichuris Viewpoint before returning to Baños! Why not indulge in a little relaxation this evening with a traditional Baño de Cajón!* Overnight stay in Baños.

*Optional Cajon Steam Bath Treatment in Baños: Experience an authentic Cajon Bath treatment, a traditional remedy to eliminate toxins and increase health and wellbeing. The treatment lasts for around 2-hours and involves sitting in a relaxing individual steam bath before enjoying the other facilities of the spa.

Breakfast at the hotel. Returning to Quito today, stop en-route at the Cotopaxi National Park, home to the famous Cotopaxi Volcano. Cotopaxi is 5897 meters high and is considered to be one of the highest active volcanos in the world. Look out for unique birdlife such as Andean Gulls and Hummingbirds as you take in the beautiful views of the snow-capped volcano at the center of this park. After exploring these unforgettable landscapes, continue to Quito, transfer to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay in Quito.

Breakfast at the 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. Admire the eclectic architecture of the city's colonial center or perhaps take a trip to the famous Middle of the World Monument. Alternatively, enjoy a culinary tour of Quito Market* or an exciting excursion to the Middle of the World Monument!** Overnight stay in Quito.

*Optional Half-Day Historic Centre Tour & Fruit Tasting at Quito Market: Begin with a guided tour of the historic centre, to learn more about the history of this thriving Andean capital. Continue to one of the largest markets in Quito and discover the rich variety of Ecuadorian fruits and delicacies with an authentic fruit tasting tour. 

**Optional Middle of the World Monument Excursion: Visit the iconic Middle of the World monument to see the spot where the southern and northern hemispheres meet! Stand with one foot in each hemisphere, admire the views of the surrounding mountains and pay a visit to the interactive Intiñan Museum. Afterwards, enjoy Chawarmishqui tasting at the Agave Experience Museum and learn more about this versatile and delicious plant!

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 highlands of Santa Cruz, a lush, green natural habitat and home to the famous Galapagos giant tortoises! Visit a private ranch, where you'll receive an explanatory talk in English about the surrounding area and wildlife, before heading out to explore the nature trails at your own pace. Walk among the trees and keep a lookout for giant tortoises, who tend to congregate close to the lagoons. Admire the amazing scenery of lava tubes, created by ancient volcanic eruptions, and stop for lunch at your leisure (not included). Afterwards, transfer to your hotel in Santa Cruz and get settled. Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.

*Please note: The transfer from Balta to Santa Cruz is with a Spanish-speaking driver. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Start the day with a half-day island tour. From Puerto Ayora take a boat trip along the canal to La Loberia, a bay known for its large population of blue-footed boobies and sea lions. Disembark the boat and begin a guided hike through the protected area in the hope of spotting white-tip reef sharks from a lookout point. Continue to Playa de Los Perros, a favourite resting place for the fascinating marine iguanas, especially on a sunny day. Take in the unique wildlife and natural environment, with its bright red rocks, cacti and turquoise ocean. Take the opportunity to experience a snorkelling excursion along the bay before hiking on to Las Grietas, a beautiful rock formation and crystal-clear swimming area. The remainder of the day is free at your leisure to explore the local town or simply relax at your own pace. Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.

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 or visit the volcanic calderas of Los Gemelos. We recommend an optional cruise to one of the many uninhabited Galapagos Islands!* Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.

*Optional Uninhabited Island Premium Cruise: Depending on the availability and weather conditions, visit one of several uninhabited islands, such as Bartholomew, Seymour, Plaza or Santa Fe on board a yacht to discover their incredible wildlife and untouched scenery. Hot lunch on board, snacks, towels and some drinks are included. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Head back to the mainland, with a flight from Santa Cruz airport. Arrive in Guayaquil, and join a shared transfer to your hotel in the city center. Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador and is located on the Pacific Coast. Later, enjoy a walking tour of the city, visiting the Malecon, Parque Iguanas and Las Peñas neighbourhood. Overnight stay in Guayaquil.

Breakfast at the hotel. The day is at your leisure to do some last-minute souvenir shopping, or relax in the arty neighborhood of Santa Ana Hill. Why not discover the lush surrounding landscapes of Manglares Churute Reserve with our optional excursion today?* Overnight stay in Guayaquil.

*Optional Full-Day Manglares Churute Reserve: Explore the ecological paradise of the Manglares Churute Reserve. The mangroves here host a rich array of bird species as well as howler monkeys. Journey through the wetlands on a 40-minute boat tour before following a 1.5 km walking trail, in search of howler monkeys!

Breakfast at the hotel. 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 the US. Night on board.

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