Package #28 – Visit Quito, Otavalo the take The M/S Amigo Yacht to Galápago Island
Day 1. Arrival in Quito – Transfer to the hotel
Upon arrival at the airport of Quito, the Capital of Ecuador, a host will meet and transfer you to the Hotel Rio Amazonas, or similar.
San Francisco de Quito is the original name of the city, better known as Quito. A place of great natural beauty, Quito is about 15 miles south of equator, 2 miles above sea level. It is the second highest capital in South America, located in the northern highlands area of Ecuador in the banks of Guayllabamba River. The city offer great views of the Pichincha volcanoes some of them snow-capped.
Day 2. Quito – City tour & Middle of the World day tour
Breakfast at your hotel.Half day City Tour Middle of the World.After an early morning breakfast, the tour will depart towards the city center of downtown Quito, or Centro Histórico, to visit the colonial temples and monasteries which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. We will start with a panoramic view of Alameda Park and the Basilica, followed by a walk down the street of the Seven Crosses. The trip will continue with a walking tour, starting at Independence Square. flanked by the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Municipal Building and Archbishop’s Palace. From here, we will visit the main cathedral, the gold-plated La Compañía Church and the great church and Monastery of San Francisco with the Virgin of Quito at its main altar. Around midday the tour will head north to the equator for a trip to the monument at the Middle of the World, where you may choose to visit either the Ethnographic or the Inti Ñan Museums, both located near the site of the monument. After seeing these incredible sites, the tour will head back to Quito, where you will return to your hotel. Pick up time: 9: 00am Duration: 8 hours (B)
Day 3. Wed.Otavalo Country Tour & Market – Otavalo Indigenous Market
Breakfast at your hotel,Otavalo full day city tour. This morning you will leave Quito with your tour guide, heading to Otavalo, the town famous for its weekly artesian market. On route on the Panamerican Highway we will stop at Calderon, a town where the famous masapan dolls are made, continuing on through Guayllabamba town where you can sample its typical fruit the cherimoyer. We will also stop on the highway to admire the beautiful landscape and snow-capped mountains in the area. We continue on, making a short stop at San Pablo Lake before arriving in Otavalo. Here we will visit the textile market located at the “Plaza of Ponchos”; this is one of the most famous markets in South America. You will find all kinds of handcrafts including tapestries made on the Spanish weaving loom as well as the indigenous backstrap loom. After which you will enjoy some free time for bargaining and buying with the friendly Otavaleños. Then, proceed to Peguche, an Indian village very near Otavalo that is home to the artisans who do the weaving in their homes. In this same place, we will have the chance to enjoy the nature surrounding this village, and visit the sacred Peguche Waterfall. After a full day spent in Otavalo we will have lunch and then will return to Quito late afternoon/ early evening and you will be taken to your hotel. Duration: 8 1/2 hours (B,L)
Day 4. Quito-Galapagos – M/Y Amigo
TRANSFER AIRPORT
Breakfast at your hotel.Transfer to the airport . After an early breakfast, you will be met by your guide and transferred to Quito Airport in time to catch your flight to the Galapagos Islands.FLIGHT TO GALÁPAGOS4D/3N AMIGO YACHT (TOURIST CLASS)
Arrive Baltra – Black Turtle Cove (Panga Ride)
Upon arrival you will be met by your naturalist guide and transferred to the Amigo Yacht in order to start your 4-day cruise. You will board and set sail. After lunch the panga will take you to the Black Turtle Cove into a tidal lagoon to see three kinds of mangrove plants, red, white and black. White-tipped sharks, spotted rays, mustard rays and Pacific marine turtles frequent the waters here.
(B,L,D)
Day 5. Galapagos – M/Y Amigo Bartolome Island – Sullivan Bay
Breakfast, Today you will visit Bartolome Island and have the opportunity to climb up to a peak of a carbon cone 109 meters (359 feet) high and experience one of the most beautiful views of all the surrounding islands. The ascent takes about half an hour. The trail is not difficult as there are steps that will help make our climb easy. Take a walk through moonscape-like landscapes overgrown with “Tiquilia”, the island’s vegetation. After lunch you will go to Sullivan Bay. This part of the island is mainly covered with lava. The black lava is about 100 years old and full of gas bubbles. If we look closely, we can see parts of trees that were vaporized by the lava. The only plants that grow on this part of the island are tiny carpetweed herbs and the rare lava cactus. We will be able to walk over an extensive lava field formed by twentieth century volcanic eruptions. We may be able to see lava lizards. Sullivan Bay is also a perfect spot for snorkeling and swimming, we might even swim together with Galapagos penguins.
(B,L,D)
Day 6. SAT. Galapagos – M/Y AMIGO Chinese Hat / Dragon Hill Sombrero Chino – Cerro Dragon
Breakfast, In the morning visit Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat), a little island shaped as its name implies which sits off the southeastern tip of James Island. Its small white beaches have a sea lion colony. Snorkeling is usually very good, and with luck you might see the Galapagos penguins in the water. Later, visit Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill). Located on the northwest coast of Santa Cruz Island, this visit will take you through Palo Santo trees and Opuntia cactus past a couple of lagoons where flamingoes can be seen and the shy land iguana live.(B,L,D)
Day 7. Galapagos – Quito Santa Cruz Highlands, Baltra.
Breakfast at the cruise, disembark and transfer to the Baltra airport for flight to Quito. At your arrival I Quito you will be transferred to the selected hotel. (B)
Day 8. Quito – Miami: Transfer to the airport for flight to Miami
Breakfast at your hotel check out (before 12 noon), and transfer Quito Airport in time for your international flight back home.
Quito
- Round trip transfers
- 5 days 4 nights at selected hotel with private room
- Daily breakfast
- City tour & Middle of the World day tour
- Full day Otavalo Country tour & Market
- Professional bilingual tour guides.
Galapagos Cruise:
- Round trip transfers
- All inclusive 4 days 3 nights Amigo Yacht (tourist class, lower deck – upgrade
- available for an additional cost).
- Daily excursions to the islands with a naturalist bilingual guide
- Transfers to/from the Islands from/to the boat
- Airline ticket from Quito/Galapagos/Quito (subject to change)
Suggest arrival day in Quito Mondays or Wednesdays
Cruise Itinerary
- 4D/3N Cruise (Thursday – Sunday)
- Thursday Arrive Baltra – Black Turtle Cove (Panga Ride)
- Friday Bartolomé – Island – Sullivan Bay
- Saturday Chinese Hat / Dragon Hill
- Sunday Santa Cruz Highlands/ Transfer to the airport Baltra.
