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Ecuador & Galapagos Spring 2012 |
La Única in Ecuador: Exploration Quito & the Galapagos April 11 - 23 2012
Day 1 Wednesday, April 11th: International flight to Quito, Ecuador
Van transfer from airport to hotel. Check in and relax.
Day 2 Thursday, April 12th: Quito City Tour & Evening Cuisine
The day starts with a guided visit to the colonial old part of Quito, which was declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1978 due to its many historical architectural monuments. You will get to experience the new section of the city in the North with its many parks and tall modern buildings and the Avenida Rio Amazonas as well as the Plazas Santo Domingo, Independencia and San Francisco which are in the colonial section in the south of the city. From the view point "Panecillo" in the south of the old part of town, where the 43m high monument of the Virgen of Quito stands, you have an impressive prospect of Quito. From here you have wonderful views over the red clay tile roves of the old part of town, the skyline of Quito in the north, as well as the surrounding Andean cordilleras range with its outstanding snow-covered mountain giants. Later in the evening you will have some fine Ecuadorian cuisine at the beautiful and elegant "El Ventanal" restaurant that is located at the foot of the volcano Pichincha with an amazing view over the historical center ( B/-/D )
Day 3 Friday, April 13th: Chocolate & Coffee Tasting & Free Day
Get the morning started with an Ecuadorian gourmet chocolate & coffee tasting event. The rest of the day is yours to explore the many wonders of Quito or to take a day excursion. You will be provided with many suggestions of what you can do on this day such as a trip to one of Ecuador's most famous town
"La Mitad del Mundo" where the equator line, separating the northern and southern hemisphere of the earth passes and is marked bright yellow line shows where north meets south. In 1736 Charles-Marie de La Condamine made the measurements there showing that this was indeed the equatorial line. His expedition's measurements gave rise to the metric system and proved that the world is not perfectly round, but that it bulges at the equator.
(B/-/- )
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Day 4 Saturday, April 14th: Galapagos Islands: Quito - Baltra - Isabela
Transfer to airport for am flight. Arrival in Baltra on the Island of Santa Cruise. Your guide welcomes you and you transfer to Santa Cruz. Lunch in Santa Cruz before the lancha (speed boat) trip to the gorgeous island Isabela. Take a beautiful evening visit to a nearby lagoon and see flamingos in their natural habitat. Enjoy the sunset on the beach - only a few minute walk from the hotel.
(B/L/- )
Day 5 Sunday, April 15th: Galapagos Islands: Isabela: Sierra Negra, Campo Duro, Tintorera, Snorkeling Today you'll explore the highlands of Isabela. Take a 45 minute (moderate-level) hike to Sierra Negra Crater and Chico volcano. Sierra Negra has the second largest active crater of the world and lava sceneries are
impressive. Lunch will be served in a local finca which is also a giant tortoise refuge.
Back to port in the afternoon, rest of the day free to enjoy the beautiful beach with snorkeling.(B/L/- )
Day 7 Tuesday, April 17th: Santa Cruz: Twin Craters, Lava Tunnels & Charles Darwin Station
Breakfast and then transfer by speed boat to Santa Cruz. Check in to hotel and then visit the Santa Cruz highlands that is a contrast to the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. You will first explore the "Los Gemelos" craters which is the only place on the island where find a Scalesia forest (an endemic plant to the area), and observe several finch species as well as the beautiful sorcerer bird. Then you will visit the famed naturally-formed lava tunnels, a fun and geologically informative visit. A hike through the highlands brings you through the homeland of the local giant tortoises that live most of the year in the green highlands. Next you will have an outdoor lunch in the finca "Primicias" and then back to Santa Puerto Ayora to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station encompasses an information centre, a museum, a library and a tortoise breeding station. Here you will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of the Galápagos. Park rangers and park managers among others, who make huge efforts to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site, conduct the conservation of the islands. In the tortoise breeding and rearing centre you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies, which are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this station is Lonesome George who is the only survivor of his specific turtle species. (B/L/-)
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Day 8 Wednesday, April 18th: Santa Cruz: Seymour y Bachas
Today you will visit North Seymour off the north coast of Santa Cruz. It is a
low, flat island, formed as a result of a submarine lava formation uplift. Covered with low, bushy vegetation, it contains the largest colony of magnificent frigate birds in the Galapagos. There is also a large population of blue-footed boobies that perform an amusing courtship dance when nesting conditions are right. (B/L/- )
Day 9 Thursday, April 19th: Santa Cruz: Tortuga Bay & Free Day Spend the morning (or the entire day) on the stunning "Tortuga Bay" beach - one of the largest beaches in the Galapagos with truly impressive white sand. It is an excellent place for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing or simply walking. The marine iguanas, tintorera sharks (harmless) and sea turtles can be seen along a small trail suitable for visitors. You can also see many migratory birds & sea lions while walking along the coast. The rest of the day is free. You will be provide with suggestions of many activities that you can select from - including
(B/-/- ) | |
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Day 10 Friday, April 20th: Galapagos - Quito - Otavalo
After breakfast you will be transferred to Baltra airport to take the flight to Quito. In Quito you will be transported to Otavalo. Check in to a beautiful 150 year-old hacienda, with towering palm trees and garden cottages with roaring log fires, and is tucked in a lush mountain valley. Tile-topped earthen walls contain an ever-blooming perennial garden with hibiscus, bougainvillea, orchids, cholan, eucalyptus, avocado, black-current, etc., which attract a profusion of birds including hummingbirds, & vermilion fly-catchers. Free evening to relax and explore around the hacienda. (B/-/-D) |
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Day 11 Saturday, April 21st: Otavalo Market & Peguche
Today you take a trip to the Indio market of Otavalo, which is famous for its collection of richly colored textiles. After exploring the extensive market quarters for arts and crafts and all kinds of souvenirs you eat in a typical restaurant in Otavalo at midday. Additionally you will make a short stop at a beautiful sea-district, which is the homeland of the Otavaleños. Then the visit to the stunning Peguche waterfall that is formed by the river of the same name, which starts at Lake San Pablo. (B/L/- )
Day 12 Sunday, April 22nd: Otavalo - Quito
Check out of the hacienda. During this morning you visit the Cuicocha Lake, which is in an extinct volcano that rise high above the town of Cotacachi, famous for its leatherwork. Then you will turn back to Quito in the afternoon. Check back into hotel in Quito. Last evening out with the group. (B/-/-)
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Day 13 Monday, April 23rd: International flight from Quito to Seattle
Early morning check-out and transfer to Quito airport to take the international flight back to Seattle. (B/-/-)
B= breakfast; L= Lunch; D= Dinner
Total Price: $3745
Included in the price :
International round trip air fare (Seattle - Quito), domestic round trip airfares (Quito-Galapagos), all transfers in private transportation, excursions and overland tours as mentioned above, hotel accommodation based on double occupancy, all breakfasts, 5 group lunches and 2 group dinners, national park entrance fees (Galapagos excluded), bilingual guide, boat transports, boat for snorkeling & site-seeing excursions (Isabela & Seymour), three informational potluck gatherings with the group.
Not included in the price:
Galapagos National Park fee ( USD 100), migration card (USD 10), international airport tax from Quito (USD 49), beverages, meals not mentioned, personal items, tips and travel insurance.
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