INCA - International Nature & Cultural Adventures
HomeWhat's NewAbout INCAWhy INCA?Our AdventuresPrivate AdventuresVideo GalleryImage Gallery
AlaskaAntarcticaBaja-Sea of CortezGalapagos IslandsPatagoniaPeruTurkeyIntegrity
Avenue of Volcanoes, north of Quito. Photo Nicole Churchill

Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Yachts

Islands You May Visit

Map of Galapagos

Galapagos Video Library
Visit the Galapagos via our many videos!

Galapagos News!
News from and about Galapagos and INCA

Galapagos Adventures

Origins of Species
11 Days

Royal Galapagos
12 Days

Galapagos with
Dr. Linda Cayot

11 Days

Galapagos and Ecuador Adventures

Galapagos with
Amazon Jungle

17 Days

Galapagos and
Ecuadorian Countryside

14 Days

Galapagos and Peru Adventures

Peru and Galapagos
20 Days

Machu Picchu and the Galapagos
16 Days

Galapagos and Ecuador Weather

Image Gallery

Contact Us

 

Galapagos with
Ecuadorian Countryside

14-day adventure

Galapagos and the Avenue of Volcanoes. A cultural adventure that includes a 3-day/2-night exploration of the verdant countryside north of Quito plus an 11-day Galapagos adventure! Visit indigenous villages, artisans and markets. Luxuriate for two nights in an elegant suite at the Relais et Chateaux La Mirage Garden Hotel and Spa, known for fine dining, a lovely spa and excellent service.

The lush region north of Quito is dotted with farms growing thousands of exquisite roses for daily shipment to the USA. Here, among ancient highland villages, including Otavalo, you can observe indigenous life that is little changed for centuries. We stroll the Otavalo marketplace and visit local artisans known for their weaving, woodcarving and leather work.

La Mirage, our ultimate destination, is set in a five-acre herb and flower garden at the base of Volcan Cotacachi just north of Otavalo. On the grounds of a 200-year old hacienda, it was designed, built and tastefully appointed by the owners, Michel Durer and Jorge Espinoza, who personally attend to every detail. In 1997 La Mirage was awarded the coveted Relais et Chateaux status, the only one granted in Ecuador. Excellent cuisine and exceptional service are well-appreciated highlights.

Each of the 23 large exquisitely furnished rooms and suites is unique. Thanks to a bit of architectural wizardry, and lavish landscaping, each of the twenty three unique rooms and suites - no two alike - is laid out so that you gaze at the gardens.

The La Mirage team takes great effort to grow, raise or procure the highest quality ingredients for the kitchen to achieve an unparalleled level of dining in highland villages. Each night of your stay includes a four-course a la carte dinner of local and international specialties.

 

 

Dining in the Garden Room at La Mirage Hotel & Spa. Photo Nicole Churchill

Top: Avenue of Volcanoes, north of Quito, where most of the world's long-stem roses are grown in the rich volcanic topsoil. (Nicole Churchill)
Above: Dining in the Garden Room at La Mirage Hotel & Spa. (Nicole Churchill)

 

Highlights

Exploration of the Avenue of Volcanoes with overnights at La Mirage

La Mirage Suite upgrade La Mirage Video Tour

Walking tours of Colonial Quito and Otavalo market Otavalo Market Video Tour

8 Day/7-night Galapagos Islands cruise aboard the yacht Integrity or Reina Silvia


Itinerary Summary

Day 1

Arrive in Quito, Ecuador

Day 2-4

In the countryside, visiting highland villages, including Otavalo, and staying in Suite room at La Mirage.

Day 5

Fly to Galápagos Islands. Visit Santa Cruz Island Highlands. Overnight at The Royal Palm Resort (Integrity) or in Puerto Ayora (Reina Silvia).

Day 6

Visit Charles Darwin Research Station. Tour Academy Bay. Board our yacht at dinnertime.

Day 7-12

Live aboard the yacht and spend as much time exploring the islands as park rules permit. Each night we travel on to the next island.

Day 13

We have breakfast on board our yacht, then disembark and fly back to Quito for dinner and overnight.

Day 14

Depart for home, or on to other adventures.

For a deeper look into this adventure, please see the Detailed Itinerary.

Departures • Galapagos with Ecuadorian Countryside

choose your yacht and then your trip date; trip prices follow

2012
Integrity

Jan 2 - Jan 15

Jan 9 - Jan 22

Jan 16 - Jan 29

Jan 23 - Feb 5

Jan 30 - Feb 12

Feb 6 - Feb 19

Feb 13 - Feb 26

Feb 20 - Mar 4

Feb 27 - Mar 11

Mar 5 - Mar 18

Mar 12 - Mar 25

Mar 19 - Apr 1

Mar 26- Apr 8

Apr 2 - Apr 15

Apr 9 - Apr 22

Apr 16 - Apr 29

Apr 23 - May 6

Apr 30 - May 13

May 7 - May 20

May 14 - May 27

May 21 - Jun 3

May 28- Jun 10

Jun 4 - Jun 17

Jun 11 - Jun 24

Jun 18 - Jul 1

Jun 25- Jul 8

Jul 2 - Jul 15

Jul 9 - Jul 22

Jul 16 - Jul 29

Jul 23 - Aug 5

Jul 30 - Aug 12

Aug 6 - Aug 19

Aug 13 - Aug 26

Aug 20 - Sep 2

Sep 24 - Oct 7

Oct 1 - Oct 14

Oct 8 - Oct 21

Oct 15 - Oct 28

Oct 22 - Nov 4

Oct 29 - Nov 11

Nov 5 - Nov 18

Nov 12 - Nov 25

Nov 19 - Dec 2

Nov 26 - Dec 9

Dec 3 - Dec 16

Dec 10 - Dec 23

Dec 17 -Dec 30 Ω

Dec 24 - Jan 6 Ω

2012
Reina Silvia

Jan 2 - Jan 15

Jan 23 - Feb 5

Feb 20 - Mar 4

Mar 12 - Mar 25

Apr 2 - Apr 15

Apr 30 - May 13

Jun 18 - Jul 1

Jul 9 - Jul 22

Jul 30 - Aug 12

Dec 24 - Jan 6 Ω

Prices & Supplements • Galapagos with Ecuadorian Countryside

2012

Integrity:

$7095

$7495

Ω $7895

Reina Silvia:

$6295 double, $5095 triple

$6695 double, $5495 triple

Ω $7095 double, $5895 triple

Suites

Integrity

Owner’s Suite:

$1800 per person

Reina Silvia

Main Deck Suite: $500 per person

Upper Deck Suite: $700 per person

Single

Land Single Supplement: $850

Integrity Single Stateroom Supplement: $1800

Inquire for Reina Silvia or other Integrity yacht Single Staterooms

Triple option

The Reina Silvia has the option for a triple stateroom upon request. The triple price is for three people sharing a stateroom, and will apply only when there are three guests in the stateroom. Otherwise, the stateroom will be considered a double.

Small Group

A Small Group Supplement applies if there are fewer than four travelers on your trip.

Fuel Surcharge

On April 15, 2011, the Ecuadorian Government decreed, without warning and effective immediately, a 30% increase in the price of fuel for all yachts and ships in the Galápagos Islands.

After fruitless protestations and appeals, the yacht owner has reluctantly imposed a per person Fuel Surcharge of $175 on the Reina Silvia and $200 on the Integrity, effective for all departures after July 1, 2011.

This applies to all travelers including those already booked.

Notes • Galapagos with Ecuadorian Countryside

Included

Roundtrip airport transfers as specified in itinerary, all yacht and hotel accommodations (double occupancy, unless Single purchased) as specified in itinerary; all meals while on yacht and as specified in itinerary; all non-alcoholic beverages and all draft beer (Integrity only) while on yacht; all guides, activities, tours and sightseeing arrangements as specified in itinerary; use of kayaks and snorkel equipment while on yacht as specified in itinerary.

Not Included

Not included are any airfare, airport taxes and fees; Galapagos National Park Fee; Galápagos yacht Fuel Surcharge; tips for yacht crews, guides or naturalists (at your discretion); wetsuits; excess baggage charges, or other items of a personal nature.

Price also excludes any insurance coverage for trip cancellation-interruption, travel accident, travel delay, baggage delay or baggage theft (we recommend you obtain coverage for these items), medical or hospitalization expenses.