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Home > Galapagos Islands > Galapagos Adventures >
Galapagos with
Ecuadorian Countryside
14-day adventure
Detailed, day-by-day itinerary for this adventure!
Accommodations are noted, and meals are coded as B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
Top: Otavalo lady having a shy chuckle in the marketplace (Bill Adams). Below: The verdant slopes of Cerro Imbabura of the "Avenue of Volcanoes", Ecuador (Nicole Churchill)
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Day 1 |
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador — Video Tour of Hilton Colón |
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Fly from your home city to Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the Hilton Colón Quito hotel with check-in to your Club Floor accommodations.
Hilton Colón Quito |
Days 2-4 |
Avenue of Volcanoes, Otavalo, La Mirage — Video Tours |
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With private car, driver and guide, you head into the Ecuadorian Countryside for a three-day taste of Andean life and native culture. This verdant region is dotted with farms growing thousands of exquisite roses for daily shipment to the USA. Here, among ancient highland villages, you can observe Indian life that is little changed for centuries and visit local artisans known for their weaving, woodcarving and leather work. We will visit the famous Otavalo Market, one of the grandest native markets in all South America.
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. It was designed, built and tastefully appointed by the owners, Michel Durer and Jorge Espinoza, who personally attend to every detail. Excellent cuisine and exceptional service are well-appreciated highlights. In 1996 La Mirage was awarded the coveted Relais et Chateaux status, the only one in Ecuador. In the afternoon of Day 4 you make your way back through the countryside to Quito for dinner on your own and an overnight at Hilton Colón Quito.
La Mirage, BLD; Hilton Colón Quito, BL |
Day 5 |
To the Galapagos—Santa Cruz Island |
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Transfer to the airport for an early morning flight to Baltra, Galapagos. While our luggage is being collected, we enjoy refreshments in the air conditioned VIP airport lounge. We transfer to the Island of Santa Cruz where we travel with our naturalist in a spacious air conditioned vehicle up into the highland rainforest.
We'll have lunch then explore the Santa Cruz highlands to view endemic Galapagos plant species and visit lava tubes and sinkholes. We'll hike through tall grasses among the grazing tortoises.
Integrity groups will overnight at the Royal Palm Resort; Reina Silvia groups will overnight in Puerto Ayora.
Royal Palm Resort or Puerto Ayora hotel, BLD |
Day 6 |
Puerto Ayora, Darwin Station, board our yacht |
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We stroll through the town of Puerto Ayora to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we learn about conservation issues and the tortoise and iguana hatching and rearing programs. We'll even get to view some of the tiny hatchlings. We may catch a glimpse of Lonesome George—the sole survivor of the Pinta tortoise subspecies. Afterwards we lunch at a waterside restaurant overlooking Academy Bay. We board Integrity or Reina Silvia mid to late afternoon in Academy Bay.
Integrity or Reina Silvia, BLD
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Days 7-12 |
On the Boat—Snoozin', Cruisin' and Snorkelin' |
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We live aboard our spacious yacht for a week, spending as much time ashore as the Park rules permit. With our licensed, INCA selected Class III naturalist, we learn about the birds and animals, geology, marine life and oceanic systems of the Galapagos Islands. We swim and snorkel with tropical fish, sea lions and sometimes with penguins!
Integrity or Reina Silvia, BLD |
Day 13 |
Galapagos, Quito |
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From our anchorage in the Baltra harbor, we say "adios" to our yacht and its dedicated crew, and adjourn to the Baltra airport to await our mid-morning flight to the Ecuador mainland and Quito. On arrival, we transfer to the Hilton Colón Quito hotel for an overnight. You will have time to shop before dinner.
Hilton Colón Quito, BD |
Day 14 |
Quito to home or other adventures |
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Transfer to the airport with check-in to your homeward bound flight unless you are remaining for more adventures. |
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