Ecuador and The Galapagos
Ecuador
Recommended program for small groups and individuals
pricing subject to number of persons, seasonality and availability
Featuring: M/V Santa Cruz
DAY 01, Sunday, Leave hometown.
Departure from the Chicago on American flight connecting to Guayaquil. You will be
met on arrival and transferred to the Oro Verde Hotel. (Dinner served on board)
Day 02, Monday, Galapagos
After breakfast you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island where you
will board M/V Santa Cruz. You sail immediately for North Seymor Island. (B/L/D)
Day 03, Tuesday, Galapagos
After breakfast mornign visit to Bartolome Island. In the aftrnoon you will visit Puerto
Egas, James Island. (B/L/D)
Day 04, Wednesday, Galapagos
After breakfast you will enjoy a full day at Tower Island, including visit to Darwin Bay's main seabird colonies plus Prine Phillip's Steps. (B/L/D)
Day 05, Thursday, Galapagos - Baltra Island - Quito
After breakfast, disembarkation at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoises. Then, transfer overland via the highlands of Santa Cruz Ilsand to Baltra Island for the return flight to the continent.
On arrival at Quito you will immediately embark on a 3 hour city tour, including the broad avenues of the northern residential section. See the commanding Legislative Palace, whose stone murals record Ecuador's history, and the sala Capitular,at San Agustin's Convent. Continue to Independence plaza, the town's colonial center, bordered by the Cathedral, Government palace and Archbishop's Palace. Visit La Compania Church, with its ornate facade and breathtaking golden altars. Also visit San Francisco Church, one of the first great religious buildings in the New World, which houses the 17th century work of the famous Indian artist Caspicara. Overnight at the Oro Verde Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 06, Friday, Quito
After breakfast, you will begin your Equatorial Monument Tour "Mitad del Mundo". This is a 3 hour tour offering you an opportunity to be in two places at once. Straddle the line and you are both in the Northern and southern Hemispheres, or stand directly on the Equator and you are nowhere at latitude 0. The Equatorial monument marks the spot where an 18th century French scientific expedition established the exact position of the equator. Visit the monument and its ethnographic museum. Visitors are rewarded with a certificate for having crossed the Equator. You return to Quito for lunch and the afternoon on your own. There will be a group dinner planned, to be advised. Overnight at the Oro Verde Hotel. (B/D)
Day 07, Saturday, Quito - Riobamba
Early morning you depart for Latacunga. You will stop for breakfast at a colonial Hacienda. Visit the market of Latacunga which is open Saturdays, continue along the Avenue of the Volcanoes towards Banos, the gateway to the Amazon Jungle. Lunch at one of the hotels and briefly visit Banos. Then on to Riobamba for a short tour of the city. Dinner and overnight at Hotels El Troje, Abraspungo or similar. (B/L/D)
DAY 08, Sunday, Riobamba - Chanchan - Bucay
After an early breakfast, transfer to the train station to board the Autoferro or the train for a scenic ride, continue to Alausi and then down the Devils Nose to Chanchan. Passengers will disembark at Chanchan to come back to Quito by car. Late lunch will be served in Riobamba. Arrival back to Quito at approximately 6:00pm and transfer to the Oro Verde Hotel, farewell dinner at the hotel. (B/L/D)
DAY 09, Monday, Quito - Home
After breakfast morning free and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Included in tour: Domestic air transportation from Guayaquil to Baltras Island to Quito, Cruise to Galapagos, all meals as indicated, tours, all transfers and hotel accommodations as indicated, taxes and baggage handling. Trains busses and cars, baggage handling and all taxes. Park entry fees on the Galapagos.
Not included: Air transportation from home town to Guayaquil - Quito to home town, although this can also be arranged upon request!
Phone and laundry charges, alcoholic beverages and matters of personal nature.