Galapagos and Ecuador tours

Puente Cuyabeno – Coyabeno Lodge

Public or private buses (trip the night before the tour – 10 hours) to PUENTE CUYABENO.

Canoe trip down the Cuyabeno River to our lodge.

Lunch.

Visit the Laguna Grande to swim and enjoy the sunset.

Dinner.

Exciting night walk.

Not Included: Breakfast $5

Hiking Day

Breakfast.

Morning: three-hour hike in the primary forest to learn about flora and fauna, especially to know about medicinal plants, frogs, insects, birds, etc.

Lunch at the camp.

Relax, in the afternoon paddle in a traditional canoe on the Lagoons or rivers to explore und enjoy the uniqueness of nature.

Where you can swim and enjoy the sunset. If conditions permit, you may be able to see pink dolphins.

Return to lodge.

Dinner.

Rowing Day

Breakfast.

Visit the community Siona Tarabeaya, where help them to the family to prepare to the typical food Casabe, your guide will explain you about the culture and traditions.

Lunch, visit the shaman, who will explain about ceremonies in the jungle, return to Lodge, Dinner, Night canoe expedition in search of caimans.

Not Included: Cuyabeno community contribution $10

Cuyabeno – Lago Agrio – Quito

Early morning bird watching.

Breakfast.

Navigating the Cuyabeno River back to El Puente.

Box Lunch.

Transfer to El Puente Cuyabeno.

Return to Quito by Public or Shuttle bus (11:00am)

Night accommodation in Quito GNL hostel

Not Included: Tourist Bus to return to Quito $30, Dinner $15 and Tip for the lodge in Cuyabeno (Recommendation tip $25 for the 4 days)

Cotopaxi

Note: The tour begins at 7:00 am, for the rest of the activities the time is approximate. And it could change while the tour is developing.

The tour begins. We are going to travel for approximately 1 and a half or 2 hours.

The first technical stop is going to be at the entrance of the National Park because we have to pay the entrance fee. Also, if you want, you might buy some handicrafts in the small market. The products that you will find are made by the people of the near communities. This is the last opportunity for having a pair of gloves and a cap of wool for being warm.

We are going to visit the Interpretation Center “Mariscal Sucre”. Inside it, we are going to have an explanation about different aspects of the National Park (history, animals, plants, others).

We are going to arrive at a big esplanade in the park. It is a good moment to take pictures and see the landscape.

We are going to be in the parking lot. We need to take the appropriate clothes and water for beginning to climb.
We are going to walk for approximately 40 minutes (it depends on your fitness)

We have deserved rest at the refuge (José Rivas). After a moment, the people who want to arrive until the glacier can go for a walk of 25 minutes more. And also if the weather conditions are good, you are going to have a beautiful view of the mountains and the landscapes. After that, we return to the refuge, for having lunch. It is an excellent moment, for sharing experiences with friends, while you are drinking a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

We continued our tour, now we have to come back to the parking lot, and take the bikes to go downhill until the Limpiopungo Lake.

We are in the parking lot. Take the bikes and enjoy the trip. It could be for 40 minutes (it depends on your ability).

Arrive at the Limpiopungo Lake. We have a moment for resting and walking. After that, transfer to Hotel to rest, It can be in Casa Sakiwa, or GNL hostel

Not Included: Cotopaxi Tour $65 (included lunch), Dinner $15,Tips recommendation $5

Tour to Quilotoa Lake

The tour begins.

We have the first technical bus stop, on Saquisilí town. There, you are going to visit the different popular markets of the town.
At the first market, people of the community go there, for selling animals, such as: “Llamas”, pigs, cows, sheep, and lambs.

In the second market you are going to observe how the people sell their small animals, like chicken, “cuy” (guinea pig), rabbits. Also, you might observe the different kinds of products for consumers of themselves. There, you might observe products, for example onion, potatoes, tomato, green/red pepper, “mellocos”, and others. Also, you can see different products in the section of the “mercado de pulgas”, where you can find products of second use, with good prices.

On the third market, you are going to find three sections:
First: handicrafts products artisanal, like: clothes made with wool,
Second: That is the section on food, you are going to see different kinds of typical food in the zone.
Third: you are going to see, products like grains, and flour of different kinds of grains, among others.

Afterward there is the departure to the “Las Cruces” Community; we are going to be there in approximately 1 hour. You might observe their typical clothes and also you can take a look inside their houses. But the most important thing, is that you are going to be with them in a typical indigenous house made of straw. Sharing with them a few moments talking, watching, and learning from them, how their life is, and how they prepare the earth for to sow.

If you want to experiment another kind of tourism. It is your opportunity.
We will go to Quilotoa Lake. We are going to pass the zumbahua community, and finally, we are going to arrive to the Quilotoa community before we go to the lake. We are going to have lunch. (You might choose one of the three options: llama, chicken, or vegetarian food).

Now we continue with traveling, the time for arriving at the lake is approximately 50 minutes (It depends of your fitness). At the begging of the down, you are going to have a wonderful view of the lake with a turquoise color. It´s a good moment for taking pictures, after that, we continue following the pad.

When you arrive at the bottom you are going to have moments for walking, near to the water. Also, you are going to smell the minerals that are mixed with the water. If you want, you might rent to the people of the community some small boats for navigating in the lake.

We need to continue with our trip, but now we are going to the top, in mules or donkeys. The time for doing it is approximately 40 min. When you arrive to the top, you might buy some handicrafts at the artisanal market of the community. Night accommodation in GNL hostel

Not Included: Quilotoa tour $65 (Including lunch), Dinner $15, Tips recommendation $5

Bartolome Island or North Seymour

• Pick up from your hotel in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.
• Departure Time from  06:00 to 07:00
• Transfer from Puerto Ayora to Itabaca Channel. (45 minutes)
• Sailing time from Itabaca Channel to Bartolome Island. (2 hours)
• Arrival to Bartolome Island at 08:45 am approximately 2 hours of hiking of Bartolome Island.
• Lunch
• Snorkeling in Sullivan Bay
• Return to Santa Cruz at 14:15 pm
• Arrival in Santa Cruz  at 17:pm approximately
• Transfer to your Hotel
• Briefing for next-day activities

Details

• Animals to see: Sharks, sea lions, reef fish, sea turtles, and penguins.
• Activities: Hiking and Snorkeling.
• What do you bring: Sunscream, Repellent, Ligth clothing, binoculars, camera, and swimsuit.
• Include: Breakfast, a Professional bilingual guide, Transport, Lunch, Snacks, Water, Hotel Accommodation, and Snorkeling equipment.
• Not Included: Dinner $15, Tips $8, Wetsuit, and Additional Expenses.

Notes:

• We can´t guarantee that you will see all the animals since they are in wildlife.

Galapagos – Quito

Santa Cruz Island

It is time to say GOODBYE GALAPAGOS, after Breakfast, our driver is ready to transfer to Baltra airport again for your flight back, we have a short time to take the last photo of the Galapagos island in Twin craters

• Breakfast
• Pick up from your Hotel in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.
• Transfer to Twin Craters in Santa Cruz.
• Visit to Twin Craters
• Transfer from Santa Cruz to Baltra Airport
• Return Flight.
• transfer to hotel
• Quito night GNL hotel  or similar

Places to Visit:

• Twin Craters: The Twin Craters are, in fact, not craters. These impressive holes were formed by magma (lava) domes which hardened on the outside but continued to flow on the inside, leaving huge but empty chambers that collapsed with the passing of time, creating this breathtaking scenery that resembles two pit crates. The Twins are located in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and are surrounded by lush and green forests, dominated by the endemic Scalesia plants. It is possible to walk along the rim of the craters to better appreciate the magnitude of the holes as well as the local flora and fauna. This site is also one of the most likely places to observe the endemic short-ear owl of the Galapagos.

Details:

• Activities: Trekking

• What do you bring: Sunscream, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, Camera.

• Include: Breakfast, Transport.

• Not Included: Lobbito Buss $5, Guide, Dinner, Lunch, Tips $5, and Additional Expenses.

Notes:

• We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.
• This day is not included Guide, just driver.

City Line

Pick Up 8:00 am, visit the Historical Centre of the City where the following attractions will be visited; La Basilica Church here we will go up to the towers of the Church where sight of colonial and modern Quito.

The next stop will be Plaza de La Independencia (independence square) where you will find Carondelet Palace, Cathedral Church, Municipal Palace, and Archiepiscopal Palace. Continuing with the route we will go the street of the seven crosses towards the Company Church, known as the Church of gold.

The next point is San Francisco Church, where adornments and gold altars can be appreciated. After that, we will visit El Panecillo, The Panecillo Virgin overlooks the city from atop a hill, providing breathtaking views of Quito’s skyline.

We will continue to the northern part of the city heading up to the “Middle of the World” where the monument that divides the Northern from the Southern Hemisphere will be observed. It was built during the XVII century when a French Expedition defined the precise location of the equatorial line.

Visit Pululahua volcano, it is one of the few craters in the world where people live; a magical environment is a natural sanctuary for an important floral and faunal community, where a small population has also found fertile and for agriculture. In the end, visit either to Intiñan museum where we will learn in a fun way that we find ourselves in the middle of the world.

Night Accommodation in GNL hostel

Not included: Museums in Quito and Chuches $15, Lunch $15, Dinner $15, Tips recommendation $5

Goodbye

After Breakfast,  It is time to say Goodbye

Not included: transfer out