12 Day Ecuador and Galapagos Islands

Pricing listed on our site DOES NOT include air travel. Any reference to air travel below, is based on land only + airfare being additional. Due to the fluctuations in air pricing, and the fact that you can fly from all major U.S. airports, it is not possible to quote airfare in the dates & prices tab. Please contact one of our travel agents for land+air package pricing from your Gateway.

• Round trip flights Miami Quito
  Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices
• Airline taxes & fuel surcharges
• Intra flights
• 11 nights First Class accommodations
• 3 nights <, Quito
• 1 night <, Otavalo
• 1 night <, Papallacta
• 2 nights <, Punta Ahuano (Amazon)
• 1 night <, Patate
• 3 nights
• All transfers
• 24 Meals: 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
• Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air conditioned motor coach
• Services of English speaking tour manager throughout
• Services of English speaking local guides
• Entrance fees per itinerary
• Galapagos National Park Fee of $100
• Galapagos Transit Control Card fee of $10

Special Features

• Quito City Tour
• Excursion to the Middle of the World
• Otavalo Market
• Rainforest Excursions
• Cotopaxi National Park
• Galapagos Islands
• Charles Darwin Research Station

Day DAY 1: Depart the USA, Arrive in Quito
Depart the USA for Ecuador. Arrive in Quito and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure
Overnight: Quito&;

Day DAY 2: Quito City Tour & Visit to Middle of the World
In the morning meet with the tour manager for an orientation. The morning's tour of Quito begins with a view of the Congress Building, whose outside stone mural records Ecuador's history. Continue to Quito's colonial section to walk along the narrow cobblestone streets and feel the charm of 16th century Quito. See the Independence Plaza, the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, and the Archbishop's Palace before visiting La Compañia Church or the Church of San Francisco**. Afterward, see the Middle of the World Monument, located at a latitude of 0º, and stand with one foot in the Northern and one in the Southern Hemisphere. This afternoon, transfer by bus to Otavalo
**Please note that the itinerary may vary slightly based on local conditions and holidays, therefore La Compañia Church may be replaced with a visit to the Church of San Francisco
Overnight: Otavalo
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day DAY 3: Otavalo Market, Transfer to Papallacta
This morning, enjoy a tour of the market in Otavalo, one of the largest in South America and run by the local Otavaleño Indians. Here, enjoy the lively market atmosphere and browse the various stalls for traditional goods such as hand woven clothes and rugs, jewelry, fruits, vegetables and more. Then, visit the surrounding towns of Cotacachi, known for its leather handicrafts, and Peguche, known for its beautiful waterfall. This afternoon, transfer to Papallacta located in the Andes Mountains. The balance of the day is at leisure to explore Papallacta's spas and hot springs, for which it is famous
Optional: Termas de Papallacta Spa Package
Overnight: Papallacta
Meals: Breakfast

Day DAY 4: Transfer to Amazon Resort
After breakfast, transfer by bus to La Punta Ahuano on the Napo River where you will board a canoe that will take you to your Amazon lodge. Enjoy the serene tranquility that the lodge has to offer and prepare to be amazed by both the wildlife and the culture that the Amazon has to offer. In the afternoon, visit Ahuano to have the opportunity to meet a local Quechua family and learn about their way of life first hand before returning to the hotel
**Please note upon arrival the lodge is approximately a 20 minute walk uphill from where passengers will exit the canoe
Overnight: Amazon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day DAY 5: Full Day Amazon
This morning, you can hike to the Napo river for approximately two hours while enjoying the beautiful flora up close. The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest ecosystem, so be sure to keep an eye out for the innumerable species of fauna living in this region too. At the end of the hike, enjoy a rafting trip and learn how to make a traditional balsa log raft. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Consider a visit to the Amazonico Rescue Center, where you can view many different kinds of local wildlife, or to the Butterfly farm
Overnight: Amazon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day DAY 6: Baños & Patate
This morning, board a canoe for the short trip back to La Punta Ahuano and transfer to Patate via motor coach. En route, stop in the towns of Puyo, nicknamed "City of the Clouds, and Baños, noted for its thermal springs and beautiful highland scenery for a short tour of each. In Baños, you will be treated to a demonstration on vegetable ivory, a traditional craft that utilizes palm nuts to make jewelry and animal carvings. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to view El Pailon del Diablo or "The Devil's Cauldron", one of Ecuador's most beautiful waterfalls. In the late afternoon, check into your hotel in Patate. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure
Overnight: Patate
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day DAY 7: Cotopaxi National Park
Today enjoy a visit to Cotopaxi National Park, home to some of the highest altitude volcanoes in the world. Cotopaxi Volcano is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world and dominates the scene. The park is also home to a wide variety of local wildlife including wild horses and the elusive Andean Condor. Passengers have the opportunity to take an hour long hike around Limpiapungo Lake and take in the beautiful scenery of the surrounding plains and volcanoes, followed by a visit to the park's Interpretation Center. Following the excursion, continue to Quito, nestled high in the Andes Mountain
**Please note the hike length at Cotopaxi National Park is subject to weather conditions
Overnight: Quito
Meals: Breakfast

Day DAY 8: Afternoon on Santa Cruz Island
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands. Arrive at Baltra Island, and then cross the Itabaca Channel to the island of Santa Cruz. Via coach, travel to the Santa Cruz highlands to visit the Rancho Primicias reserve, where you will see the Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat. A stop will be made to view Los Gemelos (Spanish for "The Twins"), great depressions of sunken lava formed thousands of years ago. Afterwards, enjoy a box lunch en route to the Finch Bay Eco Hotel, where you will spend your next three nights. Balance of the day at leisure
Your Galapagos island itinerary is subject to change. Different islands and sites may be substituted
Overnight: Galapagos
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day DAY 9: Sail to North Seymour Island
Today enjoy a special boat route to North Seymour Island, a bird lover's paradise. On this small uplifted island, you can see basking land and marine iguanas as well as a vast variety of endemic tropical birds, including blue footed boobies, swallow tailed gulls, lava gulls, and the largest frigate bird colony in the Galapagos. The cliffs along the island's north side are home to a large colony of fur sea lions, many of which can be seen bodysurfing the curling waves. Balance of the day at leisure
Overnight: Galapagos
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day DAY 10: Sail to Plaza Island
After breakfast, travel by yacht to Plaza Island. Full of fascinating wildlife along the shores and rocky cliffs, this small island is home to Opuntia cacti and other types of vegetation which change colors with the seasons. Enjoy time at leisure on the island
Overnight: Galapagos
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day DAY 11: Visit Charles Darwin Research Station
Early morning departure to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, a specialized breeding and rearing center for the endangered Galapagos Giant Tortoise. The Darwin Station is a working branch of the international, non profit Charles Darwin Foundation which works to protect and maintain the Galapagos' precious ecosystems. Following your visit, transfer to the airport in Baltra for your flight to Quito. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure
Overnight: Quito
Meals: Breakfast

Day DAY 12: Depart for the USA
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/20/2012 - 6/1/2012	$2,699
6/3/2012 - 6/15/2012	$2,699
6/10/2012 - 6/22/2012	$2,799
6/17/2012 - 6/29/2012	$2,799
6/24/2012 - 7/6/2012	$2,749
7/8/2012 - 7/20/2012	$2,699
7/15/2012 - 7/27/2012	$2,699
7/22/2012 - 8/3/2012	$2,699
7/29/2012 - 8/10/2012	$2,699
8/19/2012 - 8/31/2012	$2,699
8/26/2012 - 9/7/2012	$2,699
9/2/2012 - 9/14/2012	$2,699
9/9/2012 - 9/21/2012	$2,699
9/16/2012 - 9/28/2012	$2,699
9/23/2012 - 10/5/2012	$2,699
10/7/2012 - 10/19/2012	$2,699
10/14/2012 - 10/26/2012	$2,699
10/21/2012 - 11/2/2012	$2,699
11/4/2012 - 11/16/2012	$2,699
11/18/2012 - 11/30/2012	$2,699
12/2/2012 - 12/14/2012	$2,749
12/16/2012 - 12/28/2012	$2,799
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Hotel Information:

Casa del Suizo
Cabanas del Lago
Termas de Papallacta
Hacienda Leito
Hacienda Manteles
Finch Bay Hotel
Hotel Quito

*Not Included:
Optional tours, and gratuities.

Additional Information:
Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers, but does include flights Quito Galapagos Quito.

Passport numbers for all passengers must be submitted before documents can be issued.

The Apr 8 and Nov 18 departures will be accommodated at the Hacienda Leito in Banos.

The route and program may vary according to weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety issues and wildlife migration patterns. Wildlife and visits listed in the itinerary are based upon optimal conditions and therefore subject to change.

Sturdy shoes are recommended for this program.

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