12 Day Ecuador and Galapagos Islands

11 nights First Class accommodations

3 nights Hilton Colon, Quito

1 night Abraspungo Hotel, Riobamba

2 nights El Dorado Hotel, Cuenca

1 night Hampton Inn, Guayaquil

4 nights Finch Bay Eco Hotel, Galapagos Islands

All transfers

21 meals: 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners

Sightseeing per itinerary in a modern air-conditioned motor coach.

Services of English-speaking tour manager Days 1 - 6

Entrance fees per itinerary

Shore Excursions

DAY 1, Thursday - Depart the USA/Quito
Depart the USA for Ecuador. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment. Arrive in Quito and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure Overnight: Quito

DAY 2, Friday - Quito City Tour
This 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 and the Church of San Francisco. Afterward, see the Ecuadorian landscape from atop El Panecillo Hill. Balance of the day at leisure Optional: Middle of the World (PM) Overnight: Quito Meals: Breakfast

DAY 3, Saturday - Riobamba City Tour
This morning, depart for the town of Salasaca via the Pan-American Highway. Also known as the "Avenue of the Volcanoes," the highway spans the valley between the Cordillera ranges and features 11 snowy peaks. As you arrive in the colorful town of Salasaca, enjoy a panoramic tour of the town before a visit to a local handicraft workshop. After lunch in Ambato, visit La Quinta de Juan Leon Mera with its Botanical Gardens before continuing to Riobamba, capital of the Chimborazo province. Your tour of the area includes a visit to the quaint town of Guano, famous for its handmade rugs Overnight: Riobamba Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4, Sunday - Visit the Inca Ruins of Ingapirca
Today, depart for the ancient Inca ruins of Ingapirca, a northernmost fortress-temple whose massive fortifications are believed to have served as a religious and administrative complex. After lunch nearby, continue to the city of Cuenca, located in the Sierra highlands. Balance of the day at leisure Overnight: Cuenca Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 5, Monday - Cuenca City Tour
Enjoy a morning tour of Cuenca. Walk along the main plaza, Calderon Park, whose pink marbled construction and colorful stained-glass windows will take your breath away. See the flower market outside the El Carmen Church. The Tomebamba River winds in and out of the city's center as old houses jut out over its banks. Visit the Ortega shop where you can see "Panama Hats" being made. Balance of the day at leisure Optional: Half Day Gualaceo and Chordeleg (PM) Overnight: Cuenca Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6, Tuesday - Guayaquil City Tour
This morning, drive through El Cajas National Park en route to Guayaquil. From the park highlands, enjoy spectacular views of the many lakes and rivers below, as well as a landscape dominated by paramo, a high-altitude, wet tropical grass. Upon arrival in Guayaquil, enjoy a tour of the city that includes a visit to the Centennial Park on Avenue 9 de Octubre. Continue to see the city's regeneration, and visit the Seminario Park, also known as the "Park of the Iguanas." See the brightly-colored houses in Las Penas, the oldest neighborhood in Guayaquil, before checking-in to your hotel. Evening at leisure Overnight: Guayaquil Meals: Breakfast

DAY 7, Wednesday - Fly to the Galapagos Islands
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 year ago. Afterward, enjoy a box lunch en route to the Finch Bay Eco Hotel, where you will spend your next four nights. Balance of the day at leisure Overnight: Galapagos Islands Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8, Thursday - Sail to Santa Fe Island
Visit Santa Fe Island (Barrington), one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos archipelago. Enjoy a short trek through the island's shrubby terrain where it is possible to sight land iguanas (endemic to Santa Fe), lava lizards, and other land-dwellers native to the island. Enjoy time to swim or snorkel from the beach Overnight: Galapagos Islands Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9, Friday - 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 that change colors with the seasons. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the island on your own Overnight: Galapagos Islands Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10, Saturday - Sail to Bartolome Island
Today, visit Bartolome Island, whose 350-foot peak offers 360º views of five other islands in clear weather. A steep climb up wooden steps leads to the summit, where you can observe the island's unique lava formations and tuff cones. Afterward, continue to the beach to see the Galapagos Penguins, the only penguins north of the Equator, fishing near Pinnacle Rock. Here you will have free time to swim or snorkel from the beach Overnight: Galapagos Islands Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11, Sunday - 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 return flight to Quito. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure Overnight: Quito Meals: Breakfast

DAY 12, Monday - 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)
4/18/2010 - 4/29/2010	$2,869
5/30/2010 - 6/10/2010	$2,769
7/4/2010 - 7/15/2010	$2,849
9/5/2010 - 9/16/2010	$2,849
10/17/2010 - 10/28/2010	$2,749
11/21/2010 - 12/2/2010	$2,849
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.

Special Features

City tours of Quito, Riobamba, Cuenca & Guayaquil

Pan-American highway

Inca fortress-temple ruins of Ingapirca

Galapagos Islands

Charles Darwin Research Station

Book by February 12th, 2010 and pay only $2,599 per person, double occupancy.

Not included:
airport taxes, fees & September 11th Security Fee, optional tours, Ecuador departure taxes, Galapagos National Park fee of $200, Galapagos Transit Control Card fee of $10, tips to local guides, drivers and tour manager (see Terms & Conditions).

Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers, but does include flights Guayaquil-Galapagos-Quito.

Passport numbers for all passengers must be submitted to Gate 1 before documents can be issued.

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.

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