Day 1: Europe Quito
Flight to Quito. Upon arrival, welcome reception and private transfer to the hotel. In the evening, enjoy a short walk along La Ronda Street, where you can taste a traditional specialty and have your first encounter with the Ecuadorian capital.
Day 2: Visite Of Quito Otavalo
We will discover Quito with its white-walled houses and tiled roofs, impressive churches, cobblestone streets, and charming colonial courtyards. During our tour, we will visit the churches of La Compañía, San Francisco, the Cathedral, El Panecillo, and the Basilica of the National Vow.
In the afternoon, we will head north to the Middle of the World, where you will enjoy unique experiences at latitude 0°00’000”. Lunch and arrival at Pondo Wasi Lodge. Activities focused on Inca culture and a Pacha Manca dinner (a tribute to Mother Earth in gratitude for the generosity of the harvests).
Day 3: Zuleta Mindo
This day is dedicated to discovering the Otavalo Market, its handicrafts, and visiting a local family who creates traditional crafts to learn how the wool used for ponchos, shawls, and other textiles is woven and dyed. In the afternoon, departure to Mindo, the paradise of hummingbirds, orchids, and your first chocolate experience.
Day 4: Visita De Mindo
We will explore the natural parks and travel through the lush semi-tropical forests, discovering the region’s incredible fauna and flora, with special attention to its diverse birdlife. After a well-deserved rest and a delicious meal, we will enjoy activities focused on local cacao, with the possibility of participating in adventure sports experiences.
Day 5: Mindo Cotopaxi
Excursion to Cotopaxi National Park, dominated by the majestic cone of the world’s highest active volcano at 5,897 meters. There are two alternatives: hike up to the refuge and admire the beginning of the glaciers, take photos at 4,800 meters (almost the height of Mont Blanc), and/or enjoy an impressive walk around the lagoons surrounding the volcano. Later, enjoy a traditional meal and visit the region’s rose plantations.
Day 6: Cotopaxi Quilotoa Baños
We will head to the impressive Quilotoa Lagoon, located inside the crater of a volcano. You will have the option to descend to the lagoon or enjoy an approximately 30-minute panoramic walk around the crater. We will also visit local artisans and explore a traditional market. After lunch, travel to Baños, the city of thermal pools, massages, and adventure sports.
Day 7: Baños Patate
You will see the Manto de la Virgen waterfall and the various waterfalls of the region. In Baños, you can enjoy a variety of adventure activities, as well as massages, thermal baths, and body treatments based on plants and natural products. If you wish to visit a small town, Patate offers a family-run distillery in the heart of the City of Fruits and Flowers.
Day 8: Baños Amazonie
A short getaway to the Amazon. After the journey by private transportation, we will take a canoe to reach our lodge. The connection with nature and the local communities of the region offers a beautifully exotic experience.
Day 9: Amazonie
The Amazon communities are always happy to welcome our guests. You will learn about their cuisine, ancestral family traditions, and dances, and enjoy traditional dishes from the region. Not to mention the preparation of Amazonian chocolate.
Day 10: Amazonía Baños Riobamba
Very early in the morning, we will visit the parrot clay lick and observe other species. After breakfast, we will leave behind the lush Amazon rainforest and return to the Andes. On the way, we will stop in Baños to admire the majestic **“El Pailón del Diablo”** waterfall before continuing our journey south towards Riobamba.
Volcanoes are an essential part of life in Ecuador, and our journey will allow us to immerse ourselves in breathtaking natural landscapes and share experiences with Indigenous communities. To conclude, we will visit the first Catholic church in Ecuador, explore a local market, and learn about the process of making tagua, Ecuador’s “vegetable ivory.”
Day 11: Riobamba Chimborazo
This day, you will enjoy a beautiful local hacienda, activities in the national park, and a climb to the refuge at 5,100 meters. You will also visit traditional markets and share a moment with a local family. We can also organize a mountain bike ride from the volcano.
Day 12: Chimborazo Ingapirca
After an extraordinary journey through diverse landscapes, we will discover the legendary route known as the **Devil’s Nose Railway**. Lunch will be served at a restaurant/viewpoint offering magnificent views of the valley. After lunch, we will head to the Ingapirca site, the most important Inca archaeological site in Ecuador. Visit to the site and museum, and discovery of the **Qhapaq Ñan** (the Inca road system).
Day 13: Ingapirca Cuenca
A breakfast full of colors and flavors, shared with warm and welcoming people. Then, we will depart towards Cuenca to discover its beautiful colonial city. Free time to stroll around and enjoy its unique charm. Visit to a “Panama” hat factory and local artisans.
Day 14: Cuenca
City tour and visit to Gualaceo and Chordeleg. Meet local artisans dedicated to jewelry making (gold and silver filigree) and the weaving of cotton and silk shawls known as **macanas**. The hats and shawls are recognized as part of Ecuador’s intangible cultural heritage.
Day 15: Cuenca Cajas Guayaquil
Departure to Cajas National Park, where we will enjoy a hike among its 700 lagoons. After a delicious lunch at Dos Chorreras, we will continue our journey towards the Ecuadorian coast. Visit to Hacienda Tamarindo or a Mango and Cacao farm to enjoy a final cacao experience from the region.
Having discovered the cacao and its quality from Ecuador’s three regions. In the evening: the sea, the breeze, and exquisite seafood.
Day 16: Ayangue O Ayampe
If you travel between June and mid-October, we offer you the opportunity to experience the magical arrival of whales in Ecuador. You will discover part of the Route of the Sun and the beauty of beaches dedicated to relaxation and surfing, while sharing with locals the richness of the Ecuadorian coast. That day, we will organize a whale-watching excursion to enjoy the spectacular show they offer visitors.
Return to Guayaquil to prepare for your departure the following day to the magical islands.
Day 17: Galapagos
Our journey will take place aboard a superior tourist-class vessel, staying in an upper deck cabin. You will have the opportunity to marvel at the extraordinary wildlife and flora of these magical islands.
Day 18: Galapagos
It gets its name from the abundance of green sea turtles, locally known as **“black turtles.”** There is no landing here, so you will explore the area by boat, navigating through shallow channels and small coves surrounded by beautiful mangrove forests. Reef sharks, sea turtles, and various species of rays inhabit this remarkable area, which is considered an important turtle mating ground and a nursery for several shark species. Herons, pelicans, and boobies are also commonly seen here as they feed on anchovy banks.
Day 19: Galapagos
Genovesa is an island for birdwatchers, as it is home to very large colonies of seabirds. From the moment you set foot on the beach, you will be amazed by the sound of hundreds of boobies, gulls, and frigates flying overhead, perched on bushes, or nesting on the sandy ground. The trail offers a truly unforgettable wildlife experience, as animals are everywhere: sea lions and marine iguanas near the shore; night herons, lava gulls, and swallow-tailed gulls, Darwin’s finches, Galápagos doves, mockingbirds, and many other inland species.
*Snorkeling is available.
Day 20: Galapagos
A very well-preserved **Pahoehoe lava flow**, offering endless opportunities to observe the delicate textures of this type of lava, which can only be found in a few places around the world. At first glance, the arid landscape appears completely devoid of life, but by looking carefully, you can discover pioneer plants, lava lizards, and small birds. Along the shore, you may encounter penguins, pelicans, and oystercatchers.
*Snorkeling is available.
Day 21: Galapagos Return To Europe
This hike is a journey to understand the birth of these volcanic islands. You will walk across a very well-preserved **Pahoehoe lava flow**, offering endless opportunities to observe the delicate textures of this type of lava, which can only be found in a few places around the world. At first glance, the arid landscape appears completely devoid of life, but by looking carefully, you can discover pioneer plants, lava lizards, and small birds. Along the shore, you may encounter penguins, pelicans, and oystercatchers.
Evening flight back to Europe.
