Ecuador and the Galapagos
17 nights
Priced from £6590 per person
Easily combined, the Galapagos and the Ecuadorian mainland offer a fantastic mix of wildlife and culture.
As a guideline, the itinerary outlined below would cost approximately £6,590 per person based on two people travelling and includes all activities on a private basis, private transfers, internal flights in Ecuador and the Galapagos, accommodation and taxes and meals where mentioned.
Please note that the itinerary does not include any international flights
| Day 1 | Fly to Quito. Met on arrival by our representative and transfer to the Café Cultura for the night in a suite on a b&b basis. https://www.latinodyssey.com/ecuador/cafe-cultura |
| Day 2 | Met and transferred (1 ½ hrs) to the Hacienda Leito situated in the heart of the ‘Avenue of Volcanoes’ for 3 nights in the Hato suite on a full board basis. https://www.latinodyssey.com/ecuador/hacienda-leito |
| Day 3-4 | 2 days free for personal exploration and relaxation. The Hacienda is situated at the foot of the Cotapaxi Volcano and has a variety of activities which can be booked and paid for locally and include; horse riding, mountain biking and hiking, either inside or outside the surrounding national park |
| Day 5 | Met and transferred to the Mindo Cloudforest for 2 nights in a standard room on a full board basis. After an initial drive of approximately 2 hours you will pass the dormant Pululahua Volcano, just north of the equator, and considered by the locals as the naval of the earth. This huge crater, with its own microclimate, is a fantastic place to see various hummingbirds! Continue to El Pahuma Reserve for a short 45 minute walk alongside a lively creek to the 40 metre Pacaya waterfall. El Pahuma Reserve is a private, Ecuadorian owned forest who are searching for a viable economic alternative to destructive activities such as logging or cattle raising, and as such protects over 600 hectares of tropical forest. Following lunch you will head to the Bellavista lodge. In the afternoon there is an optional walk to observe a lek (a place of courtship of birds) of the very attractive cock-of-the-rock, where up to 12 birds flying from one branch to another, displaying their red feathers to attract the females amid loud calls is a fantastic but seldom seen site! https://www.latinodyssey.com/ecuador/bellavista-cloud-forest-lodge |
| Day 6 | A free day for personal exploration and relaxation. The lodge has numerous walking paths within the reserve. |
| Day 7 | Met for your 2 day visit to Otavalo. It’s downhill by car to the Valley of Mindo, past the quaint little village of the same name and on to the Butterfly Vivarium, housing 25 varieties of butterflies. Flight areas simulate the outside forest with water streams, mineral deposits, and a wide range of wild flowers. Hundreds of caterpillars feed on their host plants in their natural environment to assure the best development of pupae and butterflies. From here you will drive north to Calderón, a small town where local bread is made. Continue along the valleys of Guayllabamba and Cayambe, with their dairy farms arriving around lunchtime at the hacienda Cusin where you will spend the next two nights on a full board basis. Met in the afternoon for your visit the town of San Antonio de Ibarra, famous for the woodcarvings. https://www.latinodyssey.com/ecuador/hacienda-cusin |
| Day 8 | Met for your visit the famous market of Otavalo, piled high with ponchos, woollen goods, tapestries, the original “Panama” hat, sweaters, Indian jewellery and many other peculiar handicrafts. Lunch will be at another of the beautiful haciendas in the area. |
| Day 9 | Morning free for personal exploration and relaxation in the area, or alternatively depart to Quito in the morning to explore the city in the afternoon. Met and transferred to Quito and the Patio Andaluz hotel for the night in a duplex room on a b&b basis. https://www.latinodyssey.com/ecuador/patio-andaluz |
| Day 10 | Met and transferred to the airport for your internal flight to the Galapagos Islands. PM arrive Galapagos Islands and transfer to the Eric, Flamingo or Letty boat for your 8D/7N cruise in an Iguana cabin on a full board basis including all activities. https://www.latinodyssey.com/galapagos-islands/eric-flamingo-letty |
| Day 11-16 | In Galapagos – please see itinerary attached |
| Day 17 | Disembark boat for your flight to Quito. Met on arrival by our representative and transfer to the Café Cultura for the night in a suite on a b&b basis. https://www.latinodyssey.com/ecuador/cafe-cultura |
| Day 18 | Met and transferred to the airport for your return international flight. |
,
