GALAPAGOS ISLANDS AND THE AMAZON I 10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS | FROM $2893
Duration
Explore Tours
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Reservations are subject to availability and may change without prior notice UNTIL YOUR RESERVATION IS CONFIRMED
- To make a reservation, 50% of the fare per passenger must be paid, NON-REFUNDABLE
- Rate applies with a minimum of 2 passengers
- Please inquire about the supplement when traveling alone
- Please inquire about rates for groups
- Itinerary subject to changes due to: weather problems, operational inconveniences, or situations that may endanger the passenger
- The operator is obliged to change to a hotel of the same category assigned to the client in case of emergencies.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
- The quotation is valid for 24 hours after the date of submission
- The price may vary after this date if there is no prior confirmation
- The total amount must be paid in full 30 days before the reservation entry date.
Included/Exclude
- Transfer for international flights AIRPORT – HOTEL – AIRPORT.
- Transfer for domestic flights HOTEL – AIRPORT – HOTEL
- Certified Galapagos National Park English/Spanish-speaking guide
- 9 nights of accommodation, 5-star Hotel in Quito, Superior Tourist Hotels in Galapagos, Amazon Eco lodge
- Papallacta Hot Springs entrance fee.
- Meals according to the itinerary: 9 breakfasts, 1 set menu lunch and 2 set menu dinners.
- Visits according to the itinerary
- Snorkeling equipment for boat tours
- Shared maritime transportation
- GALÁPAGOS NATIONAL PARK Fee: $200.00 USD per person, cash only.
- INGALA transit card: $20.00 USD per person, cash only.
- Isabela entry tax: $10.00 USD per passenger.
- Santa Cruz dock entry and exit tax: $1.00 USD per way, per person.
- Water taxis.
- International flights and airport taxes.
- Domestic flights QUITO – GALÁPAGOS – QUITO (Estimated cost: $550.00 USD per person).
- Personal expenses and tips for guides, drivers and hotels (Estimated budget $300 USD).
- Any activity not detailed in the itinerary.
- Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary (Estimated cost: $320.00 USD per person).
- Entrance fees to tourist attractions not specified in the itinerary.
- Alcoholic beverages
- Wetsuit and fins (Estimated cost: $30.00 USD per person).
- My own room supplement estimated budget: $820.00 USD.
- Medical and travel Insurance (MANDATORY).
- Guide service in other languages is available at an additional cost. Contact us for more information.
This departure requires a minimum of 2 passengers.
Arrival in Quito.
Quito is the most visited city in Ecuador due to its rich culture, earning it the title "Relic of Art in America." It was also the first city to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is surrounded by the volcanoes Pichincha, Antisana, Cotopaxi, and Cayambe, forming the Andean contour.
Depending on your arrival time, you may spend the day exploring Quito's old town and its surroundings. We can help you arrange a day tour (request in advance). In the evening, one of our guides will meet you in the hotel lobby for a welcome briefing at 6:00 PM.
We will discuss details and answer any questions you may have about the adventure. Our first day is for acclimatization and information.
Included: Accommodation at Swissotel Quito or similar in a double room.
Not included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Quito - Baltra - Isabela
Today, we prepare to explore the most amazing archipelago in the Pacific coast and the place where Charles Darwin based his theory on the evolution of species. We will take a morning flight from Quito to Baltra Island. Upon arrival, we head to Puerto Ayora, the largest town in Galapagos. From here, we take a speedboat to the largest island in the archipelago, which has the highest volcanic activity. The island was formed by six shield volcanoes: Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf; five of them are still active, making the island one of the most volcanically active places on the planet.
The Galapagos Islands are 600 miles (965.6 km) from the Ecuadorian coast, so air, land, and sea transport will be needed to get there.
Included: Accommodation at Hotel Loja or similar in a double room, breakfast.
Not included: Lunch and dinner.
Navigation Tunnels - Kayak at Tintoreras
After a delicious breakfast, we will travel along the coast to explore the stunning lava formations created by the island’s volcanic activity. This magical place has been used by the BBC and National Geographic teams for documentaries. It is a labyrinth of lava arches and tunnels, both above and below the water. The water is crystal clear and full of large sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, fish, white-tip reef sharks, and more.
The turtles follow their own pathway from the mangroves to the open sea through “Los Túneles.” Here we will have the best opportunity to snorkel with all these beautiful animals, including the playful and curious Galápagos penguin.
In the afternoon, we will take our kayaks. While paddling along the coast near “Las Tintoreras,” we will observe some wildlife. Afterwards, there will be time to enjoy a breathtaking sunset at the beach of Puerto Villamil.
Included: Accommodation at Hotel Loja or similar in a double room, breakfast, and lunch.
Not included: Dinner.
Sierra Negra Volcano Hike - Tintoreras.
After driving from Puerto Villamil to the trailhead, we will prepare our backpacks for a hike to a young forest ecosystem, a world of recent geological history. Our destination is the rim of the Sierra Negra crater, an active volcano that last erupted in June 2018.
Upon arrival, we will enjoy breathtaking views and explore the circumference of the massive lava-filled crater, a caldera over six miles wide at its widest point. If we feel energetic enough, we can continue our hike to Volcán Chico, a secondary crater with a wild landscape of fumaroles and colorful lava formations, great examples of the dramatic geological events that have shaped the Galapagos Islands for millennia.
In the afternoon, we will visit Tintoreras Islet, located a short distance from Puerto Villamil and home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystal-clear waters are inhabited by white-tip reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, and sea lions. One of its beaches, surrounded by mangroves, is one of the few places where marine iguanas can successfully reproduce.
Included: Accommodation at Hotel Loja or similar in a double room, breakfast, and lunch.
Not included: Dinner.
Transfer from Isabela to Santa Cruz - Charles Darwin Research Station.
In the morning, you will travel from Isabela Island to Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. During our journey across the island, we will keep an eye out for dolphins and whales (from July to October). Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel. Then we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about many of the endemic species found in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts in the Galápagos Islands.
In the afternoon, we will head to the “El Chato” Reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to the famous Galápagos giant tortoises. Walking through the beautiful landscapes of El Chato alongside these massive giants is an unforgettable experience! We will also see other highland wildlife, such as pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches, and frigatebirds, which gather at a freshwater lagoon to wash the salt from their feathers. Afterwards, we will return to Puerto Ayora to spend the night in the most populated town in the Galápagos.
Included: Accommodation at Hotel Deja Vu or similar in a double room, breakfast.
Not included: Lunch and dinner.
Transfer out - Quito
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Islands and the last photos of the sea lions, we will transfer to Baltra airport in time for our flight back to the mainland. Upon arrival in Quito, you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel, where you will receive directions for the next day of adventures and learning.
Included: Accommodation at Swissotel Quito or similar in a double room, breakfast.
Not included: Lunch and dinner.
Discovering the Amazon - Itamandi Lodge.
Early in the morning, we will travel down a winding scenic road into the Amazon Rainforest; as we descend from an altitude of 3000 m.a.s.l. to 500 m.a.s.l. (9843 ft to 1640 ft), you will observe dramatic changes in landscape and vegetation between climates. Finally, we will reach the Arajuno River, where a motorized canoe will take us 20 minutes upriver to the Eco Lodge. During the journey, you will see the magic and beauty of the Amazon jungle. At the dock, our staff will welcome you and provide brief information about your accommodation and activities.
1:30 PM Lunch
3:00 PM Tubing (Activity depends on weather conditions)
After enjoying a delicious meal and getting comfortable, we will prepare for our first activity in the Amazon jungle.
6:30 PM Night Walk (optional), a flashlight and camera are the most important tools on this night excursion, which allows guests to hear and capture the nighttime sounds of fishing bats, owls, insects, tarantulas, toads, frogs, and possibly snakes. If the sky is clear, we might have the opportunity to observe many stars.
7:30 PM Dinner (Times are approximate)
Included: Accommodation at Itamandi Ecolodge in a double room, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Community Visit
7:00 – 8:30 AM Breakfast
9:00 or 9:30 AM Departure for a long hike. After breakfast, we will go on a hike through primary and secondary forest. This activity lasts about 2 ½ to 3 hours.
1:00 PM Lunch
2:30 PM Community Visit
In the afternoon, it is time to enjoy a cultural activity. An Amazonian Kichwa community will welcome us and we will learn about their way of life and their interaction with the forest. This encounter will reveal a part of the Amazon not found on maps: the daily life of Amazonian peoples. Part of our visit includes sharing the famous "chicha," a fermented yucca drink that has become part of their celebrations and daily consumption. We will participate in the preparation of this drink and taste some traditional dishes. We will end the visit with a traditional dance performed by the community's children, and there will be time to buy some handicrafts made by local indigenous people. This small enterprise helps support the daily life of the indigenous people in the area.
7:30 PM Dinner.
Included: Accommodation at Itamandi Ecolodge in a double room, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Birdwatching - Papallacta Hot Springs - Quito.
Early in the morning, we will go on a bird-watching excursion, observing parrots and parakeets if weather conditions allow. After breakfast, we will check out and return to the Andes Mountains. Before heading to Quito, we will stop at Papallacta hot springs to soak in the volcanic pools; it's optional to have a spa treatment.
Included: Accommodation at Swissotel Quito or similar in a double room, breakfast.
Not included: Lunch and dinner.
Departure
Today our journey will end and you will have your international departures. Take with you your memories and photographs and leave a piece of your heart, as you will soon want to return to Ecuador to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a "safe trip"!
Included: Breakfast.
Not included: Lunch and dinner.
This departure requires a minimum of 2 passengers.
