Highlands and Galapagos Islands

This tour allows you to explore two of them. promising you to have an intense and unforgettable holiday.  You will experience the highlands with cities, indian villages, farmed fields, volcanoes and Galapagos with its exceptional biodiversity. 

HIGHLIGHTS • Diversity of andean landscapes in the highlands • Diverse landscapes in the Galapagos Islands • Unique fauna in the Galapagos • Interesting walks

Itinerary

D 1   Colonial Quito - Otavalo

Quito lies in a long narrow plateau of Pichincha Volcano.  A city rich in colonial art and architecture.  A UNESCO world cultural heritage site is a delightful place to explore.  You visit today the main plaza, the cathedral, La Compañia church, San Francisco Plaza and Panecillo hill (a viewpoint).  You will enjoy a tour of the rich colonial heart before heading out to Otavalo,  2  hours drive from Quito.

D 2   Cuicocha - Lechero - Otavalo

This morning you will hike by a flooded volcanic crater of Cuicocha.  The trail offer you a variety of Orchids, flora and birds, you might also meet some lizards on the walk.  In the afternoon a mild hike to Lechero (a very meaningful tree for indian people) where there is a 360º view around. Return to Otavalo

D 3   Cubilche - Otavalo

Rising early to start an awsome trek to Cubilche Volcano, just on one side of the magnificent Imbabura.  A trek charachterized for its sorroundings, indian communities, farmed fields and paramo grasslands, as well as for the views when reaching the summit.  Return to Otavalo.

D 4   Otavalo - Lasso

Today you spend the morning browsing the popular Otavalo market and shops.  Throughout the hiistory of the region there has been trade between regions, but the market now sells almost as many handicrafts as produce.  Otavalo indians still preserve their original lifestyle and traditons and, are well known in the country and the world for their textile.  In the afternoon, you will be heading south to Lasso.

D 5 - Cotopaxi - Baños

Today you drive to Cotopaxi national Park where you can enjoy vegetation of different altitudinal ranges from 3200m (10499ft) to 4800m (15748ft), bird wildlife, wild horses, lava flows and the cotopaxi itself.  After driving through the park you reach the car park at 4600m (15092ft) from where you start a trek to the refuge and also to the glaciar.  Depending on the time of the year you might have snow at this level.  The day finish with a visit to Limpiopungo lagoon at the foot of Rumiñahui Volcano.  You leave the park to head to Baños.  It is a pleasant spa town that attracts not only foreigners but ecuadoreans, who are drawn by its balmy climate and curative waters. There is no better way to finish your day going for an invigorating soak (optional).  The baths are fed by thermal springs at the base of Tungurahua active volcano, and the brown water (a result of mineral content) is reputedly good for one´s health

D 6   Chimborazo - Lasso

After an early rise you head to Mount Chimborazo 6310m (20702ft), the highest mountain in Ecuador, which sits over the entire Valley.  The aim today is to trek on the mountain¨s upper slopes near the refuges.  Amidst the lava fields you may see wild flowers, vicuñas, a variety of birdlife and a variety of volcanic rocks.  You will have magnificent views of the perpetually ice-crowned peak glistening in the sun, and fine panoramas of the distant peak of Tungurahua, Altar and Sangay.  You leave this place to head to Lasso.

D 7   Quilotoa - Quito

An early rise to go to Quilotoa lake 3900m (12795ft).  A drive through stunning hills, farmed fields, indian communities, furrowed large canyons to get to this volcano. You can walk down to the bottom of the crater and by the water.  In the afternoon return to Quito.

D 8    Galapagos - Baltra - Puerto Ayora/parte alta - Concha Perla - Isabela

Arrival to Baltra and transfer to Puerto Ayora, on the way you will visit to the highest part of the island to observe giant Tortoises in their natural habitat.  Puerto Ayora is the largest town in the Galapagos and located on the southern side of Santa Cruz Island.  After lunch you will be transferred to Isabela Island, the largest in the Archipelago.  The Island is located in the western part of the archipelago, Isabela is larger than all of the rest of the islands combined. Comprising six volcanos.  Its highest point on Wolf Volcano rises 1700m (5600 ft) above sea level.  Check in and soon after a visit to Concha de Perla a natural pool good for snorkeling and playing with sea lions. 

D 9   Sierra Negra - Volcán chico - Isabela

Rising early to have breakfast and leave for the visit to Sierra negra Volcano that has the second largest crater in the world.  A day of a long trek to the Crater of this volcano with impressive views from its rim, walking through different vegetation zones and lava flows.  You also see two parasite cones known as Chico Volcano.   

D 10   Muro de las lágrimas - Tintoreras - Isabela

Today you will visit the wall of tears that keeps the memories of many prisoners during the colonial time.  You can observe on this hike small endemic tortoises, flora and wildlife of the humid zones.  After a reconforting lunch in the village you will go to Tintoreras, a lagoon where white tip sharks come to rest. They can be seen from the trail.  It is  not allowed to go snorkeling in the lagoon but at the beach behind is excellent since you can see eagle rays and sea turtles.

D 11   Floreana  - Santa Cruz

Early start to sail to Floreana, two hours from Isabela.  This Island is located in the far southern portion of the archipelago and it has been inhabited the longest of any of the Galapagos islands, having been used as a water and food source by whalers and pirates as far back as the 1600's.  The human history of the islands includes caves and shelters used by early buccaneers, as well as the first official settler of the Galapagos, an Irishman named Patrick Watkins who was stranded in 1803 and then settled to sell supplies to whalers. Later residents included convicts, pirates and colonists, and as recently as the 1930's there have been intrigues involving love, hate, and even mysterious deaths.  Today the trekking will take you to the highest part of the Island where the first inhabitants were settled and to the centre where there is a tortoise protection project.  Lunch in town and soon after you leave for Santa Cruz with one stop on the way to snorkel by Champion and Enderby small barren Islands.

D 12   Charles Darwin station - Baltra - Quito

In the morning you will have the last stop, 1.5 km west of Puerto Ayora, where there is  a turtle breeding area and an interesting information about the conservation of the unique biosphere of the Galapagos. After this visit you will be transferred to the Airport to take the flight to Quito. 

D 13 - Transfer out

Transfer to the Airport to take the international flight.

PRICES

	2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10	11-15
Price per person (in US$)	3050	2 860	2 750	2 640	2 530	2 455

 Price includes
— Private transport
— 4 stars hotels (economic hotels if you requiered).  Price based in double rooms with private bathrooms.
— meals
— Entrance fees to Cuicocha, Quilotoa, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo
— English speaking guide the whole trip
— Tickets Quito - Galapagos - Quito 
Price does not include:
— International flight to Quito
— Airport exit tax $40,70 per person
— Any travel insurance
— Drinks
— Tips for guides and drivers
— Anything not mentioned in the tour
— Entrance fee to Galapagos National Park $100 usd
— Ingala transit card $10 usd

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