ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS ISLAND HOPPER
Description
Itinerary
Price
Hotel
Remarks
Description
Overview
From the heights of the volcanoes to the unexplored waters of Galapagos, this tour is a must for the lovers of the great outdoors. Whether you are snorkeling with sea lions & rays, or chilling with the giant Galapagos tortoise, this adventure is epic!
Included/Excluded
- Hotel/hostel accommodation
- Local transport
- Various experiences like guided tours and meals
- An expert Trip Manager & Driver
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences
- Breakfast daily (plus a few lunches and dinners too)
- A group of friendly travellers from around the world, all aged 18-35
- 24/7 support
- Optional Free Time Add-Ons
- Meals not mentioned
Included
- Hotel/hostel accommodation
- Local transport
- Various experiences like guided tours and meals
- An expert Trip Manager & Driver
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences
- Breakfast daily (plus a few lunches and dinners too)
- A group of friendly travellers from around the world, all aged 18-35
- 24/7 support
Excluded
- Optional Free Time Add-Ons
- Meals not mentioned
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Quito
Quito:
- Welcome to Quito! The mood will be sky high as we gather in Ecuador’s capital.
- This modern day city (nicknamed the ‘light of America’) is built on ancient Incan ruins and boasts one of the best preserved historic centers in America.
- It was also the first city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
- We’ll jump straight in to a team tour of the city, skip between two hemispheres at the Equatorial line.
- Squeezing in a visit to the IInti-Ñan Museum should round off the first day on trip pretty nicely.
Included Experience:
- Tour Quito with a local
- Visit the Equator and Intiñan Museum
- Browse the handicraft market
Optional Experience:
- Taste gourmet Ecuadorean food
Day 2: Quito to Tena
Quito:
- It’s out of the city & into the lush jungle with spectacular views en route. Not a bad way to spend the day.
Tena:
- This stunning landscape is composed of vibrant hills and tumbling rivers that make it a white water rafting dream!
- If that’s not your scene, we’ll head to a humming bird sanctuary, and try and catch these beautiful birds as they buzz by.
- Then we’ll settle in for the night, ready for big adventures tomorrow.
Day 3: Tena
Tena:
- Today is yours to roam the city and jungle to your hearts content.
- Maybe unwind over a few hot sugar cane and cinnamon drinks and a traditional Guayuza, or opt to visit a local indigenous community – a pretty cool way to truly go local and give back on your trip.
- You’ll get the chance to meet a shaman, play soccer with the local kids and really experience what tribe life is all about in this part of the world.
- Like the sound of this? Maybe consider packing some extra school supplies or tasty treats in your luggage – absolutely not essential but definitely appreciated by the local children.
- This afternoon, take the adrenaline up a notch and and hit the river for some fast and furious rafting.
- Nothing like a spot of rapid riding to induce group bonding.
- Tonight, we’ll feast on delicious meats, sauces and salads, all traditional and sourced locally from the area. YUM.
Day 4: Tena to Baños
Tena:
- Good morning, Amazonian roamers! Today we’re off to the adrenaline capital of Baños, so time to shimmy our way out of the rainforest – our next adventure awaits…
Baños
- Sitting amidst tumbling valleys, waterfalls, and the still active Volcán Tungurahua, Baños is a big deal on the natural beauty front.
- If “Thrill Seeker” is your middle name, you’ll love to opt for today’s Zip Line and Canyoneering experiences.
- Afterwards, we’ll feast on DELISH spread of perfectly seasoned barbecue meats, before we burn away all those calories with salsa – with our friendly local teacher, Edith.
- Now, that’s night well spent!
Included Experience:
- Visit Devil’s Cauldron waterfall
- Taste Authentic Ecuadorian BBQ
- Learn how to Salsa dance
Optional Experience:
- Go Bird Watching in the Amazon
- Go canyoneering across Andean waterfalls
- Get your adventure on with ziplines and ferratas
Day 5: Banos
Baños:
- The adventure opportunities are endless today, with horseback riding, canyoneering and ziplining all on the menu. And trust us, this isn’t just any regular old zipline – we’re talking aerial bridges, rock climbing and speeding through the skies, Superman style – pretty much the ultimate aerial adventure.
- Don’t have such a head for heights? Horsey fun and canyoneering expeditions will keep you on your toes.
- Oh what a tough day this will be in Baños – deciding how best to embrace your inner adventurer.
Day 6: Baños to Quito
Baños:
- Today we head back to Quito for a quick stopover for the night.
Quito:
- You’ve got another chance to explore this beautiful city – lucky you! At night, we’ll dine on a traditional Ecuadorian meal as our time in this wonderful country comes to an end.
Day 7: Quito to Isabela Island
Quito:
- Rise and shine! This morning we’re taking to the skies, bound for the glorious Galapagos Islands. Excited much? You should be. On arrival we’ll appease our rumbling stomachs with some local food.
Santa Cruz Island:
- Giant tortoises roaming their natural surroundings and incredible old lava tunnels will welcome us onto the island of Santa Cruz.
- After lunch, we’ll take to the ocean and make tracks to our home for the night – the impossibly glorious Isabela Island, where we’ll sleep amidst the spellbinding beauty of the Galapagos National Park.
Isabela Island:
- The inspiration behind Charles Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’, Isabela Island is home to wildlife you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
- Picture the scene – sandy streets, palm trees, crystal waters and seal pups playing – can it really get any more perfect? Soak it all in, as it’s home for the next little while.
Day 8: Isabela Island
Isabela Island:
- Well good morning paradise. The ocean is calling, and who are we to resist her?
- Our wildlife kayaking adventure will see us taking to the seas with beady eyes on the lookout for green sea turtles.
Day 9: Isabela Island to Santa Cruz Island
Isabela Island:
- We’ll wake up hungry for the day this morning (that’s what island life does to you), and for good reason – Santa Cruz is on the horizon.
Santa Cruz Island:
- After settling in to the Santa Cruz way of life, we’ll stroll down to the beach and the cosy Tortuga Bay.
- Wildlife fanatics will be in their element – the island is known for sharks, rays, turtles, great blue herons, and even blue footed boobies.
- Spend your time sunbaking next to a marine iguana, or roam the streets stopping off in cute cafes for fresh juice pit stops.
Day 10: Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island
Santa Cruz Island:
- Back on our boat we’ll set sail for San Cristobal, keeping our eyes peeled for cute bathing sea lions (we won’t have to look too hard – they’re literally everywhere).
- Four extinct volcanoes sit across the island creating scenic highlands that are best experienced by bike – mainly cruising downhill, you’ll be happy to know.
- The tiny town of El Progreso will add a splash of colour to our journey, and we’ll also cross five different vegetation zones before arriving at our seaside destination – La Loberia beach.
Day 11: San Cristobal Island
San Cristobal Island:
- It’s our last day soaking up the natural beauty of the Galapagos, and what a day we’ve got planned.
- Bird-watching will kick us off, followed by a cruise to the 143-metre Kicker Rock – a natural phenomenon that protrudes from the ocean and is one of the greatest icons of the area.
- Our Local Guide will give us the low-down on the wildlife – both above and below the water – that surrounds the rock, then we’ll jump in and explore for ourselves.
- Keep a look out for chocolate chip starfish and a Galapagos Shark or two, but remember the golden rule – keep those toes off the coral, as you can do serious damage to the delicate eco-system.
- Back on board, we’ll make tracks for Puerto Grande beach. Here, we’ll eat lunch on board and enjoy a final afternoon of Galapagos fun, before rounding off the day with a feat to end all feasts. WHAT A DAY.
Day 12: San Cristobal Island to Quito
San Cristobal Island:
- There’s time to relax this morning & take in the beauty of the island before heading back to the mainland where your trip ends on arrival.
Quito:
- Not done yet? Why not fly to Peru and join our Peru Uncovered trip?
Included Experience:
- Included flight to Quito
Price
PRICE FROM RM17,528 SUBJECT TO DATE AND AVAILABILITY.
Hotel
- Day 1: Ibis Quito (or similar)
- Day 2 – Day 3: Cotococha Lodge Tena (or similar)
- Day 4 – Day 5: Hotel Napolitano Apart Baños (or similar)
- Day 6: Ibis Quito (or similar)
- Day 7 – Day 8: Isamar Hotel (or similar)
- Day 9: Hotel Silberstein (or similar)
- Day 10 – Day 11: Galapagos Planet (or similar)
Remarks
