Ecuador's Explorer

• Meet our local representative on arrival at Quito (Mariscal Sucre) International Airport

• Private transfer from Quito Airport to Patio Andaluz Hotel (± 50 minutes)

• Stay at Patio Andaluz Hotel in a Standard Room for 2 nights

• Breakfast included

• 9:00am Quito Colonial Center Tour (4 Hours)

The place to start is Colonial Quito, a city of narrow cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed walls and, rising above, the steeples and cupolas of the city´s many spectacularly decorated historic churches. The city has one of the best-preserved colonial centers in all South America, and its integrity was assured in 1978 when the United Nations declared Quito a World Cultural Heritage site.

Morning visit to colonial Quito. We will walk through the Main Plaza, where you will see the Government Palace, La Compañía, and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries, including the San Francisco Monastery, which was begun 5 days after the founding of the city in 1534. Then we will visit the city’s famous La Ronda Street, where we will learn about traditional work in Colonial Quito.

We will have the chance to enjoy a chocolate experience, which starts with a guided tour explaining the history of cocoa in Ecuador, followed by a chocolate tasting.

Ecuador’s unique equatorial climate provides the perfect environment for growing the world’s finest cocoa - Cacao Arriba. Cocoa has been revered in Latin America for over 5,000 years. Spanish explorers loved it so much they called it the ‘Food of the Gods’.

The Republica del Cacao´s founders began their voyage over ten years ago when they set themselves an ambitious mission: to produce the most authentic chocolate, while protecting and developing sustainable fine cocoa production.

The final stop on our tour will be the ‘Panecillo’, the hill that divides Quito in North & South, and where we will be able to admire the famous statue of Our Lady of the Panecillo, built by Bernardo de Legarda where we will have the chance to enjoy spectacular views of Quito.

• Private road transfer from Patio Andaluz to Quito Airport (± 50 minutes)

• Meet a local representative from the Cruise company who will  assist you with purchasing your control Transit card ($20 per person – cash only)

• Scheduled flight  Quito  Airport - San Cristobal Airport (Costs not included)

• Upon arrival at  San Cristobal Airport pay the Galapagos Entrance fee ($100 per person – cash only)

• Met by M/C Ocean Spray representative who will transfer you to the boat (± 10 minutes)

• Stay on the M/C Ocean Spray in a Main Deck Stateroom for 3 nights

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

San Cristobal Island - Lobos Island 

Lobos Island is aptly named after the many sea lions that reside here resting and playing along the rocky shores. It is also home to many different birds like pelicans, frigate birds and their nests, yellow warblers and more. Within the small channel the waters are very clear, making it easy to find sea turtles, sea lions, stingrays and perhaps even white-tipped sharks.

• Highlights: Sea Lions, birds watching and clear waters
• Activities: Short hiking, swimming and snorkeling.
• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
• Landing: Dry landing

Kicker Rock

Kicker rock is one of the most extraordinary sites in the Galapagos Islands, made of two eroded volcanic cones that tower over the sea at about 104 meters in the middle of the open water. It is a nesting place of sea birds and a nice spot to take pictures while the vessels circumnavigate around the rock.

• Activities: Circumnavigation
• Type of landing: No landing

San Cristobal Island  - Pitt Point

When arriving at Pitt Point, it will feel as if you’ve landed on an extraterrestrial planet.  You can see the many different developments over time of how volcanic activity formed this island.  A hike up to the top beholds amazing views of the surrounding waters.  Watch out for blue-footed boobie nests on the ground and keep an eye out for the red-footed boobies nesting in the trees once you reach the top of the island.

• Highlights: Nazca boobies, Blue-footed/Red-footed boobies, Sea Lions and views from the clifftops
• Activities: Hiking and kayaking.
• Difficulty:  Moderate to Difficult
• Landing: Wet landing

Witch Hill

Witch hill has awesome crevices and eroding rocks along the shoreline where you will first pass in panga.  Afterwards be prepared to visit a powdery white sand beach with teal and turquoise waters.

• Highlights:  One of the best beaches, birdlife and marine life
• Activities: Panga ride, swimming, snorkel
• Difficulty: Easy
• Landing: Wet landing

Floreana Island  - Post Office Bay in the  morning 

In the 18th century whalers passing through the islands placed a wooden barrel on Floreana Island for use as an unofficial mail box. The tradition continues today as visitors leave addressed postcards in the barrel and sort through left mail to deliver at home.  

• Highlights: Barrel Post Office, nice sandy beach, marine life, frigatebirds
• Possible Activities: Post office barrel, relaxing on the beach, swimming or snorkeling
• Type of Landing: Wet landing
• Difficulty: Easy

Cormorant Point and Devils Crown in the Afternoon 

This site hosts a large flamingo lagoon where other birds such as common stilts, White-cheeked Pintails can also be seen. The beaches on this island are distinct: The “Green Beach” named so due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the “Four Sand Beach” composed of white coral.

evil's Crown

One of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos, this volcanic crater has been eroded by the waves leaving the northern and southern sides poking out of the water. The coral reef in the middle is perfect for attracting marine life. Snorkelers enjoy the variety of marine life and exciting currents that rush through the crown, creating an exhilarating experience.

• Highlights: The best snorkeling site in Galapagos Islands with sharks, rays, rock formations, lots of tropical fish.
• Possible Activities: Snorkeling and hiking
• Type of Landing: Wet landing
• Difficulty: Moderate/difficult Hike - Easy

• Santa Cruz - Black Turtle Cove

Black Turtle Cove is located on the north side of Santa Cruz Island. This shallow inlet is surrounded by mangroves and provides a natural protection for a variety of marine life, attracting the vulnerable juveniles of many species. Below the surface of the water, you can see both black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, golden cow-nose rays, and spotted eagle rays. Pelicans and blue-footed boobies hunt here, diving gracefully into the water.

• Highlights: Turtles swimming, four species of mangrove, sharks, rays
• Possible Activities: Panga ride
• Type of Landing: No landing 
• Difficulty: Easy

• Met by a representative who will transfer you to Finch Bay Hotel

• Stay at Finch Bay Hotel in a Garden View Room for 2 nights

• Afternoon free to explore the town or walk to Tortuga Bay, Las Grietas or just relax on the beach

• Breakfast included

•  Meet your guide who will assist you to the start point for your group tour to Bartolome Island by boat (Altamar Boat) (Time to be confirmed locally)

Bartolome Island -day visit

Today after breakfast we will head back to Itabaca Channel to continue our National Park and Marine Reserve exploration. Our yacht, will deliver us to Bartolome Island, which offers one of the most dramatic views in the Galapagos Islands. A 600 – meter pathway takes visitors to the highest point of the island, where you will learn from our expert naturalist guide about the volcanic origins of the Galapagos. After the walk, a dingy ride along the coastline will give you the opportunity to see the Galapagos penguin. This curious bird nests amongst fissured lava flows and ventures into the crystal-clear waters of Bartolome.

• Transfer from Finch Bay Hotel to Puerto Ayora harbor for the scheduled speedboat to Isabela Island.

• Speedboat from Puerto Ayora Harbor to Isabela Island.

• Visit to the breeding center for the Islands’ giant tortoise population

• This afternoon tour to the Tintoreras, a group of small islands near the village of Puerto Villamil

Our adventure begins with a tour of the Tintoreras, a group of small islands near the village of Puerto Villamil. The islands are named after the white tipped ‘Tintoreras’ reef sharks that swim in these calm waters. On Tintoreras we will see almost all of the archipelago’s iconic wildlife: white-tipped reef sharks, sea lions, turtles, rays, penguins, and of course pelicans and blue footed boobies. It’s like the Galapagos in miniature! After walking on the island, we will have a chance to snorkel in the bay. Don’t be surprised if some of the penguins or sea lions jump in to play alongside you in the water!

• Stay at Iguana Crossing in an Ocean Front Room for 2 nights

• Includes: Breakfast and Lunch

• Transfer by road to the Wetlands Trail 

Bike the Wetlands Trail  - where we can see marine iguana colonies and a number of different types of mangrove trees (all four can be seen here) as well as enjoying the network of trails, beaches and historic sites. At the end of the trail is the Wall of Tears, built in the late 1940’s by Second World War prisoners held at the US base on the islands. Our guide will explain the importance of the Wall of Tears, giving us a glimpse into the lives of the island’s previous inhabitants. On this network of trails you will catch some beautiful views of the village below and we will have the chance to see birds and, maybe even some wild giant tortoises.

• Afternoon at your leisure to explore on your own such as Puerto Villamil town 

• Includes: Breakfast and Lunch

• Private transfer to Puerto Villamil harbor

• Speedboat from Isabela Island to Santa Cruz Island

• Transfer to Baltra’s airport

• Scheduled flight Baltra Airport - Quito Airport (Costs not included)

• Private road transfer Quito Airport to Otavalo City (± 2.5 hours)

• Stay at Hacienda Cusin or Las Palmeras Inn  in a Standard Room for 2 nights

• Breakfast (box breakfast) and dinner included

• Excursion Mojanda Lakes and Taxopamba Waterfall

This is a region surrounded by majestic mountain ranges only 40
miles wide, full of fertile valleys and unmatchable scenic beauty, inhabited by a kind
people anxious to show you the customs and cultural heritage that make them so
distinct. Our first stop is at the Quitsato Sundial, a cultural-tourist place located at La 12 Mitad Del Mundo, near to Cayambe, where you will learn about astronomical aspects of the prehispanic cultures of the region.


A short hike to the Taxopamba waterfall, and on the way your guide will show you the medicinal herbs and plants that grow in the region, as well as the area ́s many animals and birds, as well as discussing current conservation issues. 
After a well-prepared lunch in the lodge we will travel up to the Mojanda lakes, a 20-minute scenic drive from the Lodge. Here you can take a two-hour scenic hike around the lakes and their marvellous scenery or, for those feeling more athletic or interested in climbing there is the option to climb from the lakes up to Fuya Fuya (14,200 feet). This is a non-technical but steep climb. If, on the other hand, you feel more like unwinding and enjoying the view we can arrange a plan to fish, or simply relax at the lake.
At night after one of the lodges well prepared dinners, you can slip into a hot herbal bath in a traditional Japanese style hot tub or choose a film - shown in video room – from the lodge ́s large selection, which includes documentaries on local birds and folklore, as well as many films by Latin American directors.

• Excursion Otavalo Market & Rescue Center or Cotacachi by road

Today we will head to the town of Otavalo; this is truly one of the most interesting towns in Ecuador, where the local Quichua indigenous culture is not only plainly visible, but in the ascendency.
The town ́s famous craft market is one of the most visited sites in Ecuador, and with good reason. The market is filled with interesting colourful and sometimes rare objects and crafts. Do remember to bargain, but only if you ́re interested. The market is held every day on one of the town squares at the foot of the majestic Mt. Imbabura. And to help you navigate the market your hosts will present you with a short explanation of the market ́s and provide a map of the area. During the stay at the market we visit local workshops of handcrafts in Agato and Peguche.

• Lunch in a local restaurant.

• Raptor Rescue Center Parque Condor

A visit to a rescue center for the protection and recovery of a number of species of birds of prey including the magnificent Andean Condor whose wing span can reach more than eight feet. If you are interested in this magnificent bird and its close association with the Andean indigenous cultures, as well as some of the other fascinating and beautiful birds of prey to be found in the northern Andes.

• Transfer to Los Milagros Restaurant for Dinner (± 2 hours)
• Road transfer Los Milagros Restaurant to Quito Airport (± 50 minutes)