Magical Ecuador

Day notes

Upon arrival at Quito Airport, you will be welcomed by your English-speaking guide, and transferred to your hotel.

Situated in a circle of Andean peaks, Quito is the world’s second highest capital, with arguably one of the finest settings in the world.  Originally established by the Quitu tribe in the first millennium, Quito was an important part of the Inca Empire, before being destroyed and re-founded by Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Benalcázar in 1534. The colonial centre - declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978 - is one of the largest and best preserved in Latin America. It is home to excellent museums, churches and art galleries.

The land on which The boutique Plaza Grande Hotel resides belongs to prestigious and aristocratic families, who decided to build the first luxury hotel in the city. The legendary building, a marvel of eclectic architecture broke the mould of colonial houses. Boasting a unique location in the main plaza of the historic centre of Quito, breathtaking views reveal the Government Palace, the Cathedral, ancient domes of old churches, the Panecillo and the Town Hall.

Overnight in Plaza Grande Hotel

Day notes

Today, your city tour begins downtown, passing through the modern section of Quito towards the city's historic district. Sit in Independence Square, flanked by the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace and the City Hall. Stroll past El Sagrario Church and marvel at the exquisite stone facade of La Compañía Church. Visit the San Francisco Church, built over the ruins of an Inca Palace in the 16th century. Ride up the road to the Panecillo or the Itchimbia hills for a breathtaking view of Quito. Your private guide will enlighten you on the history of Quito.

During this tour, savour a delicious chocolate tasting in Galeria Ecuador, where you will learn how to cultivate cacao plants, and the process of transforming the cacao plant into chocolate. Play an interactive game, where kids and adults can practice how to sow and cultivate cacao. You will be provided with cooking implements to prepare chocolate truffles, and a variety of delectable ingredients including cinnamon, salt from Cuzco, chocolate nibs, peanuts, almonds, cacao, sugar, etc. A guide specialising in chocolate will teach you how to prepare these ingredients, and in just a few minutes, you will be relishing scrumptious self-made truffles.

After this tasty activity, you will be driven to the Café Plaza Grande where you will participate in a Cooking Class with the opportunity to create two typical Ecuadorian dishes. A professional chef will be your teacher during this activity. You will be shown how to prepare "ceviche" and the famous "helado de Paila" (an ice cream made with fresh typical pulp fruits, considered one of the most iconic foods of Ecuador). The chef will guide you, and once your ceviche is ready, you will continue with the preparation of the dessert. Then it will be time to sit down and enjoy your delicious lunch.

Afterwards you will visit the Equatorial Monument, built as a tribute to the French scientists who determined the shape of the earth in the 1700’s. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, where the colourful way of life of the different ethnic groups of Ecuador is on display. There is also the Intiñan interactive museum that reveals the different theories around the Incas.

Day notes

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in Quito for your flight to the Galapagos Islands.

Once arrived in Baltra Airport, you will have access to the VIP Lounge, and a Pikaia representative will meet you. Cruise through the Itabaca Channel, for a seven-minute ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island, followed by a 50-minute private scenic trip to Pikaia Lodge.

Perched on top of two extinct volcanic craters, Pikaia Lodge offers one of the most spectacular view points in the Galapagos.

Following check-in at the lodge, lunch will be served at the Evolution Restaurant or on the Pool Terrace.

In the afternoon, you will have the chance to relax and familiarize yourself with the lodge surroundings. Enjoy a range of activities at your own pace and leisure, including walking, jogging, cycling trails, or a swim in the pool. It is very common to encounter the property’s giant resident tortoise.

You will be briefed on the following days’ activities in the DNA bar, while enjoying complimentary welcome cocktails.

Dinner: Evolution Restaurant

Overnight: Pikaia Lodge

Day notes

Take to the water on a yacht cruise, onboard the M/Y Pikaia I, where a private cabin has been assigned to you. Enjoy a delicious breakfast on-board the yacht, and upon arrival on the island, get adventurous with hiking or snorkelling activities until midday. Relish a lunch buffet of traditional Ecuadorian food as the yacht sails to North Seymour for an afternoon exploration.

The island of North Seymour is fascinating for flora and fauna, with abundant birdlife such as blue- footed boobies, colonies of frigate birds, and others marine species. Watch colonies of sea lions frolic in the deep, spot hammerhead sharks, marine turtles, land and marine iguanas, and the endemic beauties of the endangered Palo Santo (Holy Wood) dry forest.

At Bachas Beach, walk along pristine white sandy beaches, separated by outcrops of lava rocks. Enjoy the opportunity to view pacific green sea turtles, flamingos, lava gulls, and red Sally lightfoot crabs.  If you like you can enjoy a swim and snorkel.

Two hours before sunset, the yacht will set sail for Pikaia Lodge. While sailing, you can rest, shower, or freshen up in the air-conditioned private cabins, soak in the Jacuzzi, watch a Galapagos documentary, join a discussion with guides, sunbathe, or look out for dolphins.

Dinner: Evolution Restaurant

Overnight: Pikaia Lodge

Day notes

Enjoy an early breakfast, and then embark on a morning exploration program. Each morning activity is planned according to satellite weather imagery and tidal charts. You will join a group of maximum 16 people for the land tour,  two or three activities will be chosen from the list below.

• Los Gemelos Sinkholes & Scalesia Forest
• Giant tortoises farm in Rancho Chato II
• Volcanic craters and giant tortoises at Cerro Mesa
• Lava tunnels
• Tortuga Bay Beach
• Charles Darwin Scientific Research Centre
• Garrapatero Beach

If you prefer, you can relax and enjoy your day at the lodge. Mountain bikes, helmets, snorkelling equipment, and wetsuits are available without extra charge at the front desk or onboard the yacht. (Early pre-booking is recommended.)

Lunch will be served at Pikaia Lodge, and in the afternoon there will be further excursions.

Dinner: Evolution Restaurant

Overnight: Pikaia Lodge

Day notes

Start the day early at the coffee station at the Pikaia Lodge reception, before a 50-minute transfer to the port. Board the M/Y Pikaia I, and sail through the Ithabaca Channel to Bartolomé Island while enjoying breakfast.

Bartolomé Island is the most recognized, most visited, and most photographed of all the Galapagos Islands. It is most notably famous for Pinnacle Rock, a towering spear-headed obelisk jutting out of the ocean – perhaps the best known landmark throughout the entire Galapagos National Park.

You need to climb more than 300 stairs to the summit of Bartolomé; here you can find some of the most beautiful landscapes in the entire archipelago including pink and white sand beaches.  Dive into the deep for an unforgettable snorkelling experience, complete with Galapagos penguins, perhaps whitetip and Galapagos sharks, rays, multitudes of sea lions, a kaleidoscope of tropical fish, and green sea turtles. 

Buffet lunch will be onboard M/Y Pikaia I and in the afternoon you will visit Sullivan Bay, a site of great geological interest. Located on the south-east side of Santiago Island, originally named James Island, the area is covered by solidified and wave-shaped lava flows.

Enjoy a walk here, finding pockets of green trees in the volcanic-rock surrounds, and unique vegetation.

Conservation work over the last decade has rehabilitated much of the vegetation, and many of the native species.

The Sullivan Bay’s famous lava is known as Panoehoe, which is Hawaiian for string. It gets this name from the string or rope-shapes formed by the cooled lava eruptions.

Head back to Pikaia Lodge where dinner will be served at Evolution Restaurant.

Dinner: Evolution Restaurant

Overnight: Pikaia Lodge

Day notes

Your adventure comes to an end, and after breakfast your check-out time and transfer will be arranged according to your flight.

You will be transferred to Baltra Island Airport and assisted with check-in for your return flight to Guayaquil. Relax in the VIP lounge pending your flight departure.

Upon arrival at Guayaquil Airport, you will be met by an English-speaking guide, who will assist you with your international flight connection.