4 Worlds in One Country – Galapagos – Island Hopping. MIXED

Breakfast at the hotel.

Quito city tour is perfect for seeing fascinating panoramas, churches, domes and roofs that have an important historical value. You will admire and learn about colonial art, architecture, culture, legends, and traditions. Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and stands at an altitude of 9.350 feet. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved, least altered historic Center in Latin America. The architecture and rich interiors, are pure examples of Quito School of sculpture, which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art. After 3 incredible hours exploring the Old Town, you’ll understand why Quito was the world’s first city named to UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage list.

In the old town we are going to visit:

• Basilicia Church: is the Biggest Neogothic Church in South America.  This religious construction was designed by the French architect Emilio Tarlier, who was inspired by the Parisian cathedral of Notre Dame.
• Plaza Grande: Plaza de la Independencia, locally known as Plaza Grande, is where Quito’s daily life and historic and national symbolism collide.  In the center of the Plaza de la Independencia we find the monument to the Heroes of Independence that was built at the beginning of the 20th century, which symbolizes the triumph of the Republic against the Spanish colony.  Around the Plaza you can visit the Carondelet Plaza and Archbishop’s Palace.
• Compañía de Jesús Church: is Quito’s most ornate church and a standout among the baroque splendors of the Old Town. It is a Jesuit church, and one of the most interesting and spectacular in Quito. From the outside the church is distinctive for its green and gold domes.
• San Francisco Church: It stands proud on one side of the main square in the old town of Quito.  Was built on the site of an Inca temple, which means it stands slightly higher than some of the other buildings in the city. It is considered to be a baroque church, and one of the most important in the city. Throughout the church are both Catholic and indigenous symbols.
• Panecillo Hill: It is the most important natural viewpoint of Quito.  The Panecillo is currently crowned by a giant aluminum sculpture of the «Virgin of Quito», created in 1975 by the Spaniard Agustín de la Herrán Matorras, which was based on the Virgin of Legarda or Apocalyptic Virgin; 18th century work by Bernardo de Legarda, one of the most important representatives of the Quito School.

At the afternoon, you will visit: “Cuidad Mitad Del Mundo” and Intiñan Museum.

1.)       “Ciudad Mitad del Mundo”

“Ciudad Mitad del Mundo” is touristic, cultural, scientific and commercial  artificial city of Ecuador. Its architecture is based on colonial style. An obelisk and a museum relevant to its geographical location were built at the Middle of the World site. All of this is found among the drastic landscape surrounded by nature and modern buildings. The monument is crowned by a metallic sphere that represents the Earth. It is named Equatorial Monument and it geographical orientation coincides with the four cardinal points and is located precisely at Earth’s midpoint — 0 degrees latitude, 0 minutes, 0 seconds.

2.)       Intiñan Museum

Since the year 1960, the Intiñan Museum in Quito has been a center for the promotion of the many aspects of Ecuador’s culture.  This museum offers interactive exhibits on how the Incas determined the middle of the earth, plus interesting science experiments such as balancing an egg on a nail and why water rotates in opposite directions on opposite sides of the Equator and why it’s difficult to walk in a straight line along this imaginary line.

Accommodation:  Patio Andaluz Hotel 

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Breakfast: at the hotel.

After breakfast We will start the day driving south of Quito through the Pan-American Highway also known as “The Avenue of the Volcanoes.” We continue our tour, until we reach the Toachi Canyon, it is a viewpoint towards the Toachi River canyon. This canyon was produced by the eruptions of the Quilotoa volcano giving a spectacular view from the highest point of the canyon. In its interior it runs with a fall of more than 100 meters along the Toachi river that goes towards the Ecuadorian coast.

After this visit we continue towards the Quilotoa Lagoon. Quilotoa has a caldera with a diameter of almost 9 km formed inside its crater. This is the product of the collapse of the volcano, which occurred about 800 years ago. According to the studies, the volcanic flow reached the Pacific Ocean. At our arrival to the Quilotoa Loop, we will appreciate an emerald green lake inside the crater of an extinct volcano with steep jagged cliffs.

Then we continue to Baños. Transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation: Sangay Hotel 

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Breakfast: at the hotel.

Baños is known as “The Gate of the Amazon Region.” Baños is located on the outside of the eastern range of the Andes. It is a perfect place to relax and explore. This small town is famous worldwide for its natural crystalline waterfalls. We will arrive to Río Verde, where the Pailón del Diablo is located, considered one of the ten largest jumps. Pailon del Diablo is the most majestic among the waterfalls in La Ruta de las Cascadas. This waterfall is 80 meters tall and 1,410 meters above sea level.

Then we will continue on the waterfalls route, we will make several stops to explore the waterfalls in the area, first we will visit the Agoyan Waterfall, we will continue to the Manto de la Novia waterfall where we will have an opportunity to cross in tarabita. We will also visit the famous swing of the End of the World, located in La Casa Del Tree, it is a long swing located on top of a steep slope, with a beautiful mountain view. The unique location of the swing at 2600 meters above sea level, offers visitors a beautiful and scary view of the Tungurahua volcano.

After that we return to the city and see how the famous “marshmallow” (candy, which is made from sugar cane) is made.

Then we continue to Riobamba. Transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation: Hacienda Abraspungo Hotel 

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Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast you will continue to Chimborazo; which is the highest mountain in Ecuador. The giant measures 6,310 meters above sea level and its upper slopes are surrounded by a vast bleak wasteland. This reserve, however, provides water to the three provinces below, born from the Ambato, Chambo and Chimbo springs. The reserve is home to a large population of vicuñas reintroduced from Peru and Chile in 1988. There are also llamas and alpacas, native domestic animals which were used by the ancient inhabitants of the Andes before the Spanish introduced horses, sheep, cows and donkeys. The reserve was created to protect these animals and its historical legacy as well as the strange wasteland of which they are a part.

After visiting the reserve, we go to the ruins of Ingapirca. Ingapirca is the largest and best preserved archaeological site in Ecuador, is located 80 km from the city of Cuenca, in Cañar province. It was built with millions of hewn stones in the middle of the eighteenth century. In the complex you can see the different architectural units, among which stands the Temple of the Sun, which have an elliptical shape 37 feet long and 12 meters wide, which was used to perform ceremonies and rituals of Cañari-Inca culture. In addition, you can observe the oldest building of Ingapirca, Pilaloma which consists of a series of rectangular rooms.

After visiting the ruins we will go to Cuenca, here you can rest and enjoy your free time.

Accommodation:  Santa Lucia Boutique Hotel 

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Breakfast: at the hotel

Cuenca, 2560 m. above sea level (8400 feet), the third largest city in Ecuador and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated in a fertile valley in the southern highlands of Ecuador. Cuenca has kept its old-world architectural charm and its colonial ambience. The Old Town is best visited on foot. Our tour takes you along the cobblestone streets admiring the historic buildings, hanging balconies, carved wooden doors, the craft fair and colorful flower market, the main plaza with the Old Cathedral, which has been converted to the “Museum for Religious Art”, and the magnificent blue-domed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. See silversmiths at work and handicrafts of almost every kind. You end the tour with a visit to the “Panama Hat” factory.

Accommodation:  Santa Lucia Boutique Hotel 

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Breakfast: at the hotel

After breakfast we will continue to Cajas. Cajas National Park is located in the Ecuadorian Andes west of Cuenca. This is a striking name as the area is characterized by large outcrops of bedrock. This is called knob and kettle geomorphology and results in a spectacular landscape, where the outcrops alternate with lakes. The lakes and rivers are famous for their trout and pure water. The park is about twenty nine thousand square hectares large and ranges in altitude from 2800 meters to more than 4400 meters above sea level. Cajas is a National Park since 1996. Cajas was declared a National Area of Recreation in 1977. Humidity, low temperature, and high altitude with low atmospheric pressure create an ecosystem that accumulates organic material in the soil that is able to retain water. The National Park is home to a large variety of animals, some of which are endemic or highly endangered.

In the afternoon we travel to Guayaquil (3.5-hour drive). In the path we will visit a Cacao Plantation.

Lunch at Cacao y Mango Plantation

Continue to Guayaquil

Accommodation:  Wyndham Guayaquil Hotel 

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Breakfast: at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Flight to Galapagos.

When you land in Baltra a guide will be waiting for you. You will arrive at Santa Cruz Island crossing the Itabaca Channel, it is a waterway that connects two islands, (Baltra and Santa Cruz), in 10 minutes. Then you continue to Highlands of Santa Cruz. Here you may observe the famous Giant Tortoises in their natural environment, which also known as Galapagos, and from where the name of the Islands derive. Also catch sight of the famous Galapagos Finches, Bird Wizards, as well as endemic vegetation such as Scalesia forests and Matazarnos. Later you will have free time to explore the town of Puerto Ayora, where you can visit several souvenir shops.

Accommodation: Villa Laguna Hotel 4*

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Breakfast: at hotel.

Bartolome Island is a volcanic islet in the Galápagos Islands group. It is a volcanic islet just off the east coast of Santiago Island. It is one of the “younger” islands in the Galápagos archipelago. With a total land area of just 1.2 km², this island offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the archipelago. The island consists of an extinct volcano and a variety of red, orange, green, and glistening black volcanic formations. Bartolome has a volcanic cone that is easy to climb and provides great views of the other islands. Bartolome is famous for its Pinnacle Rock, which is the distinctive characteristic of this island, and the most representative landmark of the Galápagos. It has two visitor sites. You’re going to visit the first one.

At the first one, you may swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock; the underwater world there is really impressive. You can snorkel with the penguins, marine turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and other tropical fish.

Accommodation: Villa Laguna Hotel 4* 

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Breakfast at the hotel.

• Seymour Island

North Seymour is a small island near Baltra Island in the Galapagos Islands. It was formed by an uplift of a submarine lava formation. The whole island is covered with low, bushy vegetation.

This island is home to a large population of blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. It hosts one of the largest populations of frigate birds in Galapagos.

North Seymour has a visitor trail approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) in length crossing the inland of the island and exploring the rocky coast.

North Seymour is an extraordinary place for breeding birds, and it is a home to one of the largest populations of nesting blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds. Pairs of blue-footed boobies can be seen conducting their mating ritual as they offer each other gifts, whistle and honk, stretch their necks towards the sky, spread their wings, and dance showing off their bright blue feet.

• Plazas Island

South Plaza is a small island off the east coast of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. It has an area of 0.13 km and a maximum altitude of 23 metres. South Plaza was formed by lava up streaming from the bottom of the ocean. Despite its small size it is a home to a large number of species and it is famous for its extraordinary flora. That is why this island is very popular with visitors. On the steep banks it is possible to see a great number of birds such as nesting Red-billed Tropicbirds and Swallow-tailed Gulls, but most of all, enjoying the beautiful view from atop the steep banks or strolling along the base of the cliff is an extremely pleasurable experience. The beautiful prickly pear cactus trees (Opuntia echios) and of course the large colony of Galapagos Land Iguanas are very attractive. Depending on the season, the Sesuvium ground vegetation changes its colour from intense green in the rainy season to orange and purple in the dry season.

Return to the hotel

Accommodation:  Villa Laguna Hotel 4* 

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Breakfast: at the hotel.Transfer to the airport to your flight to Quito or Guayaquil.

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