The Best of Ecuador & Galapagos 12 Days / 11 Nights (PRIVATE Trip)
The Best of Ecuador & Galapagos 12 Days / 11 Nights (PRIVATE Trip)
Discover the Avenue of the Volcanoes at the Ecuadorian Andes very well known for its striking volcanic peaks and rugged Andean scenery. Some of Ecuador’s most visited sites lie in this area, including the view Cotopaxi volcano, the Quilotoa Lake a huge crater lake, the lively little holiday town of Baños and of course, Ecuador’s highest peak, Chimborazo. Continue to Cuenca with its cozy old town with colonial plazas, squares and much more.
The land tour ends in Guayaquil city based at the pacific coast in order to depart to the Enchanted Islands of Galapagos which will captivate to every traveler with its unique flora and fauna.
Book This ExperienceA glimpse of the journey
Your Itinerary
A curated journey through the experience
Cotopaxi Province
You´ll drive from Quito through Andean Volcanoes Avenue heading from where you may admire Cotopaxi Volcano, the second highest volcano of Ecuador.
4 hoursLaguna Quilotoa
Day 2: Baños surrounding area, the avenue of the waterfalls
3 hoursLa Casa del Arbol
This is a super famous place to visit, also known as the Swing at the End of the World located just 20 minutes driving from the main town. It’s a little treehouse with swings on either side that go over the steep slope of the mountain. The swing overlooks the Tungurahua volcano, which is an amazing sight on a clear day.
1 hourCascada el Manto de la Novia
Visit the route known as the “Ruta de las Cascadas”, or “Waterfall Road”. It lives up to it’s name. There are three tunnels on the way. These are for motor vehicles. If you want to survive the trip, do not enter these tunnels on bike. Along the way, you’ll see tons of really nice waterfalls along the way such as Agoyan, Manto de la Novia and others. These include some cable cars and zip lines sending every visitor over a gorge with a pretty view.
1 hourCASCADA EL PAILON
Day 3: Baños - Chimborazo Volcano - Alausi
3 hoursChimborazo Province
After breakfast you will departure to Chimborazo reserve where is base the highest Volcano of Ecuador with an altitude of 6,310 meters above sea level. It will be a nice challenge for mountaineering lovers, however, in our tour, you will explore and enjoy up to the 5,100 meters and appreciate the flora of páramo and the fauna of this area as the vicuña, a species of camelid. Afternoon continue driving to the south until to get to Alausi town.
6 hoursAlausi
Day 4: Alausi - Ingapirca Archaelogical Ruins - Cuenca
Alausi
After breakfast you will need to continue driving to your next destination which is the biggest inca-cañari archaeological ruins.
3 hoursIngapirca Ruins
You will visit the archeological site of Ingapirca which is the most important place left by the Inca occupation in Ecuador, it was built by the “Cañaris” and “Incas”with marvel at the different styles of construction of the temples as well as the precise solar calculations and aqueduct system.
2 hoursCuenca
Day 5: Explore Cuenca
Cuenca
Day 6: Cuenca - Cajas National Park - Cacao Farm - Guayaquil
6 hoursEl Cajas National Park
The park sits 30 kilometers west of Cuenca in the Ecuadorian highlands. Covering an area of over 28,000 hectares, the high altitude grassland ranges in elevation between 3,100 and 4,450 meters. This area is part of the Páramo characterized by high levels of precipitation, cool temperatures, high humidity and dry winds making this place the rick choice for hiker lovers.
1 hourNaranjal
Visit a local organic cacao farm where you will learn the process of making cacao into chocolate. Eat the cacao raw, see the different stages of the tree’s growth, the steps in the process, and of course, try some 100% cacao, as well as processed chocolate. Finally continue to Guayaquil.
2 hoursGuayaquil
Day 7: Flight Guayaquil to Galapagos, Santa Cruz Island
Guayaquil
After breakfast you will be picked up by the driver to go to the airport to catch the plane to Galapagos Islands.
3 hoursGalapagos Islands
The Enchanted Island are a bucket-list destination and thanks to its abundance of friendly and plentiful wildlife makes the Galapagos Islands a perfect destination for animal lovers. After all, there’s no other place where you can experience the concentration of so much natural wonder with a unique environment as its flora and fauna.
3 minutesRancho Primicias
Day 8: Santa Cruz Island, Visit Charles Darwsin Station - boat to Isabela Island
3 hoursCharles Darwin Research Station
Today you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, founded in 1959, which carries out educational and developmental projects in support of the National Park Service, such as conservation and sustainable management of flora and fauna. Their aim is to preserve this natural habitat in every aspect, allowing visitors to appreciate the original ecosystems.
2 hoursPuerto Ayora
Day 9: Isabela Island: Excursion to Wetland area and Snorkel at Tintoreras Islet
Isabela Island Wetlands Complex
You will visit the Wetland area that consist of lagoons where a number of flamingos live among swamps and mangroves. A variety of unique bird species, such as common stilts, gallinules and white-cheeked pintails also inhabit the area.
2 hoursLas Tintoreras
Day 10: Isabela Island: Hike to Sierra Volcano - Boat to Santa Cruz Island
3 hoursSierra Negra
After breakfast be ready to drive up to explore the Sierra Negra Volcano, make sure you will be handling comfortable walking shoes and possibly a rain jacket, ensuring our cameras are stored in waterproof bags, with sunscreen, hats, water and a boxed lunch from the hotel. You will travel some 45 minutes by truck or bus to the start point of the 12 km hike. The hike is long but fairly easy, without steep climbs or descents to the second-largest crater in the world, measuring 6 miles in diameter, and 300 feet deep. If the time allows you will also visit Volcan Chico, which provides a spectacular view of the incredible moonlike terrain. At noon back to the town.
5 hoursPuerto Ayora
Day 11: Free day at Santa Cruz Island
Puerto Ayora
Day 12: Flight Galapagos to Quito or Guayaquil
8 hoursBaltra
No accommodation included on this day.
1 hourIncluded
- Private transportation
- English speaking guide
- Accommodation based in double room
- Excursions as mentioned in the program
- Public boat ticket to travel from Santa Cruz to Isabela Island and vice versa
- Shared excursion to Tintoreras Islet with Snorkel gear
- Shared excursion to Sierra Volcano
- Devil´s Nose Train Ticket
- 11x Breakfast
- 9x Lunch
- Accommodation included: 11 nights
- 1x Dinner
- Entry/Admission - Rancho Primicias
Not Included
- Meals not mentioned in the program
- Personal expenses
- Flight ticket to Galapagos 480-500 usd pp aprox. pp
- Entrance fees to the places mentioned in the program
- Galapagos entrance fee 100 usd pp
- Galapagos transit card 20 usd pp
- Isabela dock fee at Galapagos 10 usd pp
- Local bus at Baltra airport to get to the channel 5 usd pp per way
- Local water taxis 5 usd pp for the whole program
- Gratuities
Good to Know
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Tickets & Cancellation
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.