Essential Quito and Galapagos

Make your own way to the airport for your international flight to Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. Enjoy inflight meals and services. Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met by your guide at the airport and transferred to your hotel. 

Overnight in Quito

After breakfast, you may head on a guided city tour of Quito. The tour will begin with a visit to the downtown core, one of the biggest in South America. Your first point will be La Ronda, the oldest street in the city, which used to be home to musicians, poets, and politics back in time. Here, you will learn about the traditions of the city by first stopping in the gastronomic capsule for an explanation of the different local spices which are used for the typical Ecuadorian gastronomy (no tasting is included). Discover the house of handicrafts, made of metal and wood — most of them designed for the traditional churches and created by hand for furniture decoration. Then, visit Independence Square, surrounded by significant historical buildings. Visit the Cathedral (XVI Century), the Presidential Palace, El Sagrario Church (XVII Century), and La Compañia de Jesus (XVII Century) —one of the most beautiful baroque churches in South America. Finally, drive to the viewpoint at the Penecillo Hill, where the Virgin of Quito lies, the most unique winged virgin of the world. Enjoy the wonderful view of the city and the surrounding mountains and volcanos.

Overnight in Quito

Optional: Middle of the World Tour
After the city tour, you will drive north of Quito to ‘the Middle of the World’, where the equatorial line divides the northern and southern hemispheres. Here you can visit the landmarks with a local guide and explore the Inti-Nan Solar Museum, where you will find more scientific information about this natural site.

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island, one of the most famous Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel on the island of Santa Cruz. In the afternoon you will head on a tour of the highlands where you will get the opportunity to see the famous Giant Tortoises in their natural environment. After lunch in the Highlands, you will be transferred to Puerto Ayora to check in to your hotel.

Overnight on Santa Cruz Island

The trail to Tortuga Bay will start from the main street in Puerto Ayora and take about an hour of walking. The trail extends through the arid zone and many land birds can be seen along the way. Arriving at Tortuga Bay Beach, you will find the first beach “Playa Brava”. This beach boats open waters and strong undercurrents which make it not recommendable for swimming. If you continue walking to the right side (15 minutes) you will arrive at “Playa Mansa”, the perfect place for sunbathing, swimming, and taking photos. You will also find marine iguanas along the shore. From there, make your way to the Charles Darwin Station. The centre is a reservoir of information on habitats and local conservation, as well as other fascinating relevant statistics. The most striking attraction of this station is certainly the Tortoise Breeding Center, where it is possible to see tortoises of different shapes and sizes. Travellers may freely walk and get their photos taken with the tortoises. Among other inhabitants at the centre, you can see the land and marine iguanas and different species of birds.

Overnight on Santa Cruz Island

After breakfast, you will enjoy a full day at leisure to explore the island at your own pace, relax, or book an optional tour.

Overnight on Santa Cruz Island

Optional: Cerro Mesa & Garrapatero
This optional tour will take you to Cerro Mesa, the first ecological reserve in the province of Galapagos. You will discover an amazing viewpoint with stunning panoramic views of the Archipelago and Santa Cruz’s coastal lines. Its main attraction is the elevated location and thick vegetation. The area is well known for an ongoing horizontal mist which lasts a good 8 months of the year. You will also visit Garrapatero, which is a long white beach (approximately 1,500 m long), situated approximately 19 km to the northeast of Puerto Ayora. This destination can be reached by boat (20 minutes) or by car, through Bellavista and Cascajo (50 minutes). From the parking area, there will be a walk of just less than 1 km to the beach. In addition to the beautiful beach, there is a lagoon where flamingos and white-cheeked Pintail Ducks can sometimes be seen. Many birds are found in the arid zone and shorebirds can be seen there. There is also a rental kayak service to go for a ride and enjoy the lovely landscape.

Today your guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight home.