16 days / 15 nights
Enjoy 7 days land (Quito) / 9 days cruise (Galapagos Island)
All meals included onboard
All meals included onboard, welcome and farewell cocktails.
From $7,178
Per person in USD (subject to change)
Quito
Quito
Quito Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the Middle of the World.
GO Quito Hotel
GO Quito Hotel
Start in Quito with a city view from the best five-star hotel, GO Quito Hotel.
Galapagos
Galapagos
Navigate the Galapagos Islands, an iconic conservation landmark.
Galapagos
Galapagos
Navigate the Galapagos Islands, an iconic conservation landmark.
Quito
Quito
Quito Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the Middle of the World.
Cuenca
Cuenca
Start in Cuenca, exploring its historic center, colonial architecture, and iconic blue-domed cathedral.
Galapagos Legend
This exquisite vessel, designed for 100 guests, offers an intimate glimpse into the Galapagos’ charm. Await a voyage filled with culinary delights and extraordinary adventures. Elevate your experience with the knowledge* of our expert Galapagos guides, ensuring an adventure rich in discovery and luxury.
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Sample Itinerary
Day 1 - Welcome to Quito
AM
✈ Transfer Quito (airport – hotel). Welcome to Quito. A representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. You will have free time to explore the city, relax and settle in.
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Accommodation: In the 5-Star GO Quito Hotel/ Premium Room
Day 2 - Quito Old Town Tour & Middle of the World
AM
Colonial Quito.
Stroll through the busy streets and squares of the most significant historic center of the Americas: a multi-ethnic, artistic, and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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PM
The Middle of the World.
Afterward, our guide will visit the Middle of the World Complex at latitude 0*0*0. Return to the hotel for the night.
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Accommodation: In the 5-Star GO Quito Hotel/ Premium Room
Day 3 - Quito - Otavalo & Magdalena Community
AM
Driving north from Quito, we pass through various ecosystems and agricultural zones, even crossing the equator. Along the way, we taste local flavors and enjoy scenic views of volcanoes, including “El Taita” Imbabura.
At the Otavalo market, visitors can engage with locals, negotiating for woven goods, bags, hats, flutes, and other crafts.
We visit villages like Peguche, known for traditional looms and Andean instruments, and Cotacachi, famous for its leather work. Next, we explore Cuicocha Lagoon in Cotacachi Cayapas National Park. Enjoy free time for lunch with recommendations from your guide.
PM
Our journey continues to the Karanki-Magdalena Community, at 3,100 meters above sea level. The landscape resembles a colorful patchwork, and locals are known for their exquisite embroidery, which is available for purchasing directly from artisans.
Experience their daily life, unhurried by modern distractions. Overnight in a comfortable room with private facilities and hot water. Enjoy authentic Andean home cooking and optional activities like horseback riding and hiking.
- Meals Included: Dinner at Magdalena Home Stay.
- Accommodation: Magdalena Home Stay.
Day 4 - Magdalena Community - Ibarra & Quito
AM
Join the locals in Magdalena for their morning activities, including milking cows.
Next, we head to Ibarra, famously known as “La Ciudad Blanca” and the capital of Imbabura. Your guide will delve into the city’s rich history while we admire its stunning architecture.
Our journey continues to “Parque Cóndor,” a rescue center for birds of prey. Here, you’ll learn about the significant challenges faced by Andean condors and owls.
PM
In the afternoon, we visit Hacienda Pinsaqui, a historic site in Imbabura Province. Savor a traditional lunch, stroll through the picturesque gardens, and interact with the horses.
Later, we drive back to Quito, ensuring your drop-off at either your hotel or the airport.
Meals Included: Breakfast at Magdalena Home Stay, Lunch at Hacienda Pinsaqui.
Day 5 - Quito - Cotopaxi Volcano - Baños de Agua Santa & Riobamba
AM
Travel south to Baños, passing through lush agricultural landscapes and admiring the majestic Cotopaxi Volcano in its stunning national park. Visitors can explore and climb to scenic rest stops for breathtaking views.
PM
Arriving in Baños, enjoy a cooler climate near Tungurahua Volcano, with adventure tours, relaxing thermal waters, and scenic waterfalls. After exploring, continue to Riobamba for an overnight stay in a classical hacienda.
Day 6 - Riobamba - Balbanera Church - Sand Dunes Palmira - Ingapirca Ruins & Cuenca
AM
If weather permits, admire Chimborazo, the world’s farthest mountain from Earth’s center at 6,310m. Travel south through stunning landscapes, stopping at La Balbanera, Ecuador’s first Catholic church, and Guamote, home to a vibrant indigenous market on Thursdays.
PM
Explore the Palmira sand dunes for breathtaking photos before visiting Ingapirca Ruins, a fusion of Cañari and Inca heritage. Discover ancient artifacts in the site museum before reaching Cuenca for an overnight stay in a first-class hotel.
Overnight: First Class Hotel in Cuenca
Day 7 - Cuenca - El Cajas National Park & Guayaquil
AM
Begin the day with a panoramic tour of Cuenca, Ecuador’s third-largest city, rich in colonial history and home to over 20 churches. A UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, it also preserves pre-Inca Cañari archaeological remains.
PM
Next, explore El Cajas National Park, known for its breathtaking landscapes and over 200 lagoons, including the famous La Toreadora.
Overnight: First Class Hotel in Guayaquil
Day 8 - Welcome to Galapagos & San Cristobal Island
AM
✈ Welcome to Galapagos. Departure from Quito to Baltra Island is a 2 1⁄2 hour flight. Upon arrival in the Galapagos, passengers are greeted at the airport by our knowledgeable guides who will accompany them on a short ten-minute bus ride to the pier where they will board the Galapagos Legend.
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PM
Interpretation Center & Frigatebird Hill (San Cristobal Island) The interpretation center is full of interesting information and offers the perfect overview of the formation of the Galapagos. Following a hike to Frigate bird Hill (Cerro Tijeretas), we will have a great look at both species of frigate birds, with the bonus of a beautiful view of the bay below.
Day 9 - San Cristobal Island
AM
Kicker Rock – This ancient and eroded volcanic tuff lava named Leon Dormido or Kicker Rock, is formed from two rocks approximately 148 m, named for its resemblance to a sleeping lion.
Cerro Brujo – From our dinghy ride, as we head to shore, we are first humbled by the immensity of the stunning cliffs of the Sorcerer’s Hill. You can enjoy simply sharing the beach with sea lions, snorkelling from shore, or taking a walk to a hidden lagoon.
PM
Punta Pitt (San Cristobal Island).This is the only place on the islands where we will enjoy the chance to see all three of the booby species in the same place. The red-foots will be perched on the Cordia lutea and small trees, the Nazca ́s on the ground near the cliff edge while the blue-foots will be a little further inland. Frigatebirds will be all around and the views are breathtaking.
Day 10 - Española Island
AM
Punta Suarez (Española Island). Punta Suarez is a naturalist ́s paradise. The oldes extant island in the archipelago is our only opportunity to commune with the endemic wave albatross during their breeding season between April and December. With luck, we can watch their complex courtship display.
PM
Gardner Bay (Española Island). One of the most stunning beaches in all of the Galapagos. The long, white, sandy beach, lapped by turquoise waters, home to a colony of Galapagos sea lions. Hood mockingbirds, endemic to this particular island. We can also snorkel here from the beach, in the shallows of the bay.
Day 11 - Floreana Island
AM
Cormoran or Champion (Floreana Island). Our walk takes us to a large, shallow lagoon, often inhabited by a variable number of shockingly pink greater flamingos. We arrive at a powdery white beach, a nesting area for green turtles.
PM
Post Office (Floreana Island). The famous Post Office Barrel. Claimed to have been first set up in 1793 by Captain James Colnett. The system involved whalers and fur sealers would leave addressed letters in the barrel to be picked up by homeward-bound colleagues. Actually visitors often take letters and hand-deliver them to their home countries.
Day 12 - Highlands Tortoise Reserve
AM
Highlands Tortoise Reserve– We have our best opportunity to interact at close quarters with totally wild, Galapagos giant tortoises. A short walk among these huge, 600lb, reptiles will also offer the chance for more highland species, especially several species. of the famed finches.
Charles Darwin Research Station – We visit the Station where the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding program takes places as part of our efforts to preserve the fragile Galapagos environment.
PM
Punta Carrion (Santa Cruz Island). Dinghy ride at the entry of the Itabaca Channel in a lagoon with turquoise water, where we can observe sharks, blue-footed boobies, and different kinds of fish.
Day 13 - Genovesa Island
AM
El Barranco (Genovesa Island) Be marveled at the variety of sea life that uses the crevices of the lava cliffs for shelter. Red-billed Tropic birds fly overhead, and a small colony of fur seals may be found near the landing site. You will be dropped off at a steep stairway that begins on rocks at the foot of a path that leads through a seabird colony entire of Nazca and Red-footed Boobies.
PM
Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island) From within the flooded caldera of Tower Island, we set foot onto a sandy beach to be greeted by swallow-tailed gulls, often said to be the most beautiful gull in the world. On the trail, we can see nesting red-footed boobies and great frigate birds.
Day 14 - Rabida Island & Bartolome Island
AM
Rabida Island. Lying at the archipelago’s heart, this dramatic island with a distinctive red-sand beach is home to sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, endemic Galapagos doves, and vermilion flycatchers. A walk takes us through a forest of palo santo and cacti to a beautiful overview of the bay.
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PM
Bartolome Island. Considered the most iconic landscape of the entire archipelago the view from the top of Bartolome Island, overlooking the famous Pinnacle Rock and the austere Santiago Island, Our subsequent snorkel here might put us face to face with Galapagos penguins, white- tipped reef sharks, and playful sea lions.
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Day 15 - Santa Cruz Island & Return to Quito
AM
Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz Island) Named for some wrecked World War II barges whose ribs are still visible in the sand this visitor site offers great swimming, a lovely walk along the shore, and a visit to a lagoon behind the high tide line with wading birds, marine iguanas and sometimes even flamingos. The two beaches are also favorite nesting sites for green turtles, which often leave tractor-like tracks in the sand.
✈Baltra Island Airport After the visit, passengers will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to Quito.
Day 16 - Transfer to Airport
Transfer to Quito airport
Transfer to Quito airport or guests can also extend their stay in Ecuador with other land tours we offer.
Coral I & Coral II
Coral I & Coral II are gorgeous and comfortable sister yachts. They offer charming social areas on three decks with outdoor and interior spaces that allow you to enjoy an intimate expedition experience on your way. They can accommodate 36 and 20 guests, respectively.
LEARN MORE
Sample Itinerary
Day 1 - Welcome to Quito
AM
✈ Transfer Quito (airport – hotel). Welcome to Quito. A representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. You will have free time to explore the city, relax and settle in.
Accommodation: In the 5-Star GO Quito Hotel/ Premium Room
Day 2 - Quito Old Town Tour & Middle of the World
AM
Colonial Quito.
Stroll through the busy streets and squares of the most significant historic center of the Americas: a multi-ethnic, artistic, and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
PM
The Middle of the World.
Afterward, our guide will visit the Middle of the World Complex at latitude 0*0*0. Return to the hotel for the night.
Accommodation: In the 5-Star GO Quito Hotel/ Premium Room
Day 3 - Quito - Otavalo & Magdalena Community
AM
Driving north from Quito, we pass through various ecosystems and agricultural zones, even crossing the equator. Along the way, we taste local flavors and enjoy scenic views of volcanoes, including “El Taita” Imbabura.
At the Otavalo market, visitors can engage with locals, negotiating for woven goods, bags, hats, flutes, and other crafts.
We visit villages like Peguche, known for traditional looms and Andean instruments, and Cotacachi, famous for its leather work. Next, we explore Cuicocha Lagoon in Cotacachi Cayapas National Park. Enjoy free time for lunch with recommendations from your guide.
PM
Our journey continues to the Karanki-Magdalena Community, at 3,100 meters above sea level. The landscape resembles a colorful patchwork, and locals are known for their exquisite embroidery, which is available for purchasing directly from artisans.
Experience their daily life, unhurried by modern distractions. Overnight in a comfortable room with private facilities and hot water. Enjoy authentic Andean home cooking and optional activities like horseback riding and hiking.
- Meals Included: Dinner at Magdalena Home Stay.
- Accommodation: Magdalena Home Stay.
Day 4 - Magdalena Community - Ibarra & Quito
AM
Join the locals in Magdalena for their morning activities, including milking cows.
Next, we head to Ibarra, famously known as “La Ciudad Blanca” and the capital of Imbabura. Your guide will delve into the city’s rich history while we admire its stunning architecture.
Our journey continues to “Parque Cóndor,” a rescue center for birds of prey. Here, you’ll learn about the significant challenges faced by Andean condors and owls.
PM
In the afternoon, we visit Hacienda Pinsaqui, a historic site in Imbabura Province. Savor a traditional lunch, stroll through the picturesque gardens, and interact with the horses.
Later, we drive back to Quito, ensuring your drop-off at either your hotel or the airport.
Meals Included: Breakfast at Magdalena Home Stay, Lunch at Hacienda Pinsaqui.
Day 5 - Quito - Cotopaxi Volcano - Baños de Agua Santa & Riobamba
AM
Travel south to Baños, passing through lush agricultural landscapes and admiring the majestic Cotopaxi Volcano in its stunning national park. Visitors can explore and climb to scenic rest stops for breathtaking views.
PM
Arriving in Baños, enjoy a cooler climate near Tungurahua Volcano, with adventure tours, relaxing thermal waters, and scenic waterfalls. After exploring, continue to Riobamba for an overnight stay in a classical hacienda.
Day 6 - Riobamba - Balbanera Church - Sand Dunes Palmira - Ingapirca Ruins & Cuenca
AM
If weather permits, admire Chimborazo, the world’s farthest mountain from Earth’s center at 6,310m. Travel south through stunning landscapes, stopping at La Balbanera, Ecuador’s first Catholic church, and Guamote, home to a vibrant indigenous market on Thursdays.
PM
Explore the Palmira sand dunes for breathtaking photos before visiting Ingapirca Ruins, a fusion of Cañari and Inca heritage. Discover ancient artifacts in the site museum before reaching Cuenca for an overnight stay in a first-class hotel.
Overnight: First Class Hotel in Cuenca
Day 7 - Cuenca - El Cajas National Park & Guayaquil
AM
Begin the day with a panoramic tour of Cuenca, Ecuador’s third-largest city, rich in colonial history and home to over 20 churches. A UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, it also preserves pre-Inca Cañari archaeological remains.
PM
Next, explore El Cajas National Park, known for its breathtaking landscapes and over 200 lagoons, including the famous La Toreadora.
Overnight: First Class Hotel in Guayaquil
Day 8 - Welcome to Galapagos & Santa Cruz Island
AM
✈ Welcome to Galapagos. Departure from Quito to Baltra Island is a 2 1⁄2 hour flight. Upon arrival in the Galapagos, passengers are greeted at the airport by our knowledgeable guides who will accompany them on a short ten-minute bus ride to the pier where they will board the Coral I or Coral II.
PM
Punta Carrion (Santa Cruz Island). Dinghy ride at the entry of the Itabaca Channel in a lagoon with turquoise water, where we can observe sharks, blue- footed boobies, and different kinds of fish.
Day 9 - San Cristobal Island
AM
Kicker Rock – This ancient and eroded volcanic tuff lava named Leon Dormido or Kicker Rock, is formed from two rocks approximately 148 m, named for its resemblance to a sleeping lion.
Cerro Brujo – From our dinghy ride, as we head to shore, we are first humbled by the immensity of the stunning cliffs of the Sorcerer’s Hill. You can enjoy simply sharing the beach with sea lions, snorkelling from shore, or taking a walk to a hidden lagoon.
PM
Punta Pitt (San Cristobal Island).This is the only place on the islands where we will enjoy the chance to see all three of the booby species in the same place. The red-foots will be perched on the Cordia lutea and small trees, the Nazca ́s on the ground near the cliff edge while the blue-foots will be a little further inland. Frigatebirds will be all around and the views are breathtaking.
Day 10 - Española Island
AM
Punta Suarez (Española Island). Punta Suarez is a naturalist ́s paradise. The oldes extant island in the archipelago is our only opportunity to commune with the endemic wave albatross during their breeding season between April and December. With luck, we can watch their complex courtship display.
PM
Gardner Bay (Española Island). One of the most stunning beaches in all of the Galapagos. The long, white, sandy beach, lapped by turquoise waters, home to a colony of Galapagos sea lions. Hood mockingbirds, endemic to this particular island. We can also snorkel here from the beach, in the shallows of the bay.
Day 11 - Floreana Island
AM
Cormoran or Champion (Floreana Island). Our walk takes us to a large, shallow lagoon, often inhabited by a variable number of shockingly pink greater flamingos. We arrive at a powdery white beach, a nesting area for green turtles.
PM
Post Office (Floreana Island). The famous Post Office Barrel. Claimed to have been first set up in 1793 by Captain James Colnett. The system involved whalers and fur sealers would leave addressed letters in the barrel to be picked up by homeward-bound colleagues. Actually visitors often take letters and hand-deliver them to their home countries.
Day 12 - Santa Cru Island
AM
Highlands Tortoise Reserve– We have our best opportunity to interact at close quarters with totally wild, Galapagos giant tortoises. A short walk among these huge, 600lb, reptiles will also offer the chance for more highland species, especially several species. of the famed finches.
Charles Darwin Research Station – We visit the Station where the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding program takes places as part of our efforts to preserve the fragile Galapagos environment.
PM
Punta Carrion (Santa Cruz Island). Dinghy ride at the entry of the Itabaca Channel in a lagoon with turquoise water, where we can observe sharks, blue-footed boobies, and different kinds of fish.
Day 13 - Genovesa Island
AM
El Barranco (Genovesa Island) Be marveled at the variety of sea life that uses the crevices of the lava cliffs for shelter. Red-billed Tropic birds fly overhead, and a small colony of fur seals may be found near the landing site. You will be dropped off at a steep stairway that begins on rocks at the foot of a path that leads through a seabird colony entire of Nazca and Red-footed Boobies.
PM
Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island) From within the flooded caldera of Tower Island, we set foot onto a sandy beach to be greeted by swallow-tailed gulls, often said to be the most beautiful gull in the world. On the trail, we can see nesting red-footed boobies and great frigate birds.
Day 14 - Rabida Island & Bartolome Island
AM
Rabida Island. Lying at the archipelago’s heart, this dramatic island with a distinctive red-sand beach is home to sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, endemic Galapagos doves, and vermilion flycatchers. A walk takes us through a forest of palo santo and cacti to a beautiful overview of the bay.
PM
Bartolome Island. Considered the most iconic landscape of the entire archipelago the view from the top of Bartolome Island, overlooking the famous Pinnacle Rock and the austere Santiago Island, Our subsequent snorkel here might put us face to face with Galapagos penguins, white- tipped reef sharks, and playful sea lions.
Day 15 - Santa Cruz Island & Return to Quito
AM
Pit Craters (Santa Cruz Island). The Pit Craters, geologically speaking, were not directly formed by volcanic action. They were created as a result of the collapse or sinking of surface materials into cracks or manholes. It’s a great place to spot vermilion flycatchers as we walk inside an endemic Scalesia forest. Great opportunity to observe giant tortoises.
✈Baltra Island Airport After the visit, passengers will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to Quito.
Day 16 - Transfer to Airport
Transfer to Quito airport
Transfer to Quito airport or guests can also extend their stay in Ecuador with other land tours we offer.
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Essentials:
- Passport and Travel Documents.
- Cash in US Dollars and bring credit or debit cards.
- Your medications for the journey.
- Ocean-Friendly Sunblock.
- Insect repellent.
- Waterproof small backpack.
- Photo and video cameras.
- Journal
What to Wear?
- Water-resistant, closed-toe sport sandals.
- Lightweight hiking shoes.
- Lightweight hiking pants or shorts.
- Long-sleeve shirts.
- Bathing suits.
- Warm sweater or fleece.
- Wide-brimmed hat or cap.
- Sunglasses
Otavalo: One of the most famous handcraft markets in Latin America
More information