* Visit Quito, Otavalo Indian Market, Cruise
around the Islands of Galapagos
* Experienced
bi-lingual tour-guide
* Fare inlcudes
air-tickets, 3 meals daily, sightseeing and show tickets (except optional
tours), 4-stars hotel accommodations
* Fare excludes
tips to driver and tour-guide, travel insurance, airport tax, other
personal expenses
From
US$4198.00+tax
Day 1: Los
Angeles, CA - Quito, Ecuador
Depart from Los Angeles on a mid-night flight to Quito, capital of Ecuador.
(Passenger must be at the airport on Friday evening to take the mid-night flight)
Day 2: Quito (B/L/D)
Meet arrival at Quito Int'l Airport by our professional guide and start a city tour.
Quito is the center of politics and economy. And, it is the cultural hub of Ecuador
and the largest colonial & historic center in the Americas. And it is the first city to
be nominated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Today's city tour will start with the exploration of the
bustling streets and squares of the city. Travel into the Plaza de la Independencia where the Iglesia de la
Catedral (the Cathedral), the Palace of Gobierno and the Government Palace are located. The historic center of
Quito is a treasure of Spanish architecture. Walking around this area, you will also find the Hospicio or the
Hospital Psiquiátrico, the Convent of Carmen Alto and the 16th Century Monastery of Santa Clara. Located in
Quito's north-central part is the large and modern building of Ecuadorian Cultural Center. On the Plaza San
Francisco, a few blocks from the Plaza de la Independencia, is the Monastery of San Francisco, the oldest
colonial building in Quito. There, too, is the ornate, gold decorated La Compañia church, which is known as the
Baroque jewel of the Americas.. There are many churches in the old town area, most built in the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries. Be sure to visit El Sagrario, recently renovated, Santo Domingo, La Merced, La
Basilica and the monasteries of San Augustin and San Diego for their museums. After the tour, transfer to hotel.
Travel
north of Quito along the Pan-American Highway through the lush volcanic
highlands, rich in friendly indigenous people, historic haciendas, sparkling
lakes, archeological treasures and towering volcanoes. Visit the craft village
of Calderón, known for its bread dolls; the flower plantations around Cayambe;
the wood carvers of San Antonio de Ibarra; and Cotacachi, which specializes
in leather goods.The famous Otavalo market comes to life when people from
dozens of local villages meet in the Plaza de los Ponchos to display their
handcrafted textiles. You can also find a hat so finely made that it can
be rolled up and passed through a ring-the famous Panama hat. It actually
originates from this small Andean country. The majority of the 45,000 or
so Otavaleño Indians actually live in around 75 separate communities outside
Otavalo. In these villages you can witness Otavaleños' centuries-old weaving
skills put into practice. In addition to a nearby waterfall, Las Cascadas
de Peguche, there are a number of pleasant lakes just outside of Otavalo.
The larger Imbabura region, sprinkled with mountain lakes, provides great
opportunities for horseback riding, sailing, trekking, and climbing. Popular
hikes include Lagunas de Mojanda, Laguna Cuicocha, Volcan Imbabura, and
Pinan Lake and Apuela hot springs in the Cotocachi-Cayabas Ecological Reserve.
Return to Quito and enjoy an Ecuadorian specialty dinner.
Day 4: Quito - Baltra - On Board "MV Galapagos Legend" Cruise Ship - North Seymour Island (B/L/D)
Morning transfer to airport for departure to Baltra. Meet arrival at the airport and transfer to the pier and on board the MV Galapagos Legend. The cruise ship sets sails to North Seymour Island. This island in the center of the archipelago is
a busy nesting place of boobies, frigate birds, and swallowtail gulls. Marine iguanas, sea lions, and endemic Palo Santo forests also share this islet. Dry landing at this island to observe the natural life and beauty in the vicinity.
Day 5: Cruise: El Barranco (Genovesa Island) - Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island) (B/L/D)
Ship sails from North Seymour towards Genovesa Island overnight. Genovesa Island is one of the most
captivating islands in the Galapagos. It is home to the red-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, swallowtail gulls, lava gulls, storm petrels, frigates, terns, doves, Darwin's finches, and mockingbirds and other wonderful creatures. Also here are Prince Philip's Steps and superb snorkeling at Darwin's Bay. Dry landing at El Barranco so that passengers can walk on the lava terrain to enjoy the lovely sceneries with thousands birds around. After lunch, it is a wet landing in Darwin Bay and passengers will enjoy the observation of red-footed boobies, frigates, sea lions, lava gulls, night herons, and fiddler crabs. And, this site can also offer snorkeling opportunities in the bay to observe sharks and rays at a safe distance.
Day 6: Cruise: Genovesa Island - Espanola Island: Suarez Point - San Cristobal Island (B/L/D)
Arrive Suarez Point in Espanola Island this morning. Dry landing at the inactive lava terrain fields to learn more
about the lava terrain. Isolation has bred many endemic fauna here, from marine iguanas to crabs, boobies,
doves and mockingbirds. Aside from the sea lion colonies, this is one of the most important sites for bird
watching. Once set foot on the island, many species of birds can be observed such as hooded mockingbird and
red billed tropic bird. A large colony of marines iguanas, lava lizards, and colorful sally light food crabs can
also be seen in the area. The nesting ground sometimes overlap the trail. Visitors will find Galapagos doves,
hawks and swallowtail gulls. After crossing the nesting ground, you will reach the world's largest colony of
waved albatross (apprx. 15000). May through December their mating rituals are highlight of the visit. At the end
of the excursion, passengers will visit the famous Blow Hole, where water shoots into the air at almost 75 ft.
high. After the excursion, the ship cruises to San Cristobal Island. Dry landing at Baquerizo Moreno Port. San
Cristobal Island is the closest to the mainland. Passengers will the Interpretation Center where it provides an
opportunity to learn about the natural and human history of the islands.
Day 7: Cruise: Santa Cruz Island (Las Bachas Beach) - Black Turtle Cove - Bartolome Island (B/L/D)
Today, the cruise ship will arrive at the Black Turtle Cove near Las Bachas Beach in
the north of Santa Cruz Island. The excursion will provide the passengers with a
"dinghy" boat ride through the mangrove, during which the motor of the boat will be
turned off to allow the close observation of sea turtles, white tipped reef sharks,
spotted eagle rays, and golden rays. Santa Cruz Island is the most populated island. The Darwin Research Station
works to save giant tortoises and iguanas. Puerto Ayora is the commercial heart of Galapogos you can spare
sometime to walk around the town and do a little shopping. And the highlands feature lava tunnels, Twin Craters,
wild turtles and great birding. It is another eco-zone in the Islands of Galapagos. The cruise ship sets sails again
to Bartolome Island. This island is famous with its Pinnacle Rock towers over lava tubes, tufts, and cones. Dry
landing on this island, passengers will see volcanic formations including lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. A
hike to the summit, passengers will enjoy an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuft
cone of the Pinnacle Rock. On the way to the summit, you can see large colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards,
tiquilla, and various cacti. Snorkeling and watching Galapagos penguins, sea turtles and white tipped sharks at a
safe distance will be possible in here.
Day 8: Cruise: Fernandina (Espinosa Point) - Isabela Island (Tagus Cove) (B/L/D)
Ship sails from Bartolome towards Fernandina Island. Arrive Espinosa Point at Fernandina Island. It is the westernmost and most pristine island. After a dry landing at Espinosa Point, passengers
will see the biggest marine iguanas mingling with sally light-foot crabs. You will enjoy the primeval world of the flightless cormorants nesting sites, the Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations note brachycereus cactus, and two kinds of lava formations "pa-hoe-hoe" lava and "AA". Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea, showing a healthy and thriving eco-system. Later, cruise to Isabela Island which is the island in the Galapagos. Arriving at the Tagus Cove, passengers will take a land excursion on the island and will learn more about the eruption of five(5) volcanoes that flowed together to form this land mass. Walking through the trail will lead you to the Darwin's salt water lagoon and an excellent view of the lava fields with unique lava formations. Take a "dinghy" boat ride to observe the marine life and frequently you can find Galapagos penguins around in this site. Graffiti dating back to 1800 can help visitors to better understand the relationship between the islands and tourism today. The graffiti is believed to be the works of the pirates and buccaneers.
Day 9: Cruise: Santiago Island (Egas Port) - Rabida Island (Jervis) (B/L/D)
Today visit the dark sand beach at Egas Port. Most of the landscape are tuff-stone
layers and lava flows. The surrounding area is good for spotting and observing
hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, oyster catchers, and the yellow
crowned night herons. Visitors can enjoy the sight of marine iguanas grazing upon
algae beds at low tide among red light-foot crabs. There is colony of fur-seal
swimming in deep pools of cool water called "grottos". In this beach, you can
swim and snorkel in search of octopus, sea horses, star fish, and other marine life. Arrive Rabida Island at the dark red colored beach of volcanic origin frequented by sea lions. It is often considered as the geographic center of the Galapagos, because it has the most diversified volcanic rocks of all the islands. A short trip to the salt water lagoon, you can find the flamingos. July through September is a good time to observe the brown pelican nesting in mangroves. Boobies and 9 species of Darwin's finches can also be found here. "Dinghy" ride by the reefs will be arranged and it is an excellent opportunity for snorkeling.
Day 10: Cruise: Santa Cruz Island: Ayola Port (Darwin's Research Station) (B/L/D)
Today, the cruise ship will arrive at Ayola Port in Santa Cruz Island and will have a chance to investigate the
Darwin's Research Station, which works are to conduct biological research and conservation projects and to
save the giant tortoises and the iguanas. You can also admire the giant tortoises that are part of the breeding
program. Visitors can also admire the impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Puerto
Ayora is the commercial heart of Galapogos, you can spare sometime to walk around the town and do a little
shopping. And the highlands feature lava tunnels, Twin Craters, wild turtles and great birding. It is another eco-
zone in the Islands of Galapagos.
Day 11: Cruise: Santa Cruz Island (Las Bachas) - Black Turtle Cove - Baltra - Quito (B/L/D)
This morning visit the Black Turtle Cove near Las Bachas Beach in the north of Santa Cruz Island. The excursion will provide the passengers with a "dinghy" boat ride through the mangrove, during which the motor of the boat will be turned off to allow the close observation of sea turtles, white tipped reef sharks, spotted eagle rays, and golden rays. And, you will have the chance to swim and snorkel in this white sand beach. Later you will check out from the cruise ship and transfer back to the airport for departure to Quito. Meet arrival at airport and transfer to hotel.
Day 12: Quito - Los Angeles
Morning free for leisure. Afternoon transfer to airport for departure to Los Angeles. Conclude the 12 days
discovery trip to Galapagos Islands.
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