Read a sampling of what our
clients said about their trips
Anybody who desires a hassle-free vacation to Peru can have it arranged economically and without a problem by Martha and her staff at South American Vacations. My wife and I shy away from group travel and prefer something a bit more personal and adventurous. The planning was carefully and cheerful ... more Flint, Ruth, and Hal Smith
Garden Grove, CA
Lodging, Meals, and Airfare: This tour includes accommodations for 12 nights (4 nights in Quito, 1 night at the Magdalena Karanki Community, 1 night in Riobamba, 1 night in Cuenca, 1 night in Guayaquil, and 4 nights aboard the Galapagos Legend), 22 meals (12 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners), and domestic airfare in Ecuador.
Elevations: Quito is 9,350 feet above sea level, Otavalo is 8,399 feet, Ibarra is 7,231 feet, Salinas is 5,282 feet, Magdalena Karanki Community is 10,170 feet, Banos is 5,905 feet, Riobamba is 8,333 feet, Cuenca is 8,300 feet, and El Cajas NP is 13,123 feet.
IGTOA's Traveler Funding Program
South American Vacations is an active member of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association). In support of IGTOA's Traveler Funding Program, we contribute $50 for each passenger that we send to the Galapagos Islands. You'll travel knowing that you support the lasting protection of Galapagos Islands.
Sixty percent of the funding of this program goes directly to the Charles Darwin Foundation for science, conservation, and education. Their work, carried out through the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galapagos National Park, is vital to the preservation of the islands. You can visit their web site to learn more http://www.darwinfoundation.org. The remainder goes toward IGTOA's mission of creating a model of responsible and sustainable tourism.
Otavalo, Avenue of the Volcanoes, and Five Day Galapagos Legend Cruise
Combining the Highlands of Ecuador with the Galapagos Islands is a great way to experience the cultural and natural wonders of this small Andean country. The itinerary includes a city tour of Quito, a visit to the Otavalo Market, an overnight stay at the Magdalena Karanki Community, and a drive along the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Cuenca, with stops in Banos, Riobamba, and the Ingapirca ruins. The last part of the trip is a five day Galapagos Islands cruise aboard the Galapagos Legend.
The Galapagos Legend is a 100 passenger deluxe expedition ship that offers the comforts and amenities of a larger cruise liner. It is air conditioned throughout, and features 57 cabins with lower beds, private bathroom, safe, and mini bar. The ship's spacious social areas include a pool, Jacuzzi, Fisherman's Bar, observation decks, al fresco dining areas, a spacious passenger lounge, dining room, boutique, library, and conference room. Wets suits ($25) can be rented on board.
Note #1: The route and program may vary according to National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety reasons and wildlife encounters. Note #2: The order of the tours on Days 3 and 4 may be changed depending upon the schedule and availability of the Chaski Route Train.
Dry Landing: Guests step from the dinghy directly onto rocks or a dock. Wet Landing: As the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee-deep water and wade ashore.
Day 1: Quito
Depart to Quito. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Hotel Quito in Quito.
Day 2: City Tour of Quito/Middle of the World
In the morning, you will have a city tour of Quito. You will explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas, and visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compania and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. You will drive through the traditional neighborhood of San Juan and finish the morning at the Panecillo hillside, with its breathtaking views of the old and modern parts of the city.
Following the city tour, you will be driven to the "Middle of the World City" complex, which is located 11 miles north of Quito. Here, you will see the monument of the equatorial line, a 98 foot high stone trapezoidal monument with a brass globe on top. The monument forms the focal point of a park and leisure area with gift shops and restaurants. Overnight at Hotel Quito in Quito. (B)
Day 3: Quito/Otavalo Market/Chaski Route Train/Magdalena Karanki Community
Depart Quito to the northern highlands of Ecuador, with stunning views of valleys such as Guayllabamba and Pisque. This is a unique "in situ" opportunity to learn about the formation of the Andes Cordilleras. Photo stops of the snowcapped volcanoes Cayambe and (with some luck) Cotopaxi. You will drive through rose farms and quilt-patched country side with corn, potato, quinoa, and broad bean fields on the way to the province of Imbabura, the "lake province of Ecuador". The Otavalo market is one of the best known markets in South America, and you will see Otavalo Indians attired with beautiful and unique costumes.
After the market, you will continue further north to the city of Ibarra to start the train ride that travels on an early 20th century railroad system, built to connect the northern Andes and the Pacific coast. A two-hour ride, dropping from over 8,000 feet to almost half this altitude, embraces high altitude vegetation, dry zones with bromeliad and pear cacti, ending in a sub-tropical zone with sugar cane plantations. The main attraction of this ride is travelling through tunnels and bridges following the Ambi River Canyon. Upon arrival in Salinas, an Afro-Ecuadorian village, you will enjoy lunch and an enriching cultural experience.
You will spend the rest of the day in Magdalena, an agricultural, cattle and sheep raising community located in rolling hills east of the Imbabura volcano. The women of the region traditionally have embroidered the blouses of their costumes, now you can purchase utilitarian goods with this beautiful multicolored embroidery. Learn about their everyday activities such as morning cow milking, shepherding and in season, ox plowing. Stand face-to-face with people untouched by the urgencies of modern life. Overnight at the Magdalena Karanki Community. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Magdalena Karanki Community/Cotacachi/Cuicocha Crater Lake/Quito
Late morning, you will begin the return drive back to Quito with stops at the village of Cotacachi and the Cuicocha Crater Lake. Cotacachi is known for artisans that specialize in leatherwork, including bags, jackets, hats, and gloves. Lunch in the village (not included). Afterwards, you will drive to the picturesque Cuicocha Crater Lake, where you will have a chance to walk around, and your guide will inform you about how the lake was formed, and the flora and fauna of the area. Overnight at Hotel Quito in Quito. (B)
Day 5: Quito/Baños/Riobamba
Depart south along the "Avenue of the Volcanoes". Weather permitting, you will be able to observe Cotopaxi Volcano, the world´s highest active snow covered volcano, along the way. Heading east, you start to descend to the valley of Patate, to the sub-tropical region where Baños is located. Baños is known as the "gateway to the Amazonia".
In the afternoon, you will tour the Pastaza river canyon, known as the "Waterfall Avenue" where you find Cascada de la Virgen, Inés María, the Bride´s Mantle, Path of Machay, and the Devil´s Cauldron (Pailón del Diablo). With some luck, you can observe the active volcano Tungurahua ejecting its impressive fumaroles. Back again on the Pan-American high way you continue driving along the foothills of the Chimborazo Volcano, the highest point in Ecuador, at over twenty thousand feet, until you reach Riobamba. Overnight at Hosteria Abraspungo in Riobamba. (B)
Day 6: Riobamba/Devil's Nose Train/Ingapirca Ruins/Cuenca
From Riobamba, you'll travel to Alausí, stopping for a walk-through of la Balbanera, the first Spanish church built in the country. In Alausí, you will take a spectacular train ride through the Devil's Nose, a true feat in railway engineering of the early twentieth century. Box lunch. You continue south and experience a dramatic landscape change with deep canyons and small green valleys to reach the village of El Tambo, and detour to visit the Incan Archaeological site of Ingapirca, which means "Wall of the Inca". This is the most important Incan relic in Ecuador. The citadel was built in the fifteenth century on the Inca trail that connected Quito to Cusco. The Solar Temple and the surrounding buildings follow the system of construction found in the ancient Incan capital of Cusco. Overnight at Hotel Carvallo in Cuenca. (B)
Note: The Devil's Nose Train ride does not operate on Mondays.
Day 7: Cuenca/City Tour/El Cajas National Park/Guayaquil
In the morning, you will have a walking tour of the old city of Cuenca, the third largest city of Ecuador, which along with Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old city is known for its numerous churches, such as Del Carmen de la Asunción, done in a modified baroque style, and Santo Domingo, done in a renaissance style, as well as colonial style houses and beautifully carved doors. You will visit the Parque Calderon, the main plaza, in the heart of Cuenca, which is dominated by the New Cathedral that was built in an eclectic style and holds a sampling of the marbles found in the area. Cuenca is also known for handicrafts, including pottery, embroidery, filigree jewels, and the Panama hat.
On the drive to Guayaquil, you will pass through El Cajas National Park. This area is known for its beautiful landscapes with at least 200 lagoons, including the famous La Toreadora. This path takes you from 13,123 ft. to sea level in three hours, making it possible to observe the different habitats in Ecuador, the moorlands, the Andean forest, the subtropical forest, and the rainforest. After lunch in Cajas, you will drive to Guayaquil. Overnight at Hampton Inn Guayaquil. (B)
Day 8: Guayaquil/San Cristobal Airport/Interpretation Center/Tijeretas Hill (San Cristobal)
Morning transfer to the airport in Guayaquil for the flight to Galapagos. Passengers are picked up at the airport by our naturalist guides and taken on a ten minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.
Interpretation Center. Dry landing in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, capital of the Galapagos Islands. You will visit the Interpretation Center, an excellent place to learn about the natural and human history of the Galapagos Islands. The Museum of Natural History displays information on the volcanic origins of the islands, their remoteness from the continent, ocean currents, climate, the arrival of the different species and their colonization, among other points of interest. The human history is also showcased, chronologically narrating the most significant events related to the discovery and colonization of the islands.
Tijeretas Hill involves a high intensity walk amidst beautiful landscapes and a magnificent view at the foot of a frigatebird nesting colony. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 9: Gardner Bay/Suarez Point (Espanola)
Gardner Bay. You will have a wet landing on a beautiful white coral sand beach guarded by a colony of sea lions. There are no trails, so you stay along the shore where you can spot Galapagos hawks, American Oystercatchers, Galapagos Ground Doves, Hood mockingbirds, Yellow Warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and three species of Darwin's finches: a subspecies (Geospiza fuliginosa) of the Large Cactus Finch, which is similar to the Large Ground Finch, the Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) and the Wabler Finch (Certhidea Olivacea), another endemic subspecies. Swimming and snorkeling offer a great variety of Galapagos marine wildlife: king angelfish, creole fish, damsel fish, parrotfish, manta rays, and white-tipped reef sharks.
Suárez Point (dry landing). An island of geological interest, you explore volcanic formations and a riveting wildlife: large sea lion colonies and seabirds including Española Mockingbird, Nazca Boobies and the spectacular Red-billed Tropicbird. You will also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs. A somewhat lengthy hike will bring you among Nazca and Blue-footed Boobies, right up to nesting grounds that sometimes overlap the trail. Other birding favorites include Galapagos Dove, Galapagos Hawk, Swallow-tailed Gulls, and the world's largest colony of Waved Albatross, an unequivocal highlight during mating season (May-December). Admire the island's dramatic backdrop, featuring the famous Soplador, a seaward blowhole that shoots water at some 23 m. (75 ft.) in the air. Overnight Aboard the Galapagos Legend. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Post Office Bay/Cormorant Point (Floreana)
Post Office Bay (wet landing). Located on the north side of Floreana, the bay is so-named because in 1793 Captain James Colnett installed a wooden barrel which served as an informal post office for sailors passing through, who would take letters with them to their destinations. Today, our visitors continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel that should reach their destinations for free. It can take weeks, months, even years or not arrive at all, or even before you! You may also encounter Darwin's finches, Yellow Warblers, and lava lizards. Great snorkeling opportunities with Green Pacific Sea Turtles. This island is best known for its endemic vegetation: Scalesia villosa, Lecocarpus pinnatifidus, and Galapagos milkwort. Snorkelers can practice on the main beach among playful sea lions.
Cormorant Point. Wet landing on an olivine green sand beach. You hike from the black mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This island features some endemic plants such as Scalesia villosa, white and black mangrove, and holy stick. The trail continues to a beautiful white-sand beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific Sea Turtles. It is important to avoid walking in the water due to the Sting Rays that may be hiding in the sand, which can be dangerous if accidentally stepped on. From the beach one can spot sea turtles, Blue-footed Boobies plunging into the water, and small reef sharks floating along the shoreline in search for food. This coral-sand beach marks the end of the trail, and you head back to the olivine beach you landed on to swim or snorkel amongst sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions and, on a good day, white-tipped reef sharks. A small colony of penguins resides on Floreana and can sometimes be observed as well. Overnight Aboard the Galapagos Legend. (B,L,D)
Day 11: Highlands of Santa Cruz/Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz)
Highlands of Santa Cruz (dry landing). A 45-minute bus ride will take you to the Highlands of Santa Cruz, located to the northwest of Puerto Ayora, where you will find a natural reserve with giant tortoises. These enormous and slow-moving reptiles are responsible for the island's name and therefore approaching them in their humid and forested abode is always an inspiring adventure. They can weigh between 250 and 300 kg and can live up to 150-200 years. Additionally, travelers can walk inside surprising lava tubes.
Charles Darwin Research Station (dry landing). You visit the Darwin Station where the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding program takes place, and you will have the opportunity to meet Lonesome George, the last surviving specimen of his species and a symbol of efforts to preserve the fragile Galapagos environment. It is an excellent place for visitors to be photographed with them. Admire a prickly-pear cactus forest, a variety Darwin's finches, and other land birds. The Darwin Station also works providing environmental education to communities and schools within the islands, and to tourists visiting the Galapagos Islands. You will also have some free time to visit the town and shop for souvenirs. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 12: Daphne/Baltra Airport/Quito
Today you circumnavigate the islet of Daphne, an eroded tuff cone formation that was created by successive volcanic activity, for an opportunity to see Darwin's finches, Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Swallow-tailed Gulls, and Brown Noddies. Afterwards you will go straight to the airport in Baltra for the return flight to Quito. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Hotel Quito in Quito. (B)
Day 13: Quito
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to your final destination. (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Otavalo, Avenue of the Volcanoes, and Five Day Galapagos Legend Cruise
Single
Double
Triple
Standard Plus
n/a
$4,059
n/a
Junior Suite
n/a
$4,549
$4,209
Legend Suite
n/a
$4,919
$4,579
Balcony Suite
n/a
$5,299
$4,959
All prices are in U.S. Dollars. Click here to see our prices in your currency.
NOTES:
The above prices are valid until December 10, 2013.
Minimum of two passengers required for this tour.
Hotel upgrades available upon request.
Otavalo, Avenue of the Volcanoes, and Five Day Galapagos Legend Cruise
The Price of This Tour Includes
South American Vacations' expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
Round-trip Guayaquil-Galapagos-Quito airfare in economy class.
Airport/hotel transfers including baggage handling.
Hotel accommodations including service fees and taxes.
Accommodations on board the M/V Galapagos Legend.
All meals scheduled on board and others as indicated on the itinerary.
Excursions to the islands conducted by bi-lingual naturalist guides.
Use of snorkeling equipment.
Evening briefings and lectures.
The Price of This Tour Does Not Include
International airfare.
Ecuadorian international departure tax (Quito $40.80).
Fuel surcharge for the ship ($90).
Galapagos National Park entrance fee ($100).
Transit control card ($10).
Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
Gratuities to ship crew and guides.
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Gifts and personal items.
Travel insurance.
We will be happy to quote the cost of international airfare and travel insurance and to make these arrangements for you.
Otavalo, Avenue of the Volcanoes, and Five Day Galapagos Legend Cruise
Otavalo, Avenue of the Volcanoes, and Five Day Galapagos Legend Cruise
