Ecuadorian Journey
Visiting Quito, the Amazon, Galapagos Islands aboard the M/V Santa Cruz, Indigenous Markets, Andean trains, Colonial cities and Inca Ruins
INCLUDED: Meeting and transfer service in all destinations in Ecuador. * Tours as noted including entrance fees with English speaking guides. * Hotel accommodations including room taxes and service charges. * Ground transportation to Otavalo; 4 night Galapagos Cruise main deck -2 lower berth with all shore excursions; meals as mentioned in itinerary B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner; Kapawi lodge for 3 nights and 12 nights hotel accommodations with room taxes and service charges * Expresso Metropolitano from Quito to Riobamba and Cuenca. * Airfare from Miami to Quito via American Airlines. * Tips to airport porters only.
NOT INCLUDED: * Services not mentioned or Passport fees.* Galapagos National Park $100.00; Cuyabeno Park tax $10.00 and local airpor Taxes ($5.00 each for Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil) and when departing USA departure tax $232 (Inc. USA airport tax/security/fuel surcharges).* Meals except as noted in itinerary, tips to porters, guides and tour bus drivers. *Insurance
* As of Aug.01, 2007…..The new international departure tax in Quito will be USD40,80 per person, Guayaquil however will remain at USD26,00 per person.
Deposits: $300 at the time of booking. Final Payment: 65 days in advance.
NOT INCLUDED: * Services not mentioned or Passport fees.* Galapagos National Park $100.00; Cuyabeno Park tax $10.00 and local airpor Taxes ($5.00 each for Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil) and when departing USA departure tax $232 (Inc. USA airport tax/security/fuel surcharges).* Meals except as noted in itinerary, tips to porters, guides and tour bus drivers. *Insurance
* As of Aug.01, 2007…..The new international departure tax in Quito will be USD40,80 per person, Guayaquil however will remain at USD26,00 per person.
Deposits: $300 at the time of booking. Final Payment: 65 days in advance.
Details
- Tour Operator
- Tara Tours
- Offer
- Offer valid through 12/31/2008
- Duration
- 20 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - No
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Depart USA | TUE. U.S.A-QUITO : Depart Miami, Los Angeles or New York for Quito, Ecuador. Airport reception and transfer to the Hotel selected for overnight. |
| Day 2 | Quito | WED. QUITO : Afternoon drive along the northern residential section and see the impressive Parliament Building. Then stroll downtown to visit the colonial temple and monasteries designated by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. Visit San Agustine Convent with its colonial cloisters, coffered ceilings and vast collection of paintings. Continue to the Independence Plaza flanked by the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Municipal Building and Archbishop's Palace. Next, visit the great church and Monastery of San Francisco with the Virgin of Quito at its main altar. Your scenic tour ends at a lookout point with a great view of Quito. (B) |
| Day 3 | Galapagos | THU. QUITO-GALAPAGOS : Transfer to the airport for flight to Baltra. Arrive and transfer to the M/V Santa Cruz. Afternoon visit Dragon Hill in Santa Cruz. (L,D) |
| Day 4 | Galapagos | FRI. GALAPAGOS : Morning at Tagus Cove, which is a natural protected harbor where whalers safely spent the night. The Island has 5 huge volcanoes, mountains, and Darwin's salt lake crater. (Sea penguins, flightless cormorant, marina iguanas). Afternoon at Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island). along the shoreline, you will see hundreds of marine iguanas, basking in the sun, gulls, cormorants and the Galapagos hawk. (B,L,D) |
| Day 5 | Galapagos | SAT. GALAPAGOS : Morning visit Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island) and the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, you will learn first hand of the conservation and research efforts in the islands. You will learn about the tortoise hatching and breading program. Afternoon at Punta Cormorant (Floreana), where you will observe Flamingos, Palo Santo trees, sea turtles and with good luck eagle rays. (B,L,D) |
| Day 6 | Galapagos | SUN. GALAPAGOS : Morning at Gardner Bay (Hood Island) on the northeastern tip of Espanola, facing the Gardner Inlets, where you will find a large stretch of white sand beach. The site is favored by the sea turtles for nesting and sea lions for snoozing (also, good snorkling). Afternoon at Punta Suarez (Hood). Nearly all the species found on this island are visible in Punta Suarez, tame mocking birds, uncommon red and green trimmed marine iguanas, blue-footed and masked boobies and albatros colonies. (B,L,D) |
| Day 7 | Quito | MON. GALAPAGOS-BALTRA-QUITO : Morning arrive in Baltra with transfer to the airport for flight to Quito with transfer to Hotel Alameda. (B) |
| Day 8 | Riobamba | TUE. QUITO-RIOBAMBA : Early morning departure by bus, down the Pan American Highway, past the snow-tipped Cotopaxi volcano to Latacunga for a stop at its picturesque Indian market (on Thursdays visit Saquisili market). Lunch nearby at the Hosteria Rumipamba de las Rosas. Continue the scenic drive to Ambato, and visit the rug and craft center of Guano. On arrival in Riobamba, see the town and its Religious Art Museum before dinner and overnight at your hotel. (L,D) |
| Day 9 | Cuenca | WED. RIOBAMBA-CUENCA : Depart for a scenic two-hour bus ride to the rail station at Alausi to board the Expresso Metropolitano train to Cuenca. The long journey including lunch on board starts with the ride down the Devil's Nose switchbacks to Sibambe, with a turn onto the tracks towards Cuenca. The Andean route is spectacular, ending at El Tambo where passengers drive by bus to visit the Inca ruins at Ingapirca. Its sun temple and fortifications were part of a way-station on the ancient route between Quito and Cuzco. Train continue toCuenca. (B,L,D) |
| Day 10 | Cuenca | THU. CUENCA : Today a full day excursion with lunch at a country inn, visiting Cuenca with its colonial buildings, and fine craft markets, Ecuador's leading craft producing center for ceramics, jewelery and the famous Panama hats- yes, the Panama hat is made in Ecuador! (B) |
| Day 11 | Quito | FRI. CUENCA-QUITO : In the morning visit Yunguilla valley. In the afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Quito. Overnight at Hotel Alameda. (B) |
| Day 12 | Quito | SAT. QUITO-OTAVALO MARKET : This excursion goes north, to the land of the Otavalos and South America's most famous Indian fair along the Panamerican Highway through dramatic mountain scenery to the textile market of Otavalo, where guests will enjoy visiting the many stalls full of ponchos, scarves, blankets, wall hangings, woven belts (fajas), hats, handbags and much more. Here Otavalenos barter in silence, in marked contrast to the raucous noise of other markets; take your time to negotiate the best bargains. Then, proceed to Peguche, an Indian village very near Otavalo that is home to the artisans who do the weaving in their homes; guests can learn about their culture and everyday life and then take the cobblestone road to San Pablo, with a stop along the way at a weaving workshop specialized in fine backstrap loom woven textiles. Lunch is at one of the charming country inns or haciendas of the area. (L) |
| Day 13 | Quito | SUN. QUITO : Day at leisure to explore Quito on your own. |
| Day 14 | Kapawi | MON. QUITO-KAPAWI : Morning charter flight from Quito to Montalvo. A short flight to Kapawi. Arrive and trasnfer by boat to the lodge. Briefing about Kapawi and next day activities. (L,D). |
| Day 15,17,18 | Kapawi | TUE, WED, THU. KAPAWI : Daily activities -as per your choice.... About Kapawi: Kapawi Ecolodge and Reserve is located in the most remote area of the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin. From Quito you will fly to Montalvo, the short slight to Kapawi from where wooden canoes will take you to the Lodge.( 10 minute ride). The lodge accommodates up to 40 passengers and was built in accordance to the Achuar concept of Architecture (not a single nail was used). Environmentally friendly methods such as solar energy and trash recycling are also being utilized. Kapawi is a placed of multiple choices and is characterized by its flexibility, you can design with your guide and your group the most suitable one to meet your interest and physical condition. Nevertheless, most itineraries will include visits to the Achuar communities, hikes in the rain forest, canoeing in rivers and lakes as well as close observation of the flora and fauna. This is a true experience of the Amazon Rain Forest. You will Macaws, Parrots, King Vultures, Yellow crowned parrot, Hoatzins Howler Monkeys, Pink Dolphins, Capibaras, Caymans and much more....it is heaven in this part of the Amazon !. The tour package to Kapawi includes all your meals, daily excursions with a naturalist English speaking guide, accommodations, airfare Quito-Kapawi-Quito. Not included: Achuar community fee of $10.00 (per passenger), soft beverages, alcoholic drinks, Government taxes. (B,L,D). |
| Day 19 | Quito | FRI. KAPAWI- QUITO : Early morning upriver journey by boat (four hours), and back to the airport for the return flight to Quito. Transfer to Hotel Alameda. (B). |
| Day 20 | Return USA | SAT. QUITO-MIAMI, NEW YORK or LOS ANGELES : Transfer to the airport. |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- From Jun.16 to Aug.15 -please add $80 and from Dec.09 to 31 -please add $280.
HOTEL USED IN QUITO: New Hotel Dann Carlton (5 stars). Other hotels available upon request.
ADD-ONS & VIA AMERICAN AIRLINES:
For same package add $140 from ORL,TPA, JAX, FMY and Zone 1; $190 from ATL; add $230 from BDL, BOS,BWI, EWR, NYC, PHL, RDU, WAS, + Zone 3 - - Add $290 from CHI, CLE, DTT; - Add $320 from DEN, DFW, HOU, MSY, SJU ZONE 2 & 4; Add $390 from LAX, SFO + ZONE 5; Add $410 from Zone 6. RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME.
