Compare Ecuador & Galapagos Islands by Rothschild Safaris vs 7 days / 6 nights – Northern Galápagos by Metropolitan Touring
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 13 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 15,000 | $ 4,854 |
| Price Per Day | $ 1,154 | $ 693 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Small ship cruise |
| Lodging Level | Luxury | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included |
11 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 7 Dinners |
N/A |
| Description |
From history-rich Quito to the vibrant cloud forests of Mashpi Reserve to the remarkable and utterly unique Galápagos Islands, explore the best of what Ecuador has to offer. Visit Otavalo and its world-renowned indigenous markets full of color and life, while staying at one of Ecuador’s top haciendas; stand along the equator when you visit the “Middle of the World;” and relax in hot springs with views of the Andes and rolling hills. This is a trip you will never forget. |
Our itinerary together begins on San Cristóbal Island and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galápagos Province. On our first afternoon, we visit Cerro Colorado, breeding centre of the islands' famous giant tortoises amid a fantastic deciduous forest. We sail north overnight, to awake at the sunken caldera of Genovesa Island, a privileged place to visit amid thousands of marine birds. Back in the central islands, on Thursday we learn about Buccaneer Cove's distant and recent history aboard our inflatable dinghies, before exploring the underwater realm, snorkelling or aboard the glass-bottom boat. Across the way, we disembark at the popular site of Puerto Egas, a great place to see land and marine birds amid a landscape of tuff-stone layers and lava flows. |
Days 1-2: Quito/ Hotel Casa Gangotena
Welcome to Ecuador! On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend your first two nights in Ecuador in luxury at Hotel Casa Gangotena, situated in the heart of Quito’s Old Town.
Spend your time here getting to know magnificent Quito, visiting the city’s historic district, enjoying this urban jewel and its artistic and architectural treasures. Drive to the Monastery of San Francisco, one of the principal religious monuments of the New World, then visit the exact middle of the planet where the equator crosses the earth at latitude 0° 0’ 0”. Here you will be able to stand with one foot in each hemisphere!
Days 3- 7: Galapagos Islands/ M/V Eclipse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Your adventure continues as we fly you to the Galápagos Islands to begin your 5-night cruise aboard the M/V Eclipse.
During your cruise your days will be filled with morning and afternoon excursions on different islands where you will can enjoy hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, and wildlife viewing all the while! Explore Cerro Brujo’s gorgeous beach, home to many sea lions and the place where Charles Darwin first stepped foot on the Archipelago; spot land iguanas, flocks of Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and different types of finches; or visit the inside of a lava tunnel!
Overnight: M/V Eclipse
Day 8: Pappallacta/ Termas Papallacta Spa & Resort
Accommodation: Termas Papallacta Spa & Resort
This morning you will fly back into Quito for your drive to Termas de Papallacta. Here you can relax and refresh yourself, taking in the stunning mountain views while having a soak in the lodge’s hot springs, or enjoy a spa treatment.
Days 9, 10: Mashpi Cloud Forest Reserve/ Mashpi Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Mashpi Lodge
Continue your journey northwest into the Mashpi Forest Reserve, a 3,200-acre haven for wildlife and biodiversity. Here, you will stay at National Geographic’s Unique Lodge of the World – Mashpi Lodge – a modern architectural marvel of glass where nature takes center stage.
Afternoon activities in the reserve will be organized depending on your group’s size and physical conditions and weather conditions. Activities include visiting the observation tower to experience life in the forest from a height of 90 feet, taking a 200-yard aerial cable ride on the “Sky Bike” through the forest canopy and visiting the San Vicente waterfalls to discover the lush secrets this forest holds. Follow the Howler Monkey Trail, which passes through primary forest, on to the Life Center and Butterfly Pavilion.
Days 11, 12: Otavalo/ Hacienda Zuleta
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hacienda Zuleta
It’s time to leave the forest behind as you journey to Ecuador’s Otavalo region. Your first stop is Otavalo Indigenous Market, one of the largest and best-known in South America. After some time perusing the local wares, you will continue on to enjoy lunch at Hacienda Zuleta – an amazing jewel tucked away amid several volcanoes.
A host of optional activities await you here, including easy mountain biking along the hacienda grounds, or a short hike around beautiful “Guinea Pig Lake.” Visit Cotacachi´s Leather Market and a family of weavers who not only have amazing wares but will demonstrate for you how they weave on their traditional back-strap looms and make striking colors from local plants. Around the corner lives a family of musicians, where you will get a feel for authentic Andean music and watch as they craft perfectly-tuned Andean flutes.
Day 13: Your Journey Ends
Today you will be transferred to Quito International Airport for your international flight home.
Day 1
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno/Galapaguera Cerro Colorado (San Cristóbal Island)
We land at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno's airport and transfer to the dock and the Isabela II, where we check in, receive an introductory briefing and have lunch on board.
Galapaguera Cerro Colorado (San Cristóbal Island)
After lunch, we land back at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and drive 40 minutes to the island's southern shore. At Cerro Colorado, we visit the breeding centre of the highly-endangered giant tortoises in the midst of a fantastic deciduous forest, home to dozens of bird species and the endemic San Cristóbal lava lizard.
Day 2
Prince Philip's Steps /Darwin Bay (Tower/Genovesa Island)
Overnight, we navigate northbound to the incredible bird island, Genovesa, crossing the equator on the way. The morning starts with an inflatable dinghy ride along the cliffs of this dramatic island, followed by landing with a steep climb (90 feet) up some stairs to reach a flat plateau. Along our walk, we can observe large colonies of Nazca boobies, red footed boobies, great frigate birds and storm petrels. Those not wishing to disembark can enjoy a longer inflatable dinghy ride along the cliffs (depending on weather conditions).
We can also enjoy snorkelling and kayaking.
Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island)
In the afternoon, we land at the beach for an easy stroll observing hundreds of birds, mainly frigate birds, red footed and Nazca boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds. There's an optional walk over sharp lava and uneven terrain for dramatic views, or else we can return to the beach to enjoy snorkelling at this beautiful natural harbour.
Day 3:
Buccaneer Cove/Puerto Egas (James/Santiago Island)
After breakfast, we enjoy a coastal exploration along the impressive cliffs of Buccaneer's Cove, learning about the area's distant and recent history. The cove is home to a large number of marine birds, sea lions, and inter-tidal organisms. Enjoy fantastic natural formations such as the "Elephant Rock", "The Bishop" and an impressive natural cave. This is a great site for snorkelling too! Or ride in our glass-bottom boat.
Puerto Egas (Santiago Island)
This is a great opportunity to see land and marine birds amid a landscape of tuff-stone layers and lava flows. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and we can also observe a colony of fur seals. Back at the beach where we land, there's very good snorkelling and swimming here.
Day 4:
Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)/Tagus Cove (Isabela Island)
In the morning, we visit the youngest island of the archipelago, Fernandina. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness and abundant wildlife. Highlights include hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. Opportunity to snorkel.
Tagus Cove (Isabela Island)
Across the narrow Bolívar Channel, we anchor at this cove on the northwest of Isabela. It provided a favourite anchorage for pirates and whalers over the centuries. An uphill hike takes guests to the rim of Darwin Crater, filled with salt water and to a dramatic viewpoint. After our walk, we take an inflatable dinghy ride to spot local wildlife, with the possibility of swimming, kayaking or snorkelling.
Day 5:
Urbina Bay/Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island)
After breakfast we disembark at Urbina Bay, the result of an uplifting of the ocean in 1954. Here you can find corals, shells and many other calcareous organisms exposed above water. This area is also home to large and very colourful Galápagos land iguanas, and occasionally to giant tortoises. Along the shoreline, after the hike, guests may encounter flightless cormorants and see penguins while snorkelling.
Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island)
Since there is no landing site at this location, the coastal exploration is by dinghy, while the naturalist guide explains the dramatic geology of the area, with remains of lava flows and tuff stone layers. There is abundant wildlife and, depending on the conditions of the ocean, we'll be able to snorkel along the cliffs, hopefully in the company of green sea turtles. Expedition plan for Sunday and dinner.
Day 6:
Rábida Island (Jervis Island)/ Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island)
In the morning, we disembark at Rábida Island's red-coloured beach. A stroll allows us to observe a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwin's finches. This is a great place to snorkel from the beach. We can also enjoy an inflatable dinghy ride, kayaking or ride in our glass-bottom boat.
Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) (Santa Cruz Island)
The north shore of Santa Cruz hosts Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill). Our walk includes circling a brackish water lagoon frequented by lagoon birds, while further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western islands of the archipelago.
Day 7:
Baltra Island
Our journey ends at Baltra Island where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.
