Classic 15 Day Ecuador and Galapagos

CLASSIC 15 DAY ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS
CLASSIC 15 DAY ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS
CLASSIC 15 DAY ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS
CLASSIC 15 DAY ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS
CLASSIC 15 DAY ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS
CLASSIC 15 DAY ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS
CLASSIC 15 DAY ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS
CLASSIC 15 DAY ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS
CLASSIC 15 DAY ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS
CLASSIC 15 DAY ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS

Classic 15 Day Ecuador and Galapagos

Duration

15 Days / 14 Nights

Package Type

https://cms.vaexpeditions.com/media/images/package_type/museum.svg

Traditional

Activity Level

Activity Level

Moderate

Wildlife expectation

Physical Difficulty

Wildlife expectation

Cultural rating

Wildlife expectation

Wildlife expectation

Specialist

Travel specialist

Claire
Contact Us

Discover the extra-ordinary magic of Ecuador by travelling from The Andean mountain range to the Amazon Basin, travelling by train and trekking through the Volcano Avenue. Starting high in the Andean mountain range, and exploring the mountain towns of indigenous Otavalo, Quito, Baños and Cuenca to cruising the tropical Amazon rivers and exploring the indigenous jungle tribes and civilizations of this biodiverse region. The Galapagos Islands offer endless opportunities to witness a unique abundance of wildlife in a setting unlike any other on the planet. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such close and intimate contact with the wildlife. This 15 day itinerary covers the best of this amazing country.

Special features of our 15 day Classic Ecuador and Galapagos Tour: 

Type of Tourism:  Nature, Biodiversity, Classic, Adventure

Places to Visit:  Galapagos, Quito, Cotopaxi, Guayaquil, Otavalo, Baños, Cuenca

Duration:  15 Days and 14 Nights. 

Type of Service: group tours. 

Accommodation:  4 star hotels at every destination that you will visit. These hotels had been carefully chosen and we can guarantee that you will feel comfortable and your every need catered for! 

DAY BY DAY SCHEDULE

Today is arrival day to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. This well preserved colonial city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. You can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area if you arrive early. In the evening, the guide will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 6 pm. We will discuss the details and questions you may have abou...

Show more

    In the morning, we will head, across the Andes to stop at the equatorial line to witness this great attraction and for standing on both of the planets’ hemispheres at the same time. We will then continue to Otavalo, where you will have plenty of time to wander through the narrow cobblestone streets, filled with the Indigenous people wearing the traditional blue ponchos, white trousers and long braided hair. Learn all about their way of life and their native language. We will vis...

    Show more

      Today is a day to enjoy the optional activities that the Zuleta Hacienda offers. You can learn about the conservation program Cóndor Huasi which seeks to preserve the emblematic Andean condor in its natural habitat. You can also see how the Hacienda retains its authenticity as a working farm, producing milk, wheat, barley, 14 kinds of cheese, cream, trout, wool, mutton, horses, wood, and even compost from their earthworm farm. Another activity is the exclusive stable with their...

      Show more

        Today, we will head to the highest active volcano in the world, Cotopaxi. The snow-capped volcano is surrounded by its national park, home to abundant flora, fauna and Inca ruins. We will begin our visit at the interpretation centre at the park's entrance before continuing our drive across the paramo to the Limpiopungo Lake. During a short walk around the lake, we can observe a variety of birds and enjoy the stunning views of the conical Cotopaxi volcano. Afterwards, we will drive to ...

        Show more

          Today, begins with a visit to a local indigenous market at Saquilisilí or the historic church in Pujilí. The drive to Laguna Quilotoa offers spectacular views of the Andes, passing the ancient canyon of Zumbahua and many indigenous towns and farmlands. Before lunch, we will visit a local indigenous home, where you have the opportunity to interact with the inhabitants and perhaps learn some Quechua. We will then head to the Quilotoa Volcano, where we will hike into its cr...

          Show more

            Today we will explore this beautiful town at the base of the active Tungurahua volcano, It has erupted many times recently, offering a lava and steam display that can be seen from a variety of viewpoints in the region. We will then hike to the second highest waterfall in Ecuador, the Pailon Del Diablo, where immense cascades of water crash on the rocks, which we can view from the bridge. We can also hike behind these immense falls. We will then head on to another incredible waterfall ...

            Show more

              After breakfast, we will take the Devil’s Nose train, where the train tracks wind through the landscape, creating a totally unique travel experience. After this incredible experience, will head to Ingapirca, the most impressive archaeological site in Ecuador. We will spend the afternoon learning about these Inca remnants and their unique fusion of Inca and native Cañari architecture, as well as for religious aspects. We will continue to the city of Cuenca, a UNESCO World ...

              Show more

                In the morning we will enjoy a city tour, visiting the most important buildings and notable places in Cuenca, such as Calderon Square, the New Cathedral, El Barranco and El Turi lookout point. In the afternoon, we will visit a famous Panama hat factory where we can learn about this famous hats history. You can then enjoy a free afternoon to explore the city.

                  Today we will visit the Cajas National Park, located 30km east of Cuenca. There are over 200 recreational lakes connected by small rivers and crystal-clear waters flowing into the Pacific in this park. After a walk through the mountains, we’ll arrive in the city of Guayaquil.

                    Today we get ready to explore the most amazing archipelago on the Pacific coast and the place where Charles Darwin based his theory of evolution of species. We will fly to the Island of San Cristobal.  In the afternoon, we will visit "La Loberia", which is the home of the Galapagos sea lions. We can see them while we are snorkelling, and these curious creatures will come up close and personal as you are swimming. You can also see them basking on the rocks or just napping on the s...

                    Show more

                      Today you will have 2 activities to choose from:

                       Kicker Rock - A lava cone eroded by the waves, with 2 vertical rocks rising high above the ocean. This natural monument has become a highlight of the Galapagos due to the many tropical birds, frigate birds and boobies that fill the sky.  Under the ocean, the crystal clear waters offer the spectacle of brightly colourful fish, such as rainbow fish and sharks, like the hammerhead and white tip. After lunch, we will spen...

                      Show more

                        Today we will head for a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. We can learn all about the endemic species found on the islands, as well as the ongoing conservation work on the Galapagos Islands. In the afternoon, we will head to the 'El Chato' reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to the famous Galapagos tortoises. Hiking through El Chato's picturesque landscape with these giant creatures is an unforgettable experience! We will also see other highla...

                        Show more

                          Bartolome is a small Galapagos Island located northwest of the Itabaca Channel. It’s among the most famous of all the islands, due to its impressive volcanic landscapes and the wildlife species that inhabit the island. The other-worldly landscape explain all we need to know about the island's origins. The summit trail begins at the dock, with its accompanying sea-lions greeting us on arrival. The trail twists and turns uphill over volcanic ash and old craters. The only vegetatio...

                          Show more

                            Today we will walk through a dry forest to Tortuga Bay, a spectacular white sandy beach and the nesting site of marine turtles. This beautiful beach is perfect for swimming or snorkelling. In the afternoon, you can wander Puerto Ayora at your pace, exploring the narrow streets and interacting with the locals. This will be the final evening of your tour!

                              Enjoy some more free time this morning before heading to the Baltra airport. We will take a flight back to Guayaquil to catch your international connection back home. Or on to your next exciting destination!


                                WHAT'S INCLUDED

                                • Transportation: Airfare Guayaquil – Galapagos – Guayaquil, airport transfers (national & international flights), private and comfortable land transportation.
                                • Meals: 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 7 dinners.
                                • Gear:  hiking sticks, life jackets, snorkelling equipment.
                                • Trip Leader: Certified expert English-speaking adventure Trip Leader and local guides.

                                WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

                                • International flights
                                • Single Supplement
                                • Galapagos National Park entrance fee USD 100 per person
                                • INGALA transit control card USD 20 per person
                                • Travel insurance (mandatory)
                                • Meals not described in the itinerary
                                • Tips for guides and drivers

                                RELATED TRIPS

                                CONTACT US

                                VA Expeditions logo
                                Book with confidence
                                We´re flexible! Postpone your tour with zero cost up to 15 days prior to departure
                                Please provide a valid first name.
                                Please provide a valid last name.
                                Please provide a valid email address.
                                Please provide a valid cellphone.
                                Package
                                Please provide a valid Tour
                                Country
                                Please provide a valid country.
                                City
                                Please provide a valid city.

                                Are you a Travel Agent ?

                                You must select one type.
                                Please provide a valid last name.
                                Please provide a valid message

                                *By submitting your information, you are automatically accepting our privacy policy.