Ecuador in a Nutshell

ECUADOR IN A NUTSHELL
ECUADOR IN A NUTSHELL
ECUADOR IN A NUTSHELL
ECUADOR IN A NUTSHELL
ECUADOR IN A NUTSHELL
ECUADOR IN A NUTSHELL
ECUADOR IN A NUTSHELL
ECUADOR IN A NUTSHELL
ECUADOR IN A NUTSHELL
ECUADOR IN A NUTSHELL

Ecuador in a Nutshell

Duration

11 Days / 10 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 highlights of Ecuador, including the magnificent Galapagos Islands through this island-hopping tour! The Galapagos is unique in the world due to its phenomenal biodiversity and abundant wildlife in a setting, unlike any other in the world. Due to their isolation, the islands are a natural sanctuary that have preserved animal species for thousands of years, allowing them to specially adapt to their surroundings.  Take a spectacular drive through the Andes, visiting Cuicocha crater-lake and the famous indigenous market of Otavalo and share a unique experience with local people in the heart of the Andes. Relax and acclimatize at a luxury hot springs resort to feel the energy of mother nature and the surrounding mountains. All this and more is included in this amazing with this classic 11 day itinerary!

Special features of our 11 day Classic Ecuador In A Nutshell Tour: 

Type of Tourism:  Nature, Biodiversity, Classic, Adventure

Places to Visit:  Galapagos, Quito, Otavalo, Mindo

Duration:  11 Days and 10 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 about the tour. This first day is a good acclimatizati...

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    This area is filled with a wide variety of flora and fauna perfect for a nice introduction to the biodiversity of Ecuador. Mindo and its cloud forest are a birdwatcher's paradise, especially for spotting hummingbirds! Explore the pristine cloud rain forest of Mindo via cable cars and hiking to stunning waterfalls, surrounded by a lush green forest, the habitat for toucans, hummingbirds and other brightly coloured birds.

    In the afternoon, we will visit a chocolate producer, where we will learn about the processing of cocoa, fr...

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      Today we will head back up into the highlands to the famous indigenous town of Otavalo. We can marvel at the endless handicraft stalls from the native local people. Strolling along the narrow cobblestone streets filled with Otavalo’s indigenous people wearing their traditional blue ponchos. We can visit their handicraft market, with its wonderful textiles, native paintings, ceramics, jewellery, and tapestries. In the afternoon, we will visit the indigenous women of Otavalo.  Be inspired by their creations and learn how to ...

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        After breakfast, we will head to the Cotacachi Cayapas ecological reserve to see the breathtaking scenery around this active volcano. We will hike along the Cuicocha Crater Lake's shores, taking a boat ride to the middle of the crater to observe the activity of this volcano, watching bubbles rising up from the centre. We will have a free afternoon to enjoy the Hacienda at your own pace.  There is an optional horse ride through the grounds of the hacienda, admiring the stunning landscape. 

          Bright and early, we head back to the city of Quito for the flight to the Island of Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. We will head to the town of Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galapagos. We will take a trip to the largest island in the archipelago with the most volcanic activity in the Galapagos. The Isabela Island was formed by six volcanos, Alcedo, Cerra Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra and Wolf; five of these are still active, making the island one of the most volcanically active places on the planet. On the journey to t...

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            After breakfast, we will head out on a hike to the Sierra Negra. From the trail head, we will hike through a young forest ecosystem to the rim of the Sierra Negra Crater, an active volcano which last erupted in October 2005. From the crater we can appreciate spectacular views and explore the massive, 10 km wide, lava-filled crater. We will continue our hike to the Volcan Chico, a secondary crater that has a wild landscape of smoky fumaroles and colourful lava formations. In the afternoon you will have time to enjoy the crystal clear ...

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              Today, we head out on our mountain bikes to explore the beautiful coastline on an exclusive trail, taking us through an incredible ecosystem with a wide variety of wildlife. We start with a visit to the Wall of Tears, a massive wall built with lava rocks. We will head out on bicycles along the stunning coast, riding through an incredible ecosystem, home to many bird and animal species such as flamingos, giant tortoises and sea iguanas. We will pass by the “wall of tears” built from lava rocks and once the wall of a penal ...

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                Early today, we will head from Isabela Island to Santa Cruz Island  to the Charles Darwin Research station to 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 highland wildlife such as pintail ducks,...

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                  After breakfast, 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. We will then head to the Shelter "Pan Animalia Ecuador" offering veterinarian services in Puerto Ayora, where we will be educated about the process of sterilization of stray dogs. In this refuge, you can play and spend time with our furry friends, changing the lives of these unfortunate animals.

                    After our final breakfast on these spectacular islands, we will head to the airport once more for our flight back to Quito. You can settle into the hotel and we will then meet to enjoy our final evening in the capital.

                      Today is the final day of this spectacular Ecuador in a nutshell tour.  We will collect you from the hotel to head to the airport for your flight back home or to your next exciting destination!


                        WHAT'S INCLUDED

                        • Transportation:  Airport transfers (national & international flights), comfortable land and sea transportation; speed boat Santa Cruz – Isabela – Santa Cruz.
                        • Accommodation based in double occupancy: 5* hotel in Quito, 4* lodge in Mindo and hacienda in Otavalo, 4 & 3 star hotels in Galapagos.
                        • Meals: 10 Breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 Dinner.
                        • Activities: Hike to the waterfalls, Otavalo Market visit, Trekking to Cuicocha Lagoon, snorkelling in the Lava Tunnels, trekking to the top of Sierra Negra active volcano, snorkelling, and kayaking in Tintoreras, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, biking in Santa Cruz highlands.
                        • Gear: Snorkelling mask and fins, life vest.
                        • Trip Leader: Certified expert English-speaking adventure leader and local guides

                        WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

                        • My Own Room supplement: USD 646
                        • Airfare Quito - Galapagos - Quito round trip USD 495
                        • International flights.
                        • Travel insurance (mandatory).
                        • Meals not described in the itinerary
                        • INGALA transit card: USD 20 per person, cash only (subject to change).
                        • Galapagos National Park fee: USD 100 per person, cash only (subject to change).
                        • USD $10 pier-use fee at Puerto Villamil.
                        • Wetsuit for rent: USD 10 USD.
                        • Wetsuit for rent: USD 10
                        • Tips for guides and drivers

                        Trip Preparation & FAQS

                        You can check our safety protocols in the following link: https://adventurejourneys.com/news-about-covid-19

                        We do not include travel or health insurance and we strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance for any unexpected circumstances. This is not obligatory, however. An full travel insurance policy that covers cancellations and delays as well as medical insurance.

                        We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure that you are up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations when traveling to the destination. In any case, a negative Coronavirus Molecular Test (PCR) is needed to enter the country.

                        We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure what medications you will need to bring to the destination. Pharmacies and drugstores are common in all cities, however, it is not certain that you will be able to find a specific drug that you can find in your country of origin.

                        As in any city in the world, there can be pickpockets in crowded places. We suggest being vigilant at all times, but if you are in a group you will always be safer.

                        We do not include the cost of any domestic or international flight in any of our programs. These services must be booked independently by each guest.

                        Yes, hotels will charge the cost of a double room as standard, so a single supplement will be charged if you are traveling alone.

                        VA Expeditions is supported by Valencia Travel, a company with more than 12 years of foundation with a solid financial position. We have insurance from the insurance company La Positiva, that supports us and protects our guests from any eventuality at the destination, covering our guests for more than 5 million US dollars.

                        Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.

                        Yes, in addition to multi-day programs, we offer half-day experiences and excursions without overnight, which you can purchase as additional services. In case you wish to purchase one of these services, you can ask your guide, the transfer representative or your sales representative to provide you with the support you need.

                        Yes, you can add additional or optional services to your regular tour. We appreciate contacting your sales representative for any changes you wish to make.

                        Yes, you can travel with children and we have many activities to do as a family, however, depending on your itinerary, some experiences can be a bit demanding for young children. As a recommendation, we suggest that you ask your sales consultant if the tour you wish to book is suitable for children.

                        We work with a maximum group size of 12 passengers for sustainability reasons and a more personaized experience.

                        We suggest making your reservations at least one month before your trip in order to reserve the best hotels, transportation and services for your travel dates, however, in last minute cases, we can reserve up to 15 days in advance.

                        We suggest consulting with your embassy to review any documents, tests or special visa you need for your trip.

                        The official currency in Ecuador is the United States dollar (USD). In large cities there is a good chance that you will find ATMs or ATMs, however, we suggest that you do not rely entirely on this solution, as it may not be enabled to work with your bank.

                        Yes, we cater for all special dietary requirements. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.

                        As a sustainable travel company, we are in constant search of how we can improve the sustainability of our operations, that is why we carry out the following activities to generate a fair and sustainable development in our areas of operation: "Women & Weaving - Sacha Warmi" project to support women from an indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Andes and Pan Animalia

                        a project to improve the quality of life of stray dogs in Galapagos Islands.

                        Tips are not included in the cost of the tour. You should plan to tip 10% in restaurants and for your guided services, however, tipping is never required.

                        Cultural norms vary within each Latin American country, even within each city within the country, however, we recommend the following measures to have a pleasant visit in each destination: Latin American culture in general tends to be closer and more informal than in others cultures, so there is usually always a friendly approach in all conversations, and going directly to the point could be considered offensive to some people. Personal space can be much shorter as well, but without being interpreted as sexual in nature. 

                        The schedules are also usually more relaxed and informal, however, this is not the case of VA EXPEDITIONS, since we will always respect the hours indicated in your itinerary. This may be different for other appointments that you can book on your own at other locations.

                        This depends on each itinerary, and will be indicated in the detail of the day. However, our itineraries always usually include free times to offer more flexibility to our guests. 

                        For any emergency, we appreciate contacting the following number: +593 2 255 8805

                        At VA Expeditions we believe that every action we take should generate a positive impact on the communities and the environment of our entire production chain, which is why we carry out various activities focused on this objective. For an example of our sustainable projects, visit: https://adventurejourneys.com/pan-animalia/

                        All our guests have 24/7 support for any type of emergency or eventuality. For emergencies you can contact the following number: +593 2 255 8805. For general inquiries, you can write to us at the following email: info@valenciatravelcusco.com 

                        This depends on each itinerary, but generally is a ratio of one guide for every nine guests.

                        This depends on the type of the type of Travel insurance that the passenger has. We recommend that you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy for better care and hospital facilities.

                        The tours are carried out by an expert team that has determined the optimal times of visits to make the most of our guests' time, without rushing. All our programs are customizable, so if at any time at the destination you want to adjust the pace of the trip, you can ask your guide to reach a consensus with the whole group in case you need to make adjustments to the pace of the trip.

                        Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.

                        Yes, you can safely store any luggage at your  hotel.

                        For city tours, there are public bathrooms available, in remote destinations bathroom facilities are more sparse.

                        In the mountains and remote places there is no Internet connection. Hotels and public places usually have WIFI available.

                        In cities and tourist centers you will have good telephone reception. In remote areas, there may be no cell phone reception.

                        It depends on each itinerary. We suggest contacting your account representative to give you specific information regarding your  program.

                        The tap water in Ecuador is not always friendly on the stomach for those who haven't been in Latin America for a while. There is purified water in each of the accommodations which you can use to fill up each morning, so be sure to pack a reusable water bottle or two. There will also be water in the transportation.

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