Diva Destinations hosts throughout your stay

13 nights accommodation

Meals stated in our itinerary

All excursions set out in our itinerary

Private transportation throughout your tour

Private Guides throughout your tour

Entrance fees as set out in our itinerary

Return Internal flights from Quito to the islands

Return airport transfers throughout

100% financial protection

International flights to Ecuador

Meals not stated

Gratuities

Personal Travel Insurance

Meals not stated

EARLYBIRD PRICES

Twin/Double Occupancy:

£5,773 per person | $7,299 per person

Sole Occupancy:

£6,185 | $7,799

Payment plans are available. Please ask.

Please note the USD$ rate is approximate and is subject to exchange rate fluctuation

DAY 1. QUITO ARRIVAL DAY

Welcome to Quito! The largest, well preserved colonial city of Ecuador – declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. Depending on arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. Once in Quito you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel. We will have our first group meal in a local restaurant (payable locally).

Accommodation: Sheraton or similar

Meals included: No meals are included today

DAY 2. QUITO CITY TOUR & CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE

Explore a truly unique experience in the heart of Quito city and discover its history from a local eye; walk around its narrow streets visiting the most iconic architectural buildings such as; the Golden Church, San Francisco Square, the Main Square, and at the same time visit Luis´ local workshop “Cruz Verde”, a well-known artisan whose family has prepared the local candy “Colaciones” for the last 100 years keeping alive Quito’s tradition. For lunch, we will have the opportunity to sit with locals and enjoy a tasty meal freshly prepared using local products and flavours. In the afternoon you will have a great experience at Pacari learning about the history of cocoa, its preparation and tasting the best chocolate. We will end our day with a group dinner at a local restaurant (payable locally).

Accommodation: Sheraton or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

DAY 3. ARRIVAL GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

Today we get ready to explore the most amazing archipelago in the Pacific coast and the place where Charles Darwin based his theory on the evolution of species. We will board a morning flight from Quito to the island San Cristobal. Once we arrive, we head to the Hotel and check-in. In the afternoon we will head to "La Loberia", which is both a home beach and nursery for large Galapagos sea lions, we can spot them while snorkelling, as they are very curious and approach to swim next to you underwater. They may also be lying over rocks or just lazy dozing in the sand. We also get to see yellow warbler birds, frigate birds, and several species of Darwin’s finches along the beach. In between the rocks we can find marine iguanas, which you can only see in Galapagos. We also have the time to go for a refreshing swim, explore the waters with our snorkel equipment and enjoy the beach. We will return to our hotel to relax before our group evening meal (payable locally).

Accommodation: Blue Marlin or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 4. ISLA LOBOS

After breakfast, you will be met and transferred to a dock where you will take a quick boat ride to the nearby Isla Lobos. During this boat trip, observe many marine animals before even setting foot on the island. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour where you will have the chance to observe frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, manta, sea lions and sometimes sharks that all inhabit the island and its surrounding waters. The white coral beaches of San Cristobal are great to walk around, relax and swim at before we return back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. In the afternoon we will visit the interpretation centre and walk to the frigate hill, and Punta Carola to see eye level many frigates flying around and end the walk with a beautiful sunset by Punta Carola. We will have our group dinner at a local restaurant (payable locally)

Accommodation: Blue Marlin or similar

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

DAY 5. SAN CRISTOBAL TO SANTA CRUZ

This morning, we catch the speedboat ferry service to nearby Santa Cruz Island, which should take between 1hr30 to 2hrs. On arrival, we’ll visit the famous giant tortoises in the beautiful Rancho Primicias – an unforgettable experience! Within the grounds, you may also explore one of several underground lava tubes, left over from when the island’s volcano was active. Experience more of the natural wonder Rancho Primicias, home to the legendary giant Galapagos tortoises as you wander some of its picturesque trails on a scenic walk. Having worked up an appetite, sit back and relax as you are served a hearty traditional lunch at a local farm then enjoy a visit to a distillery, culminating in a traditional digestif of course! We will have our group dinner at a local restaurant (payable locally)

Accommodation: Ninfa hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

DAY 6. BAY TOUR - CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION

Today after breakfast you will enjoy a half-day tour of Academy Bay. Be sure to pack everything you need for this trip. Optional snorkel equipment will be provided free of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. During the tour, you will take a boat to Academy Bay where you can swim and snorkel with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, as well as the famous sea lions; they are very curious animals and like to swim next to you underwater. Here you can also see the sought after blue-footed boobies. Afterwards, climb to a nearby viewpoint, and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below.

In the afternoon we will go to Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about many of the endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands. We will have dinner in a local restaurant (payable locally).

Accommodation: Ninfa Hotel or similar.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 7. FLIGHT BACK TO QUITO - OTAVALO

After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Island and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra’s airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland. Once in Quito we will be picked up and driven into the highlands and reach the Pan-American Highway heading north on the way to the famous indigenous town of Otavalo. We will arrive at the beautiful and comfortable Hacienda Cusin where we will stay overnight. We will have our group dinner in the hotel (included)

Accommodation: Hacienda Cusin or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY. 8 OTAVALO MARKET - SACHA WARMI WOMEN’S PROJECT

In the morning, we will visit Otavalo Market, Otavalo where you will see Indigenous people wearing the traditional blue ponchos, white trousers, and long braided hair. Learn all about their daily activities, typical food, and native language. Explore their famous handicraft market, with its wonderful textiles, alpaca throws and rugs, knitted clothing native paintings, ceramics, jewellery, tapestries, and more at bargain prices.

Hands-on cultural experience – AJ Sustainable Sacha WarmiKuna women’s project. For lunch, we will head to Pijal, a small village located in the heart of the Andes to visit one of the AJ sustainable projects called Sacha WarmiKuna (women from the mountain). This is one fantastic effort developed by AJ and the local women with the main purpose of supporting their families and encourage the position of the women in the local society, providing them with an alternative side work besides housekeeping, as a new option for an income. Once at the project, you will experience an unforgettable cultural encounter, immersing yourself in the true spirit of the South American woman and their skills for textiles and a deep culinary knowledge coming from the past generations. You will be part of the preparation of “Aji”, a local spicy salsa which is part of their identity, you will also share precious time with them and a tasty traditional lunch in which local women have used the fresh products harvested the same day from the surrounding organic fields. Later we will learn more about the weaving process of their textiles. Don’t miss the amazing opportunity to have the chance to give back, by buying handmade scarfs here.

Accommodation: Cusin Hacienda or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9. FIRST EXPLORATION TO THE AMAZON

Early in the morning, we will drive down along a curved panoramic road towards the Amazon Rainforest; as we descend from an altitude of 3000 m to 500 m (9843 ft to 1640 ft), you will observe how the landscape and vegetation change drastically between climates. Later, we also stop at the “Guacamayos-Macaw Lookout,” located between Antisana and Sumaco National Reserves (low-elevation cloud forest), to observe the magic blanket of clouds that covers the Amazon rainforest, until we finally arrive at Itamandi Lodge.

Accommodation: Itamandi Lodge or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10. AMAZON HIKE AND KICHWA COMMUNITY

In the morning, we will hike to explore the Tropical Rain Forest and have an interpretation from our guide to learn about medicinal plants and we will also search for the natural wildlife. Later, we will enjoy a cultural activity where an Amazonian Kichwa community will receive us and we learn about their way of life and the interaction they have with the forest. Appreciate the skills of the indigenous women manufacturing handmade pottery (ceramics). This little business helps to support the indigenous people in their daily lives. Today we will also have the chance to learn how to make our own chocolate from the raw fruit.

Accommodation: Itamandi Lodge or similar

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11. THE ROAD OF WATERFALLS - CHIMBORAZO

After breakfast, we will reach Rio Verde, located in the UNESCO World Heritage site, Sangay National Park. Here, we will hike down to the second-highest waterfall in Ecuador, the Pailon Del Diablo, where pounding water cascades on the rocks and mesmerizes you as you watch from a suspension bridge. You may also take an optional hike behind the falls. After another quick drive, we will arrive at another incredible waterfall called El Manto de la Novia, where we will ride in a cable car traversing the canyon of the Pastaza River.

In the afternoon we will drive through valleys and farming villages to reach the Chimborazo, and we go directly to La Andaluza, our home for the night. We will have dinner at a local restaurant (payable locally).

Accommodation: La Andaluza or Similar

Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 12. PALACIO DE LA LLAMA - GUAMOTE

After breakfast, we will go to visit The Palacio Real Community Tourism Centre, a place to enjoy interpretive trails full of native fauna and flora as well as the privileged view of the majestic Chimborazo volcano. In the afternoon we will go to Inti Sisa Guesthouse in Guamote, a unique and welcoming destination in the heart of Ecuador. Here we will spend the night. We will have dinner at a local restaurant (payable locally).

Accommodation: Inti Sisa Inn

Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 13. COMMUNITY TOUR - COOKING CLASS

Today we will have a community experience, visiting an educational centre, taking a scenic drive through the mountains and visiting communities where we will spend time with a local family. For lunch, we will enjoy a cooking class experience. Discover the flavours of Ecuador with Inti Sisa’s culinary workshop, led by our passionate kitchen team. This hands-on experience allows you to dive into the country's gastronomy, focusing on traditional treats. Afterwards, drive back to Quito. We will have our final group dinner in a local restaurant (payable locally).

Accommodation: Wyndham Hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 14. DEPARTURE

Today our incredible trip will end and you will have your International departures home. Take with you your memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. Our guides wish you a “buen viaje”!

Meals included: Breakfast