• Arrive in Quito and private transfer to the hotel. Two group transfers will be provided.

• Brief orientation after entire group has arrived.

• Meals: Dinner

• Cultural city tour in Quito to start the day! Quito’s modern beauty and historical significance earned it the title of the first “Cultural Heritage Site” by UNESCO in 1978.

• After the tour, we’ll enjoy a fun and engaging interactive cooking class. We’ll learn to prepare traditional Ecuadorian dishes with the guidance of a local chef.

• The afternoon/evening is yours to explore. Dinner is at your leisure.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

• In the morning, enjoy breakfast before the drive to Cotopaxi National Park, home to one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Drive time is approximately 1.5 hours depending on traffic.

• The adventure begins on the slopes of the Rumiñahui Volcano with the Limpiopungo Lagoon Hike. On the trail, we may encounter wildlife such as hares, foxes, falcons, and deer. We will continue down the slopes to Limpiopungo Glacier Lake where the shores are often populated by gulls, ducks, teals, lapwings, and even the occasional high-altitude flamingo.

  • Hike Details: Easy to Moderate - 2.2 mile (3.5 km) loop with elevation gain of 485 feet (148 meters). This is a high elevation hike at 12,467 feet. Takes around 1 hour to complete.

• Next, we will head to a beautiful Hacienda located at 3,600 meters (11,811 feet) above sea level, where we will enjoy lunch and settle in for the evening.

• The afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please. Relax with a hot drink by the cozy fireplace or unwind in the APU Mountain Spa (additional cost).

• If you want a more active afternoon, choose between an add-on horseback ride or self-guided hikes. The hacienda offers two self-guided walking trails which can be explored at our own pace (free of charge).

  • Add-on experience : Two hour guided horseback ride on a trail with beautiful views wearing traditional Chagra attire, the iconic cowgirl gear of the Andes. This can be arranged with the Hacienda directly.

• Meals included : Breakfast, lunch, dinner

• Enjoy an early breakfast before traveling south toward Quilotoa. The drive is around 2.5 hours. Along the way make a stop in the village of Tigua known for its colorful paintings.

• Take in the views heading towards Quilotoa. Here we will enjoy time to explore the village and take in the views of the crater lake. Before heading on our way, we will enjoy a short walk along the crater rim trail or down to the lagoon if we are feeling up for a challenge.

  • Hike Options: A hike for the group will be chosen by the local tour guide that day.

    Easy to Moderate Option: Crater Rim - Hike a part of the Crater Loop as an out and back.
    Distance: 10 km (~6.2 miles) around the crater.
    Elevation: Ranges from ~3,800 m to ~3,930 m (12,467–12,894 ft)
    Difficulty: Easy to Moderate — mostly flat but with some ups and downs, and parts with loose sand and narrow sections.
    Estimated Time: Around 5 hours

    Moderate to Challenging Option: Descent to Lagoon & Return Distance: ~1.7 km (~1.1 miles)
    Elevation Change: -300 m (-980 ft) descending; then +300 m (+980 ft) on return climb.
    Difficulty: Moderate — the trail is steep and sandy, making the ascent challenging.
    Estimated Time: 2 hours round-trip

• After it is time to head to our accommodations for the evening in the city of Baños. The drive is approximately 3 hours.

• Arrive, check in and enjoy free time to explore town. Dinner is at your leisure.

• Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch

• After breakfast set off on a short scenic drive to visit the famous Casa del Árbol, perched at an altitude of 2,660 meters. Here enjoy breathtaking views of the active Tungurahua volcano and for those seeking a thrill, the Swing at the End of the World awaits!

• The next adventure includes wheels and water! After a short safety briefing, we hop on our bikes and begin cycling along the beautiful Baños–Puyo route.

  • Our first stop is the impressive Agoyán Waterfall, a truly awe-inspiring sight. We continue on to the stunning Manto de la Novia Waterfall, where you cross the river by cable car or suspension bridge. Next, we reach the village of Río Verde, where we trade our bikes for a short hike to one of Ecuador’s most spectacular waterfalls: El Pailón del Diablo.

  • Bike Tour: Distance: 17 km / Maximum Elevation: 2,660 m. Not in the mood to cycle? No problem! You can enjoy the entire route comfortably by car. And if you ever need a break during the ride, the support vehicle is always nearby, ready to pick you up.

• Return back to Baños and enjoy the evening as you’d like. Dinner is at your leisure.

• Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch

• After breakfast, we start our journey back towards Quito. Today’s total drive time is approximately 4 hours.

• On the way visit Latacunga, a charming town of San Felipe. Here we will learn about the traditional process of making máchica, a flour made from ground and toasted barley.

• Free time to enjoy lunch in town.

• After the stop, we continue on to our hotel for the evening near Quito to relax.

• Take time to relax, explore the property, enjoy bird watching, and get ready for the exciting journey to the Galapagos Islands the next morning.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner

• In the morning, our female tour leader will assist us with check-in for our flight to San Cristobal Island.

• Upon arrival, we will meet our guide and head to the hotel to check in.

• After lunch and a brief orientation, we’ll head out to visit the Interpretation Center.

• Next, we will visit Frigatebird Hill, also known as Tijeretas, named after the frigatebirds that nest here. A light hike takes us through beautiful landscapes with breathtaking views.

  • Hike details: Length: 2.2 miles (3.5 km) / Approx. 2 hours

• Finish the day with free time to explore and enjoy dinner at your leisure.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

• After breakfast, we will board a comfortable boat bound for Kicker Rock, also known as León Dormido.

• Once we arrive, we will set out on a unique snorkeling experience! We may have the chance to see a variety of marine life, including Galapagos sharks, white-tipped reef sharks, eagle rays, sea turtles, hundreds of colorful fish, and vibrant sea stars.

  • This is a full day excursion leaving at 7:30 a.m. and returning around 4:00 p.m. The speed boat ride to Kicker Rock is about 1.5 hours each way.

  • Bilingual naturalist guide, snorkeling gear (mask and fins), towels, lunch, snacks and soft drinks provided. Wetsuits available to rent for additional cost.

  • Scuba diving may be arranged in place. Must hold AOW and have logged a minimum of 50-100 dives in order to dive due to currents and depth.

• Back in town, the rest of the evening is yours to enjoy. Dinner is at your leisure.

• Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch

• Enjoy an early breakfast before heading out on a two-hour boat ride to Santa Cruz Island.

• We will arrive at Puerto Ayora, the largest settlement in the archipelago.

• From there, we will take a 30-minute transfer to the highlands of Santa Cruz. In this lush area, private farms work to conserve pristine, native, and endemic vegetation that serves as a habitat for the famous Galapagos Tortoise.

• In the late afternoon, we will head to Tortuga Bay Beach. After a 40-minute walk, we will arrive at this breathtaking beach, one of the most beautiful in the Galapagos.

• Once we reach Mansa Beach, we will have the chance to swim and snorkel in the calm waters. (Snorkel mask and fins provided).

• Back in town, enjoy free time and dinner at your leisure.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

***Today’s adventure is subject to availability. Once we have confirmed our excursion, guests will be notified which option was selected by our local guide after the booking is secured.

Option 1: Bartolomé Island

Named in honor of Sir Bartholomew Sulivan of the British Navy, Bartolome Island covers an area of 1.3 square kilometers and reaches a maximum altitude of 115 meters. This island offers some of the most unique and breathtaking landscapes in the Galapagos Archipelago. On our day trip to Bartolome, we will hike to the top of an extinct volcano along a wooden pathway, climbing almost 395 steps. During the hike, we will pass by fascinating geological formations created by the last volcanic eruption, such as small lava tunnels, spatter cones, and scoria cones. It will feel like walking on the moon! Along the way, we may spot endemic vegetation like Lava Cactus and Tiquilia plants, as well as some of the island’s famous Darwin Finches. Once we reach the summit, we’ll be rewarded with a stunning panoramic view of Pinnacle Rock, a striking volcanic tuff cone that rises from the water.

Option 2: North Seymour Island

North Seymour is a small island in the Galapagos Archipelago, home to a rich diversity of wildlife. It is one of the best places to observe the frigatebirds with their dramatic red balloon-like throats, as well as the blue-footed boobies performing their charming dance. We will also encounter land and marine iguanas, Galapagos sea lions, fur seals, and various seabirds, including swallow-tailed gulls, shearwaters, and tropic birds. Our walk on this magical island will take about 2 hours, immersing us in its vibrant ecosystems. After our hike, we will return to the boat for lunch and then sail to Bachas Beach, a key nesting area for sea turtles. Here, we may also spot flamingos in the small lagoon. This day will also include a snorkeling activity, where we may have the chance to swim with sea turtles, rays, white-tip reef sharks, and colorful fish.

Option 3: South Plaza Island

South Plaza is located off the east coast of Santa Cruz Island. It was formed by uplifted marine lava and is one of the smallest islands in the archipelago, yet it boasts some of the densest wildlife concentrations in the Galapagos. We will disembark at a small dock often occupied by sea lions, then continue our walk through a forest of prickly pear cacti adorned with yellow flowers. Along the way, we may see land iguanas waiting for fruits and flowers to fall from the cacti. As we reach the cliff, we will often spot a shoal of the endemic yellow-tailed mullet. The cliff is an excellent vantage point to view seabirds, including swallow-tailed gulls, tropic birds, frigatebirds, and pelicans. At the eastern end of the island, bull sea lions gather to rest after losing their territory and regain their strength in hopes of becoming the beach master once again. After this fascinating walk, we’ll return to the boat for lunch and sail to Punta Carrion for another snorkeling adventure. Here, we may encounter sea turtles, white-tip reef sharks, sea lions, and a variety of fish. We will return to Puerto Ayora around 16:30, having experienced a day full of unforgettable wildlife encounters.

After one of these excursions, we will have our farewell dinner!

Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch, dinner

• Enjoy your last breakfast before checking out and transferring to the Baltra airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.

• Depending on the time of your international flight in Quito, you may wait at the airport or you can arrange an additional night stay at a hotel nearby.

  • Flights from the Galapagos typically arrive in the afternoon. If guests wish to take their international flight on the same day, they should book a departure flight that leaves after 8:30 PM to ensure a smooth connection. This allows enough time for potential delays, baggage claim, to check-in for international departures and clear customs at the airport in Quito.

• Meals: Breakfast