Grand Tour of the Ecuadorian Andes and the Galápagos Islands

Upon arrival into Quito, after clearing customs and immigration, you will be met and escorted to the hotel.

After breakfast and an orientation, explore some of the highlights of Quito. Surrounded by volcanoes, Ecuador's capital is a unique city that boasts one of the largest and best preserved colonial centers in the Americas, earning it recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start the day with a visit to Mercado Iñaquito for a look at the great variety of fruits and vegetables grown in the country, as well as the many natural products used for fiber, oils, resins, and medicine. Next, head to the historical center; while walking its narrow streets, discover Quito's rich history, from pre-Columbian times to the colonial period and the modern-day Republic of Ecuador. At the Casa del Alabado, a privately owned museum, learn about the spiritual, social, and political practices of the different Indigenous groups who inhabited this territory from 4000 BC to 1400 CE. Afterward, visit La Compañia Church as well as the Church and Convent of San Francisco, the oldest and largest colonial structure in the city. At nearby Plaza Grande, Quito's main square, you'll find the Independence Monument surrounded by important historical buildings, including the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Archbishop's Palace. Enjoy a lunch featuring traditional recipes, then continue to the Quito Botanical Garden, located in Parque La Carolina. This impressive garden showcases plants from the country's different ecosystems; of particular note are the two large orchidariums housing nearly 2,000 orchids.

Fly from mainland Ecuador to Baltra. After boarding M/C Tip Top II, attend your first orientation and have a light snack. After lunch, disembark on Mosquera Islet, a reef of rocks and coral and a great white sand beach. Observe colonies of sea lions, Brown Pelicans, Blue-footed Boobies, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Back on board the boat, enjoy a welcome cocktail with the entire crew, followed by dinner. Each night during the cruise there will be an orientation to discuss the events of the day and the next day's plans.

*Cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g. weather) or at the discretion of the captain, guide, or the Galápagos National Park.

After breakfast, go ashore at Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island, a perfect place to get a feel for the volcanic origin of the islands. Look for new plant growth among the two distinct types of lava, pahoehoe and a’a. Return to the boat for lunch, followed by an excursion on Rábida Island, distinguished by its red sand beaches. Here you can observe marine iguanas, sea lions, Blue-footed Boobies, Masked Boobies, and Brown Pelicans. Walk to a small saltwater lagoon where you can see Galápagos Flamingos. This evening enjoy a presentation by your Galapagos guide before dinner.

Today visit Espinosa Point on Fernandina Island to observe a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, Flightless Cormorants, and clumps of lava cactus. In the afternoon, take a panga boat ride around the islets of Elizabeth Bay to look for marine iguanas, marine turtles, seabirds, shorebirds, herons, Galápagos Penguins, and Blue-footed Boobies. Tonight attend an orientation to learn about conservation efforts to protect the islands.

This morning disembark on Isabela Island at Urbina Bay, a coral area at the base of Alcedo Volcano with land iguanas, Flightless Cormorants, and giant tortoises. Return to the yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, take a panga ride around Tagus Cove, located between the shoulders of two volcanic craters, which protect it from the open sea. Observe marine iguanas, sea lions, and a variety of birds, including Galápagos Penguins, Flightless Cormorants, and Blue-footed Boobies. This evening enjoy a presentation by your Galapagos guide before dinner.

After breakfast, land at James Bay (Puerto Egas) on Santiago Island to walk and observe sponges, snails, hermit crabs, a variety of shore birds, barnacles, the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas, and sea lions. Visit Bartolomé Island in the afternoon to hike to the summit. During the hike, it’s possible to observe colonies of marine iguanas and lava lizards, and on the summit you’ll see an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock, one of the most iconic sights in the archipelago.

At 6am the film crew departs and travels to Puerto Ayora. Disembark and learn about life in the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Start with a visit to the small, colorful fish market. It is not uncommon to spot sea lions and pelicans lounging on the sidelines as fishers drop off their fresh catch and residents line up to make their selections. Next, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and Fausto Llerena Breeding Center. Learn about the station's important conservation and education work, and see some of the giant tortoises that are being raised for reintroduction into the wild. Time permitting, enjoy the spectacular white sand beach at Tortuga Bay, where you can walk along the shore and swim among marine iguanas, sharks, and sea turtles.

For the rest of the group, land on Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino), a small island off the coast of Santiago Island. Here you can observe Galápagos Penguins, eagle rays, sea lions, and marine iguanas from the rocky shoreline. This afternoon land at Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island, where you can see land iguanas and walk to a hypersalinic lagoon (saltier than the ocean) to observe flamingos, Common Stilts, White-cheeked Pintails, and other bird species.

This morning, explore the highlands of Santa Cruz, where you may see wild Galápagos giant tortoises roaming freely. Then continue to the airport, where lunch is on your own; there are several dining options inside the airport. Upon arrival in Quito, enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure in the Puembo area.

Depart Quito and head north to the Andean highlands for a look at the region's culture and industry. Start with an excursion to a flower farm to discover the world of roses, a major economic driver in the Ecuadorian Andes. Ecuador is renowned for its stunning roses, boasting over 300 varieties that are prized globally for their beauty and exceptional quality. Next, savor some traditional pastries in Cayambe and then continue to Peguche, where textiles are still woven using shuttle looms. Enjoy a unique gastronomic experience at a local home that has been transformed into a venue for special activities. Your host, originally from Otavalo, will welcome you with a traditional drink, chicha, while explaining the use of medicinal herbs. She will also give a brief introduction, show her home, and take you through the greenhouses. Later visit the town of Cotacachi to learn about Ecuador's leather before dinner this evening.

This morning, visit Otavalo's craft market; dating back to pre-Inca times, it is the most famous of all Andean markets. Hundreds of Indigenous merchants and artisans from surrounding communities travel to Otavalo to display a plethora of items, notably the colorful woven textiles, tapestries, and other handicrafts for which the region is known. Also visit a local animal market nearby. Then depart for the cloud forests of Mindo, stopping en route at the Intiñan Equator Museum. After lunch, visit the feeders at the family-run San Tadeo Birdwatching, where you can easily observe more than a dozen different types of birds, including hummingbirds, tanagers, aracaris, toucanets, and barbets.

Early in the morning depart toward Refugio Paz de las Aves near Nanegalito (13 miles northeast of Mindo). Angel Paz is the proprietor of this private reserve, and his story is an excellent example of community conservation. Angel was formerly a local logger who transformed his property into a haven for antpittas and Andean Cocks-of-the-rock over a decade ago. He learned how to coax the rare and elusive Giant Antpitta into the open with earthworms and now has six different species of antpittas staked out on his property: Giant, Yellow-breasted, Ochre-breasted, Chestnut-crowned, Moustached, and Scaled. Other birds seen in the area include the Crested and Golden-headed Quetzals and a fantastic mix of hummingbirds. Have a typical countryside breakfast at the reserve while enjoying the natural surroundings. Then visit Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve, located in the core zone of the Chocó Andino de Pichincha Biosphere Reserve. In 2020, Bellavista became the first private ecological reserve in Ecuador to be included in the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP). Travel to Cotopaxi for Dinner and overnight.

Today, visit the Avenue of the Volcanoes. This majestic corridor of the Andes Mountains offers breathtaking views of dozens of different volcanoes, both active and extinct, including notable peaks like Cotopaxi, Antisana, and Chimborazo - Ecuador's highest mountain. Return to Puembo in the late afternoon for dinner.

Today you will transfer to the airport for your flight home.