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 A12 ECUADOR TOTAL (27 days) This 27-day program lets you experience the most interesting regions of the Andes, Amazon, Pacific coast and the Galapagos islands and after that trip you have a very good idea about the country. Many cultural attractions like old colonial towns with century old churches and squares, haciendas, Inca sites, Indian markets await you on this trip throughout Ecuador. We will get to know also the three major cities, Guayaquil, Quito and Cuenca and during the whole trip, we have ample opportunity to observe the daily life of the Ecuadorian people. Nature sites visited are active volcanoes, high Andes paramo regions, cloudforest and primary tropical rainforests and dry tropical forests. On a week-long cruise through the Galapagos islands you observe unique animals, nowhere else seen in the world and experience natural history at its best. Day 1 Arrival at Quito airport and transfer to hotel in Quito. Day 2 Today we explore Quito and its surroundings. We start our trip by driving up to Panecillo, the hill in the middle of the city. From there we have a great view of the town with the old colonial center just lying at its feet, which we visit next. After a walking tour to the old squares and churches, we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we visit the Casa del Cultura museum which boasts among other things, the famous gold museum with a display of century old gold art. Day 3 In the morning we visit Pahuma, a cloudforest reserve northwest of Quito. We hike through the forest and visit some waterfalls and observe the lush vegetation with distinct flowers like orchids and bromeliads. After lunch we return and on the way back to Quito we stop at Mitad del Mundo, the famous equator line monument. There we visit the on-site museums and you may take the famous pictures, straddling the meridian. Our last stop is to Rumicucho, an old Inca fortress site in the vicinity. Day 4 On this day we visit the famous Indian market in Otavalo. The Indians of the region are famous for their weavings and offer their many wares around the Plaza del Poncho, the heart of the trade. After admiring and shopping, we continue to Cuicocha crater lake, a beautiful water-filled volcanic caldera located at 3300m. We return then to Quito with a short stop at Cotacachi town, famous for its leather articles. Day 5 We drive from Quito to Puerto Misahualli, a 7 to 8 hour trip. On the way we will stop in Papallacta, Ecuador's best developed hot springs. There we spend relaxing in the hot pools till lunch and then we continue on till we reach the rainforest lodge located on the Upper Napo. Day 6 Today we explore the primary rainforest with its bountiful fauna and flora for the first time. The native guides give us explanations about the medicinal and other uses of the plants. In the afternoon we undertake some balsa rafting on the river. Another night is spent at the rainforest lodge. Day 7 Early in the morning we go out in the canoe for birdwatching along the shore. We return then to the lodge for breakfast and afterwards explore more of the surrounding rainforest. In the afternoon we visit a native family, where we get a first hand look at the daily native life. Day 8 Early in the morning we leave the rainforest lodge and head south to Puyo, where we stop for lunch. Afterwards we start moving up the Andes mountains again through the Pastaza valley. The higher we get the narrower the valley becomes and many waterfalls dot the landscape. Some of the most interesting ones, like the Pailon del Diablo in Rio Verde, we will visit before arriving in Baņos, where we spend the night. Day 9 After yesterday's long drive we hike some 2-3 hours on trails above Baņos with great views to the town and Tungurahua, an active volcano. Fumaroles and other volcanic activities can be observed from closer up. In the afternoon we relax in the hot springs, from which this tourist town got its name or visit the interesting zoo. Day 10 We leave early in the morning and drive towards Riobamba and then on to Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest mountain. The road leads up to 4800m and then we can hike up another 200m to the refuge, located at 5000m. Apart from close up views of this colossal volcano, we may see vicuņas and other animals in the national park. Day 11 At 7 am the train leaves for Alausi and from there you go down the famous Devil's Nose and return later to Alausi by the same way. After that exciting adventure, which lasts till 1.30 pm we continue by jeep on towards Cuenca, with a stop at the Inca ruins of Ingapirca, Ecuador's most famous Indian heritage site. Day 12 We spend the whole day in Cuenca, Ecuador's most charming colonial town, visiting the old colonial center with its churches and old grand houses. In the afternoon we visit a Panama Hat factory to learn about the production and marketing of this world famous hat. We stay a second night in Cuenca. Day 13 We leave early in the morning and drive to El Cajas National Park, where we stop to hike this high paramo region with its many lakes. Later we continue on and arrive in Guayaquil, where we spend the next two days. Day 14 We spend the day sightseeing in Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city by visiting its modern Malecon district and the old colonial district of Las Peņas. Day 15 In the morning we drive on towards Puerto Lopez, a small fishing and beach resort town. But before getting there we stop at the Cerro Blanco, just west of the city. This is a private reserve protecting one of last dry tropical forests left in the country. We undertake hikes there to get to know this special natural environment. Afterwards we move to the coast where we undertake a short boat ride through mangroves. Day 16 We spend the day at Playa de los Frailes, a beautiful beach, located in the Machalilla National Park, which was created to protect the beach and the dry tropical forest, a special ecosystem with many distinct plants, surrounding the ocean. Day 17 We hire a boat and head out to Isla del Plata, also known as "Galapagos for the Poor". On this island you may see a few birds, like for instance the various boobies, which only are found on Galapagos or on Isla del Plata. In July and August also the huge humpback whales can be seen on this boat trip. Day 18 In the morning we visit Aguas Blancas, an archaeological site nearby. After visiting this complex and its pre-Inca artifacts, we drive back to Guayaquil, where we spend the last night before going on to the Galapagos islands. Day 19 Transfer to airport and flight to Galapagos. Arrival at Baltra at noon and direct transfer to the boat. An afternoon visit to Bachas beach is scheduled. Day 20 After breakfast we visit Gardner Bay which boasts of a white coral beach. Sea lions abound on the beach and the bay is also great for snorkeling. After lunch we visit Punta Suarez on the same island. There we hike along the rocky shore and observe many sea birds, like the albatrosses and boobies, which have breeding colonies on this site. In the night the boat moves from Espaņola to Floreana islands. Day 21 In the morning we undertake another wet landing to visit Punta Cormorant. There on an easy hike we can observe flamingoes in a nearby lagoon. Later we go snorkeling along the rocks called Devil's Crown. In the afternoon we visit Post Office Bay on the same island. At night we move to Santa Cruz. Day 22 Today we visit the Charles Darwin Station, the scientific research station located near Pto. Ayora. There we also can observe the giant tortoise, which are bred there in captivity and released later. In the afternoon we move to the highlands of the island, where we visit the crater Los Gemelos. We move to Genovesa in the night. Day 23 In the morning we undertake a wet landing at Darwin Bay for a short hike through colonies of birds. Frigates, boobies and gulls can be observed with the red-footed boobies being the principal attractions. Snorkeling with the possibilities of seeing hammerhead sharks are also on the program. After lunch we visit El Barranco or Prince Philip's Steps, another great spot for bird watching. At night we move to Fernandina. Day 24 After breakfast we visit Punta Espinosa and hike along a lava shore to get to the nesting site of the flightless cormorants. After lunch we visit the Caleta Tagus, a natural harbor on the largest island, Isabela. There we hike up to a crater lake at the foot of Darwin volcano. A little farther on we have spectacular views to the ocean and the volcano. At night we sail to Santiago island. Day 25 On the morning program is a land visit to Puerto Egas. Here is the best chance of seeing the Galapagos fur seals. Apart from them, many shore birds abound on the rocky beach in search for food. After lunch we sail to Bartolome island. There we hike up to the top of the island for fantastic views towards Sullivan Bay and Pinnacle Rock. Afterwards we go snorkeling along the rock with chances of seeing sea lions, marine turtles and penguins in the clear waters. On our last night we sail back to Baltra. Day 26 After an early visit to North Seymour island, where blue-footed boobies, frigates and other birds, marine iguanas and sea lions can be observed, we transfer from the boat to Baltra airport and fly back to Quito. Transfer from airport to hotel. Day 27 Depending on your departure time, a visit to the old colonial center or to another sightseeing attraction in Quito are scheduled. Transfer to the airport and return to your country.
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