ECUADOR + PERU

I. PERU. SHORT INCA TRAIL AND SACRED VALLEY

Dates: April 27 – May 4, 2024

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights

Number of participants: 6 – 12

Cost per person:
- 1 990 USD for 12 participants, or
- 2 090 USD for 10 – 11 participants, or
- 2 290 USD for 8 – 9 participants, or
- 2 490 USD for 6 – 7 participants, based on double accommodation.

10% early booking discount (in case you book before November 27, 2023)

All included except:
- International flights to and from Lima
- International medical insurance
- meals, not included in the program.

Approximate cost of the air tickets Moscow – Lima – Moscow: about 1700 – 2200 USD (tickets are self-purchased, consultation provided)
Approximate cost of the air tickets Cuzco – Quito: about 300 – 400 USD (tickets are self-purchased, consultation provided)

Single supplement: 480 USD (provided both in hotels and tents throughout the entire itinerary).



II. ECUADOR. VOLCANOS AND AMAZONIA

Dates: May 4 – 14, 2024

Duration: 11 days / 10 nights

Number of participants: 6 – 12

Cost per person:
- 2 750 USD for 12 participants, or
- 2 850 USD for 10 – 11 participants, or
- 3 050 USD for 8 – 9 participants, or
- 3 190 USD for 6 – 7 participants, based on double accommodation

10% early booking discount (in case you book before December 4, 2023)

All included, except for:
- international airfare to Quito and back,
- Domestic flight Cusco – Quito one way through Lima (for those who participate in segment I. Peru. The trail of the Incas),
- health insurance,
- meals that not included in the program.

Approximate cost of the air tickets Moscow – Quito – Moscow: about 2000 – 2500 USD (tickets are self-purchased, consultation provided)
Approximate cost of the air tickets Cuzco – Quito: about 300 – 400 USD (tickets are self-purchased, consultation provided)

Single supplement: 320 USD (provided throughout the entire itinerary)



III. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. FOLLOWING IN DARWIN'S FOOTSTEPS

Dates: May 14 – 18, 2024

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights

Number of participants: 6 – 12

Cost per person:
- 1 690 USD for 10 – 12 participants, or
- 1 790 USD for 8 – 9 participants, or
- 1 890 USD for 6 – 7 participants, based on double accommodation.

10% early booking discount (in case you book before December 14, 2023)

All included, except:
- International airfare to Quito and back from Guayaquil,
- domestic flight from Quito to the Galapagos Islands and back from the Galapagos Islands to Guayaquil,
- health insurance,
- admission to Galapagos National Park ($100 for adults or $50 for children under 12. Cost may change),
- meals not included in the program,
- Sierra Negra and Chico Volcanoes excursion in Galapagos ($130 per person for a group of 6-9 people or $100 per person for a group of 10-12 people)

Approximate cost of the air tickets Moscow – Quito and Guayaquil – Moscow: about 2000 – 2500 USD (tickets are self-purchased, consultation provided).
Approximate cost of the air tickets Quito – Galapagos and Galapagos – Guayaquil: 300 – 450 USD for adults, or about $250 for children under 12 (tickets are self-purchased, consultation provided).

Single supplement: 350 USD (provided throughout the entire itinerary)


(Segments I, II, III can be bought separately)




TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO PERU ECUADOR GALAPAGOS AMAZONIA

I. PERU. SHORT INCA TRAIL AND SACRED VALLEY

Day 1. April 27, 2024. Lima

Arrival in Lima by evening flight. Meeting at Lima airport and transfer to the hotel near the airport. Accommodation at the Limaq hotel (check-in at 15:00).
Rest, free time.

* Recommended flights:
– with Qatar Airways from Sao Paulo, arrival in Lima on April 27 at 22:30, or
– with LATAM Chile from Bogota, arrival in Lima on April 27 at 21:25, or
– any other flight arriving in Lima at any time on April 27 or on the night of April 27 to 28.

Meals: No
Accommodation: hotel Hotel Limaq 3 * or similar


Day 2. April 28, 2024. Lima – Cuzco

Early in the morning a short transfer to the airport for departure to Cuzco.
* Possible flight: Latam airlines LA2011 departing at 06:05 a.m.
Arrival in Cuzco (3400 meters above sea level) at 07:30 (or any other time in the morning), meeting at the airport with an English-speaking guide and start of a tour of Cuzco.
We arrive in Cuzco (3400 meters above sea level) at 07:50, after that, we have a meeting with an English-speaking guide and start a tour of Cuzco from the visit of the Imperial City. It is a living example of the mix of Andean and Spanish culture. The first point of our route is the Convent of Santo Domingo built over the Coricancha, which was the ancient Inca Palace and the main worship center of the Sun God. We have enough time to enjoy these incredible sites.
From there we move to the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park with its impressive Inca architecture.
After that, we'll visit Kenko, the ancient temple of Puma, where we will see the sacrificial altar inside a huge rock, the fortress Puka Pukara and the Tambomachay - sacred sources of life and health.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: hotel Los Portales Cusco 3 * or similar


Day 3. April 29, 2024. Cuzco – Tambomachay – Corao – Patabamba – Huchuy Qosqo

After breakfast, we will drive to Corao village (approx. 30 minutes driving) and then we take another route to Patabamba village (approx. 1-hour driving).
This is our start point for our hike to Huchuy Qosco. Here we meet our horseman and horses if ordered.
Our hike is going to be really beautiful because we hike over the Sacred Valley with amazing views.
We hike from Patabamba to Quenqo (approx. 30 minutes), then we continue hiking to Siwar Village (1 hour) with the last bus station (If you don't want to hike from Patabamba to Siwar village, you can drive till Siwar by bus).
After Siwar village we keep hiking or horseback until Huchuy Qosco village.
It takes between 3 or 4 hours including a pause for lunch.
Our path leads us over high passes, through valleys and small communities, and beautiful mountain lakes. With large expanses of grasslands and glaciers, the area is home to a wide variety of birds including Andean Geese, Partridges, and Lapwings as well as a variety of birds of prey.
Our goal for today is the village of Huchu Qosqo located close to the Inca site with the same name (Small Cusco). Huchuy Qosqo Village is a traditional Andean community, located high above Cusco and the Sacred Valley with the people maintaining the customs and traditions of ages past and the majority of villagers gain their income from herding llamas, alpacas, and farming some products like potatoes, corn, and some beans.
Once we get to the Inca site you will take some pictures and you can walk around. After that, we will hike to our homestay of Huchuy Qosqo Village (it takes 20 minutes).
The local family is waiting for us with a nice welcome.
Dinner and overnight in a homestay.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: homestay Huchuy Qosqo


Day 4. April 30, 2024. Huchuy Qosqo – Lamay – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes

Breakfast with the local family.
Today has two main focuses in the morning, learning a little bit about the customs and culture of the Andean people and a visit to the Inca site of Huchuy Qosqo. The people are incredibly friendly and are just as eager to learn about us as we are of them; they don't get many visitors in this area as it is rare to see some tourists in this place and they are always interested to find out about travelers. After breakfast and talking with the local family, we have the opportunity to present any gifts to the locals and also to buy some of the locally made products.
After that, we'll make our way to Huchuy Qosco. The route takes 10 minutes from the homestay to the Inca site then we'll have a guided tour to learn about the Inca people and their culture. After that, we head down into the Sacred Valley to the village of Lamay.
We will hike down (30-40 minutes) then we'll take a bus down to Lamay, then to Ollantaytambo (2 hours driving), and finally a train to Aguas Calientes.
Dinner and rest in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Encanto Machupicchu hotel or similar


Day 5. May 1, 2024. Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo

Waking up early we'll take the bus up to Machu Picchu to enter the site as it opens its doors. We'll have a 2 hour guided tour of the site during which we'll learn about the Incas and visit all the most important areas of the citadel. After the tour, we'll have free time to explore the site by ourselves. For an extra cost, you can climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu (to be booked in advance). In the afternoon we will take the train back to Ollantaytambo.
Overnight in Ollantaytambo.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Munay Punku hotel or similar


Day 6. May 2, 2024. Ollantaytambo – Sacred Valley – Cuzco

After being picked up at 7:00 am we will be driven towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
We'll start our tour in the archeological Inca site Ollantaytambo and then we'll go to the Salineras - the thousand-year-old salt mines, in which salt of excellent quality is still mined. Hundreds of saltpans have been used for salt extraction since before the Inca era. A natural spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of water heavily laden with salt, which is diverted into saltpans and evaporated to produce salt.
Then we head to the village of Moray, where amazingly beautiful views of the colossal concentric terraces resembling an ancient amphitheater salute us. This place served the Incas as an agro-cultural laboratory, the purpose of which was to adapt different varieties of cereals, vegetables, and even fruits on terraces of different heights, due to the location of which the Incas reproduced 20 different microclimates.
Then we drive to Urubamba for lunch in the restaurant.
After lunch onward, we drive to the archaeological site of Pisac, where we see an immense Inca cemetery with more than 2000 tombs. We will learn about the incredible farming terraces carved into the mountain. We will spend about 1.5 hours here, exploring the ancient Inca city. These ruins are quite extensive with many examples of original Incan architecture.
Then we head back to the colorful market of Pisac to buy some souvenirs and local food. Finally, we return to Cuzco to the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: hotel Los Portales Cusco 3 * or similar


Day 7. May 3, 2024. Cuzco – Palccoyoc Rainbow Mountains

In the morning (at about 4:00 am in the morning) a meeting with the English-speaking guide at the hotel.
Today we will visit the Palccoyoc Rainbow Mountains, located southeast of Cuzco. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to see the evolution of the road system, we will see three bridges: Inca (XV century); colonial (XVII-XVIII centuries), and republican (XIX century).
After passing the checkpoint and a short stop for breakfast, we will get to Huallatakunka, where we will begin our walk to see colorful mountains like a rainbow. This natural beauty is the sister of the famous Vinicunka, but closer and with an easier ascent. We will enjoy breathtaking views from the three observation platforms that we will meet during our walk. With one of them, we will be able to see the magnificent Mount Ausangate with its snow-capped peak. At the end of the trek, we will return to our transport to head to the Quehue area, Kanas province on the Apurimak River. We will visit Q'eswachaka, the last Inca bridge, it is a very exciting experience. This suspension bridge, which weighs on the Apurimak River, is unique, handmade, and updated year after year with the help of a four-day ritual performed by local communities. We will have the opportunity to overcome this impressive Inca structure with a length of 28 meters.
Return to Cuzco after a 12-hour eventful day. Overnight in Cuzco.

Meals included: breakfast (with you), lunch
Accommodation: hotel Los Portales Cusco 3 * or similar


Day 8. May 4, 2024. Cuzco – Return home

* Possible flight - Latam LA 2331 with departure at 6:00 (You can take a later flight).
Arrival in Lima at 06:52 and check-in for an international flight for the return flight home (you must be at least 2.5 hours before the international flight at the airport).
If you continue the journey "Segment II. Ecuador: Volcanoes and Amazonia, then check-in for an international flight to Quito.

* Recommended flights:
- with Qatar Airways in Sao Paulo, departure from Lima on May 5 at 00:05 at night, or
– with Turkish Airlines to Panama, departure from Lima on May 4 at 13:39, or
– with LATAM Chile via Lima, departure from Cusco on May 4 at 6:05 am, arrival in Quito at 12:20 pm
– or any other available flight departing from Lima after 10 am on May 4th.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: no




II. ECUADOR: VOLCANOS AND AMAZONIA


Day 8. May 4, 2024. Cuzco – Quito

Arrival to the capital of Ecuador, the city of Quito (2800 m above sea level). Transfer to the hotel (1 hour). Check-in at the Hotel Ikala 4* in the city center. Free time in Quito.

* Recommended flights:
– with LATAM Chile via Lima, departure from Cusco on May 4 at 6:05 am, arrival in Quito at 12:20 pm
– or any flight convenient for you for a flight from Cusco (or another city) to Quito, arriving in Quito at any time on May 4.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Ikala 4*, Junior Suite


Day 9. May 5, 2024. Quito

Breakfast in the hotel and morning transfer to the Teleferiqo cable car are the best way to appreciate Quito's privileged location among the Andes. The climb lasts 20 minutes, begins at an altitude of 2950 meters and reaches 4053 (length - 2.5 km), where there is an observation desk with a view of almost the entire city. By cable car we go up to the top of the Kruz-Loma hill. In clear weather, we can see the volcanoes of Cotopaxi, Antisana, Kayambe and others.
During a panoramic tour of Quito, you will see fascinating panoramas, churches, domes and roofs, which are historical relics, and learn about colonial art, architecture, culture, legends and traditions.
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of the Inca city and is located at an altitude of 2800 m. Despite the earthquake of 1917, the city has the best preserved and least modified historical center in Latin America. Architecture and rich interiors are examples of the Quito Art School, which is a mix of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and Indigenous art. The artists of this school worked on stone and wood to shape the most important religious events. After an hour and a half walking tour, exploring the Old Town, you will understand why Quito was the first city in the world to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Around the main square of the Plaza Grande there are the main buildings of the country: the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop's Palace and the City Hall. We will visit the best example of colonial art in the city - a Jesuit temple, the facade of which is covered with complex carvings.
We leave for the "Mid-World" (equator line). There are two places to visit the equator line, and we will visit both places.
Mitad del Mundo is a tourist and shopping center where tourists can discover a monument made in memory of the geodesic expedition of 1736, which established the passage of the equator line in this place. From the center of the monument there is a line marking the equator; over the years, countless tourists have crossed it. But in fact, the whole structure is located 240 m south of the real line, which was calculated in the twentieth century properly thanks to the advent of the GPS positioning system.
The second place is the Intinan Museum, where we can implement a series of experiments that explain the influence of the equator line on the natural forces of nature. Also here we get information about the culture of ancient peoples and can see a series of totems of various cultures of South America.
The end of a long excursion day (about 10 hours) and return to the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Ikala 4*, Junior Suite


Day 10. May 6, 2024. Quito – Coca – Base camp on Shiripuno river

Transfer to Quito airport and at 9:13 a.m. flight with LATAM Chile or another airlines to the Amazon region of Ecuador, the city of Puerto Francisco de Orellana (Coca), which stands at the confluence of the Napo and Coca rivers.
Arrival at Coca at 9:50 a.m. Meeting with the guide, breakfast. Moving by car from Coca to the bridge over the Shiripuno River (about 2 hours), where we will transfer to a small motor canoe and head downstream along the Shiripuno and Cononako rivers, towards the Buanamo community of the Huaorani tribe. In approximately 7-10 hours, we will reach the home of the indigenous inhabitants of the Huaorani, who are on our way to Buanamo. We will also have the opportunity to observe birds, river turtles, monkeys and other animals. Here, next to the Huaorani family, we will set up our base camp and spend the night.
Huaorani – Indigenous American people living in eastern Ecuador, in the interfluve of Napo and Curarai. Their total number does not exceed 4000 people. They speak the language of Huaorani. The self-name "Huaorani", as in many other Indian languages, means "people."

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents in the base camp in the jungle


Day 11. May 7, 2024. Base camp in the jungle – Buanamo community of Huaorani tribe

On this day, we will go down the river (about 2-3 hours) until we reach the community of Buanamo. We will visit the Buanamo community of the Huaorani tribe, get acquainted with their culture, and, in the company of hunters, go to the jungle to explore the local flora and fauna. Huaorani is characterized by small height (on average about 150 cm), which makes them ideal hunters adapted for life in the jungle.
Over the past 40 years, a significant portion of the Huaorani has left the stray lifestyle of hunters and gatherers and lives in permanent forest villages such as the Buanamo community. Meanwhile, not far from the community, there are a number of tribal groups within the Huaorani, such as the Tagaeri and Taromenane, who avoid communication with the outside world and continue their nomadic life in the forests, representing, in fact, the last non-contact tribal groups of Ecuador.
In 1990, the Huaorani obtained the right to a reservation of an area of approximately 6 thousand square kilometers assigned to the indigenous population. The status of Yasuni National Park, part of which territory overlaps with this reservation, guarantees the inviolability of the biological environment.
We will spend this night in the community of Buanamo.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents in the community of Buanamo


Day 12. May 8, 2024. Buanamo community of Huaorani tribe – Base camp in the jungle

Time in the community of Buanamo, acquaintance with the culture of Huaorani. Huaorani life is closely connected with the forest. This is reflected in their culture, where the words "forest" and "peace" are synonymous. Huaorani consider the forest their home, and outside the forest they do not feel safe.
Hunting provides the basis for the Huaorani diet and is of cultural importance. Before hunting or fishing begins, the shaman often prays for a successful hunt. Huaorani have traditionally hunted monkeys, birds, and wild pig bakers. Neither land predators nor birds of prey were subject to hunting. In general, Huaorani have a lot of taboos in hunting. For example, they refused to hunt deer, because the eyes of deer are similar to human.
Huaorani believe that although they must kill animals in order to survive, they believe that the dead spirits of animals must be soothed, or else they will cause harm in angry retribution. Therefore, the shaman showed respect for future victims through the ritual preparation of the curare poison (which paralyzes the muscles of the animal), used in darts for the blow gun. Hunting with such darts is not considered a killing, but, in fact, a kind of "harvesting" from the trees.
Thus, in Huaorani, a blow gun pipe 3-4 meters long is the main hunting weapon. However, firearms are becoming more common today.
In the evening we will watch alligators. Overnight at base camp.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents in the base camp in the jungle


Day 13. May 9, 2024. Base camp in the jungles – Buanamo community of Huaorani tribe – Base camp in the jungle

Another day we devote to cultural interaction with Huaorani explore the jungle, getting to know the local flora and fauna. We will fish piranhas and other fish, find palm worms and we can taste this local delicacy.
We'll learn more about plants. Plants, especially trees, are still of great importance to Huaorani. They have extensive botanical knowledge, from materials to poisons, hallucinogens and medicines. We will learn what peach palm, balsa and ayahuaska are, and why they are important for the Indians.
Since the community of Buanamo is located directly in the Yasuni National Park, the wildlife here is unique and extraordinarily rich. Yasuni, being the largest of Ecuador's 11 national parks, has enormous biodiversity. On one hectare of the park you can find more than 100,000 species of insects (more than in all of North America!) Occupying less than 0.15% of the Amazon basin, Yasuni houses about 1/3 of all species of amphibians, reptiles and birds of Amazonia! Endemic to Yasuni are 43 species of vertebrates and several hundred species of plants.
Overnight at base camp.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: tents in the base camp in the jungle


Day 14. May 10, 2024. Base camp in the jungles – Coca

After breakfast, we leave Huaorani and move forward on our motor canoes upstream Cononako and Shiripuno. The road to the starting point of the route will take 8-10 (or more) hours, after which we will take a minivan and return to the city of Coca (estimated time of arrival is 8 in the evening), where we will stay at Gran Hotel de Lago 4*. After a long drive, you can dine at the hotel and share your impressions of a great Amazonian adventure.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Gran Hotel de Lago 4*, junior suie or deluxe twin room


Day 15. May 11, 2024. Coca – Quito – Cotopaxi

Afer breakfast, transfer to the airport of Puerto Francisco de Aureliano and at 10:40 flight with LATAM Chile or another airlines to Quito.
Arrival in Quito from Amazonia at 11:15. Meeting with a guide at the airport and transfer to the Cotopaxi region (transfer duration - 2 hours), to the Cuello de Luna 3 * hotel, located at the very gates of the Cotopaxi National Park, at an altitude of 2900 meters above sea level, overlooking the magnificent volcano of the same name.
The park was founded in 1975 and is located in the provinces of Pichincha, Cotopaxi and Napo, 60 km from Quito. On the territory of the park with an area of 33,393 hectares there are the volcanoes of Cotopaxi, Ruminiaui, Sincholagua and Lake Limpiopungo. In daylight, the temperature can reach 18-20 ° C, and in the evening the temperature drops to 3-4 ° C.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: hotel Cuello de Luna 3 *


Day 16. May 12, 2024. Cotopaxi – Quilotoa – Banos

After breakfast at the hotel, we will take a short hike in the Cotopaxi National Park.
Among the many attractions in the park there is the legendary volcano Cotopaxi (5897 meters) and numerous trails which lead you to the giant. Records of his activity date back to 1534, when the conquistadors arrived at the place now known as Ecuador.
We will have the opportunity to take a walk along Lake Limpiopungo, where you can see many birds, 24 species of which are uliginous, including 15 species of migratory birds and a very rare bird species - white-necked ibis, which number only 100 animals. The most common mammal that lives here is a wild rabbit. Four bioregions can be distinguished within the Cotopaxi National Park.
Continue the trip to Quilotoa volcano (2 hours drive). On the way we visit a handicraft workshop in the village of Tigua, where the "naive" painting style was born – the Andean landscapes of Ecuador on sheep's skin.
Then we continue our journey westward to the Central Andes of Ecuador. We will go along the route known as the "Puhili path", passing through the village of Quilotoa.
Arriving at the crater of the volcano Quilotoa, at an altitude of 3914 meters, we will have a stunning view of the crater lake. Depending on our wish and time, we can visit the lake inside the crater, walk down to the edge of the lake and return by mule. Kayaking on the lake, optionally on request.
After a long day of excursion, transfer to the city of Banos (4 hours on the way) and transfer to the Monte Selva 3 * hotel at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: hotel Monte Selva 3 *


Day 17. May 13, 2024. Banos – Quito

After breakfast at the hotel, we set out to explore Banos and its wonderful waterfalls.
The town of Banos is located in a valley with waterfalls and hot springs next to the Tungurahua volcano 5016 meters high. The population of Banos is 20 thousand people, the city itself is located at an altitude of 1826 meters. The city invites you to relax in the resorts and offers adventures for the whole family and extreme sports such as rafting, climbing, canyoning and bungee jumping.
We will walk through the center of the town with a pleasant subtropical climate, and then begin our journey through the waterfalls: Agoyan, Bridal Veil (Manto de la Novia) and Devil's Frying Pan (Pailón del Diablo). Optionally, for a fee, you can also ride the famous Swing over the Abyss and canopy over the Pastas Canyon.
In the afternoon, return to Quito (3.5 hours on the way) and check in in the Hotel Ikala 4* in the heart of the capital.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Ikala 4*, Junior Suite


Day 18. May 14, 2024. Quito – Returning home

After breakfast at the hotel, at the appointed time transfer to Quito airport for a return flight home.

* Recommended flights:
– with Copa Airlibes to Panama, departure from Quito at 14:28, or
– with Iberia to Madrid, departure from Quito at 18:05, or
– with LATAM Chile to Bogota, departure from Quito at 7:12 am, or
– with Turkish Airlines to Bogota, departure from Quito at 10:20 am, or
– or any other available flight departing from Quito after any time on 14 May.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: no

If you continue the journey "Segment III. Galapagos Islands. Following in Darwin's footsteps", then check in for a local flight to the Galapagos Islands (Baltra Airport).
Flight to the Galapagos is possible at 6 – 8 am, arriving at the islands, at Baltra Airport, no later than at 11 am.

Recommended flights to Galapagos:
- with LATAM Chile at 6:48 am, flight LA 1415, arriving at Baltra Airport at 9:23 am, or
- with LATAM Chile at 8:20 am, flight LA 1413, arriving at Baltra Airport at 10:59 am, or
- with Avianca at 8:04 am, flight AV-1632, arriving at Baltra Airport at 10:49 am, or
- any other flight arriving at Baltra Airport no later than 11:00 am.





III. GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. FOLLOWING IN DARWIN'S FOOTSTEPS


Day 18. May 14, 2024. Quito – Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos)

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport and flight to the Galapagos Islands.
Flight to the Galapagos at 6 – 8 am, arriving at the islands, at Baltra Airport, no later than at 11 am.
Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, the guide will meet you and help with luggage, as well as guide you to the bus. Itabaka Canal, which separates Baltra Island from Santa Cruz Island, is a 10-minute drive away. Crossing the canal to Santa Cruz Island in motor boats takes 5 minutes. From here, we will go by private transport (approximately 45 minutes drive) through the entire island to the town of Puerto Ayora. The landscape changes dramatically: from the red rocky surface in the north to the green world of wildlife in the highlands and south.
Along the way, with the guide, we will go to the highlands of the island of Santa Cruz. While traveling through the agricultural zones of the island with the surrounding wild landscape and various species of flora and fauna, we will be able to observe finches, which served as the basis for Darwin's theory of evolution. We will observe the famous Galapagos tortoises in their natural habitat. Here you can see tortoises of different ages and sizes: young ones with sparkling shells and lazy old ones with partially cracked shells - traces of a long life.
Well-known lava tunnels are another destination for our journey. The channels resulting from the uneven cooling of the lava flowing from the slopes of the volcano extend from the highlands to the shores. Lava pipes are destroyed in several places. However, there are preserved lava tunnels that can be walked through for 30 minutes. You will be able to see and understand how they formed, some of them are difficult to pass, and some are with collapsed boulders. The guide will share a detailed history of the origin of these tunnels.
Transfer to the Grand Hotel Lobo de Mar 3 * hotel. The welcome reception will be followed by spacious rooms.
Afternoon excursion to Charles Darwin Station. This station has museums on the history and development of the Galapagos Islands, as well as information on protecting this natural heritage. Here you can see endemic giant tortoises. In the Galapagos Islands, there are several species of tortoises, and, thanks to the station, their populations are not threatened with extinction.
Then we will visit with the guide the fish market of Puerto Ayora, which is located on the waterfront. This is an interesting place where we can see the variety of seafood that is allowed for fishing. Sea lions, pelicans, frigates and some other animals always come to this market to benefit from fish. And us, in order to observe and photograph them!
Return to the hotel.

Recommended flights to Galapagos:
- with LATAM Chile at 6:48 am, flight LA 1415, arriving at Baltra Airport at 9:23 am, or
- with LATAM Chile at 8:20 am, flight LA 1413, arriving at Baltra Airport at 10:59 am, or
- with Avianca at 8:04 am, flight AV-1632, arriving at Baltra Airport at 10:49 am, or
- any other flight arriving at Baltra Airport no later than 11:00 am.

Recommended international flights:
- with Avianca at 23:10 on May 13 from Bogotá to Quito, arriving in Quito at 0:55 on May 14, or
- with Avianca airline at 18:59 May 13 from Bogotá to Quito, arriving in Quito at 20:44 on May 13, or
- with Copa Airlines at 22:08 on May 13 from Panama to Quito, arriving in Quito at 0:07 on May 14, or
- any other flight arriving in Quito no later than 2:00 am on 14 May.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Lobo de Mar 3 *


Day 19. May 15, 2024. Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos)

After breakfast, we will go to a trip to the bay of Puerto Ayora, which starts from the pier of the same name. Boarding, sailing for 20 minutes, arrival on a small island Loberia behind the bay, which is the habitat of sea lions. Here we will have the opportunity for swimming and snorkeling next to the playful and curious sea lions and colorful fish for 30-45 minutes. Then the cruise will continue to the "Channel of Love", rich in romantic landscapes and turquoise waters. Blue-footed boobies also enjoy this special atmosphere.
The Shark Channel attracts attention with its mystery and the huge number of reef sharks that can be seen from the cliff above. Next, we will go to the "Dog Beach" with prickly pears and a large colony of marine iguanas. We will reach the beach on foot in 30 minutes through fantastic landscapes. Our companions will be pelicans, blue-footed boobies, as well as other species of local fauna.
We are exploring the Las Grietas salt mine, which produces the famous Galapagos salt. We will have a view of the impressive canyon with 15-meter slopes; who dares to jump into the crystal clear waters and become the official "Galapagos cliff jumper"? This magnificent place is suitable for a refreshing swim in barely salty water. Return to the hotel.
In the afternoon, we will visit Tortuga Bay beach with amazing white sand of alabaster purity, which disintegrates like a handful of flour in hand. Several dark and porous rocks complement the landscape, which makes it possible to merge in harmony with nature away from the different noises of civilization. Sea iguanas, sharks and sea turtles live on this beach. On the path to the beach you can see some migratory birds. Here we can relax and snorkel.
Return in the evening to the hotel, rest and free time.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Lobo de Mar 3 *


Day 20. May 16, 2024. Santa Cruz Island – Isabela island (Galapagos)

At 7 in the morning, after breakfast, the sea passage to the island of Isabela (travel time 2.5 hours).
Arrival and transfer to the Cormorant Beach House 3 * hotel, which is located on the first line of the wonderful Playa Puerto Villamil beach (check-in at 12:00. If we arrive before check-in, you can leave things at the hotel and immediately go to the beach). Free time at the beach.
This is a wild beach alone with nature, where you can sunbathe and swim a lot. Crystal clear water, beating on white sand, calm sea, iguanas roaming along volcanic rocks ... At the eastern end in marine grasses, the territory is reserved for nesting. Near the end of the beach, hundreds of iguanas rest on the rocks. When you swim in the ocean, pelicans fly around in search of food, and frigates hope for another theft!

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Cormorant Beach House 3 *

* Optionally, at additional cost, at 10:40 in the morning, immediately upon arrival to the island of Isabela, you can go hiking and explore the volcanoes of the Sierra Negra and Chico. Early in the morning, after breakfast, we will take a minibus to the checkpoint of the Galapagos National Park (45 minutes), located 25 km from Puerto Villamil, to start a 3-hour hike for 12 km. The walk goes along a path on which there are not so many climbs, but there is a constant slope, not very pronounced, so the trip will not be difficult. The crater of the shield volcano Sierra Negra at an altitude of 1124 meters is the second largest in the world, with a diameter of more than 9 km and a depth of 100 meters. Sierra Negra erupted in 2018, the last of the Galapagos volcanoes. From here we continue our trek to the Chico volcano, observe numerous lava formations proving the volcanic formation of the islands.


Day 21. May 17, 2024. Isabela island (Galapagos)

Breakfast at the hotel and departure by speed boat to Los Tunes (45 minutes on the way). During this walk we will enjoy the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands: giant mantas, turtles, sea lions and much more. We will make a short stop at Roca Union, where we will be able to observe Nascan and blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and, possibly, fur seals from the side of the ship.
Upon arrival, we will see a lava shaped arches under and above the water, a kind of labyrinth, we will take a short boat ride, and then we will have the opportunity to go snorkeling and see a huge variety of fish, stingrays, turtles and, possibly, Galapagos penguins, the most northern of all penguins living on earth: inhabiting the islands just a few tens of kilometers from the equator. It is the only place on the Galapagos Islands where you can swim with penguins and sea lions at the same time! (The conduct of this event and the schedule may vary depending on the state of the sea).
Also today, Humedales is waiting for us! Humedales (Wetlands) is a complex of trails with a total length of 6 kilometers, located in the south of Isabela. On the trails you can see many varieties of flora and bird species, including rails, finches, stilt and ducks. On the way to the hill of Orchilla we will meet giant turtles and marine iguanas.
From the observation desks, you can appreciate the spectacular scenery of the bay, as well as views of the city of Puerto Villamil, volcanoes, islets and rocks. The wetlands of Isabela Island have endemic and introduced species.
Return to the hotel. Free time at Playa Puerto Villamil beach.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Cormorant Beach House 3 *


Day 22. May 18, 2024. Isabela island (Galapagos) – Guayaquil – Return flight home

Early in the morning, at 5:30, transfer to the pier. Transfer by speedboat to Santa Cruz Island (2.5 hours on the way). Immediately upon arrival, transfer to Baltra airport (1 hour on the way) for the return flight to the mainland, to the city of Guayaquil (flight to Quito is also possible).
Flight to Guayaquil at 11 – 14 hours, with arrival in Guayaquil at 14 – 16 hours.
Arrival in Guayaquil (Quito) and transfer (on your own) to the international terminal of the airport, check-in for an international flight.

Recommended flights from Galapagos:
- with Avianca at 13:22 from Baltra Airport, flight AV-1639, arriving in Guayaquil at 16:18, or
- with Avianca at 11:38 am from Baltra Airport, flight AV-1633, arriving in Guayaquil at 14:34, or
- with LATAM Chile at 11:47 am from Baltra Airport, flight LA-1412, arriving in Guayaquil at 14:36, or
- any other flight departing from Baltra Airport to Guayaquil or Quito not earlier than 11:00 am and not later than 14:00 pm.

Recommended international flights:
- with Avianca at 3:50 am on May 19 from Guayaquil to Bogota, arriving in Bogota at 5:45 am on May 19, or
- with Turkish Airlines at 10:10 am on May 19 from Guayaquil to Bogota, arriving in Bogota at 12:05 pm on May 19 (an extra night in a hotel in Guayaquil on May 19 is required), or
- with Avianca at 3:05 am on May 19 from Quito to Bogota, arriving in Bogota at 4:40 am on May 19, or
- with Turkish Airlines at 10:20 am on May 19 from Quito to Bogota, arriving in Bogota at 11:55 am on May 19 (an extra night in a hotel in Quito on May 19 is required), or
- any other flight departing from Guayaquil or Quito not earlier than 20:00 on 18 May.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: no