1.- Arrival
Your plane arrives in Quito (Ecuador’s capital city). After warm
welcome at the Quito airport, we will transfer to the Hostel. The
first area named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in
1978, Quito's Centro Histórico will transport you back and forth
between centuries as you meander down its cobblestone streets
and pedestrian walkways.
2.-Orientation
Breakfast at the Host Family, Lead Adventures staff will meet you at the Hostel and
will take you to our office to have a full Orientation before heading out to Galapagos.
The orientation will include a scientific Orientation with a Biologist Specialized in
Galapagos and a detailed discussion of your daily activities in the Islands. Free
afternoon to explore the City
3.-Banos Tour
Breakfast at the Hosel Our driver will pick you up early morning and then take you to
Baños, which is located in the limits between the Highlands and the Amazon Rainforest.
In Baños our partner tour operator will be waiting for you and will have set up a cycling
tour in the afternoon.
You will be riding along the Waterfall road, with amazing landscapes, a great
introduction to the rain forest, you will also have the chance to hike down to El Pailon
del Diablo, and be marveled with its beauty.
After the ride you will be heading on your way to Puyo to check in a Hostel
4.- Free day in Puyo
Free day to explore the city
5.- Back to Quito
Breakfast at the Hostel, and then you will head back to Quito. Check in at the Hostel.
6.- Mitad del Mundo Tour:
Breakfast at your hotel, then you will be picked up for our guide
and you will depart to the Middle of the world. This is a monument
in the Middle of the planet, a sign that announces the latitude 0°. A
yellow line that separates two hemispheres: the north and the
south; then you just need to take a step to enter in one leaving the
other one, in an unique experience that can only happen in the
middle of the World, picturesque "city" of colonial reminiscences,
located in the outskirts of Quito, capital of Ecuador. We will
observe this monument very close and visit the Intiñan Museum,
called “The Real Middle of the World” as in this place, you can observe various
experiments that show you’re in the Middle of the World! At around 6pm you will
return to the hotel.
7.-Otavalo Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Then you will be
taken to one and a half hour drive north of
Quito, where there is the most famous
Indigenous market of Ecuador : Otavalo, full
of traditions and handcrafts. Befote arriving
to this magic place, you will visit Cayambe,
to see how people prepare the tradicional
biscuits. Next stop will be at an overlook to
enjoy the landscape of Imbabura volcano
(4610mts) and San Pablo Lagoon.
Your next and most anxious stop will be Otavalo market, where you wil spend time
shopping and some quality time with your friends. You will fall in love with all variety
of handicrafts. Then you will go to Cotacachi to have a delicious lunch and explore the
Leather local work shops, for a great landscape ending at Cuicocha’s lake view.
Experiencing the Galapagos Islands, Santa Cristobal, Santa Cruz ,Floreana and
Isabela.
Flight to Galapagos San Cristobal:
8.-Flight to Galapagos Islands
Depart from Quito to Galapagos. Our local guide will receive you around
12h00pm in the airport and then we will have lunch. Please note: Galapagos is
one--‐hour behind the time zone in Quito.
9.-Snorkeling and trip to Kicker Rock
Snorkel in Lobos Island and visit the famous Leon Dormido (Kicker
Rock). You can witness the high--‐flying boobies and frigate birds. You will
have the opportunity to swim with rays, seals, iguanas, multicolored fish,
and many more depending to the ocean currents.
10.-Breeding Center in Charles Darwin Station and Tortuga Bay Beaches
Departure in a public speed boat to Santa Cruz Island in the morning (7
am), one of the most important islands in the Archipelago because this
is where most of the hotels and tourist accommodations are located. After
arrival, we will visit the important Charles Darwin Research Station where
we will watch some of the largest breeding centers for Galapagos tortoises
and land iguanas. Here the guide will give us a detailed explanation regarding
the evolution of the Islands. We will have lunch at the village. In the
afternoon we will take a long but easy walk to one of the most
beautiful white sand beaches of the islands --‐ Tortuga Bay Beach. Return
to the hotel and lodging.
11.-Volunteer Projects
The main objective of this Galapagos volunteer project is clearing invasive plants
and reforesting the land with native and endemic species. This innovative
approach is believed to be the only true way to forge a sustainable future for
the Galapagos. You will have free time after the volunteer work. You will
be provided mountain bikes to explore the local area.
12.-Floreana Island Darwin medium tree in Scalesia Forest, Snorkeling, and
Caves
You will embark in a fast boat, departing from Puerto Ayora to Floreana,
the most southern part of the Galapagos Islands. On the way you will
find sea lions, marine iguanas and pelicans. You will reach Puerto Velasco
Ibarra and head for the highlands in a truck called a chiva. There you
will visit the Scalesia Forest in the Floreana highlands, home to yellow
warblers, Galapagos fly catchers and Darwin's medium tree finch that only
lives on this Island. You will visit Asilo de la Paz, a visitor site that features
fresh water wells and nearby caves that were used by the early settlers.
You also will visit pirate caves and learn about some bizarre islander stories.
Around 12:30 pm you will return to Puerto Velasco to have lunch in a local
restaurant. After lunch you will come back to the boat along the
shoreline where you might see blue--‐footed boobies, swallowtail gulls and
frigate birds. In the afternoon you will go snorkeling, swimming through
hundreds of fish, sea lions and maybe Galapagos sharks. After snorkeling, you
will return to Puerto Puerto Ayora.
13.- Ferry to Isabela Island
Free morning to relax. In the afternoon, a fast speedboat will take us to Isabela
Island, one of the most beautiful islands in the Archipelago. After 2.5 hours of
navigating, we will reach this corner of paradise where a local transfer will
take us to the hotel.
14.-Volcano Sierra Negra Hike Tour
On this 4-hour trek to the volcano craters of Sierra Negra and Volcan Chico you will
see the beautiful landscape and the different lava formations produced by the most
recent eruptions.
15.-Departure to Quito
Early departure to take the speedboat back to Puerto Ayora. We will
immediately take a bus across Santa Cruz Island to the Baltra Airport where we
will check in for our flights to the Continent. Those who want can take
an inter--‐island flight in a 5 to 9 capacity plane. The flight from Isabela
to the Baltra Airport is 30 minutes and connects to the flight to the
continent (no flights on Sundays). This service is optional and is charged
extra and should be reserved at least 48 hours in advance.
Accommodation in Quito is included.
16.- End of the Program, Departure L
LISTING OF PROGRAM COMPONENTS INCLUDED IN PACKAGE:
Includes
• It includes all lodging (hostel) and activities mentioned in the itinerary above.
Professional guides and private transportation would be available when stated in
the tours in the Itinerary.
•
24/7 Support from our Staff-
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Not included:
• Flight tickets to Ecuador
• Flight tickets to Galapagos: 560USD per each adult and 300USD each child 12
or younger.
• Entrance to the National Park Galapagos 110USD each adult and 60USD each
childe 12 or younger
• Personal expenses like snacks, souvenirs, etc.