Compare Ecuador & the Galapagos by Friendly Planet vs Ideal Galapagos by Gray Line Ecuador

Day 1: Depart USA /Arrive Quito.

Accommodation: Hilton Colón or similar

Your exciting tour to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands begins today as you depart for Quito, Ecuador's capital city (9,500 feet above sea level). Upon arrival, after customs formalities, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Day 2: Quito.

Meals: Breakfast

Today, enjoy a panoramic city tour of Quito. Arguably one of the loveliest of all South American cities, Quito enjoys a spectacular setting surrounded by mountains and several snow-capped volcanoes, including the still-active Mt. Pichincha. Begin your walking tour at Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Municipal Building and the Archbishops’ Palace. The next stop, La Compañía de Jesús, has an ornate and richly sculptured facade and interior, with colored columns, 10-sided altars, and gilded balconies. Continue to the Monastery of San Francisco, Quito's oldest church and the largest colonial building constructed in Latin America.

Next, drive 16 miles north of Quito to the Equatorial Monument, the Mitad del Mundo ("Middle of the World"), commemorating the exact place where Charles Marie de la Condamine established the Equator, where you can stand with one foot in the northern and one in the southern hemisphere.

Day 3: Quito, Galapagos Cruise: San Cristobal & Punta Pitt.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: M/V Santa Cruz

Transfer to the airport for your flight to San Cristobal Island, gateway to the Galapagos Islands to begin your adventure. Upon arrival, transfer to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to board your first-class cruise ship, the M/V Santa Cruz, your home for the next 4 nights. Settle into your cabin, and enjoy an introductory briefing and lunch.

In the afternoon, disembark on the eastern tip of the island at Punta Pitt, an eroded tuff cone, and walk along the trail with spectacular views of the shoreline. This is the only site in the Galapagos where the three species of boobies can be found together, and you may be lucky enough to view all three! After a walk along the trail, weather permitting, there will be a chance to swim from the beach or snorkel at the nearby islets.

Day 4: Galapagos Cruise: Sante Fe Island & South Plaza Island.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: M/V Santa Cruz

After breakfast, take a dinghy to Sante Fe Island, where you'll find an idyllic sandy white beach populated by many sea lion harems. The endemic land iguana, unique to this island, may be spotted during the morning walk amid the giant prickly pear cactus. Here, you may snorkel and swim from the beach, or explore the water from a glass-bottomed boat.

After lunch on board and a chance to rest, disembark in the South Plaza Island channel, where turquoise waters contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline. A carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus. You may see yellow-grey land iguanas patiently waiting for pears to drop. Along the coastline you may find sea lion colonies, while frigates, swallow-tailed gulls, and shearwaters glide above, playing with the thermals.

Day 5: Galapagos Cruise: Santa Cruz, Puerto Ayora, & Charles Darwin Research Station.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: M/V Santa Cruz

In the morning, disembark (dry landing) to visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoises within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest, also home to many land birds. The Research Station is the headquarters of scientific exploration, conservation and the National Park administration. Later, board our transport to travel to the cooler highlands of the island, a completely different ecosystem, to enjoy lunch.

This afternoon, there are several options to choose from, which can be discussed in advance with your Expedition Leader:

1) Trek along trails amid the miconia forests in the highlands, home to many elusive birds including the dark-rumped petrel.

2) Mountain bike (mostly downhill) to Garrapatero Beach.

3) Sea kayak and relax on a beautiful, sandy beach.

4) Experience sustainable agriculture at an organic coffee plantation. At the end of the afternoon’s activities, return to Puerto Ayora and embark on the M/V Santa Cruz.

Day 6: Galapagos Cruise: Española (or Hood) Island, Punta Suarez & Gardner Bay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: M/V Santa Cruz

This morning, enjoy an exciting walk at Punta Suarez, to see its colonies of unique sea birds, including waved albatrosses (April-December), Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, and swallow-tail gulls. You'll also see the famous Galapagos "blow-hole," and keep an eye out for the famous marine iguanas with their interesting red, green and black coloration. Return to the ship for lunch on board.

In the afternoon, the picturesque white coral beach of Gardner Bay provides a beautiful setting for observing sea lions, mockingbirds, and finches. Enjoy an opportunity to snorkel or ride aboard a glass-bottomed boat.

Day 7: Galapagos Cruise, Baltra Island & Quito.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hilton Colón or similar

Your cruise comes to an end as you disembark at Baltra Island and transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 8: Quito, Otavalo, & Departure.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

This morning, check out from your hotel and then set out on the Panamerican Highway to Otavalo. After driving through dramatic Andean scenery, arrive at the famous Indian fair and the textile market of Otavalo, undoubtedly one of the best in all of Latin America.

The beauty of Otavalo lies in its people, the Otavaleño Indians. Unlike other indigenous groups who have given up their traditional dress for modern jeans and t-shirts, Otavaleños are true to their ancestral cultural heritage, and are still easily identified by their distinctive dress. Women wear intricately embroidered blouses and a wealth of beaded necklaces, while men have long, braided hair and wear calf-length white trousers, ponchos and sandals. Stroll by their many stalls filled with ponchos, scarves, blankets, hats, handbags and more, and observe as the Otavaleños barter in silence.

Then proceed to Peguche, a nearby Indian village, where local artisans weave in their homes. Learn about their culture and everyday life. Later, return to Quito for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. After dinner, transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Day 9: Arrive USA.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight

Day 1:

Welcome at the Baltra airport and transfer by public buses to the tip of the Itabaca canal, where you will proceed by a public ferry service in the Island of Santa Cruz. Transport will be waiting in order to transfer you to Puerto Ayora, area where the hotels are located on the Island. On the way, you will have the opportunity to visit the lava tunnels and a Turtle reserve. Visit to the Scientific Charles Darwin Station, where you can learn more about the Galápagos Islands; the species that live in this enchanted place, its origin, the theory of Evolution, the conservation programs, and observe some Giant Turtles in captivity. (Transfer operates daily at 13h00). Accommodation.

**It will be possible to operate transfers without visits and without guide at the following times: 10h00 and 15h00**(previous request).

Day 2:

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning excursion to Tortuga Bay Beach, after 40 minute walk (approx.) we will arrive to this magic place, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos!, with white sand and green mangroves.  “Playa

Mansa” is where we can swim and enjoy of the beach.

Free time for lunch (not included).  In the afternoon, tour around the bay on board a yacht, starting with a visit to “La Lobería”, named because of the presence of sea lions.  Here you will be able to swim or snorkel.  Then we proceed with our tour to the “Canal del Amor”, a marvelous site where nature gives us an unforgettable view; at the end of this channel, just a few meters forward, a viewpoint where we can observe reef sharks; from here we continue with a short walk to see the marine iguanas that inhabit in “Playa de los Perros”.  Punta Estrada will also be visited. Return to Puerto Ayora.

*Note: shipping used in this excursion is a boat engine with capacity for 16 people.This tour only takes place Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Day 3:

Meals: Breakfast

Excursion in yacht to one of the following Islands: Plazas, Seymour, Bartolomé, Santa Fé or similar ones.  Lunch included and return to Puerto Ayora to accommodation.

Tour Operations in Galápagos, may change due to climate conditions, operations, and logistics and are also subject to availability and itinerary changes, days of excursions, etc.  However, GRAY LINE Guarantees the number of excursions and visits to be met, but does not guarantee the itinerary or specific place to visit.

Day 4:

Meals: Breakfast

Excursion in yacht to one of the following Islands: Plazas, Seymour, Bartolomé, Santa Fe o similar ones. Lunch included and return to Puerto Ayora to accommodation.

Tour Operations in Galápagos, may change due to climate conditions, operations, and logistics and are also subject to availability and itinerary changes, days of excursions, etc. However, GRAY LINE Guarantees the number of excursions and visits to be met, but does not guarantee the itinerary or specific place to visit.

Day 5:

Meals: Breakfast

We will pick you up at your hotel to go to the canal of Itabaca, where a ferry will take you to Baltra Island. At the port you will board a public bus that takes you to the airport. On the route from the hotel to the canal, you will have the opportunity to make a brief stop at the craters ""Los Gemelos"", crater holes formed by the collapse of materials, surrounded by scalesia's forests. (Transfer operates daily at 07h00, 09h00 and 12h00). Includes only transport.