Compare The natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest by LifeCycle Adventures vs Galapagos Islands by Travel for All

Day 1: Vernonia to McMinnville

Leisure: 10 miles with 150 feet of climbing

Intermediate:20 miles with 675 feet of climbing

Challenge: 30 miles with 900 feet

Epic: 70 miles with 2,000 feet

As this is your first day, the Intermediate ride is relatively easy. It starts in Vernonia at the start of the Banks-Vernonia State Trail. This car-free trail– that travels through Stub Stewart State Park– is built on an abandoned railroad that stretches 21 miles and has a gentle grade through scenic fields and forests. The trail also features 12 bridges including a 600- foot long, 80-foot high railroad trestle. The trail ends at Banks where your guide will meet you for your transfer to McMinnville.

Leisure riders will start at the Stub Stewart State Park Headquarters– halfway along the Banks- Vernonia trail– and, from there, join the route described above.

Challenge riders follow the Intermediate route to Banks and from there ride a further 10-miles; cruising along quiet lanes to Forest Grove. This section of riding is where you’ll see your first vineyards. Your guide will transfer you from Forest Grove to McMinnville.

Those looking for a more Epic start to their tour will ride all the way from Vernonia to McMinnville.

Day 2: McMinnville Loops

Leisure: 10 miles, 150 feet (Space Museum) 30 miles, 1,000 feet (Stoller direct)

Intermediate: 40 miles with 1,300 feet of climbing

Challenge: 80 miles with 2,700 feet of climbing

Today’s Intermediate ride meanders along the quiet lanes of the Amity Hills and the Dundee Hills. There are stunning views across fields of vines to the snow-capped peak of Mount Hood and you have the chance to visit a host of family run and organic wineries. Towns you visit include Dayton and Lafayette – both of which have good lunch options. Alternatively, take a picnic to one of the wineries. Stoller Estate is a great choice: on a hill with stunning views. Domaine Serene and Domaine Drouhin are also nearby.

Leisure riders take a more direct route to Stoller Winery – avoiding the Amity Hills – and ride back on the Intermediate route described above. An even  shorter ride takes you to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Museum exhibits include the Spruce Goose. This Howard-Hughes-inspired plane was the largest flying boat ever built and was almost entirely made from wood.

Challenge riders head into the Coast Range for a series of ups and downs through forests and past remote farms. Once through the hills, the ride heads east to join the Intermediate ride from Amity and back to McMinnville via the Stoller Estate Winery.

Day 3: Estacada to Welches

Leisure: 10 miles with 750 feet (Marmot) 20 miles with 1,900 feet (Sandy)

Intermediate: 40 miles with 3,100 feet of climbing

Challenge: 60 miles with 5,750 feet of climbing

Your day starts with a van transfer to rural Clackamas County. Exactly where you start riding will depend on how far you choose to cycle.

Strong Intermediate riders will start in the small lumber town of Estacada. After leaving Estacada, you ride along back roads climbing steadily past open farmland to the town of Sandy: a good lunch stop. From Sandy, you head west on quiet lanes through an area known as Little Switzerland for its U-shaped valley and mountain-framed horizon. You end the day riding through conifer forests; through gaps in the trees you get glimpses of a snow-capped Mount Hood.

Leisure riders (or Intermediate riders looking for an easier day) will join the ride described above in the town of Sandy. For an even more leisurely ride, asked to be dropped at Marmot, in Little Switzerland.

Challenge riders follow the Intermediate ride (above) to near Welches where they add on a loop up the slopes of Mount Hood. This Lolo Pass loop adds 20 miles of climbing & descending. Your reward for all this effort? Stunning views and tired legs!

Day 4: Welches to Hood River

Leisure: 20 miles with 920 feet of climbing

Intermediate: 30 miles with 950 feet of climbing

Challenge: 50 miles with 3,000 feet

Epic: 65 miles with 5,600 feet

Today you have the choice of riding anything from an easy cruise to a real epic. Whichever way you choose, you’ll enjoy some spectacular scenery on the slopes of Mount Hood.

Intermediate riders will take a transfer to Cooper Spur – a cluster of cabins at the base of the Mount Hood Ski area. From here you descend down the Hood River Valley past orchards, wineries and lavender farms. The area is famous for growing apples, pears, cherries, peaches and other fruits. The many fruit stands make great rest stops.

Leisure riders will join the ride described above after the main descent, in the small town of Parkdale. Parkdale is also a good place for lunch.

Challenge riders transfer up to Government Camp - a ski town at 4,000 feet. From here, you ride around the southern flanks of Mount Hood. The ride peaks at 4,600 feet before descending down to join the

Intermediate route at Cooper Spur. Those looking for an Epic ride will simply ride all the way from Welches to Hood River; riding up Highway 26 to Government Camp and joining the Challenge route there.

Day 5: Hood River Loops (A)

Leisure: 15 miles with 1,200 feet of climbing

Intermediate: 40 miles with 3,100 feet

Challenge: 50 miles with 3,500 feet (HCRH) 50 miles with 4,100 feet (7-mile Hill)

Epic: 100 miles with 7,500 feet

All today’s rides start out heading west along the spectacular Columbia River Gorge; along a route described by Bicycling magazine as one of the best rides in the U.S. Much of the riding is along the Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH) bike path. How difficult you make the ride depends on where you turn around and what route you take back.

Strong Intermediate riders will ride to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. This is a fine place to take a break, have a browse and eat lunch. You then return to Hood River on a route with stunning views at every turn as the road twice climbs high above the Gorge before descending back down to the river.

Leisure riders will follow the ride described above but turn around in the town of Mosier. A small café here provides a pleasant rest stop.

Challenge riders will ride the HCRH all the way into The Dalles. You then return either along the Gorge or over the aptly-named 7-mile hill.

There is also an Epic ride that follows the route of the Hood River Grand Fondo - all 100 miles and 7,500 feet of it!

Day 6: Hood River Loops (B) & Transfer to Stevenson

Leisure: 20 miles with 1,400 feet of climbing

Intermediate: 40 miles with 3,000 feet of climbing

Challenge: 60 miles with 4,700 feet of climbing

You spend the first part of the day riding out of Hood River and then transfer to Stevenson at the end of the day. You can do any of the rides listed yesterday – Hood River Loop (A) – or venture into the Hood River Valley on the routes described below.

Strong Intermediate riders will ride up the east side of the Hood River Valley to Parkdale, which makes a good lunch stop. From here you head back down the west side of the valley. On this route you pass many fruit farms, some wineries and a lavender farm. The ride is known locally as the Fruit Loop for its many farm stands.

Leisure riders will follow the ride described above but turn around at the town of Odell. This is a shortened version of the Fruit Loop. The Apple Valley Country Store makes a good lunch stop.

Challenge riders will head up the slopes of Mount Hood to the aptly-named Lost Lake. On this ride you climb on car-free National Forest Development Roads and through countryside little changed since Lewis and Clark came exploring here.

We also have a route to ride directly to Stevenson, if you would prefer that.

Day 7: Stevenson to Troutdale – Last Day

Leisure: 15 miles with 850 feet of climbing

Intermediate: 35 miles with 2,200 feet of climbing

Epic: 55 miles with 2,300 feet of climbing

You return to Oregon for the final leg of your journey; crossing the Gorge on the impressive Bridge of the Gods.

The Intermediate route follows the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway. This starts as a bike path through forests and then becomes a quiet lane that passes many waterfalls: Moffett, Horsetail, Bridal Veil, Latourell and Multnomah Falls. At 620 feet, Multnomah Falls are the highest in the state and can be seen from the road. There is also a short hike up to a viewing bridge. After the falls, a beautiful twisting lane brings you to Crown Point. This imposing bluff stands over 700 feet above the river “guarding” the entrance to the Gorge. A great place to snap an iconic photograph before descending into Troutdale to meet your guide for your end-of-tour transfer.

The Leisure route follow the Intermediate route to the Multnomah Falls where the ride ends. Here you can either hike up to the falls and enjoy lunch at the historic lodge before being collected by your guide.

We have a route that takes you all the way into Portland, for those looking for an Epic urban ride to end their tour.

Day 1: Quito - San Cristobal – Loberia

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Our Galapagos adventure begins with an approx. 2 hours flight from Quito to San Cristobal Island. After bringing you to your hotel we will have lunch and give you a briefing on the tour. In the afternoon we will snorkel at Lobería Beach, where there is a sea lion colony and around the shore you might see brown pelicans and other sea birds. We can also see marine iguanas and in the snorkel we have again chances to see sea turtles.

Meals are done in local restaurants.

Day 2: Giant tortoise - Highlands – Kayak

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast we will visit Cristobal´s Giant Tortoise breeding center. This is a great opportunity to make great pictures of the famous turtles, but also to make a short stop at El Junco Lake in the highlands of the island, see some frigate birds and enjoy the beautiful view from this point. In the afternoon we will go kayaking around the bay to see more birds at the rock son the shores, sea lions and hopefully more interesting wildlife.

Meals are done in local restaurants.

Day 3: Kicker Rock - Interpretation Center – Tijeretas

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today we will enjoy one of Galapagos highlights, snorkel at Kicker Rock. After breakfast we will make a boat ride of approx. 45 minutes to this natural volcanic formation and have the chance to snorkel with rays, sea turtles and hopefully hammer head sharks. It is also a great opportunity to see blue footed boobies, gulls and frigate birds. Return to town around 15h30-16h00pm.

Meals are done in local restaurants.

Boat ride is done in share basis. Catamaran capacity of 12 pax. Our private guide will join you at all times, as well as provide special adapted equipment for all activities in and out of water.

Day 4: Playa Man – Quito

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning we will visit the San Cristobal Interpretation Center to learn a bit about its history, present and challenges for the future. We will also go to Tijeretas View Point to admire the island from the top. Return to hotel to check out and transfer to local airport. End of services. Flight to Quito and connect with international flight out.