Volcanoes and Galapagos

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1 - Join trip in Tumbaco, near Quito

  Our tour starts today in Tumbaco, a quiet rural neighbourhood of Quito located around 20 minutes from the airport and 45 minutes from the downtown city centre. Ecuador's mountain capital is the second highest in Latin America at 2,850 metres. It lies in a narrow valley at the foot of the Pichincha volcano. Arriving in the city by air is quite spectacular as you approach over snow-capped mountains and extinct volcanoes - we highly recommend booking a window seat!

• Day 2 - Travel to Otavalo via Parque Condor; visit Peguche village

  We'll go straight to rural Ecuador today, driving north towards the small market town of Otavalo. Set within a fertile valley encircled by imposing sacred mountains, Otavalo is idyllically situated and is well-known for its thriving indigenous communities. This area is a real introduction into the Andean landscapes and culture that make Ecuador so special. On the outskirts, just before we reach the town, we'll visit Parque Condor, a rescue centre for injured condors, with the opportunity to witness these marvellous birds up close.

• Day 3 - Walk at the Laguna Cuicocha; share in rural life at indigenous communities; visit Otavalo Market

  We'll drive out to the tranquil setting of Cuicocha this morning, a turquoise crater lake located at 3,100 metres, approached through a wonderful landscape of alpine vegetation. We'll walk on a segment of the trail that goes around the lake (an easy walk of approximately 90 minutes) - along the way, we'll try to spot the King of the Andes - the wide-winged condors that soar high above the valleys in graceful flight.

• Day 4 - Drive to the Mindo Cloud Forest Reserve; visit a chocolate factory

  We have a spectacular drive ahead of us today, leaving the sparse mountain landscapes of Otavalo for the dense cloud forest on the slopes of the western Andes. En route, we might make a small stop at a local biscuit factory, to try fresh bizcochos made in a wood oven. We'll also cross over the equator line and stop to commemorate this at the Quitsato Equator Monument.

• Day 5 - Explore the cloud forest on foot and by cable car; visit a hummingbird garden; drive to Quito

  An early start this morning gives us the best chance of spotting Mindo's bird life at a time when it is most active. One of our first stops is at a hummingbird garden, catching some of the iridescent colours of the many hummingbird species that feed here. We'll then go deeper into the mountains towards the Mindo-Nambillo reserve, and take a 'tarabita' (cable car) up the mountainside, getting a birds-eye view of the forest.

• Day 6 - Walking tour of Quito's UNESCO Heritage Old Town

  Ecuador's capital is one of the best-preserved colonial cities of the Americas, and a UNESCO Heritage Site with a rich blend of colonial architecture, imposing churches and busy markets. We'll visit some of the main sites, including La Compania church with its elaborate gilded altars, walls and ceilings, as well as Quito's largest and oldest colonial church, the Church of San Francisco, built in 1553. A climb to the top of nearby Cerro Panecillo rewards us with a view across the city and the encircling Andes from the viewing platform at the statue of the Virgen de Quito.

• Day 7 - Drive the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Cotopaxi National Park; walks at the Limpiopungo Lagoon

  Our journey today takes us through some of the most impressive mountain scenery in the entire country, into the landscapes aptly described by the German explorer Alexander von Humboldt as the 'Avenue of the Volcanoes'. Our destination is Cotopaxi National Park - just a two-hour drive from Quito, and home to Ecuador's second-highest volcano. Cotopaxi is a classic volcanic cone, snow-covered and rising an imposing 5,897 metres from the valley floor. Hopes of seeing the cone in its full glory are always high, but to manage expectations, it's important to mention that the peak is often covered by a puff of cloud!

• Day 8 - Fly to the Galapagos; view giant tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands

  The Galapagos are an isolated chain of volcanic islands supporting a distinct and unique flora and fauna, including prehistoric creatures found nowhere else on earth. Of the extraordinary animals to be found in the Galapagos many are reptiles, such as the giant tortoise, land iguana and three species of non-poisonous snake. There are also several species of turtle, which come ashore to mate. Up to three quarters of a million seabirds flock to the islands, including a third of the world's blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, pelicans, cormorants, albatross and petrels. Of all the animals in this unique landscape, perhaps the most out-of-place is the penguin. Only 35 centimetres tall, the Galapagos Penguin can be seen swimming among tropical mangroves. Offshore it is common to see dolphins, sea lions and fur seals playing in the water.

• Day 9 - Boat to Isabela Island, overnight in Puerto Villamil

  This morning, we leave Santa Cruz and journey west by speed boat for approximately two and a half hours. Our destination is nearby Isabela Island, where we'll spend the next two days. The largest of the Galapagos Islands, Isabela is formed from five volcanoes, of which two are still active. An idyllic paradise of white sand beaches and swaying palms, it's home to the second largest caldera on earth and the highest point in the archipelago. We'll base ourselves here, in the small town of Puerto Villamil on the southern coast.

• Day 10 - Walk up Sierra Negra Volcano; afternoon snorkel

  The beauty of staying on land during a trip to the Galapagos is having the opportunity to explore its volcanic side. The geological formation of the Galapagos lends itself to hiking, and the scenery is just as impressive as the wildlife. Today we start by taking a walk up the Sierra Negra Volcano, an immense 12-kilometre/7.5-mile-wide mass that dominates the southern half of the island. The walk up to the top is three hours, presenting us with some spectacular panoramic views of the Pacific, and across to the neighbouring islands.

• Day 11 - Tintoreras Islands trip; return by boat to Santa Cruz

  Formed from volcanic lava flow, the tiny islets of the Tintoreras Islets are fantastic for viewing wildlife, and accessible by a short boat trip from Puerto Villamil. On land, there is an array of birdlife and an abundance of the famous marine iguanas that are endemic and unique to the Galapagos. In the water, turtles, Galapagos penguins and sea lions may be spotted swimming around. The wildlife's complete acceptance of our presence is a testament to the incredible diversity and unique quality of the Galapagos Islands. It makes it possible to view birds, reptiles and mammals from as close as a few feet.

• Day 12 - Discover Seymour, Plazas, Bartolome or Santa Fe Island

  Today, we'll discover one of the smaller islands of the Galapagos, and our plan is at the mercy of the yacht schedule departing from Santa Cruz. The island visited could be either Seymour, Bartolome, Santa Fe or Plazas Island - but no matter which island we will certainly have a display of wildlife. We may see sea lions playing in the water just off shore, land or marine iguanas strolling around, magnificent red-throated frigate birds, blue footed boobies, swallow-tail gulls or Galapagos penguins. After exploring on land, we will also do some snorkelling at one of the nearby sites. This boat trip may include people not travelling with Explore. Snorkelling equipment is included as part of the boat trip.

• Day 13 - Visit Tortuga Bay; afternoon Charles Darwin Station visit

  This morning, we take a walk to Tortuga Bay (a 5-kilometre/3-mile return walk) where we'll have the opportunity to swim at one of the most spectacular beaches of the entire chain, an important turtle nesting ground. After lunch, we'll visit the nearby Charles Darwin Research Station which has been responsible for conservation projects within the islands since 1959 (the centenary of the publication of Origin of the Species). During our time here, we'll visit the centre to learn more about the area's unique collection of animal and plant life.

• Day 14 - Fly to Quito on the mainland

  Leaving the Galapagos behind today, we fly to Quito on the mainland (there may be a touchdown in Guayaquil en route). On arrival, we'll transfer to our hotel in the Tumbaco suburb of the city and enjoy a last evening together as a group.

• Day 15 - Tour ends in Quito

  The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Tumbaco, Quito. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Quito at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), which is around a 20-minute drive from our hotel.