Ecuador and Galapagos 2027

Today you will fly to Quito. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel.

Welcome dinner at hotel.

Enjoy a guided city tour of Quito (2,850 m), exploring its beautifully preserved historic center, including Independence Square, La Compañía, and San Francisco Church, with lunch included. Continue to the Equatorial Line Monument at the “Middle of the World,” where you can stand in both hemispheres and visit the ethnographical museum. Enjoy panoramic views of the city from a scenic viewpoint before dinner at a local restaurant.

Visit an elegant rose plantation to admire exquisite varieties and learn about the refined selection and packaging process. Enjoy a private lunch at a local hacienda before travelling past Lake San Pablo, with views of the Imbabura and Cayambe volcanoes, to the renowned Otavalo market. Explore the colourful Plaza de los Ponchos and continue to the scenic Cuicocha Lake, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Depart the hotel in the morning for your flight to Baltra Island, where naturalist guides will transfer you to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend. In the afternoon, visit Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz Island, known for excellent swimming, scenic shoreline walks, and wildlife such as marine iguanas, wading birds, and nesting green turtles. The nearby lagoon may also offer sightings of flamingoes.

In the morning, visit Egas Port on Santiago Island, where black volcanic sand frames a dramatic shoreline inhabited by Galápagos fur seals and other coastal wildlife. In the afternoon, explore Rabida Island, renowned for its striking red-sand beach and diverse birdlife. A guided walk through palo santo forest and cacti leads to sweeping views over the bay.

In the morning, explore Urbina Bay on Isabela Island, where a dramatic 1954 geological uplift exposed coral formations and offers chances to spot land iguanas and giant tortoises. In the afternoon, visit historic Tagus Cove, once a pirate anchorage and visited by Charles Darwin, featuring a hike past Darwin Lake through striking volcanic landscapes. Snorkelling along the cliffs reveals turtles, penguins, fish, and flightless cormorants, with a chance for panga rides or kayaking.

In the morning, visit Punta Espinosa on pristine Fernandina Island, home to vast colonies of marine iguanas and Galápagos penguins, with exceptional snorkelling alongside turtles and flightless cormorants. In the afternoon, explore Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island, a dramatic volcanic cove renowned for seabirds and outstanding snorkelling with penguins, green turtles, and colourful marine life.

In the morning, visit the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island for close encounters with wild Galápagos giant tortoises and other highland species, including several finch varieties. After the visit, transfer to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil. Dinner at the hotel includes a scenic overview of the river.

Hacienda El Castillo, a 700-acre estate 55 km from Guayaquil, is dedicated to cacao, mangoes, and hardwoods. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed with cacao juice and plantain snacks, then take a plantation walk to learn the full cacao process from seed to drying. The visit culminates in the chocolate factory, where traditional artisan methods are used to craft and taste the finished chocolate, followed by a typical costeño lunch at the hacienda before returning to Guayaquil for dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast at hotel before transfer to airport for flight back to Canada or optional extension tour to Peru.