Ecuador Discovery

Awaken your soul and your sense of adventure on this 13 day trip through the streets of Quito and Otavalo learning history and culture; then it’s off to the Galapagos Islands aboard the M/Y La Pinta and the wild of the Ecuadorian Amazon at the eco-friendly jungle hideaway, Mashpi Lodge.

Suggested Itinerary-at-a-glance:

• Day 1: Arrive Quito / Le Parc Hotel
  
• Day 2: Galapagos Islands / M/Y La Pinta (B,L,D)
• Day 3: Galapagos Islands / M/Y La Pinta (B,L,D)
• Day 4: Galapagos Islands / M/Y La Pinta (B,L,D)
• Day 5: Cuenca / Mansion Alcazar (B)
• Day 6: Cuenca / Mansion Alcazar (B,L)
• Day 7: Otavalo / La Mirage (B)
• Day 8: Quito / Le Parc Hotel (B)
• Day 9: Quito / Le Parc Hotel (B,L)
• Day 10: Ecuadorian Rainforest / Mashpi Lodge (B,L,D)
• Day 11: Ecuadorian Rainforest / Mashpi Lodge (B,L,D)
• Day 12: Ecuadorian Rainforest / Mashpi Lodge (B,L,D)
• Day 13: Quito / Departure (B)

Itinerary Description:

The journey begins in Quito as you arrive and are transferred to your accommodation at the Le Parc Hotel. Your next three nights will be full of adventure aboard the beautiful M/Y La Pinta as you sail to the islands of the coast. Here you’ll interact with Darwin’s findings like the tortoise, the pink flamingo, and the blue-footed booby. You’ll also enjoy trips to Seymour Island, Santa Cruz, Floreana, Espanola and San Cristobal. Consider taking a dinghy ride in Venice islet to observe vegetation and marine life such as spotted eagle rays and golden rays, mullets, sharks, and sea turtles.

On day five, you will transfer to Cuenca where you will take a walking tour in colonial downtown, an opportunity to enjoy the warmth and hospitality of its people, the colorful parks and plazas, religious monuments and handcraft shops. Lunch will be served at one of the restaurants of the area, and in the afternoon, you’ll take a drive up to the hill of Turi to admire the city and have an explanation of Cuenca’s geography and history. Continuing on, your private Ecuadorian journey will take you through the quaint town of Otavalo where you will visit the many stalls full of ponchos, scarves, blankets, wall hangings, other fine woven goods and much more. Otavaleños barter in silence, in marked contrast to the raucous noise of other markets; take your time to negotiate the best bargains. There are plenty of great places to shop for take-home mementos of this beautiful town.

Next stop: Quito. Back to the capital of Ecuador you’ll go for an astounding city tour, the first city declared a Cultural World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1978. Quito’s cultural heritage is a blend of Amerindian ancestry and Spanish influence. You’ll see the very beginnings with the first Pre-Columbian inhabitants’ civilizations which formed the ethnic cultural background of Ecuador centuries before the Inca Empire, like the Quitus in present-day Quito, who developed their own distinctive architecture, pottery and religious beliefs. Then, drive up to an observation point for a bird’s-eye view of the city’s layout; and then stroll along downtown Quito, founded by the Spanish on the ruins of an Inca settlement, the best preserved Colonial historic center in Latin America. You’ll also have a unique opportunity to see baroque art gems, observe the restoration processes and the brilliantly-restored Jesuit church.

The last three days of your journey will be spent in the Ecuadorian Amazon at the eco-friendly Mashpi Lodge. This unique lodge is blissfully secluded in a protected reserve exclusive to lodge guests, and also hosts great activities like rainforest walks, visits to local indigenous villages, and sailing over the lush canopy in an aerial tram.