MAGIC ECUADOR
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| Tour Code: |
CC15 - Magic Ecuador [Galapagos Islands, Amazon, the Sierra region ] |
| Duration: |
15 days |
| Departure: |
Daily
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Description:
Day 1
Arrival in Quito, transfer to Café Cultura. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2
After breakfast, Quito City tour including visit to the Equatorial line. Lunch at El Crater restaurant, with great views of Volcano Pululahua's Crater. After lunch we head to Otavalo visiting Cotacachi, San Antonio de Ibarra and nearby towns. Finally, dinner and overnight stay in Hacienda Pinsaqui, reputedly frequented by the great South American liberator, Simon Bolivar. (B,L,D)
Day 3
After breakfast, we'll visit the famous Otavalo market.. As well as the bustling handicrafts market and exotic fruit stalls, there is a food market where the locals - dressed in their very distinctive traditional costumes- come from their small farms in the mountains to sell their farm produce and buy their weekly supplies. We'll then stop for lunch at the lovely 17th Century Hacienda Cusin, adorned with local crafts and antiques. After lunch, we´ll visit a local weavers where the ancient pre-Inca back strap loom is still used. Return to Quito. Overnight stay at Café Cultura. (B,L)
Day 4
After breakfast, transfer to Quito airport for local flight to Coca, then transfer to La Selva lodge by canoe. La Selva is one of the more easily reached destinations in the Amazon, ideal for birdwatchers and nature lovers. Check in, lunch and afternoon activities. Dinner and overnight stay. (B,L,D)
Day 5
A day at La Selva with all meals and daily activities according to program. (B,L,D)
Day 6
A day at La Selva with all meals and daily activities according to program. (B,L,D)
Day 7
La Selva-Coca-Quito. Transfer to hotel Café Cultura. Rest of the day spent at leisure either shopping or wandering around Quito's many museums, art galleries and churches. Dinner and overnight stay at Café Cultura. (B,L)
Day 8
After breakfast, transfer to Cotopaxi National Park [2 hrs]. Visit to the national park with a magnificent view of Volcano Cotopaxi [the second highest active volcano in the world]. Lunch in one of the impressive colonial haciendas and afternoon visit to the rural Saquisili Indian market, where guests can amble through the squares and streets buying local crafts or a traditional poncho or simply watching the locals trading on market day.
Dinner and overnight in hacienda San Agustin del Callo, that holds a very special place in history: used as a base by many explorers and scientists such as Condamine and Humboldt during their expeditions to the "new world". (B,L,D)
Day 9
After breakfast, departure to Baños, the gateway town to the Amazon region. City tour of the lovely town and visit to the impressive waterfalls Manto de la Novia and Pailon del Diablo. Lunch in town and afternoon drive to Hacienda Leito, with impressive views of the valley of Patate. Dinner and overnight stay in Leito. (B,L,D)
Day 10
After breakfast, morning visit of the town and valley of Patate, with great views of volcano Tungurahua. After lunch in one of the valley's most charming haciendas, return to Quito, visiting some important Indian villages en route. Dinner and overnight stay at Café Cultura. (B,L,D)
Day 11
After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Galapagos. Transfer to your ship or cruise yacht. (B,L,D)
Day 12
Galapagos with all meals and excursions. (B,L,D)
Day 13
Galapagos with all meals and excursions. (B,L,D)
Day 14 After breakfast early visit to the final island. Departure flight to
Guayaquil city. Reception and transfer to hotel. After lunch, city tour of
Guayaquil including visit to the famous
Barrio Las Peñas [
an artistic and bohemian neighbourhood], the
Malecón 2000 and some of the most important streets and monuments. Dinner on board Captain's Morgan Ship, enjoying a pleasant trip on
Guayas river, observing the city of
Guayaquil at night. Return to the hotel and overnight stay. (B,L)
Day 15
After breakfast, departure to Hacienda la Herminia, [1½ hrs] out of Guayaquil, to see the coast region and its important cocoa and banana plantations. Lunch at the Hacienda and return to Guayaquil in time for departure flight to Quito.
Last Updated 15th November 2006 (DLW) |
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