Ecuador – Guided Ecuador & Galapagos Islands Multi-Sport Tour

Tonight your flight to Quito will likely arrive in the late evening. We have arranged a convenient room for you that is close to the airport, with pick up, so that you can get a good night of sleep before starting your adventure!

Overnight: Quito

Welcome to Ecuador! This morning after a good night of rest, your guide will meet you at the hotel and drive south through the “Avenue of The Volcanoes.” This name was aptly given to the region by Alexander Vond Humbold in the early eighteen hundreds, when he explored the Ecuadorian Andes and became so passionate about the beauty of these mountains and volcanoes. The drive is about 3 hours and your guide will stop at special look-outs and local markets, so you can take some incredible photos and also enjoy some cultural experiences. There will be plenty of opportunities to try some traditional food, as well! Once you arrive at the lush and lovely hacienda in Baños, you can relax or go for a short hike in the nearby trails.

Included Meals: N/A
Overnight: Baños

After a delicious homemade breakfast we will head by car up to the Llanganates National Park. The drive will be around 30 minutes and from here we will start biking on a paved road. The first hour is uphill and then 2 hours more of downhill. Along the way we will enjoy the amazing views of the Tungurahua. This sacred volcano has been active since 1999 and with some luck you might be able to see some fumaroles coming out of the crater!

While riding our bikes we take in views of colorful Andean farms, where people cultivate passion fruit, tree tomato, mandarins and avocados. The expedition will end at the Pastaza River Canyon, where we will have some free time in town for lunch and in the afternoon we will go for a short hike to the majestic Pailon Del Diablo Waterfall. This place is truly magical -such an awesome experience- and is located in the Sangay National Park, a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site of Ecuador.

On the way back to the hotel we will stop at Bride’s Veil Waterfall to take a cable car ride, locally known as Tarabita. This is a mode of transportation the local people use to avoid the long hikes down and up the canyon trail that goes to their farms. For us, this is a great attraction and a fantastic way for having the best views. Here we also have the opportunity to go zip-lining, which is optional for an extra cost. So worth it and teenagers love this! (We tested!)

Optional services: Zip line – US $15

Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 11 km / 7 mi
Highlights: cloud forest bike, waterfall hike & zip line
Overnight: Baños

Today we go by car up to the Llanganates National Park and start hiking at high elevation in the ecosystem known as the Cloud Forest. Your guide will lead the way and teach you about the many colorful flowers he finds along the way. It is common to see blueberries, blackberries as well as exotic orchids. This is also the habitat for some animals such as the spectacled bear, Andean fox, whitetail deer, and several species of exotic birds. The hike is on a wide dirt trail and then becomes very narrow, like tunnels through the forest but also open areas with great views of the clouds hitting the high mountains. Local people talk about the legend of Rumiñahui, who was a very important Inca Soldier. Legend says that 500 years ago, he came into this forest with a huge treasure that he hid somewhere. However, this is all we know as he died without telling his secret. Lunch will be provided along the way and in the afternoon there is an optional 2 hour hike through some jungle/farm trails. In the late afternoon, your guide will take you to the foothills of the Tungurahua Volcano to visit “The Swing at the End of The World,” a famous place and winner of the NatGeo Photo Contest in 2014. At night your guide will take you to town so you can enjoy a delicious dinner and enjoy drinks by the fire.

Meals: breakfast, lunch
Distance: 13 km / 8 miles
Highlights: Cloud Forest hiking, volcano visit and swing
Overnight: Baños

This morning we say goodbye to this breathtaking region but continue our adventures, driving into the Amazon Basin. The drive is a bit longer but incredibly scenic, as we will descend to 1,500 feet. This time we will enter in the other side of the Llanganates National Park and we will visit a special lodge run by an indigenous Kichwa Family. They will prepare lunch for us and in the afternoon, we will go canyoning right in their backyard; the jungle! This forest is full of magic and is sacred for the local people, as there are many waterfalls along the way that bless every person that visits them. The canyoning takes about 3 hours total and later back home, we will prepare some fresh chocolate fondue, made entirely from scratch. After your experiences and activities, we will take you to the Huasquila Lodge, your home for the next two nights. It is about 1 hour 20 minutes drive.

Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Distance: 6 km / 4 mi (canyoning)
Highlights: Amazon Jungle canyoning, Kichwa visit & experiences
Overnight: Cotundo

Today, we enjoy a scenic drive to the Arajuno River for a Class I section, which is known for its safe and mellow waters; perfect for our kayak adventure! We will use inflatable, sit-on-top kayaks, also known as duckies. Along the way, we will stop at a local village of only 40 people, located along the river and in the jungle. Here, you will be welcomed by this beautiful community, and treated to a specially prepared lunch of freshly-caught fish, jungle fruits, and other local delights! This is a unique experience and an opportunity to support a small, local community. After this splashy and fun day, we will continue to our Jungle Lodge. In the evening, enjoy the pool or just relax in the hammocks while drinking some tropical beverages.

Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Highlights: Arajuno River kayaking, jungle village visit
Overnight: Cotundo

Today after our final breakfast in the Jungle, we leave and drive to the Andes. We will stop at the very special Guango Hummingbird Reserve and have some time to view these beautiful little birds while drinking some traditional hot chocolate. After visiting the reserve, we drive to nearby Papallacta Hot Springs and enjoy soaking in the volcanic water pools amidst beautiful scenery, high in the clouds. This is a stunning setting and the perfect place to relax. (Use of the many pools is included.)

Optional services:
Papallacta Spa – spa treatments

Meals: breakfast
Highlights: hummingbird reserve & hot springs
Overnight: Papallacta

In the morning we will go hiking, deep into the Cayambe Coca Reserve for about 3 hours. The trails are next to the Papallacta River and we can find several species of orchids and colorful flowers; a plant lovers dream! This is also considered the main habitat of the Andean Condor in Ecuador, which has a 10 ft wingspan and is the second largest flying bird on the planet. If you see one, you should consider yourself among the lucky ones as there are less than one hundred in the whole country! The afternoon is free for you to enjoy the relaxing pools in front of your cabin or do an optional visit to the spa.

Optional services:
Papallacta Spa – spa treatments

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 6 km / 4 miles (hiking)
Highlights: nature reserve hiking, flora & fauna, hot springs
Overnight: Papallacta

Today we travel to The Galapagos! The flight takes around 3 hours and once we arrive, we will go for lunch. In the afternoon, we will have a hiking exploration on the trails of the coastal dry forest of San Cristobal Island. This will be our first introduction to the Galapagos, its ecosystem, flora, fauna and its history, too. After hiking for one hour, the trail ends at Tijeretas, which is the local name for the frigate birds that are quite common to the area. Here you can cool off by having a swim before going back to the hotel. For the evening, your guide will recommend the best place possible to have dinner.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 2 miles each way
Overnight: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

In the morning, we will take a boat to Kicker Rock, located off the coast of San Cristóbal, and also known as the Sleeping Lion (Leon Dormido) because of its resemblance. This is the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea, with two vertical rocks rising 500 ft (150 m) above the ocean, forming a small channel navigable by small boats. This is widely considered the Galapagos Island’s natural monument and is a spectacular site due to the many tropical birds, frigate birds and blue-footed boobies that fill the sky in this area. Beneath the sea, the crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful fish, such as rainbow fish and sharks, including the hammerhead and white tip. After lunch, we will spend some time on the beach before traveling back to the hotel.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 2 hours of snorkeling
Overnight: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Today we travel by boat for 2 hours to the Island of Santa Cruz, where we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about what this foundation has been doing for the conservation of the Galapagos Tortoises. At noon we have some free time for lunch in town, but in the afternoon we will drive 45 minutes to the Highlands and hike at El Chato Giant Tortoises Reserve. Here we can see the beautiful reptiles that live here and we will also hike through some lava tunnels.At night, we go in to town and have a very delicious, traditional dinner with the companion of our guide.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 2 miles hiking
Overnight: Puerto Ayora

Today is free to relax and enjoy the beach or partake in optional activities. We recommend a self-guided hike and snorkel option. In the evening, enjoy the beautiful Galapagonian sunset with a refreshing beverage!

Meals: breakfast
Overnight: Puerto Ayora

In the morning we have a Bay Tour. This expedition is by boat and we will view some wildlife from the boat and during our snorkeling time. On this day, it is common to find sea lions, iguanas, rays, sharks, and some of the most iconic birds from Galapagos, such as the blue-footed boobies, herons and frigates. In the afternoon we will have a self guided activity to Las Grietas. This beautiful spot is perfect for walking and once you get there, you can enjoy a swim! It takes about 30 minutes each way.

Meals: breakfast
Overnight: Puerto Ayora

Today is your departure day and you will have a 2 hour flight back to Quito. From here, make your international connection, which should be booked for 5:00 pm or later. Depending on your flight time (they are usually late at night), we can also arrange for your group to have a nice dinner before leaving, or an additional hotel night. (Supplemental fee applies.)

Meals: breakfast