This morning, explore Quito on a half-day guided walking tour to discover its Old Town. Admire historical plazas and colonial architecture while the hustle and bustle of Quito's daily life pass by. You will also pay a visit to the glittering, golden La Compañia de Jesus Church.

The rest of the day is yours to do as you would like. You're welcome to see more of the city and we recommend a visit to El Panecillo, a former volcano with its iconic El Virgen del Panecillo statue and amazing views of the city.

Later this evening, meet up for a welcome dinner as a group so you can get to know your local tour leader and recount today's adventures.

Included:

• Activities: Quito Old Town guided walking tour; La Compañia de Jesus Church; Free time; Welcome dinner
• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation: Boutique hotel

This morning, hit the road toward the "Middle of the World" where you will find a monument commemorating the discovery of the Equator. You will pay a visit to the Inti Ñan museum next door to learn about the indigenous culture and native tribes. Participate in various experiments to prove that you are indeed in the exact spot where the Equator crosses. Don't believe us? Feel free to check your GPS! Remember to bring your passport so you can get a stamp to show that you were in the middle of the world.

Afterward, drive onward to the Cloud Forest where you can disconnect from the chaos of daily life and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of the great outdoors. Have lunch on arrival and meet your Cloud Forest guide followed by your first hike to explore your new beautiful natural environment if the time permits.

Tonight, there will be a night hike where you can try to spot the beautiful glass frog and you will also have dinner as a group at the hotel's restaurant which serves up delicious Ecuadorian and international cuisine.

*Internet may be spotty if not absent in the Cloud Forest so be prepared to disconnect during your time here!

Included:

• Transfers: Quito - Equator by private vehicle (approximately 45 minutes); Equator - Mindo by private vehicle (approximately 2 hours)
• Activities: Equator visit; Inti Ñan museum; Cloud Forest free time; Night hike
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Cloud Forest lodge

You have the option of waking up early and going for a bird-watching hike (approximately 1.5 hours). Don't forget your binoculars to try to see some of the various hummingbird species that are endemic to the area. They are fast so keep your eyes peeled!

Breakfast will be served at the lodge and afterward, the guide will hold a briefing about today's options. Next up is an exhilarating, adrenaline-pumping activity in which you will zoom through the treetops by zipline. Otherwise, you are welcome to go for another to explore the beautiful flora and fauna, take a dip at a local waterfall, or just relax back at the lodge!

To wrap up the day, you will end up back at the lodge where you can have a bite to eat and some drinks as the sound of the forest lull you to sleep.

Included:

• Activities: Bird watching (optional but included); Ziplining; Free time (optional activities at your own expense)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Cloud Forest lodge

Before bidding farewell to the Cloud Forest and its beautiful flora and fauna, stop by a butterfly farm where hundreds of colorful butterfly species flutter around you. Here, you can learn the importance of each species' role in the fragile environment.

If you have a sweet tooth then you are going to love what's up next... A visit to a local chocolate factory. You will learn first-hand how the most delicious, pure Ecuadorian chocolate is made. There is also a shop in the factory where you can buy chocolate fresh from the factory!

Then, have lunch as a group at a local restaurant in the town of Mindo before returning to your Quito airport hotel to get rested up for an early departure to the Galapagos Islands the next day!

*We have selected an airport hotel in Quito due to the early departure on Day 6. This way, you will not need to wake up as early to catch the Galapagos flight since your hotel will be just a few minutes away from the airport!

Included:

• Transfers: Mindo - Quito by private vehicle (approximately 2 hours)
• Activities: Butterfly farm; Chocolate factory; Mindo lunch; Free time
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Quito airport hotel

Early this morning, transfer from your hotel to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands! After landing in the Galapagos, you will then transfer via boat to Santa Cruz Island, the most populous island of the Galapagos. Your Galapagos naturalist guide will take you to the Santa Cruz Highlands where you can observe giant tortoises roaming freely. It is a great chance to see this endangered species, endemic to the Galapagos in its natural environment. After lunch on your own terms, onward to Puerto Ayora, the main town of Santa Cruz, where you can relax after a day of traveling or hit the town to chat with the locals over a pint of craft beer.

Included:

• Transfers: Quito - Baltra Island by plane (approximately 2.5 hours); Baltra - Santa Cruz Island by boat (approximately 1.5 hours)
• Activities: Tortoise center; Puerto Ayora free time
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Boutique hotel

Located a few hundred meters away from the eastern coast of Santa Cruz, South Plazas Island was formed from an uplifted seabed, lending to its tilted appearance. Once on South Plazas, a colony of sea lions will greet you and farther up the shore, a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus. You may see yellow-gray land iguanas sitting beneath, waiting for pears to drop. The trail will take you gradually toward the southern cliff of the island where you can try to spot nesting swallow-tailed gulls and several sea birds such as tropic birds, and Nazca and blue-footed boobies flying by.

After lunch, you can swim or snorkel in the waters of Punta Carrión to observe a variety of tropical fish and possibly white-tip reef sharks that peacefully rest on the sandy bottom.

The rest of the evening is yours to do as you'd like in Puerto Ayora. If you are feeling up for it, check out the town. You can try many of the breweries or coffee shops that are unique to the Galapagos with beer names such as Reptilia or coffee names like Tortoise. It is also a great spot to pick up souvenirs!

Included:

• Activities: South Plazas Island guided hike; Punta Carrion swimming/snorkeling; Puerto Ayora free time
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Boutique hotel

North Seymour Island was lifted from the ocean floor by a seismic event which is the reason for its low, flat profile. Swallow-tailed gulls sit perched on cliff ledges just a few meters from the shoreline. A forest of Palo Santo trees stands just above the landing site, usually without leaves, waiting for the rain to bring them into bloom. Among the island's fauna, you might see sea lions, land iguanas, and blue-footed boobies. The trail turns inland where you might find active colonies of both species of magnificent and great frigate birds.

Bachas is a beautiful coralline beach located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island and is the perfect place for practicing snorkeling, swimming, or simply enjoying the white soft sand. Several brackish lagoons, only a few steps away from the sea, are the feeding grounds of various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos.

To cap off the day, return to Puerto Ayora in time to enjoy a meal and/or drinks out on the town. Or get some rest at the hotel after the day's activities.

Included:

• Activities: North Seymour Island guided hike; Bachas Beach snorkeling & swimming; Puerto Ayora free time
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Boutique hotel

Bartolome Island, with its iconic pinnacle, is located northwest of Santa Cruz. Begin with a walk along a path toward the top of the island where you can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the island and its pinnacle. During the walk, observe small lava tunnels that are the product of the last volcanic eruption and where endemic lava cacti and Tiquilla grow, generally surrounded by Darwin’s finches.

After a breathtaking experience in Bartolome, enjoy a delicious lunch onboard the boat.

Then, head towards Sullivan Bay to discover the marine fauna of the Galapagos while snorkeling. Sullivan Bay is one of the most beautiful places in the Galapagos to snorkel thanks to its crystal-clear waters!

At the end of the day in Puerto Ayora, enjoy your last night in the Galapagos with a delicious meal in town before you head to the mainland tomorrow!

Included:

• Activities: Bartolome Island guided hike; Sullivan Bay snorkeling or swimming; Puerto Ayora free time
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Boutique hotel

After breakfast, you will transfer back to Baltra Island in time for your flight back to Quito. 

*We have selected an airport hotel in Quito due to the late arrival today. This way, you can catch your flights back home in the morning more easily since your hotel will be just a few minutes away from the airport!

Included:

• Transfers: Santa Cruz - Baltra Island by boat (approximately 1.5 hours); Baltra - Quito by plane (approximately 2.5 hours)
• Activities: Free time
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Airport hotel

Depending on your flight time, you will have free time on your own in Quito before heading back home.

Included:

• Activities: Free time; Departure (at your own expense)
• Meals: Breakfast

*Itinerary is subject to change.