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Ecuador Holidays: Quito + Avenue of Volcanoes Tour + Galapagos Cruise

Ecuador: Quito + Avenue of Volcanoes + Galapagos
Ecuador Holidays: Quito Avenue of Volcanoes Tour Galapagos Cruise
12 NIGHTS FROM:
$7,284
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
EPV12Q
• Equador Holidays: Quito
• Centre of World Monument
• Avenue of Volcanoes Tour
• Ingapirca Ruins
• Cuenca
• Guayaquil
• Baltra Island
• Giant Tortoises
• San Cristobal Island
• Galapagos Cruise, Ecuador

Our Ecuador holidays start in the old Inca capital of Quito situated high in the Andes, continuing with a private Avenue of Volcanoes tour & an unforgettable Galapagos Cruise. Explore the cultures & volcanic landscapes of this small country situated on the equator, before embarking on your expedition cruise to view the unique wildlife of the Galapagos. All transfers, marine park fees & sightseeing with English speaking guides included.

Day 1
You will be met at Quito Airport and transferred to your hotel in this historic Spanish colonial city that straddles the equator and is today a World Heritage Site.
 
Check in and relax in this capital city in the Andean Highlands, with its many museums, monasteries and churches with golden altars. The prosperous centre of the Kingdom of Quitu during the 13th century, and later the northern capital of the Inca Empire, it has a setting that few cities in the world can match.
Day 2
Today enjoy a full day private tour of Quito, starting with a visit to the equatorial monument that marks the Centre of the World at latitude 0º - about 16 miles (25 km) north of Quito.
 
Here you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere and visit the Intiñan folk museum that showcases the different Native American groups living in Ecuador, their culture and traditions. There is also a colonial-style tourist village complete with main square, church, post office, bullring and gift shops.
 
Afterwards enjoy a Quito City Tour, walking through the cobbled streets and main square of the historic Colonial Quarter - the largest and best preserved in South America. Take in its magnificent colonial architecture as you stroll along Independence Plaza - including the Cathedral, President's Palace, Archbishop's Palace and the Municipal Building.
 
You will see many mansions, monasteries and churches including the spectacular Church of the Society of Jesus ('La Compañía de Jesús) with its awesome gilded interior and the Monastery of San Francisco. This is one the of greatest religious buildings of the New World, with its impressive façade and atrium leading to a Moorish-influenced baroque interior and winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. This lovely city also has many cosmopolitan galleries and boutiques filled with contemporary paintings, sculptures and exquisite traditional crafts.
 
Your day ends with a ride on the TelefériQo (cable car) from where you can view at least four snow-capped volcanoes.
 
Note: Quito is situated at high altitude (9,350 ft / 2,850 m), so walk slowly. As you will be visiting churches (except on Sundays, when this is not permitted), do not wear shorts or mini-skirts as these are not allowed.
Day 3
We depart from Quito this morning and head south through the magnificent Avenue of the Volcanoes, travelling 3.5-hours to Riobamba.
 
The Avenue of the Volcanoes is formed by two parallel chains of the Andes Mountains that travel the length of Ecuador, rising to dramatic peaks. Eight of the highest mountains in the country are found in this spectacular region, as well as several dramatic volcanoes. The snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano dominates the landscape and on clear days offers a magnificent backdrop. It is an almost perfect cone rising to 19,347 ft (5,897 m), making it the highest active volcano in the world.
 
At the town of Sangolqui we stop to explore its traditional Andean market - full of animals, produce and people, and a great introduction to the Andean way of life. Here you can see llama and many rose plantations, as Ecuador exports roses throughout the world.
 
We continue to Copopaxi National Park, travelling for 1-hour along a gravel road across the evergreen landscapes of the Andean páramo (high altitude moorlands above the tree line), which are patchworked with multi-coloured fields. At Limpiopungo Lagoon we observe a variety of bird life and occasionally wild horses, as well as participate in a short walk. On clear days the Cotopaxi Volcano offers a magnificent backdrop.
 
After an included lunch at a local restaurant we travel along the Pan American Highway to Urbina, situated at the foot of the imposing Chimborazo Volcano. Here we visit a tagua nut (or ivory palm) workshop, before warming up with a traditional hot canelazo drink and biscuits. On a clear day, seeing Chimborazo Volcano outlined against an amazing sunset is spectacular.
 
We continue to Riobamba, a small town surrounded by five volcanoes and known as the "Sultan of the Andes".
Day 4
This morning we depart from Riobamba and spend the day exploring stunning Andean landscapes, as we travel 4-hour to the Inca archaeological at Ingapirca.
 
We detour 1-hour to Baños, with its abundance of mineral-rich hot springs, and travel along the famous Route of the Waterfalls, viewing numerous cascades that crash down from the mountains above. Lunch is included today at a local restaurant.
 
We continue driving 4-hours through dramatic Andean landscapes to Ingapirca - the best preserved pre-Colombian ruins in all of Ecuador. Built on a promontory high above the Cañar valley, this ancient Inca stone fortress has several trapezoidal doorways and stone walls that fit perfectly together, without the use of any mortar. A large elliptical platform, known as the Temple of the Sun, was once used for religious and astronomical purposes. You can view the barracks, the stone Inca Face and various carvings of gods with animal forms. There is also a small on-site museum. At the end of the day check into your hotel in Ingapirca.
Day 5
This morning we visit the Inca archaeological complex at Ingapirca. Although much smaller than Machu Picchu in Peru, these are the best preserved pre-Colombian ruins in Ecuador.
 
Built on a promontory high above the Cañar valley, this ancient Inca stone fortress has several trapezoidal doorways and stone walls that fit perfectly together, without the use of any mortar. A large elliptical platform, known as the Temple of the Sun, was once used for religious and astronomical purposes. You can view the barracks, the stone Inca Face and various carvings of gods with animal forms. There is also a small on-site museum.
 
Afterwards we continue 2-hours to the charming colonial city of Cuenca, known for its stunning architecture.
 
Note: Ingapirca Ruins are closed on a Monday and Tuesday.
Day 6
This morning enjoy a half day tour of Cuenca, the third largest city in Ecuador, which retains a pleasant provincial air with its red-tiled roofs, cobblestone streets, flowery plazas and museums..The historic centre of this beautiful city is a World Heritage site.
 
We start at San Sebastian Plaza - a colourful artisans’ market where handicrafts are sold, including Ecuador's famous Panama hats. Here you can see the Museum of Modern Art, which was originally a House of Temperance where alcoholics were imprisoned behind these thick walls in an effort to cure them. We also visit San Francisco Plaza, where small handcraft shops can be visited and the exquisitely embroidered skirts of the local Cholas Cuencanas can be purchased. The Flower Market is situated on a small plaza in front of the carved stone entrance to the church of El Carmen de la Asunción. From here it is a short stroll to the main square, surrounded by the imposing blue-domed Cathedral, the Court of Justice, the Municipal Palace, the Governor’s Palace and the Church of El Sagrario.
 
After an included lunch at a local restaurant, your afternoon is at leisure to explore more of Cuenca independently.
Day 7
Today we descend 4-hours from Cuenca to the tropical city of Guayaquil on the Pacific Coast, with boxed lunch included.
 
Along the way we stop at the high altitude moorlands ('paramo') of El Cajas National Park, a protected area starting at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) above sea level with grassland covering most of its terrain. This tranquil region, with its stunning landscapes, shows the remains of intense volcanic activity and glaciation. Although the wind and drizzle can make it very cold, the scenery surrounding these 235 lakes and dwarf forests of quinoa trees (a high protein grain) is splendid for walking. There is also a good chance of seeing wild llamas here.The highest point is reached at Three Crosses watershed, from where rivers flow into either the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean.
 
We continue to Guayaquil where the vibe is Caribbean, in marked contrast to the Andean region. Check into your hotel in this important port that is the largest city in Ecuador.
 
Note: A jacket and good walking shoes are essential today.
Day 8
Transfer to Guayquil Airport for your flight to the spectacular Galapagos Islands.
 
You will be met at Baltra Airport and transferred by bus to the boarding jetty. Here you will embark on your Expedition Cruise through this magnificent archipelago, situated on the equator in the Pacific Ocean some 560 miles (900 km) west of the Ecuador mainland.
  
These volcanic islands are famous for their vast number of endemic species, studied by Charles Darwin during his historic voyage on the Beagle, which contributed to his Theory of Evolution by natural selection. Check in and relax in this astonishing marine reserve, where the unique wildlife does not seem perturbed by human visitors - allowing for extremely close-up encounters.
 
Note: You need to be relatively mobile to enjoy an expedition cruise in the Galapagos, as you will be embarking and disembarking by panga boat (zodiac). All sightseeing with a naturalist guide, marine fees, snorkelling and medical care aboard the boat are included, but not the cost of medicines. Wetsuits are available for hire. Children < 6 years are not allowed on an expedition cruise.
Days 9 To 11
Enjoy cruising through the marine-rich waters of the world-famous Galapagos Islands, with shore excursions each day with a naturalist.
 
Your exact routing will depend on your departure date and the vessel you have selected. This will be confirmed before you book.
Day 12
Disembark from your expedition cruise today and transfer to Baltra Airport for your flight to Guayaquil.
 
You will be met at Guayaquil Airport and transferred to your hotel in this important port, that is the largest city in Ecuador. Here the vibe is Caribbean, in marked contrast to the Andean region.
Day 13
Transfer to Guayaquil Airport for your flight home.