ECUADOR AND GALAPAGOS

1. INTRODUCTION:

Ecuador, a small country in South America, between Colombia and Peru is known all
over the world for the Galapagos Island but Ecuador has much more than just
Galapagos Island. It is one of the most beautiful countries of Latin America with its
abundant natural beauty and wildlife. But surely, Galapagos is the lifeline of Ecuador.
Galapagos is a group of islands located in the Pacific Coast of Ecuador. It is a
pilgrimage for travellers. The three main islands are San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Isla
Isabela.

2. DESCRIPTION:

With having a city full of adventure sports to the most beautiful island group to
explore wildlife, Ecuador is a dream come true for travellers who want to explore
anything and everything. Latin America is known for their ancient religion and you
will get an opportunity to explore the lost religion and culture in Ecuador with a
possibility to reconnect yourself to the wildlife and nature. Travel to the indigenous
market and you will get a chance to experience the culture that represents our roots.

3. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

 Experience the indigenous culture by visiting Otavalo Market and enrich

yourself as a true traveller.
 Visit the Amazon Rainforest at Cuyabeno and divulge into activities with
Indigenous people of Ecuador.
 Unravel yourself into experiencing adventure sports at one stop and have a
day full of adrenaline rush.
 Explore the ancient religion by visiting the Temple of the Sun and find
yourselves exploring a lost culture and religion.
 Relax and rejuvenate at secluded beaches in the Galapagos island.
 Visit lava tunnels and lakes and volcanoes in the country and the island.
 Find yourself snorkelling with the tortoises and feeling a sense of belonging
with the wildlife at the island.

4. TOUR AT A GLANCE:

DAY 1: Quito
DAY 2: Day trip to Devil’s Nose train, Riobamba
DAY 3: Day trip to the indigenous market of Otavalo
 DAY 4: Day trip to Cotopaxi Mountain
DAY 5: Mindo
DAY 6: Cuyabeno (Amazon Rainforest)
DAY 7: Cuyabeno (Amazon Rainforest)
DAY 8: Baños
DAY 9: Cuenca and Ingapirca, The Temple of the Sun
DAY 10: San Cristobal island (Galapagos Island)
DAY 11: San Cristobal island (Galapagos Island)
DAY 12: San Cristobal island (Galapagos Island)
DAY 13: Isla Isabela Island (Galapagos Island)
DAY 14: Isla Isabela Island (Galapagos Island)
DAY 15: Santa Cruz (Galapagos Island)
DAY 16: Santa Cruz (Galapagos Island)

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

 DAY 1: QUITO

Quito is the capital of Ecuador and is a blend of the culture and

contemporary lifestyle of the country to explore.

 DAY 2: DAY TRIP TO DEVIL’S NOSE TRAIN, RIOBAMBA

With an exhilarating descent, experience the adventure ride in a real

mountain with perpendicular walls in Devil’s Nose Train.

 DAY 3: DAY TRIP TO THE INDIGENOUS MARKET OF OTAVALO

What is the exploration of a culture, without enjoying the indigenous treats!

Buy souvenirs or simply get to know the culture of the indigenous people of
Ecuador at the Otavalo market.

 DAY 4: DAY TRIP TO COTOPAXI MOUNTAIN

Hike to the Cotopaxi Volcano and watch the crater rings. Although it was
banned for climbing for about a year but it has recently been opened again
for climbing.

 DAY 5: MINDO

Mindo is a small town in Ecuador, famous for the wildlife one can observe.
Ecuador is majorly known for its natural beauty and wildlife and although
Galapagos Island are most famous for it, but certain towns within Ecuador
 exhibit wildlife that you cannot find anywhere else and Mindo is the best
among them.

 DAY 6: CUYABENO (AMAZON RAINFOREST)

Latin America is all about Amazon Rainforest, world’s largest rainforest with
an abundance of wildlife and plants. The fun fact is that the experience of
Amazon Rainforest is totally different in every country, probably because of
the indigenous people and the culture that significantly affects it and also
because of the geographical location that varies.

 DAY 7: CUYABENO (AMAZON RAINFOREST)

With a lot of volunteering activities and other things that one can learn, apart
from just visiting the rainforest, the travel to Cuyabeno makes it for a two-
days’ worth stay.

 DAY 8: BAÑOS

Baños is a small town in the country famous for the many adventure sports it
exhibits. Unravel your adrenaline rush in this city and enjoy the enthralling
adventure sports.

 DAY 9: CUENCA AND INGAPIRCA, THE TEMPLE OF THE SUN

Cuenca is a small town in Ecuador famous for its architecture, especially

meant for the people fascinated with history and art. Ingapirca, a small place
close to Cuenca is famous for its Temple of the Sun that unveils the ancient
religion and culture of Ecuador and Latin America.

 DAY 10: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND (GALAPAGOS ISLAND)

As you begin the travel in Galapagos Island, start your journey with the
adventure to keep the spirits high. Spend the day snorkelling with turtles at
Playa Punta Corola and Playa Mann.

 DAY 11: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND (GALAPAGOS ISLAND)

The next day at San Cristobal will be spent exploring the main city of Puerto
Baquerizo Moreno and Puerto Chino Beach.

 DAY 12: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND (GALAPAGOS ISLAND)

 During the last day at San Cristobal, visit the Laguna el Junco, a crater lake
and the highest place on the island and later go to visit San Cristobal
Galapaguera for tortoises.

 DAY 13: ISLA ISABELA ISLAND (GALAPAGOS ISLAND)

Start the next day by travelling to the next island in the Galapagos group of
islands, Isla Isabela. Visit El Muro (The wall of tears) and
Concha de Perla for a beautiful time.

 DAY 14: ISLA ISABELA ISLAND (GALAPAGOS ISLAND)

During the second and the last day at Isla Isabela, visit the most famous place
there, Las Tintoreras Tour.

 DAY 15: SANTA CRUZ (GALAPAGOS ISLAND)

As you reach to the end of your travel in Galapagos Island and Ecuador, make
your last stop at Santa Cruz, the last main island in the Galapagos group of
islands. Spend your afternoons at Las Grietas and visit lava tunnel caves at
Chato Reserve.

 DAY 16: SANTA CRUZ (GALAPAGOS ISLAND)

During the last day of this trip, take the picture of the most memorable thing
of Ecuador and Galapagos, the tortoises and the wildlife and the nature by
exploring Tortuga Bay. Don’t forget to visit Los Gemelos, the collapsed
volcano craters.