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11 Day itinerary in Ecuador, South America

Discovering the Galapagos Islands and Panama

Adventure through Ecuador, the Galapagos and Panama on this 11-day Pacific tour. Begin your trip in Quito, the cultured capital of Ecuador, high in the foothills of the Andes. Take a city tour to get under the skin of this beautifully preserved colonial gem in its remarkable mountain setting. Next, ... Read More

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MélanieFlorentine

By Mélanie and Florentine

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish, French

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Quito

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Snorkeling/Diving

Outdoors & Nature

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Galapagos

2

Wildlife

3

Panama

4

Islands

Itinerary

expand_more

Day 1

place Quito Airport - Quito Historic Center

Welcome to Ecuador !

A proverb says "Traveling leaves you speechless at first, before turning you into a storyteller"

... Let the adventure start in the country of the middle of the world ! Chulla vida !


Reception at the airport by an english-speaking guide.


Private transfer with spanish-speaking driver from Quito airport to your hotel.


Night at the Hotel Adamas in Standard room.

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Adamas House Hotel
Day 2

place Quito Historic Center

English-speaking guide in a private transport.


Quito stands out for its topography spread out from north to south, in an Andean corridor flanked by the Pichincha volcano and the valley where the airport is located. But it is above all the largest and most preserved colonial city on the continent.


Then you will visit the colonial and republican center of Quito :

  • the Panecillo, the statue of the Virgin of Quito, located on top of a hill overlooking the city;
  • the Church of the Society of Jesus (of the Jesuits), the most gold-laden church in South America;
  • the Church of San Francisco (of the Franciscans) and its convent/museum;
  • the Plaza Grande where the Presidential Palace (Carondelet) and the Cathedral of Quito are located;
  • the district of La Ronda for its craftsmen;
  • the Basilica of the National Vow of Quito, designed by a French architect;
  • the Museum of Alabado, of archaeology with its classification of pieces according to the worlds of the indigenous cosmovision.


Night at the Hotel Adamas in Standard room.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Adamas House Hotel
Day 3

place Quito Airport - Baltra - Highland - Charles Darwin Station - Puerto Ayora

Transport with an english-speaking guide from your hotel to Quito's airport.


You will take a flight of about 2 hours from Quito to Baltra.


You will arrive at the Baltra airport, located on a small island next to Santa Cruz.

Your guide will be waiting for you at the exit of the airport.


You will then pay the entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park before picking up your luggage.

You will reach the Itabaca Canal by public bus (5 minutes) and cross it by public barge (10 minutes). From there, you will continue to the main island by private pick-up to reach Puerto Ayora (45 minutes).

Santa Cruz is the second largest and most populated island in the Galapagos archipelago.


You will make a stop in the Highlands of the island.

Starting from Crocker Hill, the highest point of Santa Cruz.

You will be able to observe several extinct volcanoes, covered with endemic vegetation, habitat of many birds such as the wizard bird, finches, the Galapagos petrel.

You will see the Puntudo, a cone of volcanic slag, formed by the liquid lava expelled powerfully.

You will then go to the Manzanillo farm to observe the giant turtles in their natural habitat. Walking among these impressive animals is an indelible memory.


Upon your arrival in Puerto Ayora, you will go to the Charles Darwin Research Center to learn about the islands' biodiversity conservation initiatives and see up close the famous giant tortoises, the iguanas of the different islands and magnificent examples of the local flora.


Night in La Isla hotel in Standard room.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: La Isla Galapagos Hotel
Day 4

place Puerto Ayora - Bartolomé - Puerto Ayora

This boat trip will take you to Bartolomé Island, one of the most famous uninhabited islands of the archipelago.

You will be picked up at your hotel and a private bus will take you directly to the boat's landing stage.

During this excursion, you will learn more about the geology of Galapagos.

After climbing the 400 steps to reach the Pinnacle Rock, you will have a view that corresponds to the most emblematic photo of the archipelago. The landscape is made up of many volcanic colors: orange, red, brown and black, which makes it special.

You will be able to walk, snorkel and swim.


NOTE: 5 hours round trip by boat. Boat capacity: 16 people.


Night in La Isla hotel in Standard room.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Standard: La Isla Galapagos Hotel
Day 5

place Puerto Ayora - Puerto Villamil - Tintoreras Rock - Puerto Villamil

A Spanish-speaking driver will pick you up at your hotel to take you to the pier in Puerto Ayora.


You will travel from Santa Cruz to Isabela aboard a public speedboat. The boat trip takes between 2 and 3 hours.

NOTE: at your arrival in Isabela, you will take a taxi-boat (incluido) and have to pay the local tax (10$ per person, not included) at Isabela harbour.


A Spanish speaking driver will welcome you at the port of Puerto Villamil and take you to your hotel.


The Tintoreras are small islands of volcanic rock that are located in front of Puerto Villamil. You will reach them in 10 minutes by boat and stay there for 3 hours.

They are so named because the population of sharks called Tintoreras is abundant in these turquoise waters.

These sharks come to take refuge in crevices on the edge of the islet and that you can observe from the rocks.

During this outing you will see colonies of sea wolves, sea turtles, iguanas, and penguins.

If you do snorkeling, it will be the occasion to swim among the turtles that often abound in these places.


Night at Isamar hotel in Vista al Mar room.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Isamar Hotel Galápagos
Day 6

place Puerto Villamil - Rose Cape - Puerto Villamil

Departure by fast boat for a trip of about 1 hour to reach Rosa Cape and the place known as the Lava Tunnels.

It is one of our favorite places to practice snorkeling. Quiet waters because protected by a rocky barrier, transparent and shallow. We can often observe giant rays, seahorses, lobsters, penguins, harmless sharks and of course giant turtles. The simple experience of swimming above and very close to these animals, at their pace, is worth all the gold in the world!

But this unique place conceals a complex of eroded lava tunnels, forming small bridges and pools where many animals come to feed. Including the famous blue-legged boobies! That you will approach at less than one meter like nowhere else in the world, trying of course not to disturb them.


Night at Isamar hotel in Vista al Mar room.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Isamar Hotel Galápagos
Day 7

place Puerto Villamil - Puerto Ayora - Santa Cruz - Las Grietas - Puerto Ayora

A Spanish speaking driver will pick you up at your hotel to take you to the pier in Puerto Villamil.


You will travel from Isabela to Santa Cruz aboard a public speedboat. The boat trip takes around 3 hours.


A Spanish speaking driver will pick you up at the port of Santa Cruz and take you to your hotel.


Free time in Santa Cruz. Suggested visit: Tortuga Bay

It is a beautiful beach of white sand, it is called like that because it is the place where the black tortoise lay the eggs. You will be able to see the white tail shark, iguanas, mangroves and flamingos. It is a great place to see birds.

Note : the beach closes at 5 pm.


Free time in Santa Cruz. Suggested visit: Las Grietas.

It is a surprising place where fresh and sea water mix between 2 cliffs. To get there: go to the port, from there you take "a sea taxi" and go to the other side. Then you follow the path that passes by the Finch Bay Hotel, between the expanses of cooled lava plates and the iridescent pools of the mineral oxides they contain. After a 15-minute walk, you will discover this amazing crevasse where you can snorkel in its crystal-clear waters.


NOTE: Register with a nearby tour operator to pay the entrance fee of 15 USD per person.

You will be accompanied by a guide (tours depart approximately every hour).

Night in La Isla hotel in Standard room.


Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: La Isla Galapagos Hotel
Day 8

place Puerto Ayora - Baltra - Quito Airport - Tocumen Airport - Panama city - Casco Antiguo

You will be taken by private transport from your hotel or from the port to Baltra airport.


You will take a flight of about 2 hours from Baltra to Quito.


Free connection for your international flight from Quito. According to your flight schedule, you will dispose of more or less free time.



Welcome to Panama !


Your driver will be waiting for you at Tocumen international airport in Panama City, to take you to your hotel.


Approximate driving time : 45 minutes



Night at La Concordia Boutique Hotel.

Santa Ana Deluxe Suite.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: La Concordia Boutique Hotel Casco Viejo
Day 9

place Panama city - Amador - Isla Saboga

Private transfer from your hotel to Amador port.


Approximate driving time : 30 minutes


Leaving from Amador, you will take the ferry to go to Saboga island, located in the heart of Las Perlas' archipelago.


Approximate crossing time : 1 hour and 15 minutes


On arrival at the Saboga dock, your lodge will pick you up and take you by boat to the hotel.


Night and full board at Saboga Lodge

Ocean View Studio or Ocean View Suite.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Saboga Lodge - Boutique Hostel for Adventurous & Nature lovers
Day 10

place Isla Saboga - Amador - Panama city - Casco Antiguo

Free day to rest by the water's edge at Saboga Island.


Facilities included during your stay :

  • Kayak
  • Stand up paddle
  • Yoga


Suggested activities at extra cost - please consult us :

  • Whale watching (from july to october)
  • Snorkeling
  • Island tour
  • Fishing tour
  • Scuba diving


Your lodge will bring you back to Saboga dock to take the ferry.


Leaving from Saboga island, you will take the ferry to go back to the main city, Panama City.


Approximate crossing time : 1 hour and 15 minutes


Private transfer from Amador to your hotel.


Approximate driving time : 30 minutes



Night at La Concordia Boutique Hotel.

Santa Ana Deluxe Suite.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: La Concordia Boutique Hotel Casco Viejo
Day 11

place Panama city - Tocumen Airport

Half day guided city tour of Panama City


Your driver will pick you up at your hotel for a city tour of Panama City.

You will be accompanied by an english-speaking guide .

First step to Panama La Vieja , which was the first capital of the country before being destroyed by the famous pirate Henry Morgan. Then you will reach the Casco Antiguo . This bohemian center of Panama City will make you travel in time and immerse yourself into the the historical past of the country. Take a walk in the narrow streets bordered with colorful buildings leading to the Plaza de Francia. Discover the Art-Deco architecture and the cathedral.


Note: Panama La Vieja is closed on Mondays


Three hours before take off, private transfer to Tocumen airport for your international flight.


Approximate driving time : 45 minutes


Included: private transport, english speaking guide, guide expenses, entrance fees mentioned in the program

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Adamas House Hotel
  • La Isla Galapagos Hotel
  • Isamar Hotel Galápagos
  • La Concordia Boutique Hotel Casco Viejo
  • Saboga Lodge - Boutique Hostel for Adventurous & Nature lovers

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (10)
  • Lunch (3)
  • Dinner (1)

Extras expand_less

  • All includes (hotels, transportation, guides, meals, entries) mentioned for each day;
  • Hotel taxes and tourist services;
  • Assistance from our team 24 hours a day during the stay;
  • Fees and taxes related to land, sea and air transportation;
  • Expenses of the guides and/or drivers.

Not Included expand_less

  • International flight round trip
  • Domestic flights (except if mentioned in this proposal)
  • Insurance (cancellation / repatriation / comprehensive / etc). Please contact us for more informatio
  • Meals, drinks and snacks not mentioned
  • Gratuities
  • Galapagos taxes (National Park entrance 200 USD, Migration card 20 USD, Isabela Island tax 10 USD)
  • Personal expenses
  • You are responsible for anticipating migrations visa and specific requirements to travel in Ecuador

About Mélanie

TEAM LEAD

+1 Local experts

verified Baboo Certified

Expertise: 

Kayaking

Hiking

Rafting

Snorkeling/Diving

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Yoga

Wellness retreat

Detox

Historic & cultural landmarks

Outdoors & Nature

Classic Sights

Food & Drink

Travel with Purpose

Beach & Sea

From the Paris region and curious to discover the world, it is finally in Ecuador that Mélanie has decided to settle, after having traveled all over Europe and for two years in Latin America. As a nature lover, Ecuador had everything to please her.

Travel that Makes a Difference

By choosing to travel with us, you support local communities, wildlife, and the environment. We are dedicated to positively impacting the world through every journey we offer.

Let’s regenerate the planet together

We overcompensate your entire journey’s carbon footprint including flights - for free.

Learn more
FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$4,607.00 USD