Arrival at Quito International Airport. You will have a private transfer from the airport to your hotel in Otavalo with an English speaking driver guide. Look for a sign with your name on it when arriving. Distance 90 km /1h45 Overnight @ Otavalo Hotel - Deluxe Room

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

• High-end Accommodation: Hotel Otavalo

After a very nice breakfast, you visit the famous Otavalo indigenous market that takes place every day and is even bigger on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The colorful market is much more than just a touristic attraction; this gathering of people from the entire region is an ancient tradition and still is an important social and cultural event. The people of the region are very proud of their culture and express this through music, handicrafts, and other arts. A few musicians from Otavalo have even gained international fame. You have the time to wander around the colorful blankets, handmade ponchos, and alpaca shawls. Also wooden handicrafts, such as masks, and jewelry are offered by the locals. It is a wonderful place to learn more about the local culture and look for souvenirs. If you like, your guide can help you asking about their history and production process. Overnight @ Mamá Cuchara Hotel - Deluxe room

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• High-end Accommodation: Hotel Mama Cuchara by Art Hotels Ecuador

During this morning you will visit Old Town and Middle of the world. With this historical city tour, you will explore the beautiful colonial center of Quito. Your first stop is at Basilica Church, considered to be one of the most important pieces of neo-gothic architecture in Ecuador. The tour continues to Plaza Grande (also called Independence Square), to admire its historical buildings, among which the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, and the Archbishop's Palace. After that, you will visit the imposing San Francisco de Quito Church, the largest religious complex in South America. The church houses masterpieces of talented indigenous artist from the famous Quito Art School. You will walk through the lively colonial streets of the old town to visit other historical highlights. Visit the famous Panecillo Hill, from where you will have an amazing view over the city and see the contrast between colonial and modern Quito from above. The second part of this tour will take place at the north part of the city (35 minutes’ drive from Quito's Old Town) where the equator line meets the prime meridian and the coordinates indicate point 0° 0’ 0”.  One of the highlights of the city tour is the visit to La Compañia Church, considered to be a Baroque masterpiece. The facade is made of volcanic stone and the interior is all covered with gold. Entrance to La Compañía Church is included. The Intiñan Museum is a smaller, but highly interactive museum located right next to the Mitad del Mundo Monument. Even though the monument features the division of the equator, when technology improved, geologists and cartographers realized the real equator line was just a bit off. It features outdoor exhibits of astronomical geography and explanations of the importance of Ecuador’s geographical location. One of the highlights are the solar dials, fun experiments that can only be done here, like balancing an egg on a nail. Overnight @ Mamá Cuchara Hotel

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• High-end Accommodation: Hotel Mama Cuchara by Art Hotels Ecuador

Journey to the jungle and a welcome cocktail at sunset. We leave Quito in the morning and start with a drive up the Eastern Cordillera, where we will go over a 4065 m. high mountain pass. After a short drive we will make a stop at a very nice cloud forest lodge where we can observe many species of hummingbirds. It is really amazing to see these small birds flying around us at a very close distance. Moreover we will have the opportunity to see the famous sword-billed hummingbird, which has even a longer beak than its body! If time permits we can also make a short hike before we continue our journey through the last hills of the Eastern ‘Cordillera’ towards the great Amazon basin. The road trip ends at Punta Ahuano, a tiny port town on the north bank of the Napo River, where canoes are waiting to take you for a 15-minute boat trip downstream to Casa del Suizo. You will arrive at the beautiful hotel in the afternoon, right on time to enjoy a sunset in the swimming pool with a welcome cocktail. **Please note that Amazon itineraries are subject to change without previous notice due to weather circumstances and/or the comfort of our guests.** Overnight @ La Casa del Suizo Hotel - Standard Room

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• High-end Accommodation: La Casa del Suizo

After breakfast, you start your adventure in the Rainforest hike and experiencing local life in an Amazon community. Your guide first explains you about the activities of today and the takes you for a to walk through the forest, while telling about how specific plants are used for medicinal purposes by the local communities. Following the trail, you can spot birds, insects and a great variety of plants and trees. In the afternoon, after lunch, you visit an Amazon community to experience the local lifestyle of this unique area. Women of the community show you around and tell you and the rest of the group about the crops they grow, such as yucca (cassava), coffee beans, tropical fruits and cacao. Also, you witness how these Quichua women produce pottery and can observe other traditional domestic skills. They even offer you the typical drink of the jungle - Chicha de Yuca - a fermented beverage that is very important in their social events. Subsequently, members of the community show you the traditional methods of searching for gold and fishing on the shores of the Napo River. This activity is not just about listening and watching; you become part of these traditions! In the afternoon you will return to the hotel where you can enjoy its facilities. Overnight @ La Casa del Suizo Hotel - Standard Room

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• High-end Accommodation: La Casa del Suizo

In and around Banos After breakfast, it is already time to leave La Casa del Suizo in the Amazon Rainforest behind to travel to your next destination. On the way, again you have the opportunity to enjoy beautiful landscapes, and maybe you want to enjoy a local lunch before continuing your trip through the Andes Mountains. Today you will explore the Route of the Waterfalls, one of the many highlights Baños has to offer. On this route you will find several beautiful waterfalls, such as the Agoyan and the Manto de la Novia (Bride’s Mantle). The king of them all is the Pailon del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron), waiting for you at the end of the route. A short trail downhill leads to this impressive waterfall that can be admired from a small bridge or from the viewpoint, where you have to be prepared for a natural shower! Afterwards, it is time for another highlight: the famous swing at “Casa del Arbol”, also called the “End of the World Swing”. This swing is located on top of a mountain next to Baños, and has an amazing view of the town and the Tungurahua Volcano; here, you really feel like you are on top of the world! In the afternoon, you will have time to enjoy the same stunning view while relaxing in the hotel’s pools, or you can explore more of the area with your guide, it’s up to you! Overnight @ Spa Samari Hotel - Matrimonial Room

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• High-end Accommodation: Samari Spa Resort

Visit the Salasaca community This journey is for discover Salasaca Community located in the Tungurahua Province in the center of Ecuador, halfway along the road from Ambato to Baños. The Salasacas speak Spanish and Quichua. Their main economic activities are agriculture, livestock-raising and handcrafts. Local crafstmanship includes items such as tapestries, which are woven by hand on looms of very ancient technology. Many of the designs depict different aspects of their lives. There is a market in the central plaza of Salasaca called "Plaza of the Arts". Atfernoon free time to explore the town of Baños. Overnight @ Spa Samari Hotel - Matrimonial Room

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• High-end Accommodation: Samari Spa Resort

Horseback riding The tour starts with a brief riding lesson from one of the guides before we set out on our horses. Wearing the typical dress of the chagra (Ecuadorian cowboys), we ride out across the slopes of the extinct volcano, Rumiñahui. A legendary chagra from the area will come with us and share some of his deep knowledge of the country life. The ride lasts for approximately 2 hours. Cotopaxi National Park visit Today’s adventure starts early in the morning when you go south on the Avenue of Volcanoes. The destination of today is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world and a popular highlight of Ecuador: the elegant Cotopaxi (5897 meters). This impressive, snow-capped volcano stands proudly in the middle of the beautiful national park that wears its name. Upon arrival at the entrance of the Cotopaxi National Park, your guide explains you about the unique flora and fauna of the area, and about the history of the volcano. Subsequently, you continue to the Limpiopungo Lake (3850 meters), to you enjoy a hike through the stunning paramo landscape where you can see hummingbirds, wild horses, and other animals. All this time, the imposing Cotopaxi Volcano is just a few steps away and on a clear day you can admire him in its full glory. In the afternoon you head to your hotel located close to the Cotopaxi National Park. Overnight @ Hacienda Hato Verde - Standard Room

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• High-end Accommodation: Hacienda Hato Verde

AM. Charles Darwin Research Station visit Your descent to Puerto Ayora, the main town of Santa Cruz Island. Here, you visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Founded in 1959, the center has an interpretation center where you can learn more about the ecosystems and species of the archipelago, as well as the conservation efforts of the government and NGOs. Also, you can admire the tortoises, land iguanas, and other species that are part of the programs of the research station. PM. Tortuga Bay visit Visit one of the most beautiful beaches in the Archipelago: Tortuga Bay. You can get there by foot. The walk in the sun is rewarded with a spectacular white sand beach stretching across the southern coast of Santa Cruz. Tortuga Bay beach is famous for its expansive and pristine shoreline that gradually descends into the sparkling Pacific Ocean. It's a great place to try some surfing or just relax. Overnight @ Finch Bay Hotel - Standard Room

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• High-end Accommodation: Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel

Wet Landing: Las Bachas, located in northern part of Santa Cruz, consists of two beautiful white sandy beaches, it is a perfect site for practicing snorkeling and swimming. The predominant vegetation is of the coastal zone, several brackish lagoons only a few steps away from the sea are the feeding grounds of various birds, from stilts to flamingos. Dry landing: North Seymour is located north of Baltra. The total distance of the trail is 2 miles. A forest of Palo Santo trees stand just above the landing site. During the walking you will be able to see sea lions, land iguanas and the “magnificent” and “great” frigate birds. Sometimes blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls nest along the path. SULLIVAN BAY & BARTOLOME Dry landing / Wet landingThis site is of great geological interest. It is located southeast of James Island, the landing can be performed either in the rocky shore (dry landing) or the white sand beach (wet landing). The length of the trail is approximately 1.5 km. The huge eruption that happened in this place in the late 1800s is clear evidence of the volcanic past of the islands. 200 m around the landing, you can see patterns of vegetation that were burned during the eruption. Bartolome offers emblematic sceneries of the Galapagos Islands. A 600 meter pathway complete with stairs and a boardwalk will take you to the highest point of the island where you will be able to learn about the volcanic origins of the Galapagos Islands and have a splendid panoramic view of the island and the majestic Pinnacle Rock. The old crater in the island's interior makes interesting hiking, and there are beautiful sand beaches.Along the coastline you will have the opportunity to see the Galapagos penguin and sea lions. Depending on the shedule of the day, you will be able to do snorkeling at Sullivan Bay or at Bartolome Island. Overnight @ Finch Bay Hotel - Standard Room

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• High-end Accommodation: Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel

In due time, private transfer from your in Santa Cruz Island to Baltra´s Island airport. Today you will fly from Baltra Island to Quito. (Flight not included) Private transfer from your selected hotel in Papallacta to Quito Airport with an English speaking driver/guide. Hot springs of Papallacta visit You leave Ecuador’s capital in the morning to drive over the Eastern Cordillera, up to an impressive altitude of 4065 meters, before arriving at the small town of Papallacta (3300 meters). On a clear day, you get amazed by magnificent views of the Antisana Volcano and the surrounding paramo highlands. In this beautiful region you can spot birds, wild horses, and even spectacled bears, with some luck. It is a breathtaking and mystical area. Upon arrival in Papallacta, you visit the thermal hot springs of Papallacta that are naturally heated by the volcanic activity in the area. Thanks to the volcanoes, this water contains minerals that make bathing here benefiting your mind and body. With this tour you will experience ultimate relaxation in a beautiful environment. If you like, there is also time for a short hike to explore the area further. Overnight @ Termas de Papallacta Hotel - Standard Room

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• High-end Accommodation: Hotel Sol de Piedra Papallacta