The Galapagos Islands including Otavalo, The Andes Mountain Train and Quito
In the footsteps of Darwin. Embark on a thrilling five-day cruise of the Galapagos Archipelago. These islands teem with the same exotic wildlife that changed the way we see our world. But first travel to mainland Ecuador, a country of rich cultures and spectacular natural beauty. Visit Quito, one of the most elegant cities in South America. You'll delight in one stunning discovery after another.
Embark on a five day cruise of the Galapagos Islands with a naturalist guide - see blue-footed boobies, sea lions, iguanas and more! Visit the Otavalo Market and browse the colorful displays of blankets, ponchos and panama hats. Admire the giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station and learn about conservation projects. Ride the Andes Mountain train and meet local people during a folklore show and lunch. Visit the Equatorial Line Monument and Museum and cross from one hemisphere to another.
Highlights
Culinary Demonstration, Otavalo Indigenous Market, Rose Plantation, Folklore Shows, Andes Mountain Train, Middle of the World, Quito, 5-Day Galapagos Cruise, Baltra Island, Bartholome Island, Isabela Island, Fernandina Island, Rabida Island, Santa Cruz Island
Collette Experience
Call (410) 825-9887 for more information or to book today! Mention code 10576832
- Tour Operator
- Collette Vacations
- Offer
- Offer valid through 3/31/2012
- Duration
- 16 Days
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Quito | Quito, Ecuador - Tour Begins : Your tour begins today in Quito, Ecuador's stunning capital city. |
| Day 2 | Otavalo | Quito - Imbabura - Otavalo : Travel to Imbabura, an enchanting region characterized by lakes and farmlands ? See how traditions thrive as local artisans create "Mazapan" bread dough figurines and talk about this unique art form ? Journey through scenic valleys and photograph the towering volcanoes ? Enjoy accommodations at a 300-year-old Andean hacienda, a colonial estate that offers warm hospitality and Old World elegance ? Savor local flavors while you learn how to make empanadas at a culinary demonstration, then taste canelazo, a favorite Ecuadorian highlands spiced drink. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. |
| Day 3 | Otavalo | Otavalo : Travel through lush valleys and stunning highlands to tour a rose plantation hacienda ? Learn about the varieties and production of one of Ecuador's major exports ? Take a short lesson on the local language ? Experience the sights and sounds of the Otavalo Market ? Browse displays of blankets, ponchos and panama hats ? Learn about the regional customs, meet some local people during lunch, then enjoy a folkloric show featuring indigenous music and dance ? Watch local artisans create high-quality apparel using traditional techniques ? Enjoy a demonstration and tasting of "helado de paila," a local ice cream specialty. Today breakfast and lunch will be included. |
| Day 4 | Quito | Otavalo - Andes Mountain Train - Quito : Begin with an unforgettable train ride through the Andean landscapes ? Descend from 7,220 feet to 4,920 feet ? View fertile valleys of fruit and sugar plantations and typical indigenous villages ? Step off the train in the community of Salinas where lunch features regional specialties and cheerful, traditional Afro-Ecuadorian music and dance ? Return this evening to Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today breakfast , lunch and dinner will be included. |
| Day 5 | Quito | Quito : Spend your morning touring Quito's charming colonial center including the Presidential Palace and 17th-century church of La Compania ? Visit the Equatorial Line Monument and Museum at the "Middle of the World" ? Cross from one hemisphere into another ? Relax or explore - the rest of the day is at leisure. Today breakfast will be included. |
| Day 6 | Bartholome Island | Quito - Baltra Island, Galapagos - Embark Ship - Bartholome Island : Begin your adventure in the Galapagos today ? Fly to beautiful Baltra Island, gateway to the Galapagos ? Enjoy lunch aboard the m/v Galapagos Legend ? Disembark at Bartholome Island, known for its spectacular volcanic formations ? Take in panoramic views of the surrounding islands and the famous eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock ? Hike to the summit to spot colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tequila and various cacti ? Snorkel if you choose and see penguins, sea turtles and white-tipped sharks. Today breakfast , lunch and dinner will be included. |
| Day 7 | Fernandina Island (Espinosa Point) | Isabela Island (Urbina Bay) - Fernandina Island (Espinosa Point) : Visit Isabela Island's incredible fossil beach and coral area ? Observe (depending on the season) giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants along the beach ? Take a nature walk and snorkel in the warm waters of Urbina Bay ? Sail on to wondrous Fernandina Island to see oversized marine iguanas mingling with Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions sharing the beach with Galapagos penguins ? Look for brachycereus cacti, dramatic lava formations and vast mangrove beds that extend into the sea. Today breakfast , lunch and dinner will be included. |
| Day 8 | Rabida (Jervis) | Santiago (Egas Port) - Rabida (Jervis) : Arrive at Santiago Island - a landscape characterized by tuff-stone layers and lava flows ? Look for birds like the great blue herons, lava herons and oyster catchers ? Keep an eye out for marine iguanas grazing on algae beds, fur seals frolicking and crabs teetering along the rocky shore ? Visit the island of Rabida, the geographic center of the Galapagos boasting the most diverse volcanic rocks on the islands; its volcanic beach is covered in dark red sand and sea lions ? Hike to the scenic salt water lagoon, frequented by graceful flamingos ? Eccentric boobies and nine species of Darwin's finches can also be observed here ? Stargaze from the deck of your ship and enjoy a special toast to the wonders of the Galapagos with Ecuadorian tropical cocktails. Today breakfast , lunch and dinner will be included. |
| Day 9 | Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station and Highlands) | Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station and Highlands) : Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island - a world-class facility where international scientists conduct research and conservation projects ? See the famous giant tortoises that are part of the station's breeding program ? Trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz to visit Cerro Chato; find more of the giant tortoises that gave the islands their name ? Smell and taste the famous Galapagos coffee - the beans are organically grown here ? Walk inside the dormant lava tubes for an incredible glimpse into the turbulent formation of these islands. Today breakfast , lunch and dinner will be included. |
| Day 10 | Guayaquil | Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach) - Disembark Ship - Baltra Island - Guayaquil : Experience Bachas Beach, a stunning white sand beach located on the north side of Santa Cruz Island ? Find many sea birds, marine iguanas and sea turtles ? Swim in the clear turquoise waters ? Return to the m/v Galapagos Legend to check out and transfer to Baltra's airport for an afternoon flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city ? Enjoy a city tour of Guayaquil - a coastal community known as the "Pearl of the Pacific" ? Behold the waterfront area of Malecon 2000 and the 19th-century neighborhood of Las Penas, with its colorful, Spanish-style wooden houses ? From Santa Ana Hill, enjoy magnificent views of the city below and the chocolate-colored Guayas River ? Embrace the architecture, traditions and customs of the Ecuadorian coastal region. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. |
| Day 11 | Lima | Guayaquil - Lima, Peru : Fly to Lima, "City of Kings," to start your Peruvian adventure ? Enjoy the afternoon at leisure for shopping or the chance to visit some of Lima's many fine museums ? You may also choose an exciting optional Peruvian Paso horse exhibition, dinner & folklore show! Today breakfast will be included. |
| Day 12 | Sacred Valley of the Incas | Lima - Cuzco - Sacred Valley of the Incas : Fly this morning into Cuzco ? Board your coach to descend through the Andes to the Sacred Valley of the Incas ? Take in this majestic valley, once the agricultural center of the Inca Empire ? Visit Awana Kancha, a living museum of the Peruvian Andes ? Learn the centuries-old methods of spinning, dyeing and weaving of Andean traditional textiles ? Stop in Pisac village to browse the colorful handicraft market ? Make a visit to Pablo Seminario Ceramic Studio ? Explore this internationally-renowned artist's techniques and designs, inspired by ancient Peruvian cultures ? Settle into your hotel nestled in the Sacred Valley. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. |
| Day 13 | Sacred Valley of the Incas | Ollantaytambo - Sacred Valley of the Incas : Experience the lifestyle of the Andean people today ? Delve into their culture as you travel to a nearby Andean community ? Get a glimpse of the daily activities of the village and interact with the locals ? Visit the spectacular Ollantaytambo ruins, the only Inca settlement that has been continually inhabited since its inception ? A unique terraced complex topped with a set of huge carved stone panels, these ruins are a magnificent example of ancient Inca architecture and heritage ? Do as the locals do and enjoy a tasting of "chicha," a unique regional drink made from maize, at a local pub. Today breakfast will be included. |
| Day 14 | Cuzco | Sacred Valley of the Incas - Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu - Cuzco : Begin the day with a breathtaking train ride through the Andes from Ollantaytambo to mysterious Machu Picchu ? Hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungle, the "Lost City of the Incas" has been deemed the most spectacular sight on the South American continent ? Spend the day with your tour guide exploring the ruins ? This afternoon, en route to the majestic ancient capital city of Cuzco, meet Peruvian children during a special visit to a local orphanage supported by the Collette Foundation* ? Meaning "Center of the World" in the ancient language of Quechua, Cuzco is a blend of Inca culture and Spanish colonial influence ? Relax and become acclimated to the altitude this evening. Today breakfast and lunch will be included. |
| Day 15 | Cuzco | Cuzco : Explore this former capital of the Inca Empire during a colonial city tour ? Experience the Spanish architectural legacy visible in the Cathedral, Santo Domingo and the Plaza de Armas ? Discover the important sacred Incan ruins of Sacsayhuaman Fortress and Qenko Temple ? Spend some time at leisure and explore the local markets ? See the San Blas artisans quarter or visit one of the many impressive museums ? This evening you are treated to a dinner and performance of traditional Andean folkloric music and dance. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. |
| Day 16 | Lima | Cuzco - Lima - Tour Ends : Depart Cuzco this morning and return to Lima ? Enjoy a fascinating city tour through the historical center of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage site ? Admire the artwork at San Francisco Monastery and enter the catacombs ? View the Government Center, the Plaza de Armas's elegant Cathedral, and the fashionable suburbs of San Isidro and Miraflores for insight into the daily life of the Limenos ? Complete your unforgettable journey through Ecuador and Peru with a delightful farewell dinner at the Larco Museum, housed in an 18th century mansion and surrounded by lush gardens. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. |
- Dates/Pricing
- Lodging
- Mercure Grand Hotel, Quito
- Hacienda Pinsaqui Otavalo
- Mercure Grand Hotel, Quito
- m/v Galapagos Legend, Galapagos Islands
- Hotel Oro Verde, Guayaquil
- Disclaimer
- NOTE: Specials are marked with a *
NOTE: NOTE: Tour prices are Land Only rates based on per person double occupancy. Please call for triple or child occupancy rates. Taxes and fees are additional for tours that feature a cruise; port taxes are not included in the prices shown. Some dates may feature various changes in hotels, sightseeing and inclusions. Please confirm your specific itinerary at the time of booking.
