Galapagos Islands & Otavalo Highlands

Galapagos Islands & Otavalo Highlands Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in Quito, Ecuador. Arrive in Quito any time today, pass through customs, gather your luggage and transfer on your own to our hotel for the evening.

• Day 2

  Following breakfast and ready to depart, meet your guide and other group members in the hotel lobby. We head immediately north of Quito to the highlands and the emerald Laguna Cuicocha (10,638').  Winding up to the lake, we drive through incredible Andean cloud forest scenery glimpsing views of nearby snowcapped mountains.  We dedicate the afternoon to hiking and exploring this fascinating crater lake region. The flowers are superb and so is the birding. You may see such Andean birds as caracaras, buzzard eagles, humming birds, ducks, hawks and the occasional condor. This evening we retire to a lovely historic hacienda. Originally built in the 1700s and 1800s, haciendas today are modernized but maintain their warm character and authenticity. Hiking: 4-5 hours between 10,000' – 11,300'. All meals included.

• Day 3

  For centuries, regional markets have played an important role in Indian life, providing regular gathering places for trade and socialization. Today we explore one of the most famous Ecuadorian Indian markets in Otavalo.  This colorful market dates back to pre-Inca times and is well known for its fine textiles, tapestries and Indian jewelry. While in the Otavalo region we will also visit one or two of the local communities such as the Peguche, Carabuela and Quichuqui, known for their tradition of ancestral healing practices. Then it's off to the Papallacta Hot Springs resort which involves crossing a 13,000' pass that offers stupendous Andean scenery.  Relax in the thermal baths (some of the best in all of Ecuador) before dining on delicious local cuisine. All meals included

• Day 4

  After a healthy breakfast, there's time for a short hike through the private cloud forest reserve at Papallacta and time to enjoy a last therapeutic soak in the mineral, sulfate and alkaline rich waters of the spa. Following lunch we will return to Quito for an afternoon city tour. Hiking: 2-3 miles, 2 hours on cloud forest trails. Breakfast, lunch included; dinner on own. 

• Day 5

  It's off to the Galapagos Islands this morning!  A transfer is provided to the airport where we board our flight to the islands (located roughly 600 miles off-shore). We land on San Cristobal Island where we spend the next three days hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling. Upon arrival in the Galapagos, you are obligated to pay a park entrance fee of $100 and a transit card fee of $10 (subject to change). After lunch, we head out for an afternoon of exploration stopping first at the impressive San Cristobal Interpretation Center. Our hike this afternoon is along trails of lava rock into the dry forest and featuring splendid views of the coastline. As we approach Frigate Hill be on the lookout for blue footed boobies, the magnificent frigate bird, Darwin finches and much more. On our way back to our lodging, we stop for a refreshing dip at Carola or Mann Beaches. Hiking: length and time? 3 miles, 2 hours walking. All meals included.

• Day 6

  After breakfast we slip into our ocean kayaks and spend the morning paddling along the coast, past Playa Carola, and on to Darwin Bay, the site of the first landing of the HMS Beagle. We explore and snorkel in Darwin Bay which is home to sea lions, marine turtles, blue-footed boobies, and frigate birds. After lunch, we head to the San Cristobal highlands. First we visit El Junco Lagoon, a freshwater lake located in a collapsed caldera at an altitude of 2,300 feet. The lake and its surroundings comprise a beautiful Miconia forest landscape, where we will find frigate birds washing off salt from their wings, Darwin's finches, and mocking birds. We continue on to La Galapaguera in Cerro Colorado, a new facility operated by the National Park to breed and protect the subspecies of giant turtles endemic to San Cristobal (Geochelone chathamensis). We end the day at El Cafetal, an historic hacienda that has sown a special class of coffee bean named Bourbon since 1875. The soil and weather conditions here are ideal for growing coffee. We return to our hotel to enjoy another dinner together and a relaxing evening at our waterfront hotel. Kayaking:  2-3 hours; Snorkelling: 1 hour; Hiking: 5 miles, 3 hours. All meals included.

• Day 7

  A morning boat ride along the northern coast of San Cristobal Island takes us to Isla Lobos, a small island that creates a narrow stretch of calm turquoise waters. Be on the lookout for marine iguanas and sea lions. This is a fantastic snorkelling site where we will likely enjoy one of the best sea lion encounters in the entire archipelago. We continue north to the calm waters of Punta Pitt, a volcanic formation on the northeastern tip of San Cristobal Island. This is a nesting site for all three types of boobies, and one of the few sites where you can see the red-footed booby. On our way back, we reach Leon Dormido, otherwise known as Kicker's Rock, a vertical tuff cone that juts up nearly 500' out of the ocean and upon whose flanks are thousands of sea birds. Leon Dormido offers excellent snorkeling providing the opportunity of seeing golden rays, dozens of species of tropical fish, starfish and marine invertebrates. In the late afternoon we return to port where we enjoy dinner and our last evening on San Cristobal Island. Snorkeling: 3 hours.  All meals included.  

• Day 8

  This morning we fly by small aircraft to Isabela Island, the largest Island in the archipelago.  Isabela was formed by six volcanoes - Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra and Wolf.  Five of these volcanoes remain active, making this island one of the most volcanically active places on earth.  This is a remarkably beautiful island and one of the youngest in the archipelago. Here, we visit the Galápagos Tortoise Rearing Center, to learn about tortoise development and conservation. We explore the bay for wildlife and follow a trail along the coastline to observe dramatic lava formations and meet a large colony of sea lions. In the afternoon we prepare our gear for a mountain bike ride to El Muro de las Lágrimas - Wall of Tears. We ride along the coast with spectacular views as we ride through mangroves and salty lagoons that are home to the mangrove finch, endemic to Isabela. We can also spot American oyster catchers, herons, flamingos, and many other shore birds. We reach the Wall of Tears, a historic site that dates back between 1946 and 1959 when Isabela was a penal colony. The Wall was built, using huge blocks, by prisoners of lava as punishment. On our way back we ride by and explore exotic white sand beaches. The evening is spent in the tranquil port town of Puerto Villamil. Hiking: 2-3 miles, flat and sandy terrain; mountain biking: 8-10 miles, unpaved roads. All meals included. 

• Day 9

  Saddle up for a 5 mile horseback ride into the highlands over rugged terrain to the rim of the Sierra Negra Volcano, the 2^nd largest intact caldera in the world after the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. From this vantage point, you have fantastic views of the six by five mile wide caldera as well as the other volcanoes beyond and the surrounding coastline. We continue on foot to Chico Volcano. With its puffing fumaroles and striking lava formations, it offers an out-of-this-world environment and good examples of the dramatic geological events that have forged the Galapagos Islands over millennia. In the afternoon, we return to Puerto Villamil for dinner. Horseback riding: 10 miles round trip; hiking: 3 miles. All meals included.

• Day 10

  After an early breakfast, we take a fast boat from Isabela east to Santa Cruz Island. Once there we head to El Chato Reserve in the upper part of Santa Cruz Island – the natural habitat of the Santa Cruz tortoise, the largest in the Galápagos. The most recognized symbol of the Galapagos, the tortoise weights over 500 lbs and may have a shell measuring almost five feet!  While we seek out these lumbering giants, we’ll also come across pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches, and frigate birds bathing in freshwater lakes. We enjoy lunch at a traditional highland hacienda, where we also explore lava caves featuring incredible volcanic tunnel formations, and on a clear day we can see Media Luna, an old collapsed crater on top of Santa Cruz Island. After lunch, we slip into our kayak and paddle around Divine Bay and Punta Estrada, traveling through multiple lava channels of calm, turquoise waters. Within the channels, white tipped sharks and rays patrol beneath the waves, while colonies of blue footed-boobies, tropic birds, herons and marine iguanas perch along the jagged cliffs. In the evening, we are free to explore the nightlife in Puerto Ayora, the Galapagos’ most populous town. Enjoy a farewell dinner this evening as you wrap up your to trip to one of the most magical places on earth.  Kayaking: 2-3 hours. All meals included.

• Day 11

  A proper ending to time in the Galapagos, before heading to the mainland, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station where we learn about current conservation issues and management projects in the archipelago. The research station is also home to "Lonesome George", the very last tortoise of his particular species from Pinta Island. We transfer by bus to neighboring Baltra Island to board our flight back to the Quito. Transfer provided to hotel for the evening.  Breakfast included; light lunch snack provided on flights. Dinner on your own.

• Day 12

  You can depart anytime today. Transfer on your own to airport and flight home. Breakfast included.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.  This includes changes to activity locations in the Galapagos due to changes in regulations and permitting by the Galapagos National Park Service.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted above. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is one-half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available.

Meals as noted in the daily itinerary; 11 nights accommodations; private transfer in Otavalo highlands; internal flight from San Cristobal to Isabela; airport transfers Quito-Galapagos-Quito; internal flight from San Cristobal Island to Isabela Island; boat transfers as outlined in itinerary; equipment necessary for itinerary including sea kayaks, bikes, snorkel / mask / fin; services of an expert bi-lingual guide throughout.

International airfare to and from Quito; round trip airfare from Quito to Galapagos (mandatory $410); entrance fee to the Galapagos ($100, subject to change); Galapagos Islands transit card fee ($10); meals not specified in the itinerary; cost of medical immunizations as needed; insurance of any kind; cost of optional activities; optional wet-suit for snorkeling; excess baggage charges; airport taxes (if any); alcoholic beverages or soft drinks; optional gratuities to your guides; items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated Moderate [3].  It contains a variety of activities including moderate hikes, mountain biking, horseback riding and sea kayaking.  Although not particularly strenuous, the entire hike in the Otavalo highlands is above 10,000' and, as a result, can be more tiring than expected.  In general, the island hiking is moderate in both length and terrain. We are not moving at a fast pace as our primary objective is to take time to enjoy the wildlife. The biking on Isabela Island is on relatively flat terrain (mostly unpaved roads). You can choose not to bike this portion.  Sea kayaking on San Cristobal and Santa Cruz is broken up with stops to take advantage of the snorkeling opportunities. 

Unlike most equatorial regions, the Galapagos are not humid and hot; they are typically dry with cooler temperatures.  From July to December (the cooler, drier months) the average maximum air temperature is between 74° - 80° with an average water temperature hovering around 70°.  From January to June (the warmer, wetter months) the average maximum air temperature is between 78° - 88° with and average water temperature hovering around 74°.  The Otavalo highlands maintain a pleasant 60°- 65° daytime average year round; June-September are the drier months.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased within 21 days of your initial trip deposit, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

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