Equador & Galapagos Family Adventure

 

Duration: 8 Days

Location: Quito, Santa Cruz and Isabela Island.

Get a glimpse into everyday life as you tour the highlights of the capital of Ecuador, Quito before heading to the unique ecosystem of the Galapagos. Follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin and get close to wildlife that can’t be found anywhere else on earth. Learn about the fascinating conservation work that is done to protect the Islands for generations to come.

Highlights of the tour

  • Ride the Quito cable car

  • See the giant tortoises roam at Primicias Ranch

  • Find blur footed boobies in North Seymour

  • Take a speedboat to Isabela Island

  • See the flamingos at Garrapatero beach

Day 1 - Arrival in Quito

Arriving in Quito you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day at your leisure.




Day 2 - Quito City Tour & Cable Car

After breakfast today explore the historical city tour of Quito, the best preserved colonial center of all of South America. As one of the first World Heritage Sites, it will be an unforgettable experience as if you were stepping back in time. You will visit the Basilica del Voto Nacional, the Plaza Grande, the Presidential Palace, the Catholic Cathedral, and the Archbishop's Palace.

In the afternoon go up in the Quito Cable Car (Teleferico) from this unique spot, you can perfectly see how Quito stretches from north to south and, on a clear day, you can even spot several volcanoes surrounding the city.

Day 3 - Santa Cruz Island

Today you will fly from Quito to Baltra Island. Your guide will pick you up at the airport of Baltra. Travel to the lush green highlands of Santa Cruz; stop is at ‘Los Gemelos’ (The Twins), two immense craters located in the middle of the island. Next, you visit the Primicias Ranch. Here, giant tortoises wander around freely You can also explore a beautiful lava tunnel located close to the ranch.

In the afternoon you 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.

Day 4 - Island Tour

Depending on your preference you have the opportunity to visit one of the islands around Santa Cruz.

Bartholome Island is one of the most spectacular volcanic sceneries with spatter cones, lava flows and lava lizards.

Punta Carrion has spectacular old geological cliffs and of course the opportunity to get in the water, see a good variety of fish, White tip reef sharks and sometimes play with sea lions.

North Seymour has frigate birds with males with puff up red pouches, blue footed boobies, Land iguanas, swallow tailed gulls, sea lions. on the northern part of the island you will find white talcum powder sand, marine iguanas, beautiful turquoise water, and if you are lucky pink flamingos

Day 5 - Isabela Island

Today your guide will take you by speedboat to Isabela Island. The Wetlands are located on the Southern Coast of Isabela Island next to Puerto Villamil. The area is one of the few places where you can see all four native species of Galapagos mangrove. The area is home to amazing species of birds such as flamingos, stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules. Later on, you will head to ‘The Wall of Tears’, a historic site where prisoners from the time when Isabela was a prison colony, between 1946 to 1959, were forced to build the wall from huge blocks of lava as punishment. Finally, you can finish this interesting excursion by visiting the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center, where eggs are nursed in a hatchery and the adults are observed in supervised corrals.

Day 6 - Sierra Negra

Travel to the highlands of Isabela, on the way to the Sierra Negra Volcano. Begin your hike to a new geological world ( you can take a route dependent on you ability). If you still have energy after hiking to Sierra Negra, you can continue walking to the Chico Volcano. Tintoreras is one of the most popular destinations to visit on Isabela Island. This small islet gets its name from the reef sharks also known as white-tip sharks that can be seen swimming along with other tropical fish, sea turtles, rays and sea lions in the channels when the tide is low.

Day 7 - Free day at Santa Cruz

Today you can enjoy exploring Santa Cruz Island at your leisure. Some options you might lie to consider are:

Tortuga Bay - famous for its expansive and pristine shoreline that gradually descends into the sparkling Pacific Ocean. Here you can see marine iguanas, colorful reef fish, white-tip sharks, rays and the beach’s namesake, sea turtles.


Garrapatero beach - A small lagoon near the beach is often frequented by Flamingos and the white sand beach is ideal for swimming, snorkeling and relaxing.

Las Grietas - A hike past Playa Aleman, through a forest of enormous opuntia cacti and over rugged lava rock formations to one of the most unique swimming holes in the Galapagos islands.

Day 8 - Quito

Transfer from Santa Cruz back to Quito for your onward flight

 

If you’re ready to start exploring your next fabulous family holiday, we’d love to help. And perhaps inspire you, with new ideas you might not even know are possible yet.

Call us on 0118 336 0363 or click here now to reach us personally & talk more about your plans.