12 Day Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

$2599 Land Only

$3059* Air & Land

Home : : November 2008 - March 2009

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Highlights Escorted Package Includes Round trip flights Miami-Quito Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices Intra-flights Airline fuel surcharges 11 nights First Class accommodations 3 nights Hilton Colon, Quito 1 night Abraspungo Hotel, Riobamba 2 nights El Dorado Hotel, Cuenca 1 night Grand Hotel Guayaquil, Guayaquil 4 nights Finch Bay Eco Hotel, Galapagos Islands All transfers 21 meals: 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners Sightseeing per itinerary in a modern air-conditioned motor coach Services of English-speaking tour manager Days 1 - 7 Entrance fees per itinerary Shore Excursions Special Features City tours of Quito, Riobamba, Cuenca & Guayaquil Pan-American highway Inca fortress-temple ruins of Ingapirca Galapagos Islands Charles Darwin Research Station Itinerary DAY 1, Thursday - Depart the USA Depart the USA for Ecuador. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment. Arrive in Quito and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure Overnight: Quito DAY 2, Friday - Quito City Tour This morning's tour of Quito begins with a view of the Congress Building, whose outside stone mural records Ecuador's history. Continue to Quito's colonial section to walk along the narrow cobblestone streets and feel the charm of 16th Century Quito. See the Independence Plaza, the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, and the Archbishop's Palace before visiting La Compañia Church and the Church of San Francisco. Afterward, see the Ecuadorian landscape from atop El Panecillo Hill. Balance of the day at leisure Optional: Middle of the World (PM) Overnight: Quito Meals: Breakfast DAY 3, Saturday - Riobamba City Tour This morning, depart for the town of Salasaca via the Pan-American Highway. Also known as the "Avenue of the Volcanoes," the highway spans the valley between the Cordillera ranges and features 11 snowy peaks. As you arrive in the colorful town of Salasaca, enjoy a panoramic tour of the town before a visit to a local handicraft workshop. After lunch in Ambato, visit La Quinta de Juan Leon Mera with its Botanical Gardens before continuing to Riobamba, capital of the Chimborazo province. Your tour of the area includes a visit to the quaint town of Guano, famous for its handmade rugs Overnight: Riobamba Meals: Breakfast, Lunch DAY 4, Sunday - Visit the Inca Ruins of Ingapirca Today, depart for the ancient Inca ruins of Ingapirca, a northernmost fortress-temple whose massive fortifications are believed to have served as a religious and administrative complex. After lunch nearby, continue to the city of Cuenca, located in the Sierra highlands. Balance of the day at leisure Overnight: Cuenca Meals: Breakfast, Lunch DAY 5, Monday - Cuenca City Tour Enjoy a morning tour of Cuenca. Walk along the main plaza, Calderon Park, whose pink marbled construction and colorful stained-glass windows will take your breath away. See the flower market outside the El Carmen Church. The Tomebamba River winds in and out of the city's center as old houses jut out over its banks. Visit the Ortega shop where you can see "Panama Hats" being made. Balance of the day at leisure Optional: Half Day Gualaceo and Chordeleg (PM) Overnight: Cuenca Meals: Breakfast DAY 6, Tuesday - Guayaquil City Tour This morning, drive through El Cajas National Park en route to Guayaquil. From the park highlands, enjoy spectacular views of the many lakes and rivers below, as well as a landscape dominated by paramo, a high-altitude, wet tropical grass. Upon arrival in Guayaquil, enjoy a tour of the city that includes a visit to the Centennial Park on Avenue 9 de Octubre. Continue to see the city's regeneration, and visit the Seminario Park, also known as the "Park of the Iguanas." See the brightly-colored houses in Las Penas, the oldest neighborhood in Guayaquil, before checking-in to your hotel. Evening at leisure Overnight: Guayaquil Meals: Breakfast DAY 7, Wednesday - Fly to the Galapagos Islands This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands. Arrive at Baltra Island, and then cross the Itabaca Channel to the island of Santa Cruz. Via coach, travel to the Santa Cruz highlands to visit the Rancho Primicias reserve, where you will see the Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat. A stop will be made to view Los Gemelos (Spanish for "The Twins"), great depressions of sunken lava formed thousands of year ago. Afterward, enjoy a box lunch en route to the Finch Bay Eco Hotel, where you will spend your next four nights. Balance of the day at leisure Overnight: Galapagos Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 8, Thursday - Sail to Santa Fe Island Visit Santa Fe Island (Barrington), one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos archipelago. Enjoy a short trek through the island's shrubby terrain where it is possible to sight land iguanas (endemic to Santa Fe), lava lizards, and other land-dwellers native to the island. Enjoy time to swim or snorkel from the beach Overnight: Galapagos Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 9, Friday - Sail to Plaza Island After breakfast, travel by yacht to Plaza Island. Full of fascinating wildlife along the shores and rocky cliffs, this small island is home to Opuntia cacti and other types of vegetation that change colors with the seasons. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the island on your own Overnight: Galapagos Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 10, Saturday - Sail to Bartolome Island Today, visit Bartolome Island, whose 350-foot peak offers 360º views of five other islands in clear weather. A steep climb up wooden steps leads to the summit, where you can observe the island's unique lava formations and tuff cones. Afterward, continue to the beach to see the Galapagos Penguins, the only penguins north of the Equator, fishing near Pinnacle Rock. Here you will have free time to swim or snorkel from the beach Overnight: Galapagos Meals: Breakfast, Dinner DAY 11, Sunday - Charles Darwin Research Station Early morning departure to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, a specialized breeding and rearing center for the endangered Galapagos Giant Tortoise. The Darwin Station is a working branch of the international, non-profit Charles Darwin Foundation which works to protect and maintain the Galapagos' precious ecosystems. Following your visit, transfer to the airport in Baltra for return flight to Quito. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure Overnight: Quito Meals: Breakfast DAY 12, Monday - Depart for the USA Transfer to the airport in Quito for your departure flight Meals: Breakfast Optionals Book your Optional Tours before you travel and see more, save time, and save money. Tours purchased while traveling cost at least 10% more! Tours often sell out - avoid disappointment! Save your cash - many countries do not accept credit cards. Middle of the World 3:00 PM Day #2 01 Jan 2009 - 31 Dec 2009     $36 Your visit to the Middle of the World begins with a drive through the Ecuadorian countryside. The Equatorial Monument marks the exact Middle of the World at a latitude of 0º. Take time to stand in both hemispheres at once, or to stand on top of the equator. Afterwards, return to Quito. Details: Departs at 3:00 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. Pick up and drop off from the hotel. Gualaceo & Chordeleg 3:00 PM Day #5 01 Jan 2009 - 31 Dec 2009     $42 Enjoy an optional half day tour of Gualaceo and Chordeleg. As you leave Cuenca, appreciate the beauty of the Gualaceo Valley. En route to Chordeleg, a town known for its unique filigree jewelry, visit Ecuagenera Orchid Farm. With nearly 4000 orchid species surviving in the wild, Ecuador is home to the highest recorded number of orchids in the world. Ecuagenera has specialized in the protection, cultivation, and distribution of these precious and mysteriously beautiful flowers since its founding more than 50 years ago. Continue to Chordeleg and visit the goldsmiths, weaving workshops, and local shops around town before returning to Cuenca. Book your Optional Tours before you travel and see more, save time, and save money. Tours purchased while traveling cost at least 10% more! Tours often sell out - avoid disappointment! Save your cash - many countries do not accept credit cards. Rates & Hotels Click On A Date To Book Online * All Prices are in USD 2009 Land Only Air & Land   Book By Jun 30 Book After Jun 30 Book By Jun 30 Book After Jun 30 Jan 29; Feb 12 2599 2829 3059 3289 Feb 26 2599 2829 3099 3329 Apr 23; May 21 2599 2829 3149 3379 Jun 4 2599 2829 3249 3479 Sep 3; Oct 8; Nov 26 2599 2829 3149 3379 *Not included: airport taxes, fees & September 11th Security Fee, optional tours, Ecuador departure taxes, Galapagos National Park fee of $100, Galapagos Transit Control Card fee of $10, tips to local guides, drivers and tour manager (see Terms & Conditions). Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers, but does include flights Guayaquil-Galapagos-Quito. Passport numbers for all passengers must be submitted to Gate 1 before documents can be issued. The route and program may vary according to weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety issues and wildlife migration patterns. Wildlife and visits listed in the itinerary are based upon optimal conditions and therefore subject to change. Hotel Plans 12 Day Ecuador & Galapagos Islands - [details] Hilton Colon Quito   Quito This deluxe hotel is located in the heart of Ecuador's capital, in the financial district with easy access to the colonial sector of the city. [more] Abraspungo Hotel   Riobamba This tourist class hotel is located a few minutes from the center of Riobamba, at the heart of the Avenue of the Volcanoes. [more] El Dorado Hotel   Cuenca This first class hotel is located in the center of the colonial historic Cuenca, one block from the main square. [more] Grand Hotel Guayaquil   Guayaquil This first class hotel is situated on a city block next to the Cathedral in Guayaquil. [more] Finch Bay Hotel   Galapagos This first class hotel is just steps from the beach, nestled in a very private location. [more] Package Date: Select Date   Pre/Post Accommodations Pre-Accommodations: Nights   Post-Accommodations: Nights   Include Flight? 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Gate 1 Travel Airfare - These are Gate 1 Travel fares which allow you to book your trip while paying a minimal deposit at time of booking. Instant Purchase/Published Airfare - These are fares that airlines have published which require payment in full at time of purchase. In some cases, these fares may be displayed as Gate 1 Airfare with Instant Purchase Requirement. To find the lowest available airfare, select [ANY] and you will get results for both kinds of airfare. Each of these fare types has its own set of restrictions which cover changes, cancellations, fuel surcharges, etc. Please refer to our terms and conditions for full details. Airfare Type [Any] Gate 1 Travel Airfare Only Published Airfare Only We are unable to reserve airline seats for you until 11 months prior to your date of travel. Until then, we offer a choice of airfares from major US cities which you may select for your reservation. Your final flight details, airfare, airport taxes and fees will be advised 11 months prior to travel. Airfares are subject to change. Air reservations may be completed no more than 11 months prior to the date of travel. For travel more than 11 months prior, please call Gate 1 at (800) 682-3333. Accommodations Select Number of Rooms   1 2 3 4 Room 1 # of Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 # of Children -- 1 2 3 First Child Age -- 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Second Child Age -- 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Third Child Age -- 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11