Ecuador: Natural Wonders & Ancient Cultures with Galápagos Cruise

Your Small Group Discovery tour begins! Welcome to Ecuador, where your Quito hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Quintessential Quito On an included city tour with a Local Guide, see Independence Square with its Government and the Bishops Palace as well as the Cathedral. On the way to San Francisco Square, visit the church of La Compañia, which has the most ornate and richly sculptured façade and interior. Afterwards, step inside the church of San Francisco. Then enjoy a behind-the-scenes immersion on a specific topic of pre-Colombian art at the El Alabado Museum, one of the best archaeological collections of Ecuador. Its non-conventional design is housed inside a restored patrimonial house. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant featuring Ecuadorian dishes. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT ART & ARCHITECTURE Ecuador’s capital city of San Francisco de Quito stands on the ruins of an Inca city as one of the largest and best-preserved historic landmarks in the Americas. Here, a monument marks "Mitad del Mundo" (the middle of the world) - very fitting as Ecuador is Spanish for equator. You’ll be in the middle of it all in Independence Square, called Plaza Grande by the locals, in the historic city reaching an altitude of 9,350 ft. (2,850m) in the foothills of the Andes. TOUR HIGHLIGHT SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Enjoy a behind the scenes tour of the pre-Colombian art at the El Alabado Museum, one of the best archaeological collections in Ecuador. TOUR HIGHLIGHT SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION Hotel Patio Andaluz is an elegant boutique hotel with only 32 rooms, located in a colonial style house built at the end of the 16th-century. This national monument, whose walls contain centuries of history and art, has large arches, balconies, inner courtyards filled with light, and colorful gardens. These unique spaces create a charm and cozy atmosphere for guests and visitors.

Wild & Woolly Wonders Travel to Otavalo and appreciate the stunning landscapes: the arid and fertile Guayllabamba gorge, the snow-capped Cayambe volcano that represents the highest point on the equator line in the world, and the San Pablo Lake with its stunning backgrounds that offer picture-worthy panoramas. En route, visit the Quitsato Sundial Monument Located, situated exactly on the equator. The circular platform, with a 178ft (54m) diameter, aims to share the astronomical knowledge of pre-Hispanic cultures. Continue to Otavalo for a visit to a [LOCAL FAVORITE] fascinating wool weaving workshop. Later, visit the Otavalo Market, hosting a variety of handcrafted items. This ancient market boasts colorful stalls filled with an excellent selection of handwoven crafts: belts, tapestries, ponchos, carpets, sweaters, and other textiles. This is the perfect place to get yourself or your loved ones a souvenir! Return to Quito for a free evening. (B,L) LOCAL FAVORITE WEAVING A STORY Explore the artistry of centuries of weaving nurtured in Otavalo where extraordinary beauty, craftsmanship, and detail are continued through the threads of a waning tradition. With a visit to a local workshop, you’ll journey back in time as weavers demonstrate the traditional techniques that transform raw wool with spinning and weaving into beautiful works of art—all while using a backstrap loom while sitting on the workshop floor. A fascinating experience for students of cultural tradition or curators of fine tapestries!

Ecuador’s Coming up Roses! After breakfast, travel to the Amazon region. En route, visit a rose plantation for a guided tour. Continue into the Amazon—a stone’s throw from the eastern slopes of the Andes. At the edge of the Napo River, you’ll find Ahuano Point, a small but growing village, where many Quichua people do their daily shopping. It was here, in this reverie hamlet, where Swiss expatriate Beni Ammeter opened a general store in 1985. In those days, when foreign travelers made their way to Ahuano and needed a place to stay, they were inevitably directed to La Casa del Suizo. Happy to have visitors from afar, Beni warmly welcomed them into his home. Eventually, his residence became so popular that he constructed a few cabins to better accommodate the steady flow of travelers. Enjoy a 2-night stay here in a rustic, yet tastefully constructed cabaña, nestled comfortably above the banks of the Napo River. Take in the exquisite views, which can be peacefully enjoyed from the privacy of one’s own hammock. (B,L,D) Please note: The itinerary in the Amazon is subject to favorable weather conditions and water levels. When conditions are unfavorable, alternative accommodations and excursions will be provided. TOUR HIGHLIGHT SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Stop and smell the roses with a visit to a flower plantation near Quito where this coveted important is in high demand around the world. Learn how Ecuadorian roses produce larger flower buds, fuller blooms, and longer vase life—with every color imaginable, from traditional shades of red, pink, and white, to lavender, purple, orange, and even rainbow-colored. Learn about sustainable farming and the importance of globally recognized eco-certification.