= Journeys Featuring AKP Projects
Ecuador | Sail The Enchanted Isles
 Wading flamingos |
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Click to download PDF itinerary:
12 days / 11 nights
| Location | Nights |
| Quito | 2 |
| Galapagos Cruise | 7 |
| Otavalo | 2 |
Day 1 Arrive Quito (2,850m)
A private welcome with assistance through Customs and Immigration on your arrival into the Ecuadorian capital before transferring to your hotel delightfully situated in the old town. The sights of the old town are particularly beautiful at night when fully illuminated.
Plaza Grande (Royal Suite)
Day 2 Quito
A day to explore this charming city. . Founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city, Quito stands at an altitude of 2,850 m and despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved, least altered historic centre in Latin America. Start the day in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town with its colonial plazas and churches as well as sights around Panecillo Hill and its breathtaking views. There’s lunch and a ‘behind the scene’s’ visit to the studio and private collection of acclaimed artist Osvaldo Viteri (B,L).
Plaza Grande (Royal Suite)
Day 3 Quito-Galapagos Islands
Transfer to the airport. Fly to Baltra Island in the Galapagos archipelago. Here you board the MV Eclipse, your home for the next week (B,L,D).
MV Eclipse (Superior Stateroom or Single Stateroom)
Days 4–9 Galapagos Islands
The next six days are spent exploring the very best of these islands whose amazing variety of wildlife prompted Darwin to write his ground-breaking ‘Origin of Species’. See the most iconic sites with the majority of the trip spent within the protected areas of the Galapagos National Park, allowing guests maximum interaction with the extraordinary flora and fauna. Most expeditions with your naturalist guide are by pangas – inflatable, rubber vessel with outboard motor. These manoeuvre smoothly into bays offering unequalled opportunities for photography and up-close observation. Snorkels are also available on board to explore the fascinating underwater world around you.
There are two Galapagos itineraries both well balanced allowing visitors, regardless of which itinerary is chosen, to see the archipelago’s unique flora and fauna. Both also visit the remote western region giving greater opportunities of seeing penguins, flightless cormorants, large marine iguanas as well as whales and dolphins. The Genovesa cruise covers parts of central, north and north-western Galapagos with highlights including marine iguanas, snorkelling and tortoises, penguin colonies and fur sea lions.
The Española cruise covers parts of central, south and south-western Galapagos with highlights including the population of waved albatrosses, sea lions, nesting frigates and blue-footed boobies, land iguanas, dolphins and orcas (B,L,D).
MV Eclipse (Superior Stateroom or Single Stateroom)
Day 10 Galapagos-Otavalo (2,800m)
Disembark at Baltra for the return flight to Quito where you are driven north to Otavalo and your colonial hacienda built in 1691 and located in the Andean cloud forest. This area is renowned for its colourful market towns which showcase the region’s traditional handicrafts (B,D).
Hacienda Zuleta
Day 11 Otavalo
Today is yours to enjoy at the hacienda. There’s plenty to do including horse riding, mountain biking and a horse drawn carriage for trips around the farm and the local community. A visit to the rehabilitation project for the majestic Andean Condor is well worthwhile too or visit the AKP supported project St. Mary of the Angles, providing a home, food, education, health care and importantly, a family atmosphere for orphans and abandoned children living with HIV/AIDS (B,L,D).
Hacienda Zuleta
Day 12 Otavalo-Quito
Visit a selection of the local villages today including San Antonio de Ibarra, a woodcarving centre; Cotacachi, whose narrow streets are full of leather shops; Peguche, home to weavers and musical instrument makers and finally Otavalo, the largest and most well known which is regarded as one of the most attractive Indian markets on the continent selling colourful weavings, woodcarvings, leather goods and bread dough figurines. While you are in the area visit a local indigenous school or walk with a native guide around some village gardens where many species native to the Andes are grown – a chance to learn about their properties, folklore and usage. Lunch today is with the owners of the 17th century Hacienda la Compania, a private estate and rose farm before returning to Quito and the airport for your departure (B,L).
Optional Extension
Choose to combine your journey with one of A&K’s fantastic extensions. Not to be missed, these additions are specially selected by our travel specialists.
View our 'Ecuador | Galapagos Safari Camp Extension'
View our 'Peru | Glimpse of Peru Itinerary'
Enquire Now
Sanctuary M/V Eclipse
Elegant expeditionary vessel carrying just 48 guests in 27 air-conditioned outward facing cabins. The 210 foot vessel has some of the largest cabins of any vessel in the Galapagos all with sea views. Other features include ‘alfresco’ dining, a library/video room, a naturalist guide for every 12 passengers, a hot tub on the outdoor sun deck, observation deck and complimentary use of snorkelling equipment. The atmosphere on board is relaxed and informal, perfect for exploration in one of the world’s most exciting wildlife environments.
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