Three crucial decisions need to be made for any trip out to the archipelago. First is the duration of your cruise. The most common cruises itineraries are three nights/4 days or seven nights/8 days. On both of these trips, one day is attributed to departure and one to final arrival. Hence, the four-day trip only has two days cruising, so an eight-day excursion is most recommended as coming all this way garners some serious time to take in all the wonders the islands have to offer. Second is your class of boat. Yacht classes are broken down to ‘tourist,’ ‘first-class,’ and ‘luxury,’ with associated amenities. The third is the opportunity for side excursions, such as diving, surf trips, hiking, volunteering, etc.
Each trip is independently customized based on the above factors, but a standard 8-day itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Fly to Baltra, transfer to the yacht, and visit Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island.
Day 2: Visit Bartholomew Island in the morning, Espumilla Beach on Santiago Island in the evening.
Day 3: Visit to Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island during day, travel to Isla Fernandina and Punta Espinoza in evening.
Day 4: Visit Tagus Cove on Isabela Island in the morning, then Elizabeth Bay afterward.
Day 5: Visit Post Office on Floreana Island then Punta Cormorant or Devil’s crown in the afternoon.
Day 6: Visit to Galapaguera – Cerro Colorado on San Cristobal Island and Ochoa Beach.
Day 7: Visit the Twins on Santa Cruz Island, Puerto Ayora, and the Charles Darwin Station.
Day 8: Arrive at Bachas Beach Santa Cruz Island. Return by air to mainland Ecuador, Quito from Baltra Island.
Pickup from airport, night in the hotel. Old town Quito.
Day 9: Early morning pick up from hotel to transfer to Volcan Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano globally at 19,347 feet. Downhill mountain bike ride from base camp down to volcano’s base in adventurous and beautiful descent. 3-4 hours. After the bike trip, transfer to Banos.
Days 11 – 14: Banos
Banos is the adventure capital of Ecuador, blessed with natural hot springs surrounded by towering green peaks in a quaint and welcoming environment. Activities include mountain biking, bungee jumping, white water rafting, climbing, hiking, canyoneering, zip-lining, ATV/quad riding, rock climbing, paragliding, and jungle trips. The first day is devoted to downhill mountain biking from Banos to the Devil’s Nose waterfall down to the Amazon basin in an epic adventure with unparalleled beauty.
On day two, we head to the Rio Pastaza for an intense full-day Class IV and V white water rafting adventure or to a mellower half-day trip to Rio Patate. These gorgeous trips take place in the surroundings of the ecological paradise of Llaganates and Sangay National Parks and guarantee an adrenaline-filled day in breathtaking surroundings.
Day 14: Transfer Banos – Quito
Day 15: Otovalo Market
Pick up from hotel to transfer to Saturday market in Otovalo, one of the largest and oldest markets in Latin America. The Otavalo market is a place of history and tradition, continuing centuries-old artisan practices from around this northern town. The indigenous Otavaleño people, who make up approximately 50% of the town’s population, have been weavers since pre-Incan times. In colonial days, their skills resulted in many of them being forced intoobrajes (textile workshops), creating a textile trade that continues freely today. The scene at the market is one of the contrasts, with traditionally dressed Otavaleño stallholders surrounded by a modern town center. The 4,630m-high Imbabura volcano, which gives its name to the province, rises nearby, and the capital city of Quito is just 90km to the south, a journey that takes you over the equator and into the southern hemisphere. The craft market begins early on Saturdays, with stallholders setting up at around 6 am. A large animal market is held simultaneously on the outskirts of the city, trading cattle, sheep, pigs, llamas, chickens, rabbits, and masses of guinea pigs, turning the town into a sprawling marketplace. In the quiet of the morning, before busloads of visitors begin arriving from Quito, take the chance to wander and chat with the stallholders in relative calm. Alongside the textiles, there are stalls filled with other crafts, from silver jewelry to wooden carvings to Panama hats, which originated in Ecuador but became famous in Panama. The selection of crafts is extensive, and good gifts or souvenirs include woolen scarves, blankets, and ponchos. Transfer back to Quito, night in Old town hotel.
Day 16: Pick up from the hotel, transfer to airport for flight out.
