8 Days Tour
The capital city of Ecuador, Quito, is located at an elevation of 2,850 meters (9,350 feet), making it the second-highest city in the world after La Paz, which is located in Bolivia.
The Old Town of Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for having some of the best-preserved colonial architecture in all of Latin America. It is known for its opulent cathedrals, majestic plazas, and cobblestone walkways. Rows of pastel-colored residences with flower-decorated wrought-iron balconies mingle alongside meticulously renovated mansions that have quiet interior courtyards in this neighborhood. The pre-Columbian ancestral civilizations of Ecuador, some of which date back to 4000 BC, are shown in detail in Ecuador’s museums.
The city’s glorious past is as fascinating as the vibrant, alive metropolis that it is today.Make a pit stop at a sidewalk café to see native ladies dressed in traditional garb as they hustle to get their day’s job done alongside shoe shiners, street sellers, and other people working on the street.
Quito is notable for the preservation of its structures in the old town, which include exquisite residences with flower-decorated balconies, squares, and churches that carry the mark of the periods in which they were created. This distinguishes Quito among the streets steeped in Colonial history.Their foundations are composed of volcanic stone, and their massive adobe walls may be up to one meter wide. They are discreetly covered with stone gates and columns, and many of them include interior embellishments that were sculpted by Ecuadorian artisans who have left their imprint for future generations. Churches are the most obvious physical expressions of the nation’s many religious organizations.
The Basilica del Voto Nacional is an example of architecture; you can admire its Neo-Gothic style from the nineteenth century from a distance, and as you approach, you can notice the gargoyles interpreted by Ecuadorian wildlife. The Basilica del Voto Nacional is located in Quito, Ecuador. On the inside, you’ll discover breathtaking intricacies that will make you lose your breath.
The Catholic Church of La Compaa de Jesus is a clerical complex that was erected in the Baroque style with considerable elements of Mudejar and Moorish architecture. The Moorish architecture that inspired its construction by Spanish architects may be seen most clearly in the structure’s interior pillars.
The San Francisco Church is a fantastic example of a variety of architectural styles since it was constructed over a period of 150 years, beginning in the 16th century. It is clear that Quito has always been a Catholic city because of the magnificent religious artwork that can be seen within the church and convent, both of which are still in use today.
The Intian Solar Museum It offers the most participatory activities that are both fun and informative in the surrounding region. You could, for instance, stand with one foot in each hemisphere, balance an egg on the head of a nail, or observe how water in a container spins differently in each of the two hemispheres yet still flows straight down at the equator.
Otavalo, which can be found to the north of Quito, is home to Ecuador’s most significant indigenous community. As can be seen by their attire and the intricate braiding of their long hair, the Otavaleo have always been merchants, and their market is considered to be among the most significant in all of Latin America.
Even though it is open seven days a week, Saturday is the day that sees the most customers. The most characteristic of its handicrafts include fabrics, multicolored looms, geometric patterns, and images of Andean animals, all of which express the ordinary in their art. Its streets are paved with cobblestones. Stone, wood, and metal things decorate every area of the Otavalo market; let yourself be fascinated by the friendly Otavaleos who work there. The key to success in this scenario is successful negotiation that results in a price that is equitable for all sides.
One of the most significant locations in Otavalo culture is the Peguche Waterfall, which is located to the north of the city. Here, purification rituals are carried out at night, accompanied by massive processions that travel through secondary forest trails and cross through farms; the only people who take part in these activities are members of the community. You need not worry, though, since you have the opportunity to explore this enchanted region during the daytime hours and figure out what makes it so unique.
There are also a number of stunning lagoons in the area, such as the Cuicocha Lagoon, which may be visited.
Because of its closeness to the airport on Baltra, which is located to the north, Santa Cruz serves as the primary tourist center for the whole of the Galapagos Islands.
Santa Cruz is the only island in the Galapagos that allows tourists to easily explore the interior and higher altitudes of the island. Santa Cruz has the island’s longest paved road, which travels in a north-south direction across the island. This road transports visitors from the airport ferry at Itabaca Canal on the north coast into the highlands, and it passes through a few smaller towns on its way down to Puerto Ayora, the island’s largest city, which is located in Academy Bay on the island’s southern coast. Santa Cruz also has the island’s highest point, which is located in the center of the island.
Due to the presence of the magnificent giant tortoise, which is free to wander across the highlands of these islands, the highlands have become one of the most popular locations for tourists.
There is the possibility of visiting some uninhabited islands, such as Santa Fé, South Plazas, Bartolomé, or North Seymour, where there are some trails to discover the richness of the islands’ environments. Visiting these islands depends on the weather, scheduling, and permissions granted by the National Park Service. Travellers will have the opportunity to visit one of the following islands 1 each day over these two days:
Santa Fe Island
This island, which can be found in the Galapagos, was not generated by volcanic activity but rather by an uplift, which explains why the majority of its surface is flat. A number of different theories contend that this is the archipelago’s oldest island.Santa Fe is home to a number of unique species that can only be found in the Galapagos Islands. These include the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos Snake, Galapagos Mockingbird, Rice Rats, and one of the two species of land iguanas found on the islands.
As soon as you step foot into the pristine waters after disembarking, you will have the opportunity to interact with one of the numerous colonies of sea lions. Along the walk, there are a number of salt plants as well as a gigantic prickly pear cactus; gigantism is a feature that is common to marine islands. One of the most well-liked things to do is to go snorkeling with friendly sea lions and colorful tropical fish.
South Plazas
Islas Plazas are a pair of islands that can be found to the east of Santa Cruz Island. South Plaza is one of those islands. The Galapagos Islands, despite their relatively modest size, are home to some of the world’s most fascinating and remarkable animals. On Plaza, the land iguanas are much smaller than their counterparts on other islands. On the island, there are a number of iguanas that are hybrids, which means that they are the product of a sea iguana and a terrestrial iguana mating. They are easily distinguished from one another and may be recognized at a glance thanks to their dark or gray coloring, the crest that land iguanas have, and the face and tail that sea iguanas have. The availability of tuna, which is one of their preferred sources of nutrition, has contributed to the proliferation of iguanas in the area.
It is possible to see swallow-tailed gulls and Audubon shearwaters breeding on the rocky cliffs, as well as red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds, and brown pelicans.
Bartolome
Bartolome: Pinnacle Rock is a timeless natural wonder and the most photographed landscape in all of the Galapagos!
The dry landing is located on a jetty, and the summit walk, which protects the delicate ecosystem by crossing a wooden footbridge and ascending a series of stairs, goes to the highest point on Bartolome. The view from the summit is really breathtaking, as it takes in the islands of Bartolome, Santiago, Sullivan Bay, and the other neighboring islands. The secondary cones, lava flows, and lava tubes all have a landscape that is quite similar to the moon. Later in the afternoon, we board a panga and go to the rocky shoreline in search of Galapagos penguins, which make their homes and raise their young in lava tubes.
North Seymour
Instead of being formed by volcanoes, the island of North Seymour is hilly. As a direct consequence of this, the terrain is mostly flat and littered with stones. There is a sizable population of these lovely birds, and the breeding areas are suitable. In the more open sections, blue-footed boobies may be seen doing their courting dance, while swallow-tailed gulls can be seen perching on the edges of the cliffs.
Sea lions are known to load out onto the beach and engage in bodysurfing, despite the fact that the outer coast may be pummeled by waves of enormous size.
We will come get you from your hotel and take you on the trip to the airport so that you can board your flight to the Continent. You will be picked up from the airport by a member of our staff and driven to the hotel, where you will have the opportunity to make use of the amenities offered by the hotel or just relax in your room.
Depending on the time of your international departure, you will have the transport to the airport in order to catch your flight back home. It is time to bid farewell to Ecuador; we will always be here to welcome you again and provide you with even more exciting experiences.