Ecuador and the Galapagos for Explorers

Set in a colonial style house built in 1738, La Casona de la Ronda Hotel Boutique offers comfortable accommodation in the historic city centre. Decorated with stylish wooden furnishing and parquet floors, rooms at La Casona de la Ronda are very bright. Drinks from the bar and hot beverages from the coffee shop can be enjoyed in the garden and on the terrace.

The place to start exploring Ecuador is Colonial Quito: a city of narrow cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed walls and, rising above, the steeples and cupolas of the city's many spectacularly decorated historic churches. The city has one of the best preserved colonial centers in all South America, and its integrity was assured in 1978 when the United Nations declared Quito a World Cultural Heritage site.

Morning visit to colonial Quito. We will walk through the Main Plaza, where you will see the Government Palace, La Compania, and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries, including the San Francisco Monastery which was started 5 days after the founding of the city in 1534. Then we will visit the city's famous La Ronda street, where we will learn about traditional work in Colonial Quito.

For our last stop, we will also be visiting the 'Panecillo', the hill that dominates the South of the city, and where we will be able to admire the famous statue of Our Lady of the Panecillo and enjoy spectacular views of Quito.

We will visit the Cotopaxi National Park where, weather permitting, you will be able to see the snowcapped summits of the Cotopaxi and Antisana volcanoes.

We will also visit the Interpretation center to learn about the history of this spectacular volcano's major eruptions, as well as the local flora and fauna. We will then visit Lake Limpiopungo and explore the surrounding area on foot.

If you feel like a longer walk, a 2-hour hike will take us to Volcan Cotopaxi's J. Ribas refuge (4,800 meters / 15750 feet) where you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the volcano and the surrounding Andean peaks. We offer traditional mountain hospitality with a dose of adventure.

You will be picked up from your hotel in Quito and be transferred to Mindo and El Monte Ecolodge. En route stop, admire, and enjoy the interactive butterfly garden where, surrounded by hundreds of colorful butterflies, you will be able to observe the four stages of a butterfly's life. While you are in the garden, you will be able to feed one or more of the 25 different species of butterflies. Later visit to a Garden of Orchids, where you will see about 35 to 60 species of orchids in bloom. Mindo has about 370 species of orchids in the reserve. The orchid is undoubtedly one of the most impressive attraction to those visiting the place, the un-spoilable range of species on display. Some of them are can be seen by a magnifying glass. At the end of the tour, you have the ability to observe Hummingbirds and other bird species.

The El Monte Lodge is located just outside the town of Mindo, recognized as a world-class bird watching site by Bird Life International. Arrival to El Monte Sustainable Lodge is by "tarabita" or hand pulled cable car. This cable car entrance of 20 meters over the Rio Mindo gives us a sense of privacy from the outside world, while providing access to El Monte and the buffer zone to the Mindo-Nambillo Protected Reserve.

On arrival, your hosts will offer a short introduction to the lodge and its garden, plus a few tips in regards bird species will greet us. El Monte is not simply a place to stay; the Lodge and its owners are dedicated to preserving and protecting the natural beauty of Mindo - Nambillo Forest, one of the most biologically diverse and endangered Cloud Forests in the world.

In the afternoon, your local guide will take us on a 2-hour exploration besides Mindo River and through the nearby forest, where you will spot exotic birds, find local medicinal plants and learn more about their uses.

Guests at El Monte stay in private cabanas alongside the crystalline Rio Mindo. Each cabana has a comfortable bathroom complete with a full size tub and unlimited hot water, plus separate areas for socializing and sleeping.
The design of all the cabanas and the main house is original and also very functional taking into account the mild climate, lack of strong winds and local construction materials that blend nicely with the landscape and river.

Each cabana is equipped with a flush toilet and an independent waste treatment system that is comprised of an enclosed sand bed with bamboo growing inside to remove nitrogenous buildup. This system has worked extremely well for us, and we would be glad to share the plans on request.

Today you make an early start to visit our "Cock of the Rock", a place where these marvelous birds congregate to feed. After a nourishing breakfast, you will walk along the heights of the stunning San Lorenzo Mountain Range with your guide leading the way, and weather permitting; you catch a glimpse of spectacular birds such as the Golden-Headed Quetzal, the Choco Toucan and the Crimson Rumped Toucanet, amongst many others.

Return to the lodge midafternoon. Free evening.

Today, before heading back to Quito, you will visit "Tony's House", an iconic spot where you can admire more than 24 species of hummingbirds. Tony is an expert on the birds and their songs and has placed a lot of hummingbird feeders around his house, as well as in the forest, to attract the amazing variety of brilliantly colored birds you will see here. More than 19 varieties can regularly be seen, including some of the rarest specimens.

Return to Quito where services end.

Set in a colonial style house built in 1738, La Casona de la Ronda Hotel Boutique offers comfortable accommodation in the historic city centre. Decorated with stylish wooden furnishing and parquet floors, rooms at La Casona de la Ronda are very bright. Drinks from the bar and hot beverages from the coffee shop can be enjoyed in the garden and on the terrace.

Today marks your departure from mainland Ecuador to Baltra (approx. 2 and half hour flight). You will be picked up at the airport by your guides and taken on a ten minute bus drive to the pier to board the Corals.

In the afternoon, make a dry landing on Santa Cruz for a visit to the Galapagos giant tortoises breeding program, where the famous Lonesome George (last surviving specimen of Pinta Island) lived for decades. The center is conducted by the Galapagos National Park staff with the collaboration of scientists from the Charles Darwin Station. Here, eggs taken from Pinzon, Santiago and Santa Cruz Islands hatch without the danger of introduced species. After artificial incubation; the "galapaguitos" (newborn tortoises) are reared until the age of 5, when they are released in their native habitats, having the capabilities to survive alone. Since the 70s, more than 2000 specimens have returned to their own islands. In addition, the Darwin Station works in several scientific projects, botanical research, providing environmental education to communities, schools within the Islands and tourists. If there is enough time, it is possible to visit Puerto Ayora.

Difficulty level: Easy
Type of terrain: Flat
Duration: 1.5 hour visit

In the morning, walk by a brackish lagoon to see flamingos. The trail leads across a typical dry zone vegetation. Keeping up until Dragon Hill, there will be an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas, offering lovely views of the anchored boats and neighboring islands. The forest is home to mockingbirds, Darwin's finches, yellow warblers, and Galapagos doves.

Difficulty level: Intermediate
Type of terrain: Rocky
Duration: 2 hour walk

This afternoon make a wet landing to discover a fascinating landscape formed by different volcanic parasitic cones -lava bombs, spatter, cinder cones - that resembles the moon. Going up to the summit there will be an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone Pinnacle Rock. We also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and blue-footed boobies.

Beach time is a great opportunity to do snorkeling and see the famous Galapagos Penguins, sea turtles and White-tipped Reef Sharks among a great variety of colorful fish. For many visitors, this may turn out to be the best snorkeling experience. Crystal clear water is the perfect spot to appreciate the incredible marine life it has to offer.

Due to its geographical location, the lack of vegetation is immediately noticeable however, there are pioneer plants including the endemic Tiquilia nesiotica and Chamaesyce (known as sand mat or spurge in English), lava cactus, and Scalesia bushes.

Difficulty level: Intermediate
Type of terrain: Trail made of 372 steps
Duration: 1.5 hour walk / 1 hour snorkel

This morning you will explore Rabida, also known as Jervis Island in English, one of the most diverse in terms of volcanic activity as it lies at the very heart of the archipelago's volcanic origin. In this deep red beach, surrounded by cliffs and steep slopes of volcanic cinder cones it is usual to find nesting colonies of brown pelicans, as well as, nine species of Darwin finches, fur seals, and Nazca boobies. Snorkel off the coast, where marine life is particularly active and colorful.

Difficulty level: Easy
Type of terrain: Sandy
Duration: 1.5 hour walk / 1 hour snorkel / 1 hour dinghy ride

During the afternoon, you will visit Buccaneers Cove / Espumilla Beach in Santiago Island.

This is an amazing location, featuring the remains of an eroded shoreline that is home to seabirds, fur seals and the playful sea lions. Its different shapes have been made throughout a process caused by erosion of the waves and the wind. Espumilla Beach is a white-sandy beach in James Bay and is a popular place among visitors. There are mangroves and a small palo santo forest that lead to salty-water lagoons that are home to wading birds like flamingos. In the upper dunes are a nesting site for sea turtles. A good place to snorkel to see rays.

Difficulty level: Easy
Type of terrain: White sand
Duration: 1 hour walk / 1 hour snorkel / beach time

This morning enjoy a dinghy ride on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, accessible only by sea, where four species of mangrove crowd form an internal lagoon. Turtles visit the calm waters, peaking their heads above the surface, while the fish and rays circle below. White-tipped reef sharks can be seen beneath the boat, plus seabirds including pelicans, herons, and egrets feed from the cove. This cove has been declared as a "Turtle Sanctuary".

Difficulty level: Easy
Type of terrain: None
Duration: 1 hour dinghy ride

Later, transfer directly to Baltra Airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.

Offering a terrace and spa centre, Wyndham Quito Airport is located in the Quito airport and 23 miles from downtown. The perfect choice when connecting to the Galapagos, the Amazon, the coast or Cuenca.