Galapagos 2025 -$6490 USD plus GST 1500.00 USD Deposit

DAY 1:

Welcome to Quito, Ecuador! Upon your arrival in Quito, your private shuttle with an English speaking guide, will transport you to the charming hotel, Casona de la Ronda in Quito. This transfer will take approximately 40 minutes.

Quito is the second highest city in the world at a whopping 2,850 meters above sea level (second to La Paz in Bolivia).

Quito’s enchanting historical architecture seduced the UNESCO Committee in 1978 and the city was the first in the world to be named a World Heritage Site, along with Ecuador’s equally unique Galapagos Islands.

Not only that but UNESCO has also stated that Quito’s historical cen- tre is the best preserved and least altered in the whole of Latin America.

Overnight: Casona de la Ronda Meals: None

Day 2:

After a leisurely breakfast, we will embark on a walking Quito city tour (3 hours) exploring Quito’s colonial centre, South America’s oldest capital (close to 500 years), with its narrows streets and hanging balconies. We will walk through Independence Plaza flanked by the Presidential and Archbishop palaces; and La Compañia Church with its impressive gold leaf altar, which is considered the most beautiful church in the Americas. Here is an opportunity to sit at a sidewalk cafe and enjoy a coffee, lunch, glass of vino!

Overnight Hotel Casona de la Ronda
Meals: Breakfast, dinner at Casona de la Ronda.
Includes: English speaking guide, entrance fees to museums and churches.

DAY 3:

After breakfast we will drive approximately 2 hours to the Otavalo area.

Otavalo Market is a famous destination and one of the most popular tourist at- tractions in Ecuador. The market is full of brightly-coloured tapestries, woven craft- work and many other hand made items.

The indigenous people of Otavalo wear their traditional outfits on a daily basis.

Traditional crafts, weavings and textiles are bought and sold after friendly bargaining in the bustling market. Warm jackets, woven bags, cozy sweaters, jewelry, cushion covers and wall hangings are all popular souvenirs. Traditional weaving designs depict indigenous highland people with long hair braids and hats, stylized animals or local scenes. Other crafts such as musical instruments and wood- carvings can also be found.

After our Otavalo market experience we will drive a short distance to the beautiful 300 year old Hacienda Pinsaqui

Overnight: Hacienda Pinsaqui
Meals: Breakfast,  dinner at Hacienda Pinsaqui.

Day 4:

After breakfast we will stroll through the town of Cotocachi, known for their hand made leather goods and handicrafts. Afterwards, we stop for a lovely lunch!

Quitsato- Ecuator land crossing
After lunch we will make our way to Quitsato!

The Quitsato Solar Clock is the first and only Monument of the Middle of the World, which is located exactly on the Equatorial Line or parallel 0 0 0, certified by the military geographic institute.

The hours of the day are marked by the projection of the shadow of a large 10-meter-high pole which is located exactly in the centre of this large circular platform.
Being a great calendar and sundial, it represents the best place in the world to understand the apparent movements of the sun. It also allows us to understand how the seasons work, the history of the calendar, the agricultural calendar and different geographical, astro- nomical and educational aspects that make this site transcend in the minds of visitors.
The Quitsato Solar Clock is the first monument in the world that has been built in relation to space technology, not only because of its satellite positioning but also because its platform can be observed and processed from satellites.This is possible because the different colours of the stones that make up the mosaic have differ- ent temperatures. White stones are cooler because they reflect sunlight, while dark stones are hotter because they absorb solar radiation.
The monument not only draws attention due to its unique design as a circular platform, where the infrastructure is horizontal and on the ground, but also due to its incredible landscape, since from this point, you can see various archaeological sites, various mountains of the Equatorial Andes and above all, the imposing presence of the Cayambe Volcano.

We will stop across the road to experience a Biscocho with a local family and sample their biscotto and various home made chocolate before our drive to our hotel in the Puembo valley.

Overnight Hotel Garden San Jose de Puembo Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5