On our first full day in Ecuador, we will adjust to the altitude by enjoying a fun and low-key day in the city of Quito. We will visit a variety of historical points, taste local flavors at the market, and enjoy local art. For lunch, we'll enjoy a special three-course meal prepared by a local chef and served at the chic Masaya Hotel. 

We will also visit the equator line this day as we straddle both sides of the world. 

We'll return to the Casa Gardenia in the evening to rest up for tomorrow’s journey higher into the Andes. 

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before beginning the short 2-hour journey to the nearby town of Otavalo. Otavalo is a charming part of Ecuador rich in culture as well as natural beauty. It serves as an agricultural and handicraft hub. On our way, we will stop at a rose farm to learn about one of Ecuador's top exports. Of course, no road trip would be complete without a stop for bizcochos con manjar and queso! 

With full bellies, we will arrive at our beautiful countryside hacienda. Hacienda Pinsaqui was once a large hacienda that at times served as a rest stop for Simón Bolivar among other figures in South America’s fight for independence. The rooms are impressive, the grounds are beautiful and the staff is welcoming. 

Once in Otavalo we’ll spend the next two days leisurely doing the following activities:

• Visit our friend and local medicine man, Mario, and his wife, Rosalinda. In addition to working as a local healer, Mario and his wife are also weavers and tend to a small farm.
• Visit our friend Claudia for a cooking class at her home with her family. 
• Visit with our friend Cristina, who sings beautifully in Quechua and also weaves gorgeous scarves. 
• Visit a family of local musicians to listen to music and learn how Andean instruments are made.
• Visit the local craft market in the town center.
• Visit our friends at Cava Caran for a yummy meal 
• Visit a father/daughter duo and their organic farm and homestead
• 3-hour hike around Cuicocha Lagoon or a leisurely boat ride instead

Continuing activities from the previous slide. We will work out the exact order of the activities as we get closer to the date and factor in artisans’ schedules and weather into our planning. After an adventure-filled day, we will return to Hacienda Pinsaqui for another cozy evening in!

After breakfast, we will finish our morning activities in Otavalo before starting the 3-hour journey to the Cotopaxi National Park, but first, we will have a delicious lunch at the gorgeous San Agustin del Callo Hacienda.

After lunch, depending on how the group is feeling, and taking into account the higher altitude, we can choose from a variety of activities at the base of the Cotopaxi volcano, such as horseback riding, hiking around Limpiopungo Lake (2 hours), or a more strenuous trek (3 - 3.5 hours). We will then arrive at our charming hacienda for an evening of relaxation by the fire! 

After breakfast at our charming mountainside hacienda, we will stop by a local elementary school to meet with the directors and students. The Heart of Travel will be donating a portion of the trip proceeds to purchase items requested by the school director. If you’d like to donate additional funds or supplies to this cause (such as pencils, pens, notebooks, jackets, etc.) it would be greatly appreciated, but of course, it is not obligatory. Feel free to reach out to us for more information on this aspect of the trip!

After our visit to the school, we will return to Quito for a night of rest at Casa Gardenia. 

Enjoy a free day to explore Quito at your own pace or rest before heading to the Galápagos Islands the following day. Just let us know if you need any assistance planning or coordinating an activity We will pick your laundry up early in the morning to have it cleaned for you (complimentary) and return it that evening in time to pack!

After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, we’ll head to the Quito airport to catch our flight to Baltra. Upon arriving in Baltra we will begin to make our way to the hotel on Santa Cruz island. On our way, we’ll stop to observe and learn about the famous Galápagos giant tortoise and enjoy lunch on a small ranch. 

After getting settled into our lodging in Galápagos we'll have some downtime to relax before dinner. Seafood anyone?! Tonight we'll get off the tourist path and enjoy dinner and a local dive. 

On our first full day in Gálapagos, we’ll spend the morning on a beautiful nature walk to one of the most gorgeous beaches in the world, Tortuga Bay. Enjoy breathtaking views or go for a quick swim at this incredible beach before taking an afternoon boat ride to Isabela Island where we will spend two nights. 

Isabela Island, while less developed than Santa Cruz Island, is the starting point for many of the Galápagos' most impressive tours and is definitely worth the journey.

We'll arrive in the late afternoon and be escorted from the dock to our hotel to get settled in. The following day will be a long one full of adventure - so we recommend getting a good night’s rest. 

After breakfast, we will take a boat to Tuneles where we will go on a light hike through these beautiful lava rock formations and observe many blue-footed boobies and various cacti. From there, we will. head to one of the best snorkeling sites in all of the Galápagos where we'll swim alongside sea turtles, seahorses, white tip sharks and a large variety of fish. 

You’ll have lunch aboard the boat before returning back to Isabela for dinner and downtime. 

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll take the boat to Tintoreras where you will go on a nature walk and later snorkel. On this day you’ll observe many marine iguanas and white-tipped sharks at Tintoreras before snorkeling once again with sea turtles and a vast array of fish. 

After finishing your visit to Tintoreras you’ll head back via boat to Santa Cruz island for dinner and get settled into your hotel. 

After breakfast at the hotel, take a boat ride to North Seymour Island, which offers some of the best wildlife observation in the region with an abundance of birds, crabs, marine iguanas, and sea lions. Return for a relaxing evening in Santa Cruz island, before flying back to Quito the following day. 

After an exciting four days, it will be time to fly back to Quito to rest and relax, but first, we will visit the Charles Darwin Scientific Station. Upon arriving in Quito we will check into our hotel in  Quito and all head out for a farewell dinner to celebrate another great trip exploring unknown territories and making new friends along the way.

Your shuttle will pick you up to take you to the airport for your outbound flight. For those looking to extend their stay, we highly recommend adding on a 4 day/3 night stay at an Amazon lodge or if you’d like to sharpen your Spanish skills we’d be happy to help you coordinate an extra week in an immersion program in Quito, Cuenca, Montañita, Manta or the Amazon.