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. During our city tour, we will visit a variety of historical points such as La Compañia de Jesus Church, Plaza Grande, La Basilica, Middle of the World City and the Intiñan Museum along with lunch in the hip La Floresta neighborhood. 

We will also visit the equator line this day as we straddle both sides of the world and return to the Casa Gardenia in the evening to rest up for tomorrow’s journey higher into the Andes.

Enjoy breakfast and the hotel before beginning the short 2-hour journey to the nearby town of Otavalo, with a stop at a rose farm along the way. Otavalo is a charming part of Ecuador rich in culture as well as natural beauty as it serves as an agricultural and handicraft hub.

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’s. In addition to working as a local healer, Mario and his wife are also weavers and tend to a small farm (highly recommend).
• Family of local musicians to listen to music and learn more about how Andean instruments are made.
• Visit our friend Antonio’s home for a traditional lunch.
• Visit the local craft market in the town center.
• Visit our friends at Cava Caran for a yummy meal (bar-style food, but totally family-friendly during the day and earlier in the night).
• Visit the Cava Caran brewery outside of town to learn more about craft beer in Ecuador.
• Visit a father/daughter duo and their organic farm and homestead.
• 3-hour hike around Cuicocha Lagoon.

You’ll spend this evening just outside of town at the beautiful Hacienda Pinsaqui. This hotel 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 super friendly.

Continued activities in Otavalo as 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 gorgeous 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 then return to Quito for a night of rest at Casa Gardenia after our adventures high up in the Andes.

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 any activities. 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 at Rancho Manzanillo to observe and learn about the famous Galápagos giant tortoise. 

After getting settled into our lodging in Galápagos we'll have some downtime to relax before dinner. Seafood anyone?!

Tortuga Bay - Transfer to Isabela

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.