Anahi Catamaran & Flavours of Ecuador - 10 Days

Brief itinerary

Friday - Arrive in Quito

Saturday - Avenue of the Volcanoes / Zumbahua Market

Sunday - Cable Car / Quito by Night

Monday - Guayasamin Art Gallery / Dining with a View

Tuesday - Fly to Galapagos Islands / San Cristobal island

Wednesday - Española island

Thursday - Floreana island

Friday - Santa Cruz island

Saturday - Santa Cruz island / Fly to Quito

Sunday - Depart Quito

Detailed itinerary

Friday Arrive in Quito

Your guide will be waiting to escort you from the airport to your hotel. Overnight stay in a Superior Boutique hotel.

SaturdayAvenue of the Volcanoes/Zumbahua Market (B, L, D)

Early in the morning, you will travel south along the Pan-American Highway to the small village of Zumbahua settled in the mountains and surrounded by green hills and craggy peaks. On Saturdays, Andean indigenous people from across the Cotopaxi region gather to trade horses, llamas, woodcarvings by local artisans and other handcrafts at one of the last and ancient remaining truly authentic indigenous markets in Ecuador. Lunch will be at La Cienega, an old colonial hacienda that now functions as a restaurant and hotel.

You will spend the night at Hacienda Hato Verde, a construction from the colonial era that has been remodeled by the current owners with original materials and techniques in keeping with the rustic style of the region. For dinner you will enjoy the owner’s hospitality with their tradition of fine home-style cuisine which is considered the best food of the region.

Sunday Gondola/Quito by Night (B, L, D)

Morning. There is no better way to appreciate Quito’s magical location in the midst of the Andes than by taking the Teleferico gondola, which affords the visitor a spectacular view of the city and its surroundings. On a clear day the vista includes at least 14 peaks of the planet’s longest chain of mountains - the Andes. The Teleferico reaches 4,050 metres above sea level on the summit of Cruz Loma.

Evening. The city is especially beautiful by night. Your guide will lead you on an exploration of the World Heritage-listed colonial centre of the city which features floodlit churches and other historic buildings. The Panecillo will be the next stop for a panoramic night time view of Quito. Dinner is at Theatrum restaurant where chef Julio Avendano has created an extraordinary menu at the vanguard of Mediterranean-influenced cuisine, combining seafood, fish, meat, poultry and duck with fine aromatic herbs, spices, and local and imported ingredients.

Monday Guayasamin Art Gallery/Dining with a View (B, L, D)

On this day you’ll visit a museum that exhibits excellent examples of pre-Columbian, colonial and contemporary art from the private collections of the famous Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamin. Following this is a visit to “La Capilla del Hombre” (Chapel of Man), the inside of which is covered with a mural by the artist. It narrates the history of “El hombre Americano”, but was incomplete at the time of Guayasamin’s death, and remains unfinished. The Chapel holds some of Guayasamin’s work as well as that of other well-known Latin American artists, from pre-Colombian to contemporary. The altar of the Chapel holds an eternal flame in defense of peace and human rights.

Dinner tonight is at Rumiloma Lodge, a magical oasis of rustic luxury on the side of the Volcano Pichincha overlooking Quito, where you’ll be treated to Ecuadorian-style fusion cuisine.

Tuesday Fly to Galapagos Islands/San Cristobal Island (B, L, D)

Pick up from your hotel early in the morning for a transfer to the airport to take your flight to Galapagos. A representative of Anahi Catamaran will be waiting for you at the airport.

La Lobería

The beach is 10 minutes from the airport of San Cristobal. It is a coral sand beach that has been named for the large number of sea lions that can be found resting there. Despite being outside the boundaries of the National Park, due to its great importance the park staff take responsibility for its care and maintenance. Flora to be found include button mangrove, white mangrove, chala, palo santo, cotton, Tiquilia, morning glory and other species of the littoral zone such as the cacho de chivo - it’s seeds the main source of food for several species of finches. In addition to sea lions, yellow warblers, frigates and various species of finches can be seen. On the rocks, marine iguanas, endemic to Galapagos, can also be found.

Highlands

The route from Puerto Baquerizo leads upwards to El Progreso. This small town was established as a penal colony in 1888 by Manuel Cobos. The prisoners were treated as slaves and developed a sugar cane and coffee plantation. The steep road narrows as it climbs the sides of the extinct volcano. At the summit visitors are treated to a spectacular view of the El Junco Lagoon. Rainwater and condensation have collected in the caldera for hundreds of years creating this haven for frigate birds. The lake supplies water both for the people of the island and for many of the tourist boats. Hiking around the lake offers views of practically the entire island including San Joaquin Hill, the island’s highest point.

Wednesday Española island (B, L, D)

Punta Suarez

This rocky land spot sustains one of the most impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in the Galapagos. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea affording the visitor spectacular views of soaring birds and of the blow hole where water spouts up to 30 metres into the air depending on the intensity of the surf.

Gardner Bay

Located on the north-eastern coast of Española, Gardner Bay provides an excellent beach for relaxing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and the opportunity to observe sea lions. Here we can also observe sharks in the crystal clear ocean waters.

ThursdayFloreana Island (B, L, D)

Cormorant Point

This site offers probably the best flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos. It is also one of the largest in the islands. The lagoon is situated between two tuff lava cones that give the area a special atmosphere. There are various species of shorebirds to observe besides flamingos; the most frequent are common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks, and other migratory birds. Of special interest are the two distinct beaches: the “Green Beach”, so coloured due to its high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the “Flour Sand Beach” which is composed of fine coral sand.

Devil’s Crown

The Devil’s Crown, located just off Punta Cormorant, offers some of the best snorkeling in the Galapagos. In fact, the only way to see the Crown is by water. It is designated a Marine Visitor Site and no landings are allowed. Sometimes referred to as Onslow Island, this is an almost completely submerged volcano. The effects of erosion have transformed the cone into a series of jagged peaks resulting in its crown-like appearance.

Post Office Bay & Baroness Lookout

Historically, this site is the location of a wooden barrel that was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship. It has been used since this time by mariners and tourists as a post office. The idea is to carry letters or postcards to their destination by hand. Apart from being the Post Office Barrel, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonists. We will continue to the north of the island and will ascend to an elevated slope to enjoy a beautiful vista from the Baroness lookout. It is said that Baroness Eloisa Von Wagner loved this place and spent many hours watching the horizon. The view from the lookout takes in the coastline from Enderby islet to Post Office Bay, as well as Cerro Pajas, the pool of flamingos and the wide forest of Palo Santo. Within walking distance (30 m) are the ruins of her house.

Friday Santa Cruz island (B, L, D)

Charles Darwin Station

The great majority of visitors to Galapagos come here to observe and appreciate its natural wonders. You’ll learn how the protection and conservation of the islands is managed by visiting the National Park information centre, the Van Straelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding and Rearing centre for young tortoises, and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity including Lonesome George - last of the Pinta species.

Santa Cruz Highlands

Journeying across Santa Cruz into the highlands visitors are delighted by the island’s variety of life and geology. Beginning at the coast and traveling across Santa Cruz the road departs from Puerto Ayora climbing through the agricultural lands and into the mist covered forests. Santa Cruz possesses all of the various life zones present in the archipelago. Travelling through these zones, birders will be enchanted. Whether it’s the bright red feathers of a vermillion flycatcher or one of Darwin’s finches almost every bird present in the islands can be found here. The highlands also offer excellent opportunities for viewing wild Galapagos tortoises.

Overnight in a hotel in Puerto Ayora.

Saturday Santa Cruz island/Fly to Quito (B,L)

Morning transfer to the airport in Baltra. On the way you’ll visit Los Gemelos, a pair of craters approximately 30 metres deep located on either side of the road to Baltra island where the airport is located. The holes may have been created by a volcanic explosion or be the result of magma chambers that formed below the surface.

Once you arrive in Quito, your guide will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel.

Sunday Depart Quito (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or stay to explore a little more of Ecuador.