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CALL 877.784.5400 TOLL FREE
(outside USA call +1.206.784.8111)
CONTACT US
CALL 877.784.5400 TOLL FREE
(outside USA call +1.206.784.8111)
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Trip extensions are the perfect way to create a customized Galapagos tour based on your own unique interests. We offer a variety of stimulating activities from which to choose that can easily be added to the beginning or end of any of our Ecuador adventure trips. Below you will find several exciting opportunities to plan your own unforgettable trip to Galapagos.Trip extensions are the perfect way to create a customized Galapagos tour based on your own unique interests. We offer a variety of stimulating activities from which to choose that can easily be added to the beginning or end of any of our Ecuador adventure trips. Below you will find several exciting opportunities to plan your own unforgettable trip to Galapagos.
2+ Travelers: $85/person
1 Traveler: $110
Quito's year-round mild weather, rich colonial history and dramatic mountain setting makes it a desirable place to visit. Depart early in the morning and drive north to "El Panecillo" for a breathtaking view overlooking Quito's magnificent churches, colonial-style homes and the surrounding valleys. Then head south towards Quito's colonial center. Here, visit an area filled with churches, museums and monuments grand enough to be named a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. From the Plaza de la Independencia, learn about the monumental buildings that border it including the Presidential Palace. Stop at a lookout point for a final panoramic view of the city and its nearby volcanoes. This is a great introduction to Ecuador and an interesting extension to any Galapagos Island tour or cruise.
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2+ Travelers: $100/person
1 Traveler: $125
If you would like to extend your Ecuador tour consider a Quito Scenic tour coupled with a visit to the capital's most important museum, the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana. This museum was created shortly after the defeat by Peru in the Ecuadorian-Peruvian war of 1941 as a way to nourish and strengthen Ecuador’s rich cultural heritage. Today, the museum’s exhibits are as diverse and beautiful as Ecuador itself. As on the scenic tour, you depart early in the morning and drive north to "El Panecillo" for a breathtaking view overlooking Quito's magnificent churches, colonial-style homes and the surrounding valleys. Then head south towards Quito's colonial center where you will explore the Casa de la Cultura for about an hour. After the museum, visit an area filled with churches and monuments grand enough to be named a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. From the Plaza de la Independencia, learn about the monumental buildings that border it including the Presidential Palace. Stop at a lookout point for a final panoramic view of the city and its nearby volcanoes. Also, if you have specific interests such as religious art or anthropology we can arrange for visits to specific museums.
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2+ Travelers: $85/person
2+ with dinner: $120/person
1 Traveler: $110
1 with dinner: $150/person
Considered the continent's most beautiful city, Ecuador's capital has been called the Florence of the Americas. Get acquainted with Quito on a breathtaking night tour of its illuminated churches, picturesque plazas and other landmarks of colonial architecture. Our driving tour takes you into the city's 16th century historic center with stops at the Monastery of San Francisco and the Church of Santo Domingo plus a short walking tour around the Plaza de la Independencia, home to the palaces of the President and the Archbishop and two major museums. You'll also get a glimpse of modern Quito in its bustling northern residential neighborhoods and see the dramatic new addition to the city skyline, the magnificent Basilica del Voto Nacional. At the conclusion of the tour, we can arrange dinner at one of Quito's fine downtown restaurants known for their traditional Ecuadorian and international cuisine.
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2+ Travelers: $85/person
1 Traveler: $110
Journey to the middle of the earth, Ecuador's most visited site. On this short tour, you'll step on both sides of the equator, crawl inside a volcanic crater, and visit the equator monuments and handicraft museum. This exciting tour takes you fifteen miles from Quito early in the morning, and you return in the afternoon.
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2+ Travelers: $100/person
1 Traveler: $125
For those who have a day to spend in Quito, this tour combines our City Tour with the Middle of the World Tour. It's a pleasant, informative way to get acquainted with Ecuador's capita and its environs, whether headed to or from a Galapagos tour.
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2+ Travelers: $170/person
1 Traveler: $235
View Papallacta accommodations picture gallery
This invigorating tour takes you trekking across a breathtaking landscape to the famous hot springs of Papallacta. Depart early and drive east towards the Oriente. Along the way, see spectacular views of waterfalls, high plains and volcanoes. On the Papallacta hike, the guide will discuss local flora and fauna while you experience the remarkable surroundings, including stunning views of the Antisana Volcano. Your hard work is rewarded with a hearty lunch and a long soak in the Papallacta hot springs. You'll return to Quito in the late afternoon.
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2+ Travelers: $195/person
High in the Andean cloud forests, the coastal jungle Rio Toachi and Rio Blanco thunder their way west towards the tropical rainforest along the Ecuadorian coast. The Rio Blanco is named for its tempestuous white-capped rapids. This Ecuador tour is an intense, full day of constant thrills, rafting either the Class III Rio Toachi or Rio Blanco depending on the season. Rafting here is an adventure you won't forget.
Depart from Quito at 7 AM headed for the Santo Domingo area.
For two and a half hours, descend through Andean cloud forest until reaching the put-in near the town of Santo Domingo. You'll begin the rafting adventure after a safety briefing, navigating up to nineteen miles of the best whitewater west of the Andes! Depending on water levels, paddling the river usually takes three to four hours. On our way, you'll encounter an abundance of birdlife and perhaps spot a family of Neotropical otters. Enjoy a delicious lunch on the river plus a cold beer at the end of the run before returning to Quito in the late afternoon. (B,L) (All equipment included).
2+ Travelers: $170/person
1 Traveler: $250
Cotopaxi National Park
Bicycle through paramo vegetation along interesting volcanic roads and trails. Throughout the day you'll view the Iliniza twin peaks, Corazon and Sincholagua plus, of course, the majestic Cotopaxi. Explore Cotopaxi National Park from north to south, crossing highland plateaus and moorlands within the volcanic landscape. Stop at peaceful Limpiopungo Lake near the foothills of the Rumiqahui Volcano. Exit the park south through the valley that leads to Lasso and return to Quito after lunch in the afternoon. (L)
2+ Travelers: $185/person
1 Traveler: $260
Travel through the lush highlands of Ecuador to a valley deep within the Andes where the world famous Otavalo textile market is located. Bargain with artisans for colorful weavings and tapestries to take home as a souvenir. A local family will perform a private weaving demonstration to show how the art of their ancestors is preserved. On this fascinating Ecuador tour, you'll have the opportunity to visit small villages, meet expert craftsmen and discover Ecuador's most beautiful lake. This market tour is rich with Ecuadorian culture and breathtaking Andean scenery.
In the morning, travel north to Imbabura province. The first stop is the village of Calderon, well known for its handmade bread dough figures. Then, continue north, passing through the expansive valley of Guayllabamba to visit the Otavalo market, one of the most famous Indian markets in South America. Have a delicious authentic lunch at one of the haciendas in the area. In the afternoon, visit Cotacachi, famous for its handcrafted leather articles. If time allows, the adventure ends with a visit to beautiful Cuicocha Lake, a flooded volcanic crater with two floating islets, before returning to Quito in the late afternoon. (B,L)
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2+ Travelers: $185/person
1 Traveler: $260
This morning, drive to nearby Cuicocha Crater Lake which is in a nature reserve located on the slopes of the larger Cotacachi Volcano. Cuicocha Lake is surrounded by rim walls and its name translates to Lake of the Guinea Pigs due to the shape of its two center islets. This ecosystem is a combination of paramo and Andean forest where you find species such as Pumamaqui, Quishuar, chilca, bromarea, fushia, lupins, calcelaria, and colorful flowers of the Andes. This hike known as the Trail of the Orchids runs around the crater rim with stunning views of the lake and the Cotacachi, Mojanda and Imbabura volcanoes. We will watch for rodents, mammals, marsupials and birdlife such as guans, hummingbirds, tanagers, wild turkeys, ducks, buzzard eagle and the great Andean Condor. Before we return to Quito, we’ll stop at the famed market town of Otavalo to explore the colorful bustling marketplace. (L)
2+ Travelers: $175/person
1 Traveler: $260
This fabulous Ecuador tour combines cultural riches with natural beauty. In just one day, experience the world famous Otavalo craft market and explore San Pablo Lake. You'll leave Quito in the morning, heading north toward Imbabura, "Province of the Lakes," San Pablo Lake lies at the foot of the Imbabura Volcano. This beautiful lake spans 5 kilometers and is one of Ecuador’s largest lakes. Before kayaking, you will have a safety briefing and practice paddling techniques. Once on the lake, take time to view the variety of wildlife. Andean condors and falcons soar above the mirrored waters, while hummingbirds hover near the shore. Mountain peaks provide an awe-inspiring backdrop for your kayaking adventure. At San Pablo, we will search for the 13 sacred trees, called Arbol de Lechero, each located on specific sites along the basin of the lake. According to natives, each tree is part of a site of pre-columbian ruins where the natives celebrated rituals. Paddling the lake will take two to four hours. A tasty boxed lunch will be waiting for you at trip's end. Return to Quito, stopping at the famed market town of Otavalo. If you wish, extra time can be arranged for exploring the colorful bustling marketplace. (L)
2+ Travelers: $190/person
1 Traveler: $260
A nature lover's paradise, Cotopaxi National Park is an ecological sanctuary of 88,920 acres, exhibiting the striking treeless vegetation of the Andean moorlands, or paramo. It is also home to the highest active volcano in the world.
Today the adventure begins with a fascinating drive south through the "Avenue of Volcanoes," viewing the spectacular high plains that surround 19,225-foot Cotopaxi. In the park, you'll see llamas, wild horses, deer, rabbits, Andean gulls, hummingbirds, and with some luck, the Andean condor. After a hearty lunch at Tombopaxi, climb to El Parqueadero to be rewarded with the breathtaking view of a glacier just a short distance away. You'll return to Quito in the late afternoon. (B,L)
2+ Travelers: $100/person
1 Traveler: $120
Child: $65
Click here to see more of Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve
Located deep within the heart of an enchanting Ecuadorian cloud forest, Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve protects 1,800 acres of endangered habitat, an area of great bio-diversity and overwhelming beauty. Bellavista is home to hundreds of species of plants, birds, and exotic animals. Discover Ecuador's amazing wildlife as you experience this natural sanctuary accompanied by those who have dedicated their lives to its preservation.
After breakfast, depart from your Quito hotel at 7:30 AM, returning to Quito around 6-7PM. During your visit to Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve you'll choose from the following activities. (One guided tour is included in the trip cost.)
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