Day 1: Canada / Quito

Arrival in Quito and transfer from the airport to the hotel. 

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Day 2: Quito (B)

After breakfast, we will start our city tour. We´ll drive from the north of the city, where the Quito´s commercial and residential area is located. We’ll continue to the colonial area where we will have a walking tour through the streets of Quito’s historical centre. Visiting Plaza de la Independencia, surrounded by the main buildings which governing the political and the religious life of the city and the country; the Cathedral, Archbishop’s Palace, The City Hall and the Government Palace. La Compañía Church where you can appreciate its magnificent architecture. The tour continues in our transportation to the Panecillo Hill, a landscape where the winged Virgin of Quito stands, it custodies the city of Quito and where you can see the shape of its streets and a large view. After city Tour we will do Middle of the World Monument. At the end of the tour return to the hotel. Overnight in Quito. 

 

Day 3: Otavalo Market & Surroundings (B)

Visit the well-known indigenous market in Otavalo for an arts and crafts shopping adventure. Visit Peguche, known for its weavers; Cotacachi, known for the manufacturing of leather goods; and Cuicocha Crater lake.

Back to Quito for overnight.

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Day 4: Quito / Guayaquil – Galapagos (B, L, D)

Arrival in Baltra and transfer to your Puerto Ayora hotel.

After lunch, you will visit The Charles Darwin Station. The Charles Darwin Research Station encompasses an information center, a museum, a library and the tortoise breeding station as well. Here, you will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of the Galápagos. Park rangers and park managers, among others, who make huge efforts to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site, conduct the conservation of the islands. In the tortoise breeding and rearing center, you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies, which are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. 

 

Day 5: Dive in Floreana Island (B, L, D)

Enjoy 3 possible dive sites south of Santa Cruz Island, 1 hour and a half away from your base.Normally this site does not present strong currents. This is a reef dive where corals and sponges can be found. Enjoy the cleaning station, sea lions, Galapagos sharks, white tip reef shark, turtles, reef fishes, sting rays, eagle rays, barracudas, and a variety of invertebrates. This is a great opportunity to encounter ocean-life.

 

Day 6: Dive in Gordon Rocks (B, L, D)

Today, you will visit two dive sites, located just 30 minutes from Itabaca Channel (North side of Santa Cruz island).Gordon Rocks formation is a world-renowned site, for intermediate and advanced divers due to the strong currents and surge. Be prepared to see some hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, white tip reef sharks, mobulas, turtles, reef fishes, sting rays, eagle rays, Galapagos eel, barracudas and more!

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Day 7: Dive in Bartholome & Cousin (B, L, D)

Bartholome

Located east of Santiago Island, this small island, with the famous Bartholomew pinnacle, are two dive sites (just at 1 hour and a half from Itabaca Channel, North side of Santa Cruz Island). Here, you will encounter moderate currents. A platform is found at approximately 10 meters where a variety of reef fishes reside. On the edge of this platform there are underwater cliffs, which start at about 15 meters deep with good probabilities to observe pelagic species.

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Cousin

Located just North-east of Santiago island near Bartholomew island, one islet with two dive sites awaits you. Normally there are no strong currents at this site. This is partly a reef dive, partly a wall dive where the endemic black coral is found. The exciting part? At surface interval, you may be able to observe some penguins!

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Day 8: Puerto Ayora – Quito (B)

After breakfast, transfer to Santa Cruz and Baltra for your departure to Quito. Overnight in Quito.

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Day 9: Quito – Canada (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight back home or to an on-going destination.