Rates include: 3 nights in a Guest Suite at the JW Marriott Hotel in Quito (or alternate), private city tour, private tour to the equatorial monument, 7 night cruise aboard the Pinta, Eclipse or Isabela II, national park entrance fee, two day guided private tour to Otavalo with 1 night hotel accommodation at La Mirage, all airport transfers, and meals as indicated.

Not included: tourist transit card, international departure tax, tips, items of a personal nature and anything else not specified.

Upon your evening arrival into Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito you will be met by our guide who will assist you with your luggage and escort you to the van. It's a 10-20 minute drive from the airport to one of Quito's best hotels (JW Marriott, Casa Aliso or Villa Colonna). Quito is one of South America's oldest cities. Its colonial section is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with architecture dating back to the early 1500s. It was also the northern capital of the Incan Empire at the time of the Spanish conquest.

At the JW Marriott Hotel Quito, you'll be greeted by an awe-inspiring atrium entrance. The guest rooms feature magnificent views of the mountains and volcanoes surrounding the city, including the famous snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano. The JW Marriott is located next to the popular La Mariscal neighborhood, host to many Quito restaurants and bars. The hotel is close to the famous old city which is a Cultural World Heritage Site, and is just two hours to Otavalo, the largest craft market in South America. What sets the hotel apart is the resort type heated pool, the large fitness facility, and relaxing treatments available in the spa.

If you prefer a smaller, boutique style hotel, we would be able to accommodate you at either the Casa Aliso or Villa Colonna.

Casa Aliso is one of the best boutique hotels in Ecuador; full of personality and character and defined by its unique design, décor and ambiance. This 10-room gem offers all the style and comfort of a small luxurious home with an especially inviting interior.  The use of colour, wood, iron and marble throughout creates the atmosphere of a sophisticated private residence, maintaining the same tradition and elegance as when it was built in 1936.

The Villa Colonna is located in a recently refurbished house in colonial Quito...

Your stay in Quito must include a visit to the Colonial sector, the old and charming city with its 400 years of Spanish heritage. The capital of Ecuador, has a setting that few cities can match. During the 13th century it was the prosperous center of the Kingdom of Quitus. Later became the northern capital of the Inca Empire. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Colonial architects built formidable temples, monasteries and mansions, creating an urban jewel designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. 

Today, Quito brings the past to life in its museums, convents, the carved stone facades and golden altars of its many churches, as well as in the Archaeological Museum that displays centuries of pre-Columbian treasures. Quito's artistic creativity awaits you in cosmopolitan galleries and boutiques filled with contemporary paintings, sculptures and exquisite traditional crafts.

After lunch at one of Quito's best restaurants, we will continue to the Equatorial Monument, 25 Kms. (16 miles) North of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the different Native American groups living in Ecuador. Beside the monument there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs. You will get a certificate for having crossed the Equator. We will drop you off at your hotel in the late afternoon. You are free to dine at your hotel or at one of Quito's fine restaurants.

We will pick you up from the hotel early in the morning and help you check in for your flight to Galapagos. Upon your arrival in Galapagos you will be met by one of our representatives who will escort you to the dock to board the yacht. At the dock, it is possible to see sea lions, marine iguanas, frigate birds and even a few blue-footed boobies! You will enjoy an 8 day / 7 night cruise in the Galapagos Islands aboard either La Pinta, Isabela II or Eclipse (Superior Stateroom) depending on availability. These three mid-sized 40-48 passenger yachts are the most luxurious and prestigious yachts operating in the Galapagos Islands. You will be served a gourmet lunch aboard the yacht while it cruises to the first visitor site where you will have an opportunity to understand why the Galapagos Islands are such a popular destination for nature enthusiasts.

This will be an incredible "trip of a life time". The Galapagos Islands offer the nature enthusiast a face-to-face encounter with wildlife that is possible only in a very few areas of the world. You will have an opportunity to see the Giant Galapagos Tortoise, Darwin's finches,  the Galapagos penguin, marine iguanas, land iguanas, giant cactus, waved albatross, blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls and to swim and snorkel with sea lions and maybe even the sea turtles. The Galapagos waters are very rich in nutrients and also an excellent place to see whales and dolphins while cruising from island to island!

On the morning of the last day of the cruise, we will escort you from the yacht back to the airport for your flight to Quito. Upon arrival in Quito, we'll meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel. You will have this evening free to dine at the hotel or in one of Quito's fine restaurants. 

After breakfast, we will pick you up from the hotel for the one and a half hour drive north through the beautiful Andean countryside to the provincial town of Otavalo. The province of Imbabura is one of the most popular destinations in Ecuador: a magical land of lakes, snow-covered mountains and terraced farmlands. For centuries, regional markets have played an important role in Indian life, providing regular gathering places for trade and socializing. The colorful local markets of the Andean Valleys are famous for their fine handicrafts. The Otavalo Indian market dates back to pre-Inca times and is famous for its textiles woven on backstop and shuttle looms.

You will thoroughly enjoy this two-day excursion, with ample time to explore the fertile Valley of Otavalo, its landscapes of mountains, lakes and corn fields, see the artisans at work, visit Indian communities and its wonderful people.  First stop is Calderón, a small town where bread dough figurines are made in many shapes and sizes.  Continue along the valleys of Guayllabamba and Cayambe, with their dairy farms and flower plantations.  Visit the town of San Antonio de Ibarra, famous for the woodcarvings, the town of Cotacachi, an entire town dedicated to  selling fine leather products, and the town of Peguche where textiles are woven in old-fashioned shuttle looms. 

This overnighter is the most recommended trip to Otavalo, allowing guests to explore the fertile valley of Otavalo, enjoy its landscapes of mountains, lakes and corn fields, its craft centers, and wonderful people. Spend the night at the exquisite La Mirage Chateau Relais Resort & Spa.

La Mirage is a contemporary resort built on the grounds of a 200 year old Hacienda in the year 1985. Fragrant hummingbird-filled gardens, 23 large exquisitely furnished rooms and suites, impeccable service, and gourmet food complement the package that is the La Mirage experience.

It is the details of this resort that secure its position in the esteemed Relais & Chateaux Association, which stand for the 5 C's: Calm, Charm, Character, Courtesy and Cuisine. La Mirage has been the only member in Ecuador since 1997.

One of the unique rooms at La Mirage

The second day have an early start at the handicraft market of Otavalo, piled high with ponchos, woolen goods, tapestries, the original “Panama” hat, sweaters, Indian jewelry and many handicrafts. On the return trip, a stop is made for a coffee break at one of the haciendas of the Cayambe area before returning to the hotel in the early evening.

We will pick you up from the hotel and escort you to the airport for your flight home or to one of other luxury tours...