Family Encounters at the Middle of the World - Galapagos & Ecuador Deluxe

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Price from:
7,432.00 US$
per person

A unique opportunity for Family travel, this 15-days special program has been carefully tailored to provide families with a fascinating voyage of discovery, exploration and fun. Special activities are organized for the enjoyment of kids and youngsters, as well as for the adults, some together, some separately. The venues for this outstanding trip are four of Ecuador’s tourism jewels: the historic capital city of Quito; the Middle of the World; the mighty Amazon Rainforest and the unique Galapagos Islands.

Activities:  City Tours; Nature Walks; Bird watching; Volcano watching; River and Lake Boating; Sea Kayaking; Snorkeling; Whale watching, (seasonal); Scuba Diving, (on request, by special arrangements and extra cost).

Product themes:  Culture and History; Nature and Wildlife; Expedition Cruises; Landscapes and Scenery; Especially Crafted for Families. However, couples and small parties are also welcome. 

Locations: Quito, Amazon rainforest and Galapagos Islands (Ecuador).

Day by Day Itinerary Summary

Day 1 Saturday:

• Arrival to Quito. A private transfer brings us to the luxurious Swissotel.

Day 2 Sunday:

• Private city tour of Quito plus the Equator, including lunch. Overnight at the Swissotel.

Day 3 Monday:

• Transfer to the airport for the short flight to Puerto Francisco de Orellana.  We are transferred to the river port, to board the boats which take us down the immense Napo River, observing the dense rainforest along its shores. 
  
• We arrive at Sacha Lodge, settle in and get briefed about the activities, safety and conservation regulations, before starting our unique exploration of the area.

Day 4 Tuesday: 

• Exploring the Amazon Rainforest from Sacha Lodge.

Day 5 Wednesday: 

• Exploring the Amazon Rainforest from Sacha Lodge.

Day 6 Thursday:

• Transfer back from Sacha Lodge to the airport for the return flight to Quito. 
  
• On arrival, escorted transfer to the Swissotel.

Day 7 Friday:

• Transfer from the Hotel to Quito’s Airport for the flight to Galapagos.
  
• Upon arrival, reception and transfer to the Yacht La Pinta.
  
• The afternoon features a first visit to one of to the islands **.

Day 8 Saturday:

• Exploring the Galapagos Islands. Yacht La Pinta.

Day 9 Sunday:

• Exploring the Galapagos Islands. Yacht La Pinta.

Day 10 Monday:

• Exploring the Galapagos Islands.  Yacht La Pinta.

Day 11 Tuesday:

• Exploring the Galapagos Islands.  Yacht La Pinta.

Day 12 Wednesday:

• Exploring the Galapagos Islands.  Yacht La Pinta.

Day 13 Thursday:

• Exploring the Galapagos Islands.  Yacht La Pinta.

Day 14 Friday:

• Transfer for flight back to Quito.
  
• Transfer to the Swissotel for overnight.

Day 15 Saturday:

• Transfer from Hotel to Quito’s Airport for departure flight.

** Please inquire for detailed itinerary and specific Island visits in Galapagos (depends on departure dates)

Tour Highlights

Quito City: World Heritage Site and best preserved colonial city in South America.

Middle of the World: Earth’s Latitude 0º 0º 0º.

Galapagos Islands: For many, the most unique natural environment in the world.

Amazon Rainforest: One of the Earth’s “hot spots” of biodiversity

Yacht La Pinta: The most exclusive and luxurious yacht sailing in the Galapagos.

Sacha Lodge:  One of the most exclusive facilities in the Amazon Region of Ecuador.

Tour Summary

The Tour begins with a full day, exploring and discovering the fabulous architecture and colonial features of Quito, capital of Ecuador and the first city to be declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 1978. Stunning churches, convents, plazas and monuments, along with the narrow streets, lined with colonial houses and balconies gave Quito the well-deserved title of best preserved colonial city of South America. The city is located amidst an Andean valley, surrounded by spectacular views of volcanoes and snow-covered peaks.  The city’s irregular topography provides superb natural observatories, which allow for stunning sights and scenes of the city and its imposing Andean surroundings.

Less than 30 minutes from Quito’s centre, stands the Equator Line, popularly known as the “Middle of the World”; the place where our planet brings together the South and North Hemispheres.  Here we will stand with one foot on each Hemisphere, explore the large Equatorial Monument with its Ethnic Museum and the surrounding plaza teeming with small restaurants and souvenir shops.  Lunch is featured at one of the area’s fine restaurants.

The following three days are dedicated to explore the amazing world of the Amazon Rainforest.  A short flight brings us to the heart of Ecuador’s Amazon Region and upon arrival, a scenic two-hour boar ride along the mythical Napo River, takes us to Sacha Lodge, our comfortable and charming home base for a relaxed yet thrilling adventure which includes hikes along jungle trails, paddling on dugout canoes at lagoons and waterways; observation of fascinating birds and a host of animal and plant species, in one of the planet’s most extraordinary “hot spots” of biodiversity; guided tours with native and bilingual naturalist guides who will enhance the voyage with their knowledge and enthusiasm, providing guests with intense learning about the exuberant nature and wildlife of the rainforest and its different habitats, as well as about the native cultures which are the millenary inhabitants of the zone.

The last segment of the voyage is dedicated to a full week of discovery and uniqueness in the magic world of the famous Galapagos Islands, Darwin’s land of evolution, a real living laboratory of nature. The Islands, located 600 miles from the coast of Ecuador, to whom they belong, are considered the most unique natural environment in the world, with animal and plant species found nowhere else on earth.  For scientists, biologists, naturalists and nature lovers, the islands are an undisputed “must see”.  Because of their uniqueness, UNESCO declared the Galapagos as the first “World Natural Heritage Site” in 1979.  The days in the islands feature encounters with centenary giant tortoises; marine iguanas; blue-footed or red-footed boobies; flamingos, penguins; flightless cormorants, frolicking sea lions, the famous Darwin’s finches and an equally awesome underwater life on the Archipelago’s Marine Reserve, also declared as a World Natural Heritage Site.

Include

• Accommodations in Quito at Swissotel
• Swiss Executive rooms
• All breakfasts
• City tour of Quito and Equator Line, including lunch; all transfers in Ecuador as described on itinerary
• All transfers in Amazonia and Galapagos
• Accommodations at Standard rooms in Sacha Lodge and suites on board the Yacht La Pinta
• All meals and guided tours, as per the respective programs, in Galapagos and Amazonia.

Not Include

• International air tickets
• Air transportation to/from Amazonia
• Air transportation to/from Galapagos
• Galapagos National Park Entrance fee
• Transit control card for Galapagos
• International departure tax
• Meals not specified in the program (Please note that full board applies for Amazonia and Galapagos)
• Bar expenses (drinks and soft drinks)
• Parrot lick tax in Amazonia (USD 25.00 per person)
• Wet suits; Internet; telephone communications
• Gratuities, gifts and other items of personal nature

Notes

• Operational Days: Departures: Saturdays; operates all year.
• Length: 15 Days and 14 Nights.
• Minium Age: 6 years.   
• Level of Difficulty: Moderate.
• Minimum for program operation: 2 passengers 
• Special Surcharge applies for departures on Christmas and New Year’s Eve

Travel Facts

For travel to Ecuador, including the Galapagos Islands, visitors need a valid passport, extending its life for at least six months beyond the intended stay. Nationals of the United States, Canada and several European, Latin American and other countries, do not require visas.  For detailed information, please ask us or contact the nearest Consulate or Embassy of Ecuador. No Vaccines are required for the locations included on this special program.  However, it is recommended to check for updates a few weeks prior to departure.

For more detailed information about travel facts for Ecuador, please check the “Country Information” section about Ecuador on our website, or ask us.  The Galapagos has a separate “Special Information” section; worth checking up thoroughly.

Best season for travel:

Year around.   Warmest months in Galapagos and in Amazonia are normally January to March, while the cooler months are July to September. In the Amazon region you always expect tropical rain showers. However, December to May usually have less rain.  Quito has a year-round spring-time type of climate; with rain showers in the afternoons mainly in October, November and between February and May.  June to September is normally dry and very sunny.  Evenings and early mornings are always cool while the late morning and noon hours tend to be warmer, reaching the mid-sixties’ degrees F.

Clothing; What to bring and what to wear:

Due to many similarities in the climatic conditions, dress and clothing for Galapagos and the Amazon Region are quite similar, with a few specific variations. Attire in general ranges from informal to very informal.  On board the yacht in Galapagos, as well as on the jungle lodge, the only basic dress-code requirement is not to enter the indoor dining rooms barefooted or in swimming costumes.  Essential elements to bring are good walking shoes such as sneakers with firm soles; shorts for the day outings in Galapagos but long pants are recommended in the rainforest for better insect protection; long and short-sleeved lightweight shirts and T-shirts, preferably of cotton fabrics; long pants for the evenings; a cap or wide-brimmed hat; bathing suits and a light sweater and/or windbreaker for the evenings, especially in the cooler months (see above for climate).  Highly recommended items include sunscreen and high solar protection; insect repellant; sunglasses, personal medicines; photography and/or video equipment.

A Suggested packing linst:

• Shorts (Bermudas or other)
• Long and short-sleeved shirts, T-shirts
• Sweater and/or jacket (For Quito and the highlands)
• Long pants for outdoor exploration and slightly “smarter” pants for evenings
• Good walking shoes         
• Sneakers with rubber soles    
• Tevas or sport sandals with a Velcro strap for wading ashore
• Windbreaker jacket 
• Rain poncho or similar
• Small pair of binoculars
• Refillable bottle for water
• Wide brimmed hat, bandana    
• Bathing suits            
• Suntan Lotion or strong sunscreen
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunglasses
• Waterproof backpack (light and small for camera &/or other personal items)
• Camera 
• Seasickness medication
• Personal medications

Please check with us for further details about climate and clothing suggestions for Quito and some additional tips for the Amazon rainforest.

Note:  Sacha Lodge provide raincoats and rubber boots for guests without extra cost.

For Safety, Dietary and Medical Restrictions and facilities and other travel facts, please consult the relevant section of Ecuador’s Country Information section on our website, or inquire us.  

Special amenities included:

Young Pirates Program in Galapagos: This program is provided for children between 7 and 12 years of age and features a fun and exciting way to absorb the uniqueness of Galapagos, kid’s style.  The program includes specially designed menus and differentiated meal times; “Special Moments” and activities such as coloring; Ecua-memory cards; maps and animal puzzles; treasure hunts; Galapagos trivia; stargazing; quizzes; handicraft learning and a host of other activities all planed and fully supervised by trained personnel and our naturalist guides.

Hotels & Accommodations

Swissotel Quito:

Located in one of Quito’s most distinguished residential sectors and near one of its main financial centers, the Luxurious Swissotel is also in the heart of Quito’s finest restaurant district, with dozens of them nearby. A favorite for high level foreign delegations, business people and celebrities; this five-star Hotel offers 270 oversized rooms, fully equipped to the highest international standards. Most of them offer great views of the city and its guardian volcano, Mount Pichincha or other surrounding volcanoes and valleys. With five theme restaurants, a top-class spa and the city’s largest meeting and conventions’ facilities; this will be our home during the stays on the spectacular capital city of Ecuador.

Sacha Lodge, Amazon Rainforest:

The Lodge was carefully designed to offer comfort to the traveler while preserving the natural environment. The well equipped 26 passenger cabins-rooms feature single, double or triple (on request) accommodations and include a private bathroom with a flushing toilet and hot shower. The cabins sport thatched-roofs and private shaded terraces, all built with traditional materials which blend in nicely with the natural surroundings.  All cabins are screened against insects and have ceiling fans.

Yacht La Pinta, Galapagos:

The luxury yacht is one of the newest of its kind operating in the Galapagos Islands. The Upper Deck hosts the 24 beautifully decorated Luxury Staterooms, which feature either double or twin-beds, with ocean view, private bathroom and shower facilities; individually controlled AC, fine linens and duvets. Also featured are in-room safe deposit boxes, telephone with direct international dialing and multi-channel sound system for closed-circuit music and connections for personal iPods, MP3 and MP4. The average size of the double cabins is 52.8 square feet.