Generation Exploration
Family Adventure:
Ecuador & the Islands of
the Galapagos
Just a quick flight from Miami lays a whole other world for your family to explore. Discover the beauty of Ecuador from its colonial history in Quito, to hiking, horseback riding and staying at a hacienda at the foot of Cotopaxi Volcano. Leave behind the Charles Darwin of the textbooks, as natural history comes alive for your family while walking in his footsteps on the enchanted isles of the Galapagos. Share close encounters with some of our planet’s coolest wildlife from Blue-footed Boobies, mysterious marine iguanas to swimming and snorkeling with friendly sea lions and petting the 600-pound tortoises that gave the islands their name.
Days 1/2 - Miami/Quito
Fly from Miami to Quito, where you are escorted to your hotel. Next day, tour Quito’s many Spanish colonial treasures and journey through the centuries during a visit to the Museum of the City of Quito. Embark on Quito’s aerial tram and glide up a volcano 13,300 feet f rom the valley below in a mere ten minutes. At the top, savor the spectacular scenery of the city below and the famed ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes.’ As the sun sets return to your hotel. GRAND HOTEL MERCURE ALAMEDA. (B/Day 2)
Days 3/4 - Chiva Express/Cotopaxi
All aboard the Chiva Express, a one-coach train much like a bus on tracks, decorated with rustic paintings by a local indigenous artist from the town of Tigua (Cotopaxi). Pass the patchworks of the Andean crops and remote huts to the imposing ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’ to the lush tropical coastal vegetation and wooden farmhouses on stilts. Disembark at El boliche, the entrance of Cotopaxi National Park with its snow-capped volcano rising a majestic 19,350 feet. Enjoy lunch with time to explore your surroundings on foot and indulge in an afternoon of horseback riding. Keep your eyes open for condors, deer, fox and hummingbirds. The next day visit the village of Tigua renowned for its indigenous artists’ traditional paintings on sheepskin. Continue to Zumbahua, a typical mountain market where llamas and riding horses are traded. Visit a school (season permitting) to see how Ecuadorian children are educated in the countryside. Your home for the next two nights is at one of Ecuador’s oldest and most beautiful haciendas near the slopes of Cotopaxi. HOSTERIA LA CIENEGA. (B,L,D Daily)
Day 5 - Quito
On your own, explore this morning before lunching at the Hacienda Hualilahua which dates back to 1718 and is still owned by the descendants of the founding family. Experience the excitement of a rodeo and the beauty of the manor house noted for its extensive collection of 16th and 17th century paintings. Return to Quito in the afternoon, where the remainder of the day is your own to explore the city. GRAND HOTEL MERCURE ALAMEDA. (B,L)
Day 6 - Quito/Galapagos: San Cristobal Island
Fly to San Cristobal Island, the first island Charles Darwin set foot upon in 1835 and board the M/V SANTA CRUZ. This 47-cabin, air-conditioned ship with Jacuzzi and library will provide much more comfort than Darwin’s voyage on the HMS Beagle to the Galapagos Islands. Each day, drop anchor and go ashore in a panga (small boat) accompanied by professional naturalists for close encounters with some of the world’s most unique wildlife. After a briefing on board, set sail for Stephen’s Bay to see a small sea lion colony accompanied by many seabirds including frigatebirds and Blue-footed Boobies, Darwin’s Finches and the endemic Chatham Mockingbird. Return to the ship for a welcome cocktail and dinner with the Captain. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Hood Island
Disembark at Gardner Bay, with its magnificent beach. Frequented by a colony of sea lions, it is also a major nesting site for marine turtles. As you hike on the western tip of the island, you’ll pass the only nesting sites in the Galapagos of the Waved Albatross, enormous birds with a six foot wingspan. After lunch on board, continue to Punta Suarez, one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago. everal types of reptiles, including the brilliantly colored marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard are unique to this island. (B,L,D)
Day 8 - Isabela & Fernandina Islands
This morning visit Isabela Island – the largest island in the Galapagos formed when six volcanoes’ lava met together. Look for giant tortoises and land iguanas on Urbina Bay where a volcanic uplifting in 1954 left unique marine skeletions on the lavascape. Cross the Bolivar Canal and disembark at Fernandina to see hundreds of marine iguanas bask in the sun along the rugged shoreline. Observe sea lion harems with resident bulls carefully guarding their territory. Flightless Cormorants build their nest on the point and Galapagos Hawks fly overhead. Fernandina Island was the site of a spectacular volcano eruption in the spring of 2005. (B,L,D)
Days 9/10/11 - Santa Cruz Island: Finch Bay
Disembark your cruise onto Baltra Island and continue to your next adventure. Tucked in a secluded bay at Punta Estrada, across from the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, lies the charming Finch Bay Eco-Lodge – named after the abundant Darwin Finches. Your home for the next three nights is just steps from the beach at a private seaside location, surrounded by mangroves. Here you may mountain bike in the highlands, walk, hike, horseback ride, scuba dive, snorkel, bird-watch and ocean kayak. A highlight of your visit will be several chances to make a difference by becoming involved in various service projects. One morning you may board small vessels, navigating along the shoreline of the islands, cleaning up the accumulated debris. Another project may include a hands-on experience at the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, with the giant tortoise breeding program and would give you a great opportunity to spend time with the long-lived 600-pound tortoises. FINCH BAY ECO-LODGE. (B Daily)
Day 12 - Baltra/Guayaquil
Transfer to Baltra Island and fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador’s port city. On a city tour, discover the heroes of Guayaquil’s independence, including Simon Bolivar – South America’s liberator – at his namesake park. Also called ‘the park of the iguanas,’ you will see the many iguanas that roam around and perch on the treetops. Visit the neo-gothic Metropolitan Cathedral, the bustling, open market of La Bahaia and Guayaquil’s Malecon 2000, a long waterfront pier which features history, culture and entertainment. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at your hotel. HILTON COLON GUAYAQUIL. (B,D)
Day 13 - Guayaquil/Miami
Bid Ecuador “adios” as you fly home. (B)
Your Journey Includes:
- Roundtrip air transportation from Miami, plus roundtrip air transportation to the Galapagos.
- Superior accommodations or similar.
- All meals as specified.
- 4-Day/3-Night cruise to the Galapagos Islands on the M/V SANTA CRUZ with all meals included. Professional naturalist provided aboard the ship. Accommodations are in double, air-conditioned cabins, outside with private facilities, based on choices available at time of booking.
- All applicable hotel taxes and gratuities for baggage handling.
- Local professional naturalist throughout.
- All entrance fees to places of interest visited and on sightseeing tours indicated in the itinerary, EXCEPT for the Galapagos Islands entrance fees, which are billed and payable prior to departure from the USA.
- Complimentary backpack, baggage tags and passport wallet.