Day 1: December 21 Depart U.S. / Arrive Quito, Ecuador
Upon arrival in Ecuador, one of our local staff members will meet you at the airport and assist you with your luggage and your transfer to the hotel.
Overnight: Hilton Colon
Day 2: December 22 Quito – Otavalo
After breakfast we will head to Itchimbia Hill for a panoramic view of the old town.
From here we'll be able to appreciate almost the whole city! We'll head to Guachala to visit Mitad del Mundo, the center of the world, where you can straddle the equator.
Lunch is at the 100 year old Hacienda La Compaña.
This afternoon we continue on to our accommodations at Hacienda Cusin, a restored
16th-century estate surrounded by seven acres of beautiful gardens and fountain courtyards. Here we can get settled into our rooms, relax, and enjoy the picturesque surroundings for the remainder of the afternoon.
Overnight: Hacienda Cusin (B, L, D)
Day 3: December 23 Otavalo Hacienda Zuleta, Pen Pal meeting
Today we head to Hacienda Zuleta, where unexcavated pre-Incan burial mounds and step pyramids dot the surrounding fields. There is an optional hike to Zuleta along a dirt road through the beautiful countryside. Each bend in the road brings small villages, rolling fields, and snow-capped peaks in the distance. Zuleta is a working hacienda that still produces cheese and plants crops, as well as produces typical embroidery products. After a tour of the lovely house, we head to the Condor HUASI project, which has been created to reintroduce captive condors to the wild. Wild condors have been known to visit the grounds, and we may be lucky enough to see the largest flying bird on Earth in its natural surroundings.
After lunch, children will have the opportunity to meet their pen pals in the library of Zuleta village. Time permitting; the children will get to play a game of soccer. This afternoon we return to Hacienda Cusin for dinner and an optional bonfire.
Overnight: Hacienda Cusin (B, L, D)
Day 4: December 24 Otavalo Otavalo Market, Cuicocha Lake
We'll spend the morning at the famous Indian crafts market at Otavalo, the most important market in Ecuador and Latin America's second largest indigenous market. Many items are for sale here; Otavaleños are most famous for their weavings, and woolen goods include sweaters, blankets, gloves, and ponchos. Panama hats are also a good buy, as are jewelry and colorfully embroidered blouses and shirts. We'll have a chance to do some good-natured bargaining (it's expected) for some terrific souvenirs.
After the excitement of the market, we'll have a lunch at the beautiful Hacienda Pinsaqui. After lunch, we'll drive to nearby Cotacachi-Cayapas ecological reserve to visit Cuicocha Lake, an impressive landscape of deep blue waters surrounded by hills. We'll be able to enjoy views of several nearby volcanoes, including Imbabura, Cayambe, and Cotacachi. At the lake we have the option to go for a hike while learning about the orchids, hummingbirds, and other exotic birds of the region.
Overnight: Hacienda Cusin (B, L, D)
Days 5 – 8: December 25 – 28 Otavalo – Galapagos Islands
Fly west to the Galápagos and board the M/V Galapagos Explorer II for a first-class, four-night cruise through one of the true wonders of the natural world. Our cruise ship is 293 feet long and holds only 100 passengers, so families have plenty of room to spread out and can enjoy the journey without experiencing the motion of a smaller vessel. Experienced naturalists lead two shore expeditions per day to seek out wildlife and help our families learn about the fascinating natural history of these volcanic islands.
Island visits may include:
San Cristobal Island –
Some say these Islands are like zoos without the bars, and San Cristobal is a great place to get started. Look for land iguanas at Dragon Hill and marine life as you snorkel along the coastline, and if you're lucky, you'll see the rare Chatham mockingbird.
Espanola Island –
Its remote location helps make it the jewel of all wildlife viewing. On your walking adventures look for sea lions, iguanas, masked and blue-footed boobies, sea turtles and views of lava cliffs where sea water jets high in the air.
Santa Cruz & Rabida Islands –
See enormous tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station on the larger Santa Cruz Island, and look for pelicans, pink flamingos and pintail ducks in the shallow salt water lagoons on the red sand beaches of tiny Rabida Island. This is an ideal spot to swim with the sea lions, so don't forget your underwater cameras!
Overnights: M/V Galapagos Explorer II (B, L, D)
Day 9: December 29 Galápagos – Quito
This morning we disembark at Bachas Beach on Santa Crus Island, where we can view sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and go for one last swim. Return to the Explorer II, check out, and transfer to the airport for our flight back to Quito. Transfer to the Hilton, where we have a free afternoon for last minute shopping or a dip in the pool. Reconvene this evening for a farewell dinner and a small New Year's Eve celebration.
Overnight: Hilton Colon (B, L, D)
Day 10: December 30 Depart Quito / Arrive U.S
Travel back to the US.
