A Perfect Luxury Combination

Welcome to the country of the 4 worlds: Highlands, Amazon, Galapagos Islands and Pacific Coast. Your private driver-guide will be waiting for you at airport: Welcome!

Quito is the capital and the largest city of Ecuador, and at an elevation of 2,850 meters (9,350 ft) above sea level, it is the second-highest official capital city in the world, after La Paz, and the one which is closest to the equator.

In 2008, the city was designated as the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations. Quito and Kraków (Poland), were among the first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO, in 1978. Overnight in the selected hotel.

Today, your private guide will pick you up at your hotel and take around the historic center of Quito.  The historic center of Quito has one of the largest, least altered and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas. Our guide will transfer you to our colonial past, narrow streets, old and historic buildings, and small workshops. This is a walking tour which allows you to catch with your camera the best of our colonial history; the architecture and surrounding landscapes will give you the best scenery.

Time to cook! Transfer to Altamira Restaurant – culinary experience -   for the beginning the Chef welcome you directly in the local market – Mercado Central – at 11H00 where you stop at various affiliated stations. He explains about the products and culinary traditions. You can take pictures and taste some endemic fruits. Once finish the local market tour (one hour approximately) we and the Chef return to Altamira Restaurant… a crystal box with an impressive view of Old city of Quito. The cooking class begins! You are invited to participate and to become a Chef: you have the possibility to manipulate food, peel, cut, season, mix, beat... During the class, the Chef is accompanying and guiding you, he gives explanations and details about the history of each dish and its origin.

Optional: A “Quiteña” evening will be waiting for you. At 17H30 your guide will pick up you and we will visit a brewery which produce more than 8 styles of craft beer inspired by the greatness of the gods of Olympus. Cheers!

After a good time in this bar, we will go to Restaurant for our welcome dinner. We will enjoy of modern Ecuadorian cuisine. Bon appetite! Return to your Hotel. (B/L/D).

Breakfast. Private Transfer Out with English speaking guide. Once arrive at Quito Airport our guide will assist you with your Check-In and Galapagos flight. Flight to the amazing Galapagos Islands. Baltra airport. Reception at the airport. Transfer in. Welcome on board Alya Catamaran. Lunch. After lunch we will visit HIGHLANDS OF SANTA CRUZ, where we will hike and encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat, a natural wonder… For this visit we recommend using sport shoes, long pants, raincoat, hat and sun block. Return to Alya. (B/L/D).

It is located on the north coast of Isabela Island between Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul Volcanoes. The main attractions at Punta Moreno are coastal lagoons amid black lava flows where there are several species of birds. It has a panoramic view of the three most active volcanoes in the Galapagos: The Sierra Negra, the Cerro Azul (Isabela Island) and La Cumbre (Fernandina Island). Lunch.

ELIZABETH BAY: This is one of the island’s breeding sites for penguins. Located on the west coast of Isabela, Elizabeth Point is a marine visitor site. Visit Red Mangrove Cove: Brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays and sea lions are often seen. Dinner. (B/L/D).

This place is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano between Elizabeth Bay and Tagus Cove. Wet landing. Trail length is around 3.20 Km; during this we can observe land iguanas, hawks, and tortoises. It is also possible to see red and blue lobsters. Lunch.

ESPINOZA POINT: Fernandina is the third biggest island in the Galapagos and has only one visiting site: Espinoza Point, famous for the large colonies of marine iguanas and the home of the flightless cormorant, the Galapagos penguin, snakes, and more. From Espinoza Point, we can admire the beauty of Fernandina Island and its volcano which last erupted in May of 2005. Fernandina is the only island that doesn’t have mammals and the open areas are extremely fragile. From January to June, the nesting period of the marine iguana, we take great care when walking. Dinner. (B/L/D).

It is located to the west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. While walking, we will find several inscriptions (names of pirates) dating back to the 1800’s. From here, we can see Darwin Lake, a saltwater lake with a depth of approximately 9 m. It contains no fish. It is very common to see a variety of bird species. Lunch.

VICENTE ROCA POINT: is comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola-mola (sunfish). Dinner.

The main attractions include Palo Santo Wood, the beach, and the stunning landscape; the beach is a very important site for tortoises because they use this place for nesting. Lunch. EGAS PORT: Here we find a beautiful black sand beach; to the south of the beach is the Pan de Azucar Volcano, whose volcanic deposits have contributed to the formation of the black sand beach. The crater of this volcano contains a saltwater lake that dries up during hot weather. Between 1928 and 1930, explorations to develop a salt mine were carried out, but it was decided that a mine was not feasible. The workers’ use of endemic woods also damaged the environment and the development was scrapped. Descent to the salt mine is not allowed. Dinner. (B/L/D).

This beautiful beach is located in the north of Santa Cruz Island; the beach is one km long. The site was named during WWII (World War II) when the American army left two barges on the beach. The early colonists couldn’t pronounce barges correctly, so they called the area “Bachas”. Transfer out. Return Flight to Quito. Meet with your guide and transfer to your hotel in Quito. (B)

The adventure begins at around 08:30 am at one of the main hotels in Quito, when you will be collected by Mashpi transportation for your journey to the northwest corner of the Metropolitan District of Quito The road passes along the western flank of the Andes next to the “Middle of the World” (“La Mitad del Mundo”) which marks the equatorial line. We then continue westwards, downhill, following the course of the Rio Blanco, watching as the vegetation changes with every significant drop in altitude. After passing the town of Nanegalito, we head northwest, along winding country roads, passing the archaeological site of Tulipe and various farming communities. We arrive at the Lodge at noon. Your time with us at Mashpi is your own to experience. With the help of our expedition staff, you can choose from any of the explorations on offer, always accompanied by a University-graduate naturalist guide and an experienced local guide – all at your own pace. On your arrival day, you will plan your activities with the team and receive a talk about Mashpi and all its wonders. After enjoying lunch and a rest, you’ll head out in the afternoon for your activity, perhaps an introductory walk through our magical forest along trails that wind around roots and trees, festooned with orchids, lianas and bromelidas. When darkness falls, a new troupe of creatures emerges: your guides will accompany you in search out tiny (and some transparent!) frogs, snakes, insects and even tarantulas during a Night Walk. The next day might begin at first light on the panoramic terrace, watching – and hearing – a menagerie of birds stirring around the Lodge. After breakfast, you could hike towards a waterfall, bathing in the tremendous crash of water, or perhaps head to the Hummingbird Garden. Another option is to discover the winged wonders of the Life Centre’s butterflies. After lunch, how about pedalling between two points of the forest around 200 m (655 ft) apart on the aerial Sky Bike, followed by a climb up the Observation Tower to take in the Reserve in its entirety and watch the sun go down behind the clouds… For the evening, we have prepared a series of different lectures such as the “Secret Wildlife of Mashpi: The Camera Trap Project,” “The Choco: A Biological Hotspot” about the formation and diversity of the Chocó, or about our scientific research projects. The lectures will be given by one of our naturalists or our resident biologist at 7:30 p.m. You might want to save the best to last, on your last morning: a hike through the forest followed by gliding above and through the forest canopy aboard our amazing and unique Dragonfly aerial cable car… A truly incredible experience. Of course, you could also explore more forest trails, head to a different waterfall or find a nook to let the whole experience sink in.

We return to the hotel for check out at 11:00 a.m. Our transfer leaves Mashpi Lodge at 11:30 a.m. During your trip back to Quito, you’ll get to enjoy a meal before arriving to your hotel (B/L).

Breakfast and Transfer Out. See you soon and we hope you visit us again! End of services.

• This itinerary is subject to change without notice; due to seasonal changes, weather conditions, Government or Galapagos National Park regulations.
• Local Air Tickets, Galapagos National Park fee and Ingala Transit Card are subject to change because they are not under Nomadic control. They are managed by airline and Government authorities.
• Rate is subject to change according with hotel/room, lodge, cruise/cabin available/selected. Programs are subject to Payment Policies, & Terms and Conditions of cruise / lodge selected; they were informed to you before confirming the program. Rate is subject to change according availability and Taxes. Christmas and New Year Departures applies surcharge.