Day 1 : Arrival and welcome in Quito

Hours driving: 2 hours.
Elevation in Quito: 2,850 m / 9,350 ft

Arrive in Quito and be picked up at the airport by a driver who will take you to Go Quito, our hotel in the city.

Check in, relax in your room or use the heated pool and spa while you wait for our welcome drinks and dinner at the rooftop of the hotel.

Our welcome briefing will take place with panoramic views of Quito and the Andes.

We will then enjoy a wonderful globally-inspired Ecuadorian dinner at Somos, a highly acclaimed restaurant helmed by female chef Alejandra Espinoza. Here, we will taste our first Ecuadorian flavors and recipes and enjoy a creative welcome cocktail.

Meet your fellow travelers in this adventure and get a first introduction to the fabulous itinerary ahead.

Inclusions: Welcome reception and dinner with drinks.

Overnight at Go Quito Hotel 5*

This female owned luxury hotel is new, eco-friendly and beautifully designed to be gentle to the environment and fabulous for guests.

We will enjoy spacious rooms with clean lines and modern amenities and the many facilities that make this the perfect choice for our first two days in the capital.

All rooms have either city views or Andean views, large beds and eco-friendly amenities.

There is an indoor heated pool, a fantastic spa, a cafe, a shop selling artisanal Ecuadorian-made clothing and accessories and a great rooftop terrace and restaurant serving food from all over the country.

Day 2 : Otavalo women & rituals

Hours driving: 3 hours.
Elevation: 2,530 m / 8,300 feet

Today we’re heading off to Otavalo.

This laid-back town in Ecuador’s northern highlands is the proud homeland of the indigenous Kichwa culture.

Many residents here still wear traditional clothing and maintain deep-rooted customs.

It’s no surprise that Otavalo is home to one of South America’s most important traditional markets where indigenous people of the surrounding areas gather to trade anything from animals and handicrafts to fresh fruit and flowers.

Today, we’ll have the opportunity to talk with indigenous women from the Otavalena Community.

We will first meet with Ines, a midwife of the community who will share her story and experience birthing babies in the traditional way, and how this contrasts and coexists with modern medicine.

We will have lunch at the village comedor. This project was started by the local women to share their cuisine with visitors in a sustainable manner that brings income to the community.

We will enjoy a home cooked meal with views of the Andes and have the chance to meet the pet alpaca and llama. Beware, one is friendlier than the other but both meet the stereotype!

In the afternoon, we will participate in a spiritual retreat with a Kichwa curandera, or shaman.

By a holy river and waterfall, the group will exchange energies with the curandera and each other and burn, purify and cleanse our bodies and souls with palo santo incense, chanting and dancing.

The ritual will include blessings with holy water from a sacred spring.

We will return to Otavalo for an evening of free time. Enjoy a drink and dinner at the hotel’s rooftop bar or take a walk in town.

Inclusions: Breakfast and lunch, meeting with midwife & curandera and cleansing ritual. Transfers in minibus.

Overnight at Hotel Otavalo 4*

This new art hotel is housed in one of the oldest colonial buildings in the city center and has been fully renovated and preserved.

Rooms are set around a courtyard, and each is decorated differently but all share the exposed brick walls and high ceilings of the original building’s architecture.

The rooftop bar is a pleasant spot with frequent live music, and the ground level restaurant has incorporated modern glass elements to bring in light to the cellar-like atmosphere.

Take a walk around the hotel and look out for the many art pieces that are exhibited and for sale onsite here.

Day 3 : Otavalo market and cooking

Hours driving: 3 hours.
Elevation: in Otavalo – 2,530 m / 8,300 feet, in Quito – 2,850 m / 9,350 ft

We will wake up in Otavalo and enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

We will walk over to the famous Mercado de ponchos, one of Latin America’s largest indigenous market, a few streets away from our hotel, and browse all kinds of artisanal products, from fabrics and carpets to clothing, art, carvings and more.

The market started at the end of the 19th century but commercial exchanges have been taking place here since the 16th century when the indigenous population came here to trade.

We will be able to admire the many textiles and handicrafts and the attire of the various indigenous groups who congregate here. While the majority of the market is frequented by Otavalos, several other groups like the Kichwa, come here to sell their goods.

The market happens daily, but Saturdays are the best day to see it buzzing the most, as artisans from all over the country come on this day.

After an introduction to the market, we will have free time to browse and shop.

Afterwards, we will continue to a cooking class led by a local women chef to get to know Andean flavors in a culturally rich environment.

We’ll learn the traditional processes that go into preparing Ecuadorian meals and be introduced to local ingredients, all 100% organic and harvested in the local gardens.

You may have never had a traditional Ecuadorian meal before, or heard about many of the ingredients, so be prepared to be surprised at the spread and richness of Ecuadorian recipes.

After lunch, we will return to Quito and have the evening free for dinner or rest at our hotel.

Maybe use the indoor swimming pool or enjoy another rooftop meal.

Inclusions: Morning tour of the market, cooking class and lunch, transfers back to Quito in minibus.

Overnight at Go Quito 5*

Day 4 : Fly to El Coca & begin Amazon exploration

Flying time: 30min.

We will wake up early for breakfast and check out and start our journey to the Amazon with a domestic flight to El Coca, gateway to the rainforest.

The short half an hour flight will climb sharp over the Andes and descend equally fast to land at El Coca Airport.

Once in El Coca, the staff from the lodge will welcome us to the Amazon and we will wait for our Ok from the local authorities to start our adventure at Yasuní National Park.

We will first travel along the Napo River via motorized canoe for about 2 hours until we disembark and walk across to the smaller tributary of the Napo River on paddle canoes alongside our guides.

We will enjoy our eco-friendly packed lunch on the boats as we take it all in.

Our transfer is an adventure in itself and, along the majestic landscapes of the Amazon, we may already spot some wildlife on the trees, the water and the river shores.

Upon arrival at La Selva Lodge, the manager will be waiting to greet us with a refreshing juice, snacks, and a short briefing with general information on the location and the workings of this remote lodge.

Over the next few days, we will explore one of the most biologically diverse places in the world.

On the Equator, the Andes and Amazon biomes meet within the park, supporting thousands of unique species of mammals, plants, insects, reptiles, and amphibians.

Before we head out into this fascinating environment, our female expert guide will give us an introduction to the area so you can fully appreciate the uniqueness of the park.

Our first adventure will be a two-hour walk alongside our female naturalist guide and a local guide from the community, on the Matapalo Trail.

All our guided walks and canoe rides will be accompanied by a naturalist guide and a guide from the Kichwa community who is an expert in the area and an incredible animal tracker.

She will point out some of the region’s diverse residents, like towering mahogany trees, Eastern Ecuadorian squirrel monkeys scampering in the canopy, and tree frogs endemic to the area. Be sure to keep an eye out for strangler figs; they’re the trail’s namesake, after all.

Due to the time of day, there is soft natural light shining through the canopy, and diurnal and nocturnal animals are beginning their daily transitional activities.

After the hike, head back to your lodge to share sunset drinks and a well-deserved, gourmet, Ecuadorian 3-course dinner.

For those who are up for it, we can take a night canoe ride on the Garza Cocha lagoon, which is a great place to search for caymans, bats, owls, and night mammals, with the help of a spotlight the guides will use.

There are also great opportunities for stargazing if the night sky is clear!

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, packed lunch and dinner at the lodge. Unlimited water, snacks and hot drinks. Domestic flight Quito – El Coca, transfer in minibus in Quito, on motorised canoe and paddle canoe in the Amazon, guided evening walk.

Overnight at La Selva Eco Lodge & Retreat 5*

The only local and female owned lodge in Yasuni National Park is located right at the shores of Garza Cocha Lagoon.

The luxury lodge has been fully renovated with the aim of making it an eco-friendly accommodation in the heart of the Amazon rainforest that is respectful and responsible in such fragile eco-system.

The lodge is certified carbon-neutral and generates its own drinking water from a purification plant.

Each of the spacious rooms are housed in two-storey bamboo structures in the middle of nature and boast balconies and overhead fans.

The lodge has a fabulous spa surrounded by towering trees and wildlife, its own observation tower, an open air dining room and relaxation lounge with panoramic views over the lagoon and canopy, and a natural pool in the lagoon.

Our program includes all meals, unlimited water & hot drinks and snacks, 3-times daily yoga, the use of kayaks, piranha fishing and 3 daily excursions through the rainforest in the early morning, late afternoon and night on foot or on a paddle canoe.

All excursions will be accompanied by our female English speaking naturalist who is an expert in the Amazon, and a member of the indigenous community who is incredible at spotting wildlife among the thick rainforest.

The lodge provides rubber boots and thick raincoats, after all, we are in the rainforest and the trees generate 75% of the rain happening in the Amazon even in the dry season.

Day 5 : Observation tower, birding & wildlife tracking

Wake up before sunrise to the sound of the rainforest and share a yoga lesson on the deck, overlooking the lagoon.

Breakfast will be served at the lodge’s panoramic, open air restaurant and we will set off really early to avoid the heat of the day.

In the early morning, howler monkeys show us where their name comes from as they welcome the new day with echoing howling across the lagoon’s trees.

Today we will explore unique landscapes and have the chance to spot animals we probably haven’t seen before.

After breakfast, we will start with a hike to the observation tower from where we can see far into the rainforest from the canopy’s top and loom out for tropical birds.

This manmade tower stands 120 meters tall above the ground soaring to the tree line and is a great place from where to watch out for toucans, parrots and some mammals with the help of a sighting scope.

After the observation deck, we will continue with a hike through the forest to a lagoon called Mandi Cocha, keeping an eye out for tapir and other mammals.

At the lagoon, we will hop on a canoe to explore the blackwater-flooded forest.

Seasonally, freshwater from the rain floods the forest, creating a temporary world where trees rise out of the still water and animals, like the rare giant otter, visit looking for fish.

We will return to the lodge for lunch and free time to relax, enjoy the lagoon pool (which is fenced off from the piranha and cayman infested waters by a net), go kayaking, join a yoga class or simply take a siesta or read a book.

Since we are on the outskirts of the National Park, catch & release piranha fishing is also a fun option. These extremely fast fish will challenge you to a game of hide and seek as you try to protect your pieces of ham.

Optional: Book a treatment at the fabulous rainforest spa.

In the late afternoon, when the temperatures have dropped a bit, we will hike out to the nearby Garza Cocha Lagoon to search for animals around the lake.

We might spot groups of squirrel and capuchin monkeys in the trees or hear the shouts of howler monkeys reverberating off the water.

We will find plenty of birds in this area and might see colorful hoatzins, toucans, macaws, and other species.

We will return to the lodge as the sun sets, and get ready for another fabulous gourmet dinner at the open-air restaurant.

Once night falls, our adventure in the rainforest continues.

We will grab a flashlight and follow our guide on a night walk, where we will have the chance to find creatures that normally hide out during the day like praying mantises, tree frogs, snakes, and even nine-banded armadillos and kinkajous.

Or stay at the lodge and join a night time yoga class by the lagoon.

Inclusions: Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the lodge. Guided walks and canoe rides in the rainforest, lagoon and river. Unlimited water, snacks and hot drinks. Optional but included: Yoga, piranha fishing, kayaking.

Overnight at La Selva Eco-lodge & Retreat

Day 6 : Parrot lick, indigenous communities & wildlife tracking

Another day, another optional dawn yoga class to the tune of howling monkeys.

The day will start early again so we can get on the paddle canoe and the motorised canoe on the Napo River and head out to a parrot lick.

A short distance from the lodge is Ecuador’s most accessible parrot lick, an exposed clay riverbank where technicolored parakeets and parrots of several different species gather in the early morning.

In ideal conditions (sunny and dry) hundreds of parrots will perch on and eat the mineral rich soil, an important part of their diet.

Binoculars are essential to really capture the spectacular show of sound and color.

The day will continue to Providencia Community visit –

Our visit takes us to the Shipati Warmi project, an initiative run by and benefiting the women of the Providencia community of Yasuní.

Through an unobtrusive dialogue, we learn about their day to day lives; How they grow vegetables and fruits, how they dry clothes in the jungle and the challenges of getting to school.

We will also see what they eat and cook and try some traditional food.

This intimate, unique experience, will allow us to open a dialogue and learn more about the challenges of the Amazonian communities.

After the visit, we will return to the lodge for lunch and free time to try out any of the optional activities.

In the afternoon, we will follow the Coto Trail, a fantastic walk that goes from the lodge to the edge of the Garza Cocha Lake.

In the afternoon, the soft rays of sunlight make this walk an amazing experience and the perfect opportunity to enjoy of the beauty of this amazing forest.

Our naturalist guide will point out and explain all of the fascinating creatures that you come across, and our native guide will show us some of the medicinal plants that they have for thousands of years.

A canoe ride back to the lodge will provide us with the opportunity to see caymans, bats, and other nocturnal wildlife in and around the lake, giving this activity a fantastic ending.

Back at the lodge, the manager will brief us on the departure procedures the next day.

Our last dinner in the Amazon will be another gourmet experience and for those up to it, another optional yoga class or night excursion will be available.

Tonight we will go on a canoe ride on the lake to look out for caymans.

Under cover of darkness, we will take a canoe out onto the water, our way lit by glittering stars.

The eyes of the cayman glow ghoulishly red in the torchlight, as the amphibious creatures float along the swampy shallows.

Inclusions: Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the lodge. Guided walks and canoe rides in the rainforest, lagoon and river. Excursion to the parrot lick and the local community. Donation to he project. Unlimited water, snacks and hot drinks. Optional but included: Yoga, piranha fishing, kayaking.

Overnight at La Selva Eco-lodge & Retreat

Day 7 : Fly to Quito & tour historic center

Hours driving: 2 hours.
Elevation: 2,850 m / 9,350 ft.
Flying time: 30min.

We will wake up early to enjoy one last breakfast serenaded by the howler monkeys and head out on our paddle canoe first and motorised canoe after, to retrace our steps back to El Coca and then Quito, by plane.

Back in Quito, we will be transferred to the hotel and check in before heading out to discover colonial Quito, considered a World Heritage Site.

Quito is the country’s second largest city, despite being the capital, and is the highest capital in the world, standing all at 2,850m / 9,350ft, and oldest capital in Latin America, officially founded by the Spanish in 1534.

The city’s various neighbourhoods are nestled among the Andean Mountains, specifically on the slopes of Pichincha Volcano, giving it a privileged and stunning location surrounded by towering peaks and permanent mist.

We will enjoy a casual lunch in the city center and embark on a walking tour led by our female guide that will take us through the city’s colonial heritage and architecture.

The city center was the first to be listed as a World Heritage Site in 1978 along with Krakow in Poland, and is the largest and best preserved in all of Latin America.

Quito’s streets are dotted with historic buildings whose facades are painted in bright colors, and several churches, some of which are covered in gold leaf or extremely large and attached to monasteries.

On our exploration, we will also meet with female artisans and entrepreneurs, have some time to buy handicrafts and listen to their stories.

Learn about toquilla hats, also known as Panama hats, which come from Ecuador and not Panama (they were used by the workers in the Panama Canal hence the name), chocolate’s origins (Hint: the oldest chocolate remains have been found in Ecuador’s Amazon) and the many secret passages and viewpoints.

After the tour, we will return to the hotel

Inclusions: Breakfast at the lodge, lunch in the city center and dinner at the hotel. Domestic flight El Coca – Quito. Transfers by paddle canoe and motorised canoe in the Amazon, minibus transfers in Quito. Guided walking tour of Quito, entry tickets where required, and talk to female artisan.

Day 8 : Fly to The Galapagos & Bartholome Island

Flying time: 30min.
Activities: Swimming, island walk.

We will get up early and take our packed breakfast to the airport in Quito for our flight to the Galapagos Islands.

Most flights have a stopover in Guayaquil during which we won’t have to disembark, and arrive in the islands around 4 hours later.

Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, in Santa Cruz Island, settle your Galapagos National Park entrance fee (included) and undergo luggage inspection. Iguanas are commonly chilling around the air strip, ready to welcome us to their paradise.

Our Galapagos naturalist guide will be waiting for us at the arrivals area to help with the transfer to the landing dock via an airport shuttle. We will complete the journey to the boat on a zodiac, dodging eager sea lions who come say hi.

We will check in, get briefed on life onboard, and enjoy lunch as the boat sails to our first stop.

After lunch, we will get ready for our first excursion in The Galapagos: Bartholome Island.

We will jump on the dinghy and go for our first snorkel of the trip around Pinnacle Rock, a volcanic cone formed by magma expelled by an underwater volcano.

The sea cooled the hot lava and as it exploded from contact, the pieces formed together this huge rock of many, many layers of basalt.

The huge rock also has a beach where a small population of green sea turtles will nest during breeding season.

Galapagos penguins gather here and swimming can offer beautiful sights of colorful schools of fish and curious sea lions, as well as penguins.

We will be in the water for about an hour looking for penguins (they are very quick swimmers!), as well as tropical fish, rays, sharks, star fish, mantas and sea lions.

We will get back on the boat, enjoy snacks and drinks, get our wet suits off with the help of the crew, and change into clothes to go for a dinghy ride along the shore looking for penguins chilling on land.

We will disembark on Bartholome, which offers one of the most impressive landscapes in the entire Galapagos Archipelago.

Our sunset hike up the hill on the elevated boardwalks will provide stunning 360 degree views over the volcanic landscapes and the islands and islets around.

We will walk all the way up, stopping to admire rare vegetation, volcanic formations and lava tunnels. Our naturalist guide will explain how the Galapagos were formed, and how they have and continue to evolve, as well as what inspired Darwin’s thesis.

We will return to the boat to enjoy the rooftop jacuzzi and sunset, freshen up and meet for a talk with the naturalist about the wildlife sightings of the day and the program for the following day.

We will end the day with a gourmet 3-course dinner in the air conditioned dining room followed by optional drinks at the bar or star gazing from the top deck.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, buffet lunch and gourmet dinner onboard. All activities listed. Unlimited water, snacks and hot drinks. One alcoholic drink per person.

Day 9 : Genovesa Island

Sailing time: 7 hours overnight.
Activities: Kayaking, dinghy ride, snorkeling, island walks.

The boat will sail through the night to one of the least visited and most remote spots in The Galapagos, Genovesa Island.

We will wake up in front of El Barranco, Prince Philip’s Steps, on Genovesa Island.

In the morning, we will go for a walk on the beach and mangrove area around Darwin Bay, a coral sandy beach that is much younger than the ones on the other islands.

Darwin Bay used to be a shield volcano, now you can see where one of the sides of its caldera collapsed after hundreds of years of erosion.

This spot is known for the wide variety of birds that can be seen.

Over 20,000 red-footed boobies are estimated to call this island home within the trees and bushes of Genovesa Island and we will get the chance of getting pretty close to them as they seek shade in our own shadows.

We will also find blue-footed boobies, nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, finches, various shorebirds, rays, tropical fish species, marine iguanas, and sea lions who will be lazing on the beach, chilling in the shallow waters or even swimming with us in the sea.

During the low tie, we can observe the rarest gull in the world named the lava gull, there are approximately nine hundred individuals in all of the Galapagos Islands.

We will then have a bit of time to swim off the white sand beach and cool down before returning to the boat to get changed into our wet suits for a dinghy ride and 1-hour of snorkeling before lunch.

In the water, we can spot sea lions, manta rays and hammerhead sharks, besides tropical fish of all sorts.

Back on the boat, we will warm up with a hot towel and have a bit of time to enjoy the jacuzzi before lunch is served.

Lunch will be followed by a dry landing to climb up the natural stairway of Philip’s Steps, or El barranco in Spanish.

The rocky path up a cliff rewards guests with a remarkable view that is well worth the climb.

On land, the path passes through colonies of nazca and red-footed boobies, frigates birds, the famous Darwin finches, and Galapagos mockingbirds.

At the trail’s end, Wedgerumped storm petrels’ nest on the lava field where we look for well-camouflaged short-eared owls.

Back on the boat, you will have time to freshen up and enjoy the sunset before meeting the naturalist for the evening’s briefing and recap of wildlife sightings.

Dinner will be another gourmet feast in the air conditioned dining room followed by drinks at the bar or star gazing on the roof.

Inclusions: Onboard buffet breakfast and lunch, gourmet plated dinner. 1 alcoholic drink. Unlimited water, snacks and hot drinks. All activities listed. Overnight in your chosen cabin. Snorkeling and kayaking gear.

Day 10 : Santiago Island

Sailing time: 8 hours overnight.
Activities: Island walk, snorkeling, swimming.

Today we will wake up in Santiago Island.

In the morning, we will either enjoy an island walk at Espumilla Beach, an important breeding site for turtles, now that digging wild pigs are no longer an issue, or Buccaneer’s Cove, depending on the weather, the amount of mosquitoes and the wildlife sightings.

At Espumilla, the turtles return year after year to bury their eggs in the cinnamon-colored sand dunes and two months later (roughly from February to August) the eggs hatch.

The beach ridge hides a mangle with two lagoons on the backside.

A colony of American flamingos and aquatic birds used to be its main attraction, but after the climate phenomenon of El Niño, strong sedimentation altered the water environment, and now no longer provides their food.

Vegetation zones are very close by, providing great scenic contrasts.

During the climb up a hill, you will be rewarded with a beautiful view of the transitions from sea to beach and from mangrove to a dry palo santo forest.

At Buccaneers Cove, we will split the group into two and go for a dinghy or kayaking ride along the calm waters, then swap.

From the water level we will spot birds nesting on the ridges of the volcanic rock formations, sharks, whales and mantas.

We will return to the boat to get our snorkeling gear on for a swim at Buccaneers Cove, once a refuge for passing sailors and pirates.

The underwater formations provide an amazing home for the many different tropical species of fish in large schools that can be found here.

You can swim with mantas, rays, sharks, sea lions and so much more.

We will return to the boat and be welcomed with warm towels, snacks and drinks. Freshen up or rest for a bit before our buffet lunch.

In the afternoon we will explore Egas Port, on the west side of Santiago, where fresh water can be found.

Upon entering the Bay we will have the opportunity to see Buccaneer Cove, the Sugarloaf Cone, and the maroon beach of Puerto Egas. The latter is the place where we will have to disembark to start the walking visit.

The trail on this spot will take us through some tide pools along the coast where we can see marine iguanas, and coastal birds like the oystercatcher and pelicans to finish in the beautiful Fur Seal Grottos one of the few places where you will have the opportunity to observe Galapagos fur seals.

At the end of the trail, we can take a swim in the maroon beach before returning to the boat.

Before dinner, we will meet again with the naturalist to review the day’s sightings and discuss the program for the following day.

Dinner will again be a gourmet celebration at the dining room and you can enjoy after dinner drinks or star gazing before rest.

Inclusions: Onboard buffet breakfast and lunch, gourmet plated dinner. 1 alcoholic drink. Unlimited water, snacks and hot drinks. All activities listed. Overnight in your chosen cabin. Snorkeling gear.

Day 11 : North Seymour Island & Santa Cruz highlands

Sailing time: 1 hour.
Activities: Island walk, highland visit.

In the morning we will visit North Seymour Island on foot.

Named after English nobleman Lord Hugh Seymour, it was formed by uplifted submarine lava and it is home to a huge colony of about 2,500 land iguanas and large populations of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, and the biggest colonies of frigate birds.

We will walk along the path in this dry island and easily spot birds and iguanas among the palo santo trees.

After the walk, we will return to the boat and get into our wet suits for a 1-hour snorkeling excursion.

Here, we can swim with large pods of dolphins that are often found in the area, as well as hammerhead sharks and white tip sharks.

In the afternoon, we will make friends with the giant tortoises that make Santa Cruz their home.

We will disembark from the boat and take a bus to the island’s highlands.

Unlike the rest of the Galapagos islands we have visited, Santa Cruz has a higher, wetter and greener core that is almost permanently covered in clouds, giving it a tropical rainforest feel, cooler temperatures and the perfect environment for the giant Galapagos tortoises to thrive.

This is the best place in the Galapagos to see these gentle giants (reaching over 300 kg / 600 pounds!) casually grazing and resting in freshwater ponds.

This is because they abound in Santa Cruz and they have right of way.

You can see them crossing the main roads, chilling in the fields and generally showing you who’s boss. If you scare them, they’ll go inside their shells and not move, causing traffic to come to a stand still .

Santa Cruz’s central area is also home to a great diversity of birds rarely found in the lowlands, including finches (tree, woodpecker, and vegetarian finches), flycatchers, and several species of water birds.

Our exploration will begin in a lava tunnel, formed by the ancient volcanic explosions that created The Galapagos, which we will enter on foot.

We will then continue our visit of a large farm where Giant tortoises live happily.

Wander the property on foot and get up and close with these creatures for a selfie as you hear their stories and how they manage to survive so many years.

After the visit, we will return to the boat, freshen up and meet again for the naturalist’s debriefing.

Tonight will be our farewell dinner with the crew.

Inclusions: Breakfast, lunch and dinner onboard. Unlimited water, snacks and hot drinks. All activities listed. Overnight in your chosen cabin.

Day 12 : Mosquera Islet & Puerto Ayora

Hours sailing: 30min.
Activities: Dinghy ride.

This is our last morning onboard but we will still have time for one last sunrise excursion and the opportunity to see pods of dolphins.

Tides permitting, we will disembark on the sand bank of Mosquera Islet, a small lava cliff and sandbank which has one of the largest populations of sea lions. You can also observe several species of shorebirds.

There have been occasional reports at this site of Orcas (Orcinus orca) feeding on sea lions.

If the ride is too high, we can enjoy the islet and the amazing sunrise hues, from the zodiac. If we are lucky, large pods of dolphins could follow us and make our cruise farewell extra special.

We will return to the boat and enjoy breakfast before disembarking on the small zodiacs which will take us to Baltra Island for our bus and boat transfers back to Santa Cruz Island and Puerto Ayora, the capital.

We will check in to our hotels or store our bags, if rooms aren’t ready yet, and have free time to explore the town and do some shopping at the many stores in town.

Our local guide will provide an orientation into the small town center where our hotel is located.

You will have free time for lunch or to laze around the hotel’s pool.

We will meet again before sunset for a farewell drink and rooftop dinner from the hotel’s vantage point.

Inclusions: Breakfast onboard. Morning excursion, transfers from Baltra island to Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz, Darwin Center & Tortoise conservation project visit, and farewell dinner. Overnight in your chosen cabin.

Overnight at Ikala Hotel 4*

This local and female owned boutique hotel has all the comforts of a modern accommodation, balcony rooms and a privileged location in town.

Unlikely most small boutique BnBs in the center, Ikala offers facilities including a peaceful garden with pool to while away the heat of the day, and the only rooftop bar in Puerto Ayora from where to enjoy the sunset.

Walk out of the hotel into the main shopping area or relax by the pool. The hotel also has bicycles you can use to get around.

Days 13 : Flight back to Quito

Today we will enjoy breakfast in our hotel and take a bus transfer, followed by a boat and another bus ride to reach Baltra Island where the airport is.

Our flight to Quito will depart in the morning and we will arrive in the city (possibly on a flight via Guayaquil) where we will say our goodbyes.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, airport transfers by bus + boat and flight back to Quito.

This trip will be hosted by our Ecuadorian host for the mainland portion and by Solo Female Travelers co-founder, Mar Pages throughout.

Mar designs and curates all the itineraries at Solo Female Travelers, has been on this trip before, She will be with the group from beginning to end and take photos and videos of the group to share.

The mainland portion of this trip will be co-hosted by our Ecuadorian guide Ana, a graduate in Ecotourism Engineering and licensed National Tour Guide.

Since her university years, she has been motivated by nature conservation, participating as a volunteer in various environmental programs, which enriched her vision of biodiversity and responsible tourism.

She has been working as a national tour guide since 2016, collaborating with various lodges in the Amazon and different travel agencies, which has allowed her to diversify my experience in both the natural and cultural spheres. This work has given her the opportunity to share her love of nature, educate, and connect visitors with the environmental and cultural richness of her country.

Ana also has a keen interest in nature photography, a tool she uses to capture and convey the beauty of landscapes and wildlife.