Ecuador: Galapagos – fascinating wildlife

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FACES OF ECUADOR, HIKING IN GALÁPAGOS

  • Andean highlands and mountain giants
  • Encounter with country and people
  • Day hikes, without camping nights
  • Galápagos Islands – a unique experience! Overnight in hotels on the islands

This trip would like to bring you closer to the diversity or the many faces of Ecuador. You visit the north of Quito, hike on two beautiful crater lakes, get to know the pretty villages, landscapes and one or the other of the handicrafts. The Avenue of the Volcanoes takes you to the foot of Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world. The Indian market is colourful, lively and interesting, where the Indians from the surrounding valleys stock up on food and goods for the coming week or sell their products. From Riobamba we continue to the south of Ecuador, to Cuenca. Cuenca, the third largest city in Ecuador, has magnificent colonial buildings. The ruins of Ingapirca are the most important evidence of the Inca period in Ecuador. Guayaquil, a large port city,

Galápagos – discover by hiking!
Animals and flora are fascinating and unique. Cut off from external influences, forms of life have developed on this group of islands that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Difficulty Condition

Travel Program

Arrival in Quito. Transfer to the hotel.

Overnight
Hotel

Flight;
Arrival to Ecuador.

Driving
1 hour aprox.

Hiking
1 hour aprox

Meals
-/-/-

Morning guided tour of Quito’s old town. The historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Free afternoon.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
3 hours aprox.

Hiking
3 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

You travel north, traverse the equator line, the middle of the world, visit Cayambe and Peguche. One of the largest markets takes place in Otavalo on Saturdays, where handicrafts, beautiful weaving and much more can be seen. As you continue through small villages at the foot of the imposing Imbabura volcano, you will get some insight into the life of the farmers. San Antonio de Ibarra is known for its wood carvings.


Overnight
Hotel

Driving
3 hours aprox.

Hiking
3 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

In the morning you hike about 3 hours on the ‘Afro-Ecuadorean walk’, which leads through the valleys of this rather dry region. The area is framed by the Andes mountains. Relax in the Chachimbiro hot springs before returning to your accommodation later in the afternoon.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
4 hours aprox.

Hiking
5 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Another hike (about 2 hours), this time at the beautiful Cuicocha Lagoon, before continuing south of Quito. The journey leads through the beautiful landscape of the highlands via Cayambe and Sangolquí to Machachi. There are several volcanoes in this region, such as Sincholagua 4893 m, Rumiñahui 4712 m, Pasochoa 4200 m, Corazón 4788 m, Illiniza 5263 m and a little further away Cotopaxi 5897 m, at the foot of which you will hike the next day.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
4 hours aprox.

Hiking
5 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

In the morning drive to the Cotopaxi National Park, where you will hike for around 3 hours and get to know the flora. If you feel like it, you can climb up to the 4800 m high Cotopaxi hut, the Refugio José Rivas. In the afternoon you travel to Riobamba via Latacunga and Ambato.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
4 hours aprox.

Hiking
5 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

On the onward journey from Riobamba to Cuenca, the landscape changes. The route leads via the Panamericana to Alausi, then on to Ingapirca. where you will visit the Inca ruins before reaching the pretty colonial city of Cuenca in the evening.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
4 hours aprox.

Hiking
5 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Today you will discover the city of Cuenca, the old town, the promenade on the banks of the Rio Tomebamba and the flower market on the guided tour. Free afternoon.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
7 hours aprox.

Hiking
5 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

In the morning we go to the Cajas National Park, which impresses with its lovely landscape, small lakes and the hilly Andean landscape. The hike along the hiking trails takes about 2 hours. You then leave the highlands, you travel through several climate and vegetation zones down to sea level, to the port city of Guayaquil. A fascinating and varied route. In Guayaquil, before dinner, there is still some time for a guided stroll through Las Peñas, the colonial part of the city, and along the boulevard El Malecon.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
7 hours aprox.

Hiking
5 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

A new adventure, a unique experience awaits – staying in Galápagos! Morning flight to Galápagos. Upon arrival, transfer from Baltra Airport to Santa Cruz. In the afternoon visit the Santa Cruz Highlands, the Giant Tortoise Sanctuary and the Charles Darwin Research Station. You will stay overnight in Puerto Ayora, where about half of the 15,000 inhabitants of the Galápagos archipelago live.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
4 hours aprox.

Hiking
5 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Today you take a day trip by boat and get to know the islands of North Seymour, Plazas and Bartolomé. In the afternoon return to Puerto Ayora. On the islands you can admire countless animals up close, such as sea lions, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, sea and land iguanas, turtles… just to name a few. Together with the unique flora, fascinating landscape and interesting history, the Galápagos Islands are a unique experience.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
4 hours aprox.

Hiking
5 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Morning hike to Tortuga Bay, considered one of the most beautiful bays in Galápagos. You will see gulls, pelicans and marine iguanas, among others. In the early afternoon, the scheduled speedboat will take you to Isabela Island, the largest island in the Galápagos. The cooled lava masses from active shield volcanoes cover the island. Isabela is one of the few inhabited islands.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
4 hours aprox.

Hiking
5 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

First we drive to El Cura to the park entrance of the Sierra Negra volcano. You walk across the highlands to the rim of the crater, within the crater lies the volcano de Azufre (sulphur volcano). The colorful landscape and the rising clouds of smoke are impressive. In the afternoon return to Puerto Villamil. Walking time approx. 5 hours.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
4 hours aprox.

Hiking
5 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

We go to the Wall of Tears (by car or by bike). There used to be a prison camp there. The “Wall of Tears”, a 150 m long wall made of lava blocks, which was built by the convicts, reminds us of this time. Then, in Tintoreras, a special spot on Isabela, you’ll spot penguins, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, sea lions, and maybe you’ll spot sharks in the waters too.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
4 hours aprox.

Hiking
5 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Early morning speedboat ride back to Santa Cruz. Upon arrival in Puerto Ayora, transfer to Baltra Airport and flight back to Guayaquil. Shuttle bus transfer to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
4 hours aprox.

Hiking
3 hours aprox

Meals
B/-/-

Shuttle bus transfer from hotel to airport.
Return flight to Europe

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
1 hour aprox.

Hiking
1 hour aprox

Flight
Go back home by plane.

Meals
B/-/-

Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner

What's Included

Services included in the prices:

  • Tour guide according to the advertisement
  • local English, partly German speaking guides
  • Domestic flight Guayaquil – Galápagos – Guayaquil
  • Transfers and overland trips on the mainland and Galápagos
  • Boat trips in Galápagos
  • TCT Card/Migration Card for Galapagos
  • Taxes for Isabela Island
  • 15 nights in hotels and hosterias in double rooms
  • Meals as per program
    F Breakfast
    M Lunch
    A Dinner
  • Activities, excursions and hikes
  • Visits incl. entrance fees
  • Permits Cotopaxi, Ingapirca and Cajas National Parks

Not included:

  • Flight to Quito/from Guayaquil
  • Galápagos National Park fee USD 100.- and port taxes (to be paid upon arrival)
  • meals not listed
  • insurances
  • tips
  • personal expenses

    We would be happy to book flights to Ecuador for you. Price on request.

What to Bring

What to Bring or take fo Day Hiking and Technical Equipment for Climbing Expedition

This equipment list is compiled to provide you with adequate help when choosing your equipment for a climb. Most items are required. Please consider each of them and make sure you understand the function and exclusive use for mountaineering, before substituting or removing items from this list. Please note that this list has been carefully annotated by the organizer. Remember that mountaineering, climbing or mountain expeditions tours is an extreme, risky sport, therefore everything related to it is of great attention.

Hiking backpack for hiking 50 to 60 liters

Light gloves for hiking or (Optional Mittens waterproof)

Medium weight socks

Sleeping bag (-15º to 20ºC)

Small daypack for one day hiking 30 liters

Weather-appropriate clothing (think moisture-wicking and layers)

Hiking boots or shoes

Medium weight parka with fibber fill or down

Rain poncho (or rain gear)

Long-sleeved shirts

Fleece or Wool sweater and/or trousers

Lightweight pants

Cotton short-sleeved shirts or t-shirts

Water bottle for hiking or trekking

Strong waterproof duffel bag

Flashlight with spare batteries and bulb

Towel for personal hygiene each participantFirst-aid kit

Regular and long underwear

Knife or multi-tool

Light cap and wool hat

Sunglasses with UV certification, Sun block, lips

The rest of the list Essentials as appropriate for your hike

Grooming and personal hygiene kit

One Hiking Buff per person

3 Locking carabiners, we recommended per person

We recommend 2 ice screws for each client

1 Daisy Chain (Life Line) per each person

2 Ice axes (per person) technical, we recommended GRIVEL company

1 ATC descender (Rappel), this is very necessary for technical mountains

2 Cords for prusik, very important (Size Cord 6 mm x 10 m. long)

Gloves(Good gloves) for expeditions over 6000meters

Harness for climbing

Sleeping pad / Mattress, we recommend with air or inflatable mattress

Crampons, we recommended GRIVEL company

Walking sticks – Trekking Poles (optional), a pair per person, we recommended GRIVEL company

Down Jacket for expedition

Very important to have personal clothing such as pants and jacket with GOROTEX certification

First aid kit, for high mountains, because we as guides cannot medicate clients

Backpack Capacity 60 liters, it is better to have a bigger backpack to go comfortably to the high camps, because here you have to carry all your personal things

Gaiters or Leggings, now modern boots already have built-in (Incorporated), but better to have an extra pair

Dressing appropriately for the mountains can make the difference between a pleasant trip and a really uncomfortable one. Clothing must provide the right degree of temperature, perspiration and be well ventilated. Preferably cotton clothing should be avoided, as in humid conditions they absorb body heat.

In general, the weather conditions in in the Andes of South America can vary from day to day and even throughout the day. Therefore, clothing must be versatile.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have regarding the necessary equipment.

Prices & Dates

FROM/TO

PRICE (USD)

TRAVEL STATUS

01 JUN 2024 / 16 JUN 2024

$ 3950

🟢

Join Now

FROM/TO

PRICE (USD)

TRAVEL STATUS

01 JUL 2024 / 16 JUL 2024

$ 3950

🟢

Join Now

FROM/TO

PRICE (USD)

TRAVEL STATUS

01 AUG 2024 / 16 AUG 2024

$ 3950

🟢

Join Now

FROM/TO

PRICE (USD)

TRAVEL STATUS

01 SEP 2024 / 16 SEP 2024

$ 3950

🟢

Join Now

Please note: Insurance for emergency evacuation is required for this trip. Call for more details.

» Additional dates available upon request
» Rates may vary from July 26th to 31th for the national holidays

Prices (per person):

1 PAX2 PAX4 PAX6 PAX8 PAX10 PAX12 PAX14 PAX
7900 USD3950 USD3850 USD3750 USD3650 USD3550 USD3450 USD3350 USD

Deposit for reservations: — USD (– EUR) ✓ Full payment 40 days before. No refund if you cancel less than 30 days!

Places: 🟢 *Available
Trip-code: Number ►ECU-
Duration: 16 days
Participants: Minimal: 4 Maximal: 12
Members: We don’t have an open group to join – We can open a new group – Contact us!
Country / Location: Ecuador
Mountain Guide: Eric Albino Lliuya
Other dates / additional info: Contact us!

3% early bird discount when booking 6 months prior to departure 2024

Legend Booking-information:
EZZ Single room supplement
🟢 On this trip, places are still available.
🟡 On this trip, only a few places left.
🔴 This trip is sold out / closed.

Eric Raul Albino Lliuya

Expert guide certified by AGOMP
General Sales Manager of Peru Expeditions

Hans Honold | Certified Mountain and Ski Guide

For a trip with a Professional Certified Mountain Guide from abroad with your own language that you speak, please request us to get in touch. We have guides working for our company from all over the world who are members of IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA Certified Guides.

It is very important to have accident coverage for trekking and climbing mountains, more if you go a technical mountains over 6 thousand meters, we oblige and recommend buying travel insurance with our partner Global Rescue, you get the peace of mind that the finest medical, security evacuation, field rescue, intelligence and telehealth.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What our travelers or clients always ask questions before joining our trips, tours & expeditions, read all the information provided here.

Suggested FAQs

Every day we have active walks around approximately 4, to 5 sometimes 6 hours of walking, everything is according to your pace and physical condition of each person, in each of our travel programs you will find more detailed information, and if If you need more information about each day of the travel program, we can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify your doubts or questions, for this please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

For our mountain climbing trips: If they are easily accessible mountains: For easy-climb mountains, well, you don’t need much experience, but if you already want to climb mountains above 6,000 meters and the conditions become more difficult, we recommend if you already want to go through mountains above 6,000 meters, have a basic or intermediate course for a good preparation. It is very important to be physically, technically and psychologically prepared.

Regarding the preparation of children: Everything will depend on which mountain you want to climb with your children, once you are clear on which of our tours or mountains you want to go with your children, we can give you some advice or see how to prepare them before going with they.

Regarding older people: It all depends on the condition of experience and how well the person is in health, on many occasions older people are the best to walk in the mountains because they have more experience, so it is always good to ask and find out about their experience of older participant. If you have any other questions, please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

To do long-distance hiking you need to at least train or do some tours such as visiting lagoons to get the experience and feel comfortable with what you do, it is always good before doing a long-distance hiking tour to test yourself so as not to be with the problems of altitude sickness during the trekking, and if you travel with children it is good to first train them before taking them, if they are accompanied by an adult of legal age, they must do a good acclimatization before going on the long-distance tour or with high altitude camps If you want to know or learn more advice, we can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify your doubts. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

The preparation is according to what type and what technical level you want to go and climb a trek or mountain, the preparation will always gain experience little by little.

For this type of demanding or technical climbing sports, it is recommended to do some summits above 5 thousand meters beforehand and have good knowledge of high mountain technical equipment such as the use of technical ice axes, ice screws, correct use of crampons, and of course all the technical material. For more information, we can schedule an appointment to be able to explain in more detail everything about the mountain equipment and the preparations prior to joining our outings. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

For the pick-ups of each trip, depending on the place or the trip that you are going to make with us, the meeting point is always at our office, in one of our trips we pick you up where you are staying or staying, or in some cases a A representative of our company will pick you up and then ship you to your transport to continue with your destination of the tour or trip you have booked with us. If you wish to request more information, do not hesitate to contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

In all our trekking or mountaineering trips we do not include personal equipment in our prices, so you have to have your own equipment: Personal equipment (such as boots, ice ax, crampons, harness, sleeping bag, mat, Goretex, etc. ) and also within each page of the trips that we sell is a small list so you can see it on our website.

Our company can also rent the materials that you would need for your trip, see the list here on our website: https://peru-expeditions.org/equipment-rental/ . For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

In our trips, either hiking or mountaineering: Depending on the type or destination of the trip that you are going to book, in some parts of the treks you go with mules or donkeys or sometimes with horses, and within the mountain trips, the approach camps are also They go with mules or donkeys, but there are some stretches where pack animals can no longer reach. In this part, our logistics is fully supported by the porters.

Who are the porters? They are people from the area who were born and live in the heights of the towns, they are very strong and are very acclimatized, the reason is that after the tourist season ends they dedicate themselves to agriculture and livestock for that reason they are people They are used to the altitude and have lived in nature all their lives and they are happy to be in the mountains together with our expeditions. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

About accommodation or meals during the tour: Well, depending on the type of tour, when the tour is a classic cultural tour or a city tour, we eat during the route in tourist restaurants and sleep in category hotels that the client has requested.

If the tour is with camps and trekking: During the activity, logistics we include the service of Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with traditional and typical meals of the region where you are going to travel with us, during the night we stay in tents, and we have a special tent for the kitchen and another for the dining room.

If the trip is at altitude or in the mountains: We bring special high mountain food, It are quicker meals to cook and we provide complete logistics such as Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, and we sleep in special 4-season high mountain tents, with the best tents. If you have any questions or concerns, we can schedule an appointment via Whatsapp to clarify all your doubts and give you better information so that your trip is an unforgettable tour.

Safe and effective vaccines are available that provide strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Billions of people have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself against COVID-19, help end the pandemic and stop new variants emerging.

We also recommend having accident insurance, we always recommend. We are Partners –Global Rescue. If you have any other questions about the trip we can schedule a date for a calling via WhatsApp. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

For all the trips that we offer within our main tourist destinations such as South America and Central America, also including the ascent of the 7 continents and the 7 highest peaks of each continent, on each page of our website for each trip we indicate that month or what season to travel, then please read the information you find in our travel offers for each tour. If you have any other questions you can contact us by WhatsApp with one of our travel experts. Thank you so much. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

In mountains above 5000 meters: A local guide takes a maximum of 3 clients = Ratio 3pax = 1 local guide

In technical mountains: In large-big mountains we manage the travel policy, a guide and a maximum of 2 clients = Ratio 3pax = 1 local guide. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

For all the trips that we offer within our main tourist destinations such as South America and Central America, also including the ascent of the 7 continents and the 7 highest peaks of each continent, on each page of our website for each trip we indicate that month or what season to travel, then please read the information you find in our travel offers for each tour. If you have any other questions you can contact us by WhatsApp with one of our travel experts. Thank you so much. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

We as a local company and connoisseurs of tours have departures on different dates. The best thing to do is to join a travel group to take care of your budget, and of course you can join our groups, but on trips like mountaineering we recommend going in small groups. To join a group, ask us for the dates and we will send you the necessary information to be able to join any of our trips.

Why go in a private trip: For trips whether trekking or high mountains, going privately is the most recommended option, but the costs are more expensive. So, if one joins a group, the prices will be more reasonable. In the mountains, the only disadvantage is if you are in a wall with another partner and if one of the participants gets tired or gets sick. In this case, you have to abort or cancel the summit and return together. For more information, contact us. We can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify all your questions.

In a mountain, for example, if 3 people go and one of the participants falls ill on the route, for security reasons they have to cancel or abort the summit or return all together. The same in a technical mountain if the climbing partner gets sick they all have to return, for these reasons sometimes it is better to go private only because for a single person the costs are more expensive for the same reason that the trip would already be private .

For more information please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

About the meteorological conditions of the climate, we try to organize the trips of each tour in the best season to have the best views and enjoy the selected trip but sometimes even is good season we can have bad weather, in this case on hiking or treks trips The complications are minimal, but when this happens during high-altitude climbing expeditions, the complications can become very difficult, that is why the bosses or leaders of the local guides must always make the most correct decision for the safety of our passengers, so we always recommend listening to the best advice from the local guide assigned for each tour. If you have any other questions please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

Additional information

We help in the purchase of air tickets: we set up convenient flight options with each participant of the trip and book tickets such as international flights and domestic flights in each destination city of the countries that we offer our trips. We recommend you booking international flights tickets well in advance so we can find current flights offer prices from the airlines. In order for us to search for and book your flight, please contact us and we will be happy to help you!. → More information click here
About a Satellite Phone or inReach® Messenger - GARMIN: On each trip we recommend having a satellite phone at your disposal. The possibility of quick contact from anywhere on the mountain will guarantee your safety on the road. In case of need (for example, contact with the family or the travel company), for this service the participants have to request to rent a satellite phone, of course this service has an additional cost, contact us or ask our office for more information. A practical device is to have an inReach® Messenger - GARMIN also helps for any emergency. → More information click here
Many of the participants or clients of our adventures, hikes and expeditions in the mountains are people who sign up alone, but in some of our trips you will be able to find a travel partner companion to join a group. We have many options for you from day tours, short treks, long duration tours, and even the most extreme climbing high mountains on each country or South American continent and other destinations, as like the destinations you can see on our website. The mountains are a great place for rapid integration and a very healthy sport. → More information click here
Our mountain guides or tour leaders: All of our Tour Leaders are multiple conquerors of the peaks they lead the expeditions to. Each of our cultural guides, high mountain guides, mountainbike guides, among others are internationally recognized and certified guides, such as the certifications of (UIMLA) Union of International Mountain Leader Associations & (IFMGA) International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations. The mountaineering experience, skills and knowledge of your guides are a priority for us. → More information click here

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