Ecuador

Starting Price:	$4,574.00
Trip Length:	8 days
Includes airfare allowance from Miami (US)

Red Mangrove Adventure Lodge

Red Mangrove Lava Lodge

Marine Iguana

Quito and Galapagos Islands with Red Mangrove Island Hopping

Description Pricing Itinerary Hotels

Yampu’s Quito and Galapagos Islands Tour with the Red Mangrove Island Hopping is an adventurous way to experience the Galapagos Islands. This exciting program includes 4 nights in the Islands and 3 nights in Quito. In the Galapagos you will explore 3 different islands: Santa Cruz, Floreana, and Isabela Island. During your explorations you will travel between each island by small boat and stay in three different island hotels. This is a new and unique way to experience the diverse wildlife of the Galapagos.

After a couple of nights in Quito, you will fly to the islands and begin your adventure with a night on Santa Cruz Island in the beautiful Red Mangrove Adventure Inn, the following day you travel to Floreana Island where you will overnight in the new Red Mangrove Lava Lodge. After touring the island with some of the most interesting human history, you will travel to Isabela Island and overnight in the Red Mangrove Sierra Lodge on Isabela Island before you return to one last night in the islands on Santa Cruz Island. You will enjoy touring the islands to discover their unique personalities in this exciting new way.

This tour includes airfare allowance from Miami (US), on non-holiday dates. You do not need to fly via Miami; Yampu will fly you the most direct way to your city of destination. Depending on your travel dates and proximity of travel, we will quote you the most economical surcharge from your city or country of origin.

Additional information on this trip:

Days of Week the Trip can Start:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Dates this trip is NOT available for online booking (please submit a regular request):
20 December - 02 January
Visited Cities:
Quito, Galapagos-Santa Cruz

Day 1

Flight to Quito. Upon arrival in Quito, transfer to your hotel.

Day 2

Full Day Colonial Quito Tour & The Equator
The tour begins with a visit to Independence Square, where the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and El Sagrario Church are located. We will also visit the Church of La Compańia (1605), with its amazing gilt altars. This is considered the finest example of baroque art in America and the Moorish influence can also be noted in the intricate designs carved on the magnificent red-and-gold columns and ceilings. Afterward we will take you to the church and monastery of San Francisco (1535). This is the oldest Ecuadorian church, and the main altar inside is a spectacular example of baroque carving. There is also a fine collection of artwork, including paintings, sculpture and furniture dating back to the 16th century. Finally we will drive up to the highest viewpoint of the city, El Panecillo, where we will have a spectacular view of Quito and the opportunity to see an old church with the famous “winged virgin” of Quito. After visiting the colonial and modern areas of the city, a 30-minute drive will take us to La Mitad del Mundo (the Middle of the World) with its 30-meter-high monument marking the equatorial line and excellent ethnographical museum.

Day 3

Baltra Island
Transfer to the airport for your morning flight from Quito to Baltra Airport in the Galapagos, flying via Guayaquil. You will be met upon arrival and transferred to the Itibaca Canal where you will take a short 10-minute ferry ride to Santa Cruz Island.

Santa Cruz Island
You will board a bus that will take you to the Highlands where you will visit "Los Gemelos" or pit craters of Santa Cruz. We will enjoy a short guided tour of the area, walking in the remaining Scalesia Forest, with an opportunity to see the Vermilion Flycatcher, Small and Large Tree Finches.
Afterwards, we will visit the Giant Tortoises Reserve where we will enjoy an easy hike to look for Giant Tortoises in their "natural habitat". We will also explore the inside of a lava tunnel and enjoy lunch before we begin our descent from the Highlands.
This afternoon we will enjoy free time to wander around the town of Puerto Ayora and settle into the Red Mangrove Adventure Lodge; a peaceful, waterfront hotel nestled in the middle of a wild, red mangrove. We will enjoy a welcome cocktail and briefing before we relax with dinner.

Day 4

Santa Cruz Island
This morning you will enjoy a tour of Academy Bay. You will have the opportunity to snorkel with sea lions. We will make a 40-minute boat ride to Tortuga Bay. As we enter the white sandy beach we have a chance to observe different marine species like Sting Rays and baby Reef Sharks on the shallow waters of the Mangrove ecosystems. After swimming on the beach we take a short hike to the Marine Iguana nesting site. We will enjoy lunch on the beach before we return to the hotel.

Floreana Island
After an opportunity to shower at the hotel, we depart for Floreana Island which is located 40 nautical miles south of Santa Cruz Island. We will have the opportunity to see dolphins & whales during the 2-4 hour navigation.
Upon arrival into Puerto Velasco Ibarra on Floreana, we will check into the Red Mangrove Lava Lodge. After a briefing, we will relax and enjoy a BBQ dinner.

Day 5

Floreana Island
After breakfast, we drive up to the Highlands through the agricultural zone. Floreana was the first island to be colonized by men. We learn more about the human history of "The Enchanted Islands" with our visit to the Peace Asylum. This will be the only opportunity to see the Medium Tree Finch.
After lunch at the Lava Lodge, we will begin our navigation to Isabela Island. Isabela Island is located 57 nautical miles northwest of Floreana Island. After 2 to 4 hours, we arrive at Puerto Villamil where we will check into the Red Mangrove Sierra Lodge. We will have a peaceful evening, enjoying dinner at the hotel.

Day 6

Isabela Island
After breakfast we take a dinghy ride for our morning visit to "Tintoreras." This is a resting site of Reef Sharks, where they spend the night in the bottom of the crevices. The trail will take us to see one of the few marine iguana colonies that have not been disturbed by introduced species. We will also have the opportunity to see the colony of penguins that have recently come to Puerto Villamil.
After lunch we will take our last navigation, traveling from Puerto Villamil on Isabela to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, 45 nautical miles. Of course we will once again have the opportunity to spot dolphins & whales during our boat ride.
After 2 to 4 hours, we will arrive back to Puerto Ayora where we will check into the Red Mangrove Adventure Lodge. This evening we will enjoy a final briefing, farewell cocktail and dinner before retiring for the evening.

Day 7

Return flight to Quito
This morning we will enjoy breakfast before we transfer to the Baltra airport where we will take our flight back to the mainland. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Day 8

Transfer to the airport to take the flight back home or continue with the add-on of your choice.

Suggested Hotels by City and Category *

Quito
3-star	NU House, Vieja Cuba (Room Class AA), Reina Isabel or similar.
4-star	Mercure Alameda, Dann Carlton, Stubel Suites, Cafe Cultura, or similar.
5-star	Swissotel, Casa Aliso (boutique), Hilton Deluxe room, Le Parc Boutique Hotel, or similar.
Deluxe	Plaza Grande (Royal Suite) or Casa Gangotena (Balcony Jr. Suite)
Galapagos-Santa Cruz
3-star	Silberstein Hotel including breakfast. This ia a 2009 rate.
4-star	Red Mangrove Hotel in superior room including breakfast. - This is a 2009 rate.
5-star	Finch Bay Hotel including breakfast and dinner
Deluxe	Royal Palm in Veranda Room, includes breakfast & roundtrip airport/hotel transfers. This is a 2009 rate.

* Subject to confirmation at time of booking

8 days , from $4574

Occupancy Type	3-Star	4-Star	5-Star
Double	$4574	$4714	$5057
Single	$6279	$6412	$7083

Prices shown above are per person, in US Dollars ($).

Price Includes:
International air from Miami to Quito; Domestic air from Quito to the Galapagos; 2 nights accommodation in Quito hotel (including breakfasts), 2 nights accommodation at the Red Mangrove Adventure Inn on Santa Cruz Island, 1 night accommodation at the Red Mangrove Lava Lodge on Floreana Island and 1 night accommodation at the Red Mangrove Sierra Lodge on Isabela Island; all meals in the Galapagos; daily guided tours of the islands led by naturalist guide; day excursion in Quito and all transfers.

Not included is a $100 Galapagos Park fee paid to the park as a contribution to its conservation, nor is a $10 Transit Control Card fee, both of these must be paid in cash upon arrival in Galapagos. Airport taxes, gratuities and alcoholic beverages are not included. Local airport departure taxes that are payable in the country of destination are not included. Airfare taxes and security fees that can be paid at time of ticketing are included in the cost.

By traveling to the Galapagos with Yampu Latin America Tours, you will be making the choice to travel responsibly. As members of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association), Yampu donates $7 for every traveler that travels to the Galapagos with us. We are dedicated to helping preserve the islands while supporting sustainable ecotourism. As an IGTOA member, we are informed, involved, and concerned.

There will also be an optional Galapagos Conservation contribution of $50 per passenger added to your final proposal.
The contribution will go towards:

Creating benefits and educational opportunities for local people.
Strengthening responsible tourism management.
Building strong financial support for conservation among the travel industry and travelers.

Promoting high professional standards for the tourist industry.

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