Vantage World Travel

Otavalo Treasures + Crossing The Andes & 3 or 4 or 7 Nts Galapagos Cruise

Discover the enchantment of Quito and the color of the highlands with an overnight excursion to the indigenous market and cultural sites if the Otavalo valleys. Then follow the magical Avenue of Volcanoes through the Andes to the port city of Guayaquil. Next, enjoy the magic of the Galapagos on this program that gives you the choice of a 3 or 4 or 7 nights cruise and includes your flights between the mainland and the islands.

Quito and Guayaquil : 3 nights in a first-class hotel, with shared accommodations in a double room, including breakfast, city tour and transfers.
Otavalo : Overnight excursion to the indigenous market and cultural sites, with a ride on the Messenger Train “Chaski Antawa” from mysterious Mount Imbabura to tropical Salinas.

Avenue of the Volcanoes and descent to the coast : 4 nights excursion to see Mount Cotopaxi, the tallest active volcano in the world, visit Riobamba, Baños, gateway to the Amazon region, the Inca-Cañari Ingapirca ruins and the artistic city of Cuenca before reaching the port of Guayaquil.

Galapagos Islands cruise: All-inclusive. 3, 4 or 7 nights aboard the M/V Galapagos Legend, M/Y Coral I or II to enjoy a charming casual marine environment, with accommodations in cabins with a view of the sea, delicious meals, 2 daily excursions to a habitat unlike any other, full of wildlife that has no fear of man. See prehistoric iguanas, giant tortoises, exotic birds, plants and beautiful landscapes of volcanoes, lava cones and magma flows. Snorkel along untouched beaches with a unique underwater world. Tours and lectures provided by licensed naturalist guides in various languages. Local round-trip air ticket to Galapagos.

Departure days
M/V Legend: 3 night cruise – Sunday; 4 night cruise – Wednesday; 7 night cruise – Wednesday or Sunday
M/Y Corals: 3 night cruise – Saturday; 4 night cruise – Thursday; 7 night cruise – Thursday or Saturday

Cruise Itineraries

M/V Galapagos Legend 3 nights / 4 days Itinerary

• Day 1 Monday - Galapagos board the M/V Galapagos Legend - North Seymour
• Day 2 Tuesday - Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill) - Floreana (Cormorant Point)
• Day 3 Wednesday - Española (Suárez Point) - San Cristóbal (Interpretation Center or La Galapaguera)
• Day 4 Thursday - Santa Cruz (Carrión Point) - check-out - 7 nights passengers remain on board

M/V Galapagos Legend 4 nights / 5 days Itinerary

• Day 1 Thursday - Galapagos board the M/V Galapagos Legend - Bartolomé
• Day 2 Friday - Urbina Bay (Isabela) - Fernandina (Espinosa Point)
• Day 3 Saturday - Santiago (Egas Port) - Rábida (Jervis)
• Day 4 Sunday - Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station) - Santa Cruz (Highlands)
• Day 5 Monday - Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach)- check-out - 7 nights passengers remain on board

M/Y Coral I & Coral II 3 nights / 4 days Itinerary

• Day 1 Sunday - Galapagos board the Coral Yacht - Puerto Ayora - Santa Cruz (Highlands)
• Day 2 Monday - Española (Suárez Point) - Española (Gardner Bay)
• Day 3 Tuesday - Floreana (Cormorant Point) - Champion - Floreana (Post office)
• Day 4 Wednesday - North Seymour - check-out - 7 nights passengers remain on board

M/Y Coral I & Coral II 4 nights / 5 days Itinerary

• Day 1 Wednesday - Galapagos board the Coral Yacht - Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill)
• Day 2 Thursday - Rábida (Jervis) - Santiago (Egas Port)
• Day 3 Friday - Fernandina (Espinosa Point) - Isabela (Tagus Cove)
• Day 4 Saturday - Bartolomé - Santa Cruz (Black Turtle Cove)
• Day 5 Sunday - Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station) - check-out - 7 nights passengers remain on board

Included: Seat in a car, van or bus on a sharing basis. Guides. Local roundtrip air tickets to Galapagos. Entrance fees to National Parks (except Galapagos), churches & museums. Meals, visits & excursions as specified.

Not Included: Galapagos National Park Tax: $ 100 per adult (50% discount for children.) INGALA tax: $ 10. If there is a high occupancy supplement or fuel surcharge, passengers will be notified. Snorkeling equipment. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Medical services, travel insurance, tips & personal expenses

Day per Day Itinerary

• Day 1 Guayaquil - Arrive in Guayaquil. Transfer in – hotel accommodation
• Day 2 to Day 4 or 5 or 8 Guayaquil / Galapagos - Transfer from hotel to airport (shuttle service), local round-trip airfare to Galápagos and to and from the dock transfers included. Cruise all-inclusive aboard M/V Galapagos Legend or M/Y Corals. Just like Darwin in 1835 you will tour the “Enchanted Islands,” history’s greatest show on earth and we will be providing you with the best seats on board. Only the special few have the chance to travel through this paradise, sailing on a charming casual ship, with nautical interior decoration of wood and brass especially made for the islands, with wide outer decks. Enjoy the Jacuzzi or swimming pool, the sun deck, the bar, sea view cabins with private facilities and air conditioning. Interactive experience with the wildlife, which seems to have been bewitched, because it has no fear of man Witness spectacular sunsets, swim and snorkel at any time of the year in the warm clear waters of the beaches among tropical fish, manta rays, sea lions, swordfish, sea turtles and other marine wildlife. Our nature guides lead shore excursions twice a day. Attend lectures explaining the geology, history, evolution, flora and fauna of the islands are provided in several languages. Our fine array of meals will amaze you, from the buffet breakfast to gourmet dinners, ice cream festivals, and night barbecues.
• Day 5 or 6 or 9 Galapagos / Quito - Check-out of your cruise and transfer to the airport. Return flight to Guayaquil. Transfer in– hotel accommodation.
• Day 6 or 7 or 10 Quito – Otavalo - The tour includes Calderon, a village known for its decorative bread dough figurines, the valleys of Guayllabamba and Cayambe, landscapes of towering volcanoes with amazing opportunities for taking pictures, the crater lagoon of Cuicocha, and finally the leather-making village of Cotacachi. Overnight at a hacienda.
• Day 7 or 8 or 11 Otavalo – “Chaski Antawa” Train - Quito - The “Chaski Antawa” train (messenger train) runs on the railway built at the beginning of the 20th century connecting the northern highlands to the tropical coast. From Ibarra, the train climbs down to the warm, dry valley of Ambuqui, through sugarcane plantations, magical landscapes, and tunnels and crossing bridges that span deep canyons and gullies. The 26-km ride to Salinas plunges from 2,200 down to 1,500 meters above sea level (7,216 to 4,920 feet) in only about two hours. Enjoy a unique lunch at Kleintours’ social project, the “Chaski Antawa Restaurant”, which is our way of helping the Valley of Salinas and its surrounding area become a tourist destination and raising the standard of living of its inhabitants. The menu was carefully selected and drawn up by the community using high quality standards. Other sites include Otavalo and its famous indigenous arts and crafts market, the largest in South America. Back to Quito and hotel accommodation.
• Day 8 or 9 or 12 Quito - Colonial city tour: Explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas. Visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compañía (Society of Jesus Church) and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. Drive through the traditional neighborhood of San Juan. Finish the day at the “Panecillo” hillside with its breathtaking views of the old and modern city. Hotel accommodation.



• Day 9 or 10 or 13 Quito - Baños - Towards the south, visit Ecuador’s first National Park Cotopaxi, home to the highest active volcano on Earth. You can explore the Andean moorlands with numerous species of highland birds, or hike up to the snow line 15,800 feet (4,800 meters). Accommodation at hosteria in Baños – Gateway to the Amazon.
• Day 10 or 11 or 14 Baños-Ingapirca-Cuenca - Start your day with a drive through some of the most picturesque indigenous areas of the country. Continuing south we visit Ingapirca ruins before arrive to Cuenca for overnight.Hotel accommodation.
• Day 11 or 12 or 15 Cuenca – El Cajas-Guayaquil - Visit the prettiest colonial city in the country. After breakfast let its cobblestone streets, graceful wrought-iron balconies, and flowered plazas captivate you. Its market places and handicrafts are living testimony to the region s rich indigenous and artisan heritage. City panoramic overview, head to the Turi viewpoint. After enjoying this outstanding view, later visit a Panama hat factory. Departure to the coast, passing through El Cajas National Park. This area is known for its beautiful landscapes with at least 200 lagoons, like the famous La Toreadora, this path takes you from 4000 mts. to the sea level in 3 hours, making it possible to observe the different habitats in Ecuador, the moorlands, the Andean forest, the subtropical forest, and the rainforest. After Cajas, drive to Guayaquil. Hotel accommodation.
• Day 12 or 13 or 16 Guayaquil - Transfer out. End of services.

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