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At the dawn of time: Equator & the Galapagos Islands
4 stops
14 nights
783 miles
As you visit volcanic landscapes and travel from Andean peaks to the Pacific Ocean, this journey between Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands represents an incredible voyage into the heart of unspoiled nature that is wild yet welcoming. A return to origins that allows you to get close to amazing animals and their protectors...
01
Departure
Recommended duration : 3 nights
Quito
Things to do, see, and discover
During your stay
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Zazu Restaurant
During your stay
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Climbing Guagua Pichincha
Guagua Pichincha is more than just a volcano; it's also a paradox! Although the volcano threateningly shook the capital in 1999, a number of dwellings still cling to its verdant slopes at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet. At 15,728 feet, its peak is relatively easy to reach. From the top, travelers will be able to appreciate the incredible beauty of the site as well as the risk of living so close to such a giant.
During your stay
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The TelefériQo to the top of Quito
Riding the TelefériQo to the top of Cruz Loma at daybreak offers you the most beautiful view of Ecuador's capital. This effortless twenty-minute ascent from an elevation of 10,000 feet to 13,000 feet will provide you with a panoramic view of Quito, a capital city that spreads out precariously over the slopes of the Andes mountains. The top of Cruz Loma is also the departure point for climbing the neighboring Pichincha Volcano.
02
260 kmPlane
Recommended duration : 2 nights
Guayaquil
Things to do, see, and discover
During your stay
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Discover a unique collection of pre-Columbian artifacts
Inaugurated in 2003, the Anthropological Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits a splendid collection of pre-Columbian artifacts. Surrounded by modern architecture, 50,000 archaeological artifacts consisting of numerous jewelry pieces, ceramic objects and other statuettes are exhibited along with more than 3,000 works of modern art. A place of scholarship as well as remembrance, you'll cross paths with many researchers and historians here.
During your stay
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Discover the White City cemetery in Guayaquil
This cemetery is without a doubt one of the most beautiful in South America. Once past the entrance, a path lined with palm trees leads families and visitors back to another place in time. It wasn't until 1888 that this “White City”, as the locals call it, began accepting all the city's social classes. The wealthiest families now tower over the rest from the heights of their splendid mausoleums of Carrara marble. Numerous architects from Genoa came to help make this cemetery a work of art.
03
783 milesBoat
Recommended duration : 7 nights
San Cristóbal, îles Galápagos
Things to do, see, and discover
During your stay
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Dive with Manta Rays
The Galapagos Islands benefit from their exceptional location at the convergence of the major ocean currents. The archipelago is a true paradise for divers, who will get to swim close-up with a multitude of fish and cetaceans. Among the 400 species identified in the archipelago's waters, specialists have recorded 15 ray species. The most majestic of these is the Manta Ray, which can reach up to 30 feet in width!
During your stay
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Whales from starboard
The Galápagos National Park includes twenty different species of whales and dolphins depending on the time of year. Humpback whales (between November and December) and blue whales (between July and August) provide great joy to anyone who has the pleasure of seeing them. You will also see many killer whales and sperm whales spawning in these waters which are rich in nutrients and plankton. A unique sight that will be remembered for a lifetime...
04
95 kmPlane
Recommended duration : 2 nights
Île Santa Cruz, îles Galápagos
Things to do, see, and discover
During your stay
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Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station
Recognized internationally for its giant tortoise breeding program, this research center permanently accommodates some 200 scientists. You can visit various sites, such as the baby tortoise nursery, or the land iguana pen. Educational exhibits present the work of the scientists and volunteers, and their involvement in the protection of the archipelago's flora and fauna.
During your stay
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Giant tortoise encounter at the El Chato Reserve
At the heart of the archipelago, wild animals have accepted the presence of humans, and vice-versa. At the El Chato Natural Reserve, everyone appears to go about their own business. You can walk along with a guide and observe giant tortoises in complete freedom. These imperturbable centenarians give their name to the archipelago (Galápago), and seem to have stepped out of our imaginations as much as from prehistoric times...
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