Travelpack

Other Departures - Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow & Edinburgh £4249pp

Please Note: Travel Date: 22 November 2023 (Alternative Dates Available)

Deposit £600pp

Hotel Featured:
Selina Quito

Itinerary:
Thu 22 Nov 23 - Arrival in Quito
Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your Hotel
Overnight stay at hotel

Thu 23 Nov 23 - Quito
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Quito, Ecuador. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive with some time to spare before the meeting, consider exploring the city on an Urban Adventure like the Quito Market Discovery.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
Cotopaxi - National Park Hiking Tour
Quito - La Ronda Walk - Free
Antisana Trek Full day from Quito
Quito - Papallacta Hot Springs (Full day)
Quito - Bellavista Cloud forest (Full day)
Urban Adventures: Quito Market Discovery
Urban Adventures: Quito Sweet & Culinary Experience
Urban Adventures: Condors and Culture in Otavalo
Urban Adventures: Quito Legends and Culture Tour
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It's very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. We recommend not partaking in any strenuous activity until you have time to gauge your reaction to the citys high altitude, as some people experience mild symptoms of attitude sickness such as dizziness, shortness of breath and sleeplessness. Please note, some optional activities require a minimum of two passengers to operate and prices listed are subject to change. For more information on Urban Adventures in Quito, visit urbanadventures.com/destination/Quito-tours.

Fri 24 Nov 23 - Isla San Cristobal
Transfer to the airport and board your flight around midday (an Intrepid representative will provide detailed flight times on the evening of Day 1 during the welcome meeting). Arrive in Isla San Cristobal and meet your leader at the arrivals lounge. Meet the travellers who began their journey in the Galapagos Islands and get straight into it with a visit to the Interpretation Centre to learn about the human and natural history of the archipelago. Afterwards, go for your first snorkel at Tijeretas, a small cove where you can swim with sea turtles, rays, and sea lions!
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
Isla San Cristobal - Interpretation Center (45 minutes)
Isla San Cristobal - Snorkelling in Tijeretas Hill
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Sat 25 Nov 23 - Isla San Cristobal
Enjoy a free day on Isla San Cristobal. You may also like to take an optional boat ride to Kicker Rock or Isla Lobos one of the most recommended activities. You'll be able to observe the famous Galapagos marine life along the way as well as the opportunity to go snorkelling with sea turtles, eagle rays and the harmless Galapagos shark, just to name a few.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
Kicker Rock excursion
Frigate Bird Hill - Free
Mann Beach - Free
Snorkelling gear rental
Isla Lobos.
Meals Included
Breakfast
Special Information
Please note the Isla Lobos optional activity can only be booked with eight or more passengers.

Sun 26 Nov 23 - Isla Santa Cruz
Early in the morning, take a 2.5-hour public speed boat ride to Isla Santa Cruz. On arrival, have breakfast and settle into the hotel before a mid-morning visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station's visitor centre and museums contain information about the islands and the conservation efforts being made to preserve the unique ecosystem here. It's also a great place to have close encounters with giant tortoises. In the afternoon, head to the higher part of the islands to observe these giants roaming in their natural habitat.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
Isla Santa Cruz - Highlands Visit (1.5 hours) - Dry Landing
Isla Santa Cruz - Charles Darwin Research Centre (45 Minutes)
Meals Included
Breakfast

Mon 27 Nov 23 - Isla Isabela
Today youll travel to Isla Isabela where youll check-in to the hotel and enjoy breakfast. The island is the largest in the Galapagos and one of the most volcanically active places on earth. You have a free day here to explore at your own pace. A worthwhile optional activity today is an excursion to Las Tintoreras, where white- tipped sharks rest during the day and marine iguanas nest.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
Isla Tintoreras
Isla Isabela - wetsuite rental
Kayak rental
Isla Isabela - Snorkeling in Concha y Perla - Free
Isabela Island Snorkelling gear rental
Tunneles Snorkelling
Meals Included
Breakfast

Tue 28 Nov 23 - Isla Isabela
Start the day with a visit to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre for a close encounter with these placid giants. Here you can see tortoises in different stages of development as well learn about the preservation program of this unique species. Take a bus to the highest part of Isabela Island where Sierra Negra Volcano is located. Weather permitting, go for a hike up to the crater to enjoy spectacular views and the possibility of sighting the rare vermillion flycatcher. The challenging 17-kilometre hike takes between 56 hours, but at the top you'll be able to enjoy spectacular views. After the hike, make your way back to town in the late afternoon for some free time to curl up with a book or venture down to the water for a relaxing swim before dinner.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
Isla Isabela - Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre (1 Hour)
Isla Isabela - Sierra Negra Volcano Hike (5-6 Hours)
Meals Included
Breakfast
Special Information
Please ensure you wear comfortable walking shoes that offer good support for todays rocky climb. During the rainy season it can get quite muddy and there is an option to hire gumboots locally should you wish to do so. It can also get quite hot and there isn't much shade along the way, so be sure to come prepared with your reusable water bottle, hat and sunscreen. Unfortunately, recycling isn't available on Isabela, so please take your plastic rubbish with you.

Wed 29 Nov 23 - Isla Santa Cruz
Travel back to Santa Cruz in the morning and enjoy some free time. Consider taking part in some of the optional activities available, such as an excursion to Tortuga Bay, an immaculate natural paradise where you can go kayaking, observe marine iguanas and birds or swim with harmless sharks in an alcove. After lunch (own expense), jump on a boat to La Loberia where you can swim in the waters that the area sea lions call home. Then, it's off to Punta Estrada to observe birds like blue-footed boobies and pelicans. Finally, visit Playa de Los Dogs to see a large number of iguanas, the only sea-going lizard in the world that lives in these volcanic landscapes.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
Santa Cruz Marine Reserves - Half-Day Boat Tour
Optional Activities
Isla Santa Cruz - Tortuga Bay walk - Free
Meals Included
Breakfast

Thu 30 Nov 23 - Quito
Say goodbye to these enchanting islands and your Galapagos leader. The flight back to Quito leaves at midday and should arrive in the late afternoon. A representative from Intrepid will take you from the airport to your hotel. Enjoy a free evening in Quito.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
Quito - Market Discovery Urban Adventure
Quito - Papallacta Hot Springs (Full day)
Quito - Sweet & Culinary Experience - Urban Adventures
Quito - Old Town & Gastronomic- Urban Adventures
Quito - Condors and Culture in Otavalo Urban Adventures
Quito - Otavalo Indian Market (Full day)
Quilotoa - Quilotoa Lagoon (Full day)
Quito - Bellavista Cloud forest (Full day)
Cotopaxi - National Park Hiking Tour
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Fri 01 Dec 23 - Quito
There are no activities planned for the final day. If you want to spend more time in Quito, speak to an Intrepid booking agent to secure extra accommodation (subject to availability). You can get to know the city on an Urban Adventure. See urbanadventures.com for details.
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Sat 02 Dec 23 - Quito / Amazon Jungle
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Ecuador! Your trip starts with an early pick up from your preferred Quito hotel. Flight times to the Amazon Jungle will vary according to the day of departure. The flight time and pick-up time from your hotel will be confirmed at your pre-departure meeting the evening before your trip starts. Please check this with reception upon arriving the day before. Your early morning transfer takes you to Quito airport in time for a 30 minute flight over the Andes to the river port town of Coca. A lodge representative will meet you at the airport and take you to the river port. Here youll board an 18 metre (57 foot) motorized canoe for a 1-hour trip upriver. Life vests are provided. A box lunch is served as you navigate one of the largest tributaries to the mighty Napo. The Napo River is the largest river in Ecuadorian Amazonia and as you cruise along the water it is easy to spot a number of shore birds including herons, kingfishers, spoonbills and ospreys. At the lodge, youll receive a warm welcome from our local staff, wholl give you a refreshing beverage and snack while youre introduced to the facilities. Youll be issued with a pair of rubber boots to use for the duration of your jungle stay. In the afternoon, and once you've settled at the lodge, your guide takes you on a short hike to a panoramic point for rainforest views that extend as far as the eye can see in every direction. Dinner at the lodge is normally served at 7pm.
Optional Activities
Quito - Market Discovery Urban Adventure
Quito - Sweet & Culinary Experience - Urban Adventures
Quito - Old Town & Gastronomic- Urban Adventures
Meals Included
Lunch
Dinner
Special Information
Please provide the location of your overnight hotel in Quito at least 7 days before the start of this trip. If you are finishing an Intrepid trip in Ecuador the day before this trip starts, we will know where you are staying at. If not, we can help you arrange extra accommodation in Quito for you. Please contact your booking agent for more details. The day before your trip starts, an Intrepid local representative will meet you at your hotel. The representative will call beforehand to advise you of the exact time. Please have your passport and insurance information ready for this meeting. If you arrive in Quito late at night the day before this trip starts, an envelope will be waiting for you at your hotel containing all the information and vouchers you need for this trip. This trip visits places that are at high altitudes, and as a result, some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the Medical and Health Information section of the Essential Trip Info

Sun 03 Dec 23 - Mon 04 Dec 23 - Amazon Jungle Lodge
The next two days are packed with activities. These may vary depending on the time of the year and weather, however they normally include wildlife spotting, canoe rides and jungle walks, with the opportunity to learnfrom a local guide about the many resources the Amazon provides from medicine, to construction and food. Depending on what days of the week you are at the lodge, you may have the opportunity to meet an indigenous family of the Quichuas del Oriente community. You can learn more about their culture and their relationship with the forest. Jungle walks can be up to 3 hours long we recommend bringing a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Please see the Amazon specific detailed packing list in the 'What to Take' section. Whatever you do, youll be surrounded by one of the most magnificent landscapes on Earth, teeming with wildlife, incredible plant species from the tiniest flower to the tallest tree and providing an unforgettable experience in the heart of the greatest forest on the planet.
Included Activities
Daily Amazon jungle activities lead by an English-speaking local guide
Meals Included
Breakfast (2)
Lunch (2)
Dinner (2)

Tue 05 Dec 23 - Quito
After a hearty breakfast, travel back to Coca airport for your return flight to Quito. You are scheduled to arrive at Quito Airport at approximately 12 pm, however, flight delays are not uncommon in this part of the world. If you have an outbound flight today we recommend you fly after 4 pm. If you are unsure about a flight time, please check with us. Your trip finishes upon arrival at Quito airport. If you need assistance with extra accommodation and transfers in Quito please contact your booking agent for assistance.
Optional Activities
Quito - Market Discovery Urban Adventure
Quito - Sweet & Culinary Experience - Urban Adventures
Quito - Old Town & Gastronomic- Urban Adventures
Meals Included
Breakfast

Offer Includes

Meal Plans