Galapagos and Quito Birding Tour

Birdwatching & Photography Tour

Departure at 4 am in the morning from the hotel to the northwest from Pichincha arriving at 6 am to the “Paz de las Aves” refuge at 2000 meters above sea level (6500 feet) where we will observe unique species such as Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Giant Antpitta, Yellow Bellied Antpitta, Ochred Breasted Antpitta, Crimson Rumped Toucanet, Toucan Barbet, Golden-Headed Quetzal, Masked Trogon, Blue Winged Mountain-Tanager, Oranged Naped-Tanager, Black-Chinned Mountain-Tanager, and different hummingbird species.
Another option is visit “La Victoriana Farm”, here we will have an easy hike during 15 min downhill to get the new Andean Cock-of-the-Rock LEK place where we can watch 10-15 members of this unique bird species, after that, we will go up for 20 min uphill to get the entrance of the farm.

After that, we will have a local breakfast.

After that, we will go to the reserve “San Tadeo” to observe different species of birds such as Lemon Rumped Tanager, Golden Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Blue Gray Tanager, White Lined Tanager, Thick-Billed Euphonia, Orange Bellied Euphonia, Buff Throated Saltator, Ecuadorian Thrush, Slate Throated Whitestart, Red Headed Barbet, etc.

Then we will have lunch in a local restaurant.

After that, we will go to visit the “Milpe” area looking for birds on the road such as: Choco Toucan, Yellow-Throated Toucan, Pale-Mandibled Aracari, Masked Water Tyrant, Laughing Falcon, Bat Falcon, Roadside Hawk, Black-Striped Sparrow, etc.
We can also visit “Milpe” bird reserve to watch in the feeders: Silver-Throated Tanager, Golden Tanager, Lemon-Rumped Tanager, Orange-Bellied Euphonia, Green Honeycreeper, Common Bush Tanager, Club-Winged Manakin, and different species of Hummingbirds such as: Andean Emerald, Purple-bibbed

Whitetip, Empress Brilliant, White Necked Jacobin, Sparkling Violet-Ear, Brown Violet-Ear, Green Violet-Ear, Booted Racket-Tail, Rufous Tailed, White-Whiskered Hermit, Tawny Bellied Hermit, Western Emerald(E), Purple Throated Woodstar, Green thorntail, and different species of tanagers, woodpeckers, thrushes, etc.

Later we will return to Quito at 16h00.

Included: Bilingual Certified Driver Guide, Private Transportation, Water.
Not included: Food, Extras expenses, and visits, “Paz de las Aves” entrance fee $45, “La Victoriana Farm” $10, “San Tadeo” $5, “Milpe Bird Reserve” $12, Tips, etc.

Santa Cruz Island

• Arrival at Galapagos Island, Baltra Airport.
• Transfer from Baltra Airport to Santa Cruz Island
• Visit the Highlands
• Lunch
• Briefing for next day activities

Places to Visit:

• Highlands: Visit to the El Chato 1, El Chato 2 or Primicias Farm, in any of these you can see the Giant Galapagos Tortoises and the typical vegetation of Galapagos.

Ready to explore the beauty of the Galapagos highlands?

Join us on a tour of a lifetime to El Chato or Primicias Farm where you’ll witness the majestic Giant Galapagos Tortoises roaming free in their natural habitat. Immerse yourself in the diverse flora and fauna of this amazing archipelago as our expert guides take you on an adventure you’ll never forget. With breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences, our Highland tour is perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.

Are you ready to witness the majestic beauty of the Galapagos?
You’ll get up close and personal with these gentle giants as they roam freely in their natural habitat. And that’s not all – explore the stunning lava tunnels, formed by ancient volcanic activity. Our knowledgeable guides will ensure you make unforgettable memories while learning about the history and ecology of this unique destination.

Details:

• Animals to see: Giant turtles, sea lions, sea turtles, reef fish, blue-footed boobies and sharks.

• Activities: Trekking

• What do you bring: Sunscreen, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, Camera and water.

• Include: Professional bilingual guide, Transport, Lunch, and Hotel Accommodation.

• Not Included: Lobbito Buss $5, Dinner, Tips and Additional Expenses.

Notes:

• We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.
• If it is only a passenger, the first day does not include a guide.

Isabela Island

• Breakfast
• Pick up from your Hotel in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.
• Boarding Time at 07:00 am.
• Sailing time from Santa Cruz to Isabela Island. (2 hours)
• Arrival at Villamil Port in Isabela Island at approximately 09:00 am.
• At 11:00 am. Sailing time from Villamil Port to Tunnels. (1 hour)
• Visit Tunnels
• 2 times for snorkeling. (45 minutes for each one)
• Lunch
• Return to Isabela at 16:00 pm
• Arrival at Isabela at 17:00 pm approximately.
• Transfer to your Hotel in Isabela.
• Briefing for next-day activities.

Places to Visit:

• Tunnels: This is one of the most spectacular snorkeling sites in Isabela, the water is shallow, calm, and very clear, a marine sanctuary. A series of lava flows have produced unique geological formations, a series of arches and tunnels, below and above the water, where a large number of endemic Galapagos species live. The entrance to the site is not deep and the waves can be very strong, for this reason, access to this place is not always very feasible. The best time to visit Los Túneles is between January and May.

Details:

• Animals to see: Blue-footed boobies, rays, starfish, penguins, sea horses, sharks, sea turtles, reef fish.

• Activities: Snorkeling

• What do you bring: Sunscreen, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, a Camera, swimsuit.

• Include: Breakfast, a Professional bilingual guide, Transport, Lunch, Snacks, Water, Hotel Accommodation, and Snorkeling Equipment.

• Not Included: Isabela’s Fee of $10, Dinner, Tips, and Additional Expenses.

Notes:

• We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.
• This night you will stay on Isabela Island.

Isabela Island

• Breakfast
• Pick up from your Hotel in Villamil Port, Isabela Island.
• Visit the Wetlands
• Visit the Flamingos Lake
• Visit the Tortoise Breeding Center
• Lunch
• Snorkeling in Tintoreras (45 minutes)
• Return to Santa Cruz at 15:00 pm
• Arrival to Santa Cruz at 17:00 pm approximately.
• Transfer to your Hotel
• Briefing for next day activities

Places to Visit:

• Wetlands: The Wetlands of Isabela Island are located just outside of Puerto Villamil. The Wetlands consist of lagoons, swamps, and mangroves and are home to a variety of unique bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules. The Wetlands can be visited on foot via a path that winds through the swamps.

• Flamingo Lake: To the west of Puerto Villamil there are various salt and brackish lagoons which house an impressive variety of coastal and sea birds. Here, visitors can also find the largest concentration of flamingos in Galapagos.

• Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center: The Tortoise Breeding Center (also known as the Interpretation Center) is located nearby Puerto Villamil. A boardwalk connects the town to the Center, stretching across the wetlands and Prickly Pear Cacti shrub. Five sub-species of the Giant Tortoise exist on the island, yet their populations are threatened by introduced animals such as goats and cats. At the Tortoise Breeding Center, eggs are nursed in a hatchery and the giant tortoise adults are observed in supervised corrals. The Center aims to increase the population and secure the survival of these species.

• Tintoreras: The Tintoreras Islets, located a short distance from Puerto Villamil, is home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches, surrounded by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully.

Details:

• Animals to see: Giant tortoises, flamingos, terrestrial iguanas, white fin sharks, sea lions, reef fish.

• Activities: Trekking and Snorkeling

• What do you bring: Sunscreen, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, a Camera, swimsuit.

• Include: Breakfast, Professional bilingual guide, Transport, Lunch, Snacks, Water, Hotel Accommodation, and Snorkeling Equipment.

• Not Included: Isabela’s Fee of $10, Dinner, Tips, and Additional Expenses.

Notes:

• We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.

Bartolome Island or North Seymour Island

• Pick up from your Hotel in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.
• Departure Time at from 06:00 am. to 07:00 am.
• Transfer from Ayora Port to Itabaca Channel. (45 minutes)
• Sailing time from Itabaca Channel to Bartolome Island. (2 hour)
• Arrival to Bartolome Island at 08:45 am. approximately.
• 2 Hours of hiking in Bartolome island
• Lunch
• Snorkeling in Sullivan Bay
• Return to Santa Cruz at 14:15 pm
• Arrival to Santa Cruz at 17:00 pm approximately.
• Transfer to your Hotel
• Briefing for next day activities

Places to Visit:

• Bartolome Island: Named in honor of Sir Bartholomew Sulivan of the British Navy. It has an area of ​​1.2 km² and a maximum altitude of 114 meters. This island offers some of the most beautiful landscapes of the archipelago. The island is composed of an extinct volcano and a variety of red, orange, green, and bright black volcanic formations. The lava cactus of the Galapagos colonize the new lava fields. On this island is the famous Pinnacle, which is one of the most representative places of the archipelago. Here you can dive and snorkel with penguins, sea lions, white tip reef sharks, and other tropical fish. Seasonally, Bartolomé is the mating and nesting site of the green turtle. The bay is also an excellent place to go swimming. The twin bays are separated by a narrow isthmus.
• Sullivan Bay: This unique landscape is composed of a pair of eroded scoria lava cones which were engulfed by a recent (in geological terms) pahoehoe lava flow and which is considered one of the finest in the world.

Details:

• Animals to see: Sea lions, reef fish, sea turtles, penguins.

• Activities: Hiking and Snorkeling

• What do you bring: Sunscream, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, Camera, swimsuit.

• Include: Breakfast, Professional bilingual guide, Transport, Lunch, Snacks, Water, Hotel Accommodation, and Snorkeling Equipment.

• Not Included: Dinner, Tips, and Additional Expenses.

Notes :

• We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.

North Seymour

• Breakfast
• Pick up from your Hotel in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.
• Departure Time at 08:00 am.
• Transfer from Ayora Port to Itabaca Channel. (45 minutes)
• Sailing time from Itabaca Channel to North Seymour Island. (1 hour)
• Arrival to North Seymour Island at 09:45 am. approximately.
• 2 Hours of hiking in North Seymour Island
• Lunch
• Snorkeling in Bachas Beach
• Return to Santa Cruz at 14:15 pm
• Arrival to Santa Cruz at 16:00 pm approximately.
• Transfer to your Hotel
• Briefing for next day activities.

Places to Visit:

• North Seymour Island: Named after the English noble Lord Hugh Seymour. It has an area of ​​1.9 km² and a maximum altitude of 28 meters. The whole island is covered with dense and dense vegetation, and has a trail for visitors of approximately 2 km in length that crosses the island’s path and allows you to explore the rocky coast. On this island, there is a large population of blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. There are also countless land iguanas, which were introduced from Baltra Island, and which served to repopulate the island with this species. It is also possible to observe a large number of frigates and sea lions with their young.
• Bachas Beach: The beach is full of characteristic Galapagos species such as flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, as well as migratory and aquatic birds. It is also one of the main nesting sites for sea turtles on Santa Cruz Island.

Details for North Seymour:

• Animals to see: Blue footed boobies, royal frigate, gull forked tail land iguanas, sea lions, reef fish, sea turtles.

• Activities: Hiking and Snorkeling.

• What do you bring: Sunscream, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, Camera, swimsuit.

• Include: Breakfast, Professional bilingual guide, Transport, Lunch, Snacks, Water, Hotel Accommodation, and Snorkeling Equipment.

• Not Included: Dinner, Tips, and Additional Expenses.

Notes for North Seymour:

• We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.

Pinzon Island (Snorkeling Day)

• Breakfast
• Pick up from your Hotel in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.
• Boarding Time at 08:00 am.
• Sailing time from Santa Cruz to Pinzón Island. (1h20 minutes)
• Arrival to Pinzon Island at 09:20 am. approximately.
• 3 times for snorkeling (45 minutes each one)
• Lunch
• Visit La Fé Beach
• Return to Santa Cruz at 14:40 pm
• Arrival to Santa Cruz at 16:00 pm approximately.
• Transfer to your Hotel
• Briefing for next day activities

Places to Visit:

• Pinzon Island: Called in honor of the Pinzón brothers, captains of the caravels Pinta and La Niña in the first expedition of Christopher Columbus (his name in English reminds the Viscount of Duncan). It has an area of 18 km² and a maximum altitude of 458 meters. It has no places to visit and a special permit from the authorities is required to enter. The main forest species are on the island, in the humid zone, there is a unique species called the margarita tree. Pinzón is home to sea lions, giant tortoises, marine iguanas and dolphins, as well as other endemic species.

• La Fé Beach: Beach to rest, have a short path, where you can see marine iguanas also for its crystal clear water you can see small sharks and we can also do snorkeling.

Details:

• Animals to see: Sea lions, sea turtles, reef fish, starfish, eagle rays, tintoreras sharks, penguins in cold season.

• Activities: Snorkeling

• What do you bring: Sunscreem, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, Camera, swimsuit.

• Include Breakfast, Professional bilingual guide, Transport, Lunch, Snack, Water, Hotel Accommodation, and Snorkeling Equipment.

• Not Included: Dinner, Tips and Additional Expenses.

Notes:

• We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals since they are in wildlife.
• The main activity in this tour is snorkeling.

St. Cruz Island and Flight back to Quito

• Breakfast
• Pick up from your Hotel in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.
• Transfer to Twin Craters in Santa Cruz.
• Visit to Twin Craters
• Return Flight.

Place to Visit:

• Twin Craters: The Twin Craters are, in fact, not craters. These impressive holes were formed by magma (lava) domes which hardened on the outside but continued to flow on the inside, leaving huge but empty chambers that collapsed with the passing of time, creating this breathtaking scenery that resembles two pit crates. The Twins are located in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and are surrounded by lush and green forests, dominated by the endemic Scalesia plants. It is possible to walk along the rim of the craters to better appreciate the magnitude of the holes as well as the local flora and fauna. This site is also one of the most likely places to observe the endemic short-ear owl of the Galapagos.

Details:

• Activities: Trekking

• What do you bring: Sunscream, Repellent, Binoculars, Camera, and water.

• Include: Breakfast, Transport

• Not Included: Lobbito Bus $5, Guide, Dinner, Lunch, Tips, and Additional Expenses.

Notes:

• We can’t guarantee that you will see all the animals, since they are in wildlife.
• This day does not include Guide, just driver.

Quito City Tour, Middle of the World, Historical Center, churches, and Panecillo Virgin

• Breakfast
• Our guide is going to pick you up in the hotel to have the best experience in visiting Quito, places to know
• Middle of the world museum, you are going to have the best explication about cultures in Ecuador and with experiment, we can check that the equator line passes over there.
• Time to have a delicious lunch
• Visit Quito’s old town, our tour starts with La Basilica del Voto Nacional Church, after that the Plaza de la Independencia where you can see buildings such as Carondelet Palace, Catedral Chuch, and the main Independence Monument in the center square.
• Visit La Compañia Church the most beautiful altar bathed in gold.
• Time to see San Francisco Church.
• Visit Panecillo virgin.
• If we have time we can visit the cable card.

Details:

• Activities: Walking

• What do you bring: Sunscreen, comfortable shoes, Light clothing, Binoculars, a Camera, a Jacket or sweater.

• Include: Private transportation and guide, Breakfast, a night accommodation.

• Not Included: Lunch and dinner, entrace fee to Museums or Churches.

Otavalo or Quilotoa Tour (Just one of them)

OTAVALO

Driving north of Quito is the most famous indigenous market of Ecuador: Otavalo, full of traditions and handcrafts. Before arriving to this magic place, you will visit Calderon, a small town famous for “Mazapan” handicrafts. Following the route is Cayambe, the perfect place to see how people prepare biscuits using a traditional technique. Next stop will be a view point to enjoy the landscape of Imbabura volcano (4610 mts.) and San Pablo lagoon.

Your next and most anxious spot will be Otavalo market, where you will spend time shopping and some quality time with your friends. You will fall in love with all variety of handicrafts.

Then you will go to Cotacachi to have a delicious lunch and explore the leather local work shops for a great landscape ending at Cuicocha´s view point.

QUILOTOA

• Laguna Quilotoa After visiting Cotopaxi National Park, you will go to Quilotoa Lake, for many the most beautiful place in Ecuador, here you will walk to the bottom of the lake and for the return you can walk up or if you prefer you can rent a horse to ascend. Finally, you will travel to Latacunga to rest in your assigned hotel.

• Canon del Rio Toachi After visiting Quilotoa, you will have a short visit to the most impressive canyon in Ecuador. the Toachi canyon located next to the parish of Sumbahua. Finally, you will travel to Latacunga City.

Details:

• Activities: Trekking

• What do you bring: Sunscream, Repellent, Light clothing, Binoculars, Camera, and water.

• Include: Breakfast, Transport, Hotel, Guide

• Not Included: Dinner, Lunch, Tips, and Additional Expenses.

Transfer to Airport and End Services

Transfer Out to Quito’s airport.

End the services.