Secrets of the Andes and the charms of the Galapagos

Upon arrival at Quito Airport, guests will be greeted and transferred to their hotel. Overnight at the Casa Gangotena hotel.

An extraordinary trip by Andes Express train from Quito to the Andes region, with overnight stay in traditional haciendas. It is a 3-day journey along the "Avenue of Volcanoes" - from Quito to the charming town of Cuenca in the south of the country. The route will show the beauty of the Andes and the culture of this region, as guests will meet many natives along the way. Three meals a day are provided throughout the trip. The first stop will be Sangolqui, where there are typical Andean bazaars and markets - a great introduction to the culture of this area. Above the town, on the eastern side, the impressive Cotopaxi volcano rises to a height of 3 m above sea level. Guests will eat lunch in one of the local restaurants, while dinner and overnight stay will be in Riobamba.

The next morning, after an early breakfast, transfer to the small town of Alausi. On this day, guests will cover an impressive route running at an altitude of over 800 m! It is called the "Devil's Nose". Guests will also visit a local museum showing the life and crafts of the region's inhabitants.

The journey will continue towards the south. Arrive in Cuenca at dusk for dinner and overnight stay. On the last day, the train will end in Cuenca, the third largest city in Ecuador, located in the Andes mountain valley. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Red roofs and cobblestone streets make this an extremely charming place. City tour: St. Sebastian's Square, a market with local crafts, a museum of modern art and a flower bazaar.

You also cannot leave places such as the Court of Justice, the city palace or the governor's palace. Guests will then drive along the Tomebamba River to admire the houses on the bank and visit the famous straw hat factory. Lunch at one of Cuenca's excellent restaurants. Overnight stay at the charming boutique hotel Mansion Alcazar.

On this day, we invite you on a fascinating trip to Ingapirca - the northernmost Inca fortress. It is located at an altitude of approximately 3200 m above sea level. On the way to Ingapirca, guests will visit the town of Canar and the local market. After the trip, lunch at an inn and then visit Tambo Coyoctor - stone ruins. Late afternoon return to Cuenca.

Day off in Cuenca. Guests will be able to rest after the last quite active days and relax in the hotel spa.

Trip to El Cajas National Park, near Guayaquil. The park is located in the western Andes range, where there are over 3200 glacial lakes at an altitude of approximately 4000–200 m above sea level. It is a unique place, with beautiful landscapes. The journey will end in Guayaquil. The climate here is like in the Caribbean, the temperature throughout the year ranges between 21 and 30 degrees Celsius. Please remember to wear sports clothes on this day. Overnight at the Oro Verde hotel.

Transfer from the hotel to the airport in Guayaquil and flight to the Galapagos Islands. Landing at Baltry. There, a 5-day cruise around the islands on a luxury yacht will begin. Three meals a day will be provided during the cruise.

Cruise and visit Santa Cruz Island with the famous Tortoise turtle reserve. This island is home to one of the largest turtle populations in the world. The reserve has unique vegetation and many species of beautiful, exotic birds that cannot be found anywhere else. After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to Puerto Ayora, in the south of Santa Cruz. The next stage of the trip is a visit to Charles Darwin's research station. At the end of the day, we recommend a walk around the charming town of Puerto Ayora. Accommodation on a yacht. Welcome cocktail and dinner on board.

Galapagos Islands – also called the Turtle Islands – is an archipelago of volcanic origin in Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. It is located at the equator, approximately 960 km west of the coast of South America. The archipelago consists of 19 islands, islets and individual rocks with a total area of ​​7994 km², scattered over an area of ​​59,5 thousand square meters. km². The oldest islands are about 4 million years old and are one of the most active volcanic areas in the world. They were born from the sea and were never connected to the continent. The archipelago is inhabited by 26 people.

Yacht docking in Post Office Bay. More than two centuries ago, pirates, whalers and locals left messages in the bay, so it served as the local post office. On this day, we offer a cruise through the labyrinth of canals on the northern shore of Floreana Island, where you can meet colonies of sea lions, turtles and penguins. Stop at Baroness Cove and walk to the observation tower. For those interested, short snorkeling or kayaking. Back on board for lunch. The next stop will be Cormorant Point, with crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches, home to numerous bird colonies. Sea turtles also lay their eggs here. You can often see tiny turtles hatching from their eggs and rushing towards the water. Then, guests will reach Champion, a small island near Floreana. Those interested can dive or observe underwater life in a glass-bottomed boat. Back to the yacht for dinner.

In the morning, guests will go on a trip to Punta Suarez, where they will be able to walk on the hardened lava, see iguanas and wonderful seabird colonies, including: albatrosses, as well as hawks and finches. After the trip, return to the yacht for lunch. Guests will then head towards Gardner Bay (on the other side of the island). Free time can be spent snorkeling, kayaking, walking on the beach in search of sea lions or simply relaxing on the sunny coast. In the evening, dinner on the yacht.

Visit to San Cristobal Island. The trip will start in the morning from Point Pitt, which is an interesting tuff coast with an extremely rich fauna. After the walk, we recommend relaxing on the beach and having lunch on the yacht. The next point of the trip is Cerro Brujo beach, where you will also be able to admire the charms of nature. It was on San Cristobal Island that Charles Darwin studied flora and fauna in 1835.

After breakfast, guests will depart for the port, from where they will transfer to the airport for their flight to Quito. In Quito, transfer to the hotel and overnight stay.

Transfer from the hotel to the airport in Quito for the selected flight to Poland.