Luxury in Ecuador

Quito Airport - Quito Historic Center

Reception at the airport by an english-speaking guide (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Private transfer with spanish-speaking driver from Quito airport to your hotel.

You will spend the night at Casa Gangotena hotel (Luxury Room) in Quito.

Night in Plaza View room.

Quito Historic Center - Quito

Quito, Ecuador's capital, is a real treasure between the volcanoes of Pichincha, Cayambe and Antisana. At an elevation of 2830 meters, it is the second highest capital in the world.. It was the first city classified by the UNESCO in 1978 and its historic centre is the biggest and best maintained in Latin America.

Departure at 8:30am: to get a good idea of the city, we will firstly go to the Panecillo, a small hill over the city with a statue of the Quito' Virginp, with a splendid 360º view.

You will then have a visit of Quito's colonial centre:

• the church of the Compañia de Jesus;
• the church of San Francisco;
• the Grand Place where are located the Presidential Palace (Carondelet) and Quito's Cathedral.

You will visit the "Alabado" museum showing the country's prehispanic history through numerous archeological pieces (more than 5000 pieces for 6000 years of history). It also offers a structured visit allowing to undestand the cosmological vision of the andean cultures.

Discover the "Man Chapel" from the Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamín. This painting of the chapel was designed and partly realised by Guayasamín to honnor Mankind. Several of his art pieces are exhibited there.

You will spend the night at Casa Gangotena hotel (Luxury Room) in Quito.

Night in Plaza View room.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Quito - Mashpi Lodge

Departure from Quito to follow a scenic road through the Equatorial cloudy forest to the Mindo area, and more precisely the private reserve of Mashpia unique place for its biodiversity.

You will arrive at the Mashpi Rainforest Biodiversity Reserve, which extends over the surrounding 1,300 hectares (3,212 acres) – a haven for wildlife and biodiversity. Once reached the lodge, you will be welcomed with a refreshing drink and checked into your room. The activities will depend on factors such as group size, physical abilities and weather conditions, as well as your arrival and departure hours.
You will have the choice between: ballad in rainforest with guide, by day or night, visit of the butterflies farm, exploration of the canopy from a tower of observation either a suspended basket, visit by the 2 km cable railway or still many more things which you can discover on the spot. Before the dinner, you can meet the naturalistic guides for a short information session on the activities of the next day.

Night in Mashpi Lodge in Wayra suite.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Mashpi Lodge

Night in Mashpi Lodge in Wayra suite.

Today, you can do the options not done the day before.

Mashpi Lodge - Mindo - Cochasqui - Cotacachi

Trip to Otavalo, famous for its handcrafts.

Visit of the Cochasqui pyramids, classified as World Heritage and considered as the most important archeological site North of the Equatorial Andes. The site is composed of 15 pyramids and 20 funeral mounds built by the Quitus Cara Indians in the IXth century. There are different interpretations concerning the function of the pyramids: ceremony places, houses for important people or even astronomical observatories. The site still keeps many mysteries... which we will try to learn more about.

You will spend the night at La Mirage hotel in Otavalo.

Night in Suite.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Cuicocha Lake - Otavalo - Peguche - Quitsato - Quito Historic Center

Visit of the Cuicocha lake in the ecologic reserve of "Cotacahi - Cayapas" , one of the most beautiful in Ecuador with a shiny blue water.

At the centre of a former crater at 3064 meters, the nature lovers will enjoy a very various vegetation (orchids, "elephants ears"...) with more than 400 species identified there.

Visit in the morning of the famous Otavalo's Indigenous market, the most significant in the Ecuador's Andes, where you can meet the "Otavaleños" with their espadrilles, their brown felt hat and blue ponchos. They are the wealthiest indians in Ecuador and excellent sellers.

You will visit the village of Peguche, where you will discover the Andean music instrument fabrication workshops. You may attend to a local music session and the weaving process, an old art well established in the area.

Lunch at the restaurant "Balcon 2 Hemisferios", almost on the Ecuador line.

Gourmet menu with typical flavors of Ecuador.

You will stop at the latitude 0º, where a circular platform of 54 meters of diameter materializes a huge sundial and the equator line. The phenomena observed in the place will be explained to you, as well as how the local peoples used to integrate them in their dayly activities. An opporetunity to reconnect with what is an agriculture agenda, and what it means, between the sky and nature.

You will return to Quito from Otavalo through this magnificent mountain scenery. You will see the habitants of this region, with their traditional dress or in their daily activities in the edge of a path that is a symbol of modernity in contrast to practices inherited from the pre-Inca civilizations.

Dinner at Vista Hermosa restaurant.

You will spend the night at Casa Gangotena hotel (Luxury Room) in Quito.

Night in Plaza View room.

English-speaking guide in a private transport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Quito Airport - Coca - La Selva Lodge

Private transfer with spanish-speaking driver to Quito airport.

Transport with an english-speaking guide from your hotel to Quito's airport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Domestic flight Quito - Coca (around 40 minutes).

Reception at the airport of Coca, in private transportation, you will be taken to the boat and go down the Napo River (2 to 3 hours), where you will observe different species of birds and monkeys. You will be given a snack and a bottle of water during the tour.

Reception with a welcome cocktail, you will then reach pour room so as to relax from the ride.

La Selva Lodge

After breakfast the guide of the lodge will make a brief introduction about the ecosystem of the region. You can enjoy various activities proposed by leaving the lodge. These are organized according to the weather, the season and the number of participants. You can hike through the jungle, bird watching, canoeing, see a butterfly garden and meet the natives of the region.

La Selva Lodge

New day to enjoy the beautiful Amazon region. The details of the activities carried out are given in the same place.

La Selva Lodge - Coca - Quito Airport - Quito - Quito Historic Center

After breakfast you will by canoe to Coca. You will take a 40 minutes domestic flight from Coca to Quito.

Reception at the airport by an english-speaking guide (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

Private transfer with spanish-speaking driver from Quito airport to your hotel.

And now, exclusively and just for you :

You'll participate to a PACARI chocolates tasting.

You will learn about the process of elaboration of a great cocoa. You'll know why Ecuador is the best country to produce a cacao fino and also learn about the cocoa history in the world. You'll have the privilege to taste 10 different types of PACARI chocolates.

Pacari works directly with small producers and assure a great remuneration for their hard work, in order to preserve the genetic diversity of ecuadorian cocoa.

This cooperative has been rewarded multiple times at an international levek for the quality of the products and the social work they have done.

You will spend the night at Casa Gangotena hotel (Luxury Room) in Quito.

Night in Plaza View room.

Quito Airport - Baltra - Santa Cruz

Private transfer with spanish-speaking driver to Quito airport.

Transport with an english-speaking guide from your hotel to Quito's airport (if you are from 1 to 3 persons, your guide will also be your driver).

You will take a domestic flight for about 3 hours from Quito to Baltra in business class.

Morning check-in at Guayaquil or Quito international airports. The flight time from Quito to Guayaquil is 40 minutes. There is a 40-minute transit in Guayaquil Airport. Flight time from Guayaquil to the Islands is 1 hour and 40 minutes.

You will have access to the VIP Lounge at Baltra Airport. Our guides meet you and take you from the Itabaca Channel for a seven-minute ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island, followed by a 40-minute scenic trip in private transport to Pikaia Lodge.

- Check-in at The Lodge.

- Light lunch at Evolution Restaurant or on the Pool Terrace.

- Briefing with a complementary welcome cocktail is offered at DNA Bar.

- Guests are given a chance to relax and familiarize themselves with The Lodge environment and facilities. We recommend walking, jogging or cycling the 3.5km of trails within the boundaries, or a swim in the pool.

- Guests may participate in a land exploration on Santa Cruz Island.

- Dinner at Evolution Restaurant.

Night at Pikaïa Lodge.

Seymour - Las Bachas

ISLA SEYMOUR NORTE - PLAYA BACHAS The yacht cruise is a full day program on board our exclusive PIKAIA Yacht. Private cabins are assigned and full American breakfast served. On arrival at the island, the morning offers hiking, or snorkeling activities, until early afternoon. A lunch buffet is served while the yacht sails to the next point of visit, for an afternoon of hiking, or snorkeling. While sailing, our guests can rest, shower, or freshen up in their air-conditioned private cabins, soak in the Jacuzzi, watch a Galapagos documentary, join a discussion with guides, sunbathe on the sundeck or look out for dolphins. Return to the hotel for dinner. NIght at Pikaïa Lodge.

Santa Cruz

Each morning activity is planned according to satellite weather imagery and tide charts. Guest will join groups of maximum 16 people for a land tour.

LAND ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE : Gemelos & Scalesia Forest, Giant tortoise farm, Volcanic craters and giant tortoises at Cerro Mesa

Lava tunnels, Tortuga Bay Beach, Charles Darwin Scientific Research Center, Garrapatero Beach, Snorkeling at Pikaia II

ACTIVITIES NOT INCLUDED Scuba Diving, Sea Kayaking , Mountain Biking , Catch & Release Fishing

Guests can relax and enjoy their days at The Lodge independently as well. Mountain bikes, helmets, snorkelling equipment and wetsuits are available without charge at the front desk or onboard our yacht. It is recommended to pre-book early to take advantage of any optional third-party activities not included in the package. All extra activities might have an extra cost (e.g. taxis, equipment, guides, depending on activity and time.) Please note that these optional programs are not carried out by the hotel. While we work with wellknown and specialized local tour operators, we cannot accept any responsibility for their activities or services.

7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. : Full American breakfast

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. : Morning exploration program

1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. : Lunch at The Lodge

2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. : Afternoon excursion

7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. : Dinner

Bartolomé - Santiago

Morning: departure early in the morning to transfer in 40 minutes the port of Itabaca to with your boat. Breakfast on board.

The Bartolomé Island could have served as a backdrop to the novel Mysterious Island of Jules Verne. The landscape is indeed lunar, with a universe with a strange atmosphere, composed of frozen lava and black volcanic sand.

It's a small island located across from Sullivan Bay. It also offers a beautiful beach in a bay with calm and transparent waters. After a short climb (the summit is only 115 m), you reach the top of the island: the view is amazing.

To the east, we can see a series of small ejection cones giving the impression of a ravaged red desert.

In the West, stands "Pinnacle rock", a rocky needle that gives all its character to the island. The only trace of vegetation is represented by coldenia, a small white plant and brachycereus, the lava cactus.

The underwater fauna is very rich there, especially around the walls of Pinnacle frequented by schools of multicolored fish and penguin colonies. A path through the mangroves and thorn bushes leads in a few minutes to the south beach where swimming is prohibited: dozens of small white-finned sharks patrol a few meters from the shore.

Buffet lunch served on the boat at 13:00. When sailing to Sullivan Bay, guests will have access to a shower, cabins with air conditioning and jacuzzi.

Afternoon: visit Santiago, one of the largest islands of the archipelago. The volcanic landscape is amazing.

You will dock in Sullivan Bay, where you can swim and snorkel.

Back to the lodge for the sunset. Dinner and overnight at Pikaya Lodge.

Santa Cruz - Baltra - Guayaquil Airport

Hotel check-out time according to flights. Transport to Baltra Island Airport and check-in for return flight to Guayaquil or Quito, assisted by our guides in private service.

Domestic flight Baltra - Guayaquil in business class

You could relax in a VIP lounge before boarding on your national flight to the continent

Free connection with your international flight.

Once realized the check-in and reached the international transit area you could relax in a VIP lounge 3 hours before boarding on your international flight.