Excursion tour "Humpback whale watching and all of Ecuador"

Breakfast in the hotel. Sightseeing tour of the city of Quito with a visit to the equator line. Duration of the excursion day including transfers is 8 hours. Height - 2800m. The average temperature is +20C during the day, +10C at night. During a sightseeing tour of Quito, you will see fascinating panoramas, churches, domes and rooftops that are historical relics, and learn about colonial art, architecture, culture, legends and traditions. Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and is located at an altitude of 2800 m. Despite the earthquake of 1917, the city has the best preserved and least altered historical center in Latin America. The architecture and rich interiors are examples of the Quito School of Art, which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art. Artists of this school worked in stone and wood to give shape to the most important religious events. After an hour and a half walking tour exploring the Old Town, you will understand why Quito was the first city in the world to be included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list. Quito takes its name from the Quitus tribe, which inhabited the region long before the Spanish conquest. In 1533, Sebastian de Benalcazar took possession of the city, which was first the capital of the Inca Empire, and in 1541 it was elevated to the rank of a Spanish city. Its full name is San Francisco de Quito. The city was the capital of the state of Quito until the end of Spanish colonial rule. The Franciscan Order was the first of the orders to establish itself in Quito. The Franciscans immediately began construction of the monastery, which became a center of education and art and has its own schools of painting and sculpture (the Church of San Francisco is visited during the tour). Around the main square, Plaza Grande, are the main buildings of the country: the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop's Palace and the City Hall. We will visit the best example of colonial art in the city - a Jesuit temple, the facade of which is covered with intricate carvings. Quito is a capital city and has many contrasts, you can appreciate this by visiting the old city and new areas. You will get a beautiful view of the entire city from the Panecillo observation deck with a statue of the Virgin Mary with wings, the patroness of the city. We go to the “Middle of the World” (equator line). There are two places to visit the equator line, and we will visit both places: 1) The city of Mitad del Mundo. The town of Mitad del Mundo is a tourist and commercial center where tourists can discover a monument made in memory of the geodetic expedition of 1736 that established the location of the equator line in this place. The tourist complex "Middle of the World" belongs to the prefecture of the province of Pichincha, Ecuador. It is located in the parish of San Antonio of the metropolitan district of Quito, north of the city center of Quito. The headquarters of the Union of South American Nations is being built on the territory of the complex. Between 1979 and 1982, a 30-meter-tall monument was erected to mark where the equator line was thought to lie. A line marking the equator extends from the center of the monument, and countless tourists have crossed it over the years. But in fact, the entire structure is located 240 m south of the real line, which was calculated correctly in the twentieth century thanks to the advent of the GPS positioning system. 2) Intignan Museum. In this museum we will be able to implement a series of experiments that explain the influence of the equator line on the natural forces of nature. Also here you will receive information about the culture of ancient peoples, and we will be able to see a series of totems from various cultures of South America. Here are traditional dwellings of different cultures existing in the country, for example, a house with objects that belonged to an Indian family that lived in this place many generations ago. Return to the hotel. Free time. We personally recommend: - Evening visit to the historical center. The lights of the night center attract tourists with restaurants and cafes with traditional cuisine and live music. Distance: 20 minutes by taxi from the hotel. Taxi cost: 6-8 USD one way. - Souvenir market. For those who do not have time to purchase the desired souvenirs during the city tour, there will be an opportunity to go to the souvenir market. Handmade woolen products, classic plates and magnets, T-shirts and caps, wood and tree products. Distance: 15 minutes by taxi from the hotel. Taxi cost: 4-5 USD one way. The market is open until 19:00 on weekdays and 18:00 on weekends and holidays. - Teleferico cable car. The funicular will take you to a height of 4100m above sea level. Amazing view of the city, typical Andean eco-system - páramo. Distance: 20 minutes by taxi from the hotel. Taxi cost: 6-8 USD one way. The funicular is open until 18:00, the last lift is at 16:30 (the schedule may change; the exact schedule must be checked with the guide). Entrance fee: USD 8.50 per person. Recommendation: In cloudy weather, traveling on the funicular is not recommended due to poor visibility. Accommodation at the Finlandia 3+* hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Visit to the crater lake Quilotoa The duration of the excursion day including transfers is 11 hours. The duration of the Quito-Quilotoa journey is 3.5 hours; Quilotoa-Baños - 3.5 hours. Excursion altitude - 3900m. Overnight altitude - 1800m. The average temperature during the excursion is +10C. We will travel from Quito along the Pan-American Highway towards the rose plantation in the Cotopaxi Valley. On the plantation we will see roses of different colors and sizes, which Ecuador exports to various parts of the globe. We will observe the processes of cutting, selection and packaging, which will convince us of the high quality of the exported goods. Note: the plantation is not visited on Sundays and holidays! Continuation of the journey to the Quilotoa volcano. Along the way, we visit an artisanal workshop in the village of Tigua, where the Naive style of painting - Andean landscapes of Ecuador on sheep's clothing - originated. We will then continue our journey westwards towards the Central Andes of Ecuador. We will travel along the route known as the Puhili Path, passing through the village of Quilotoa. Arriving at Quilotoa Crater, we will visit an observation deck overlooking the crater lake and have the opportunity to walk through the Indian community. If desired (depending on the time and desire of the whole group), we can go down on foot to the edge of the lake, go kayaking and return on mules. Kayak and mule rides are not included. Continuation of the journey to Banos. Along the way, we will visit an Indian family in the highlands of the Andes of Ecuador to get acquainted with the life of the local Indians. Accommodation at the La Floresta 3* hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Sightseeing tour of the city of Banos and visiting waterfalls. Duration of the excursion day including transfers is 11-12 hours. The duration of the Banos-Quito transfer is 3.5 hours. The height of the excursion is 1800m. The average temperature is +25C during the day, +12C at night. The tourist town of Baños is located in a valley with waterfalls and hot springs next to the 5016-meter-high Tungurahua volcano. Baños has a population of 20,000 inhabitants, the city is located at an altitude of 1826 meters, the average annual temperature is 20 °C. The city invites you to relax in its resorts and offers adventures for the whole family and extreme sports such as rafting, rock climbing, canyoning, canopy, trekking, mountain biking and bungee jumping. After breakfast at the hotel, we will take a short tour and visit the town center with a pleasant subtropical climate. Later we will begin our journey through the waterfalls: Agoyan, Bridal Veil (Manto de la Novia) and Devil's Frying Pan (Pailón del Diablo). We will also be able to ride on the famous "End of the World" swing and do a canopy over Pastaza Canyon (canopy not included in the price - USD 15 per person). In the afternoon return to Quito. Accommodation at the Finlandia 3+* hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, your guide will meet you and help you with your luggage, as well as escort you to the bus. Itabaca Canal, which separates Baltra Island from Santa Cruz Island, is a 10-minute drive away. Motorboat crossings across the canal to Santa Cruz Island take 5 minutes. From here we will travel by private transport (approximately 45 minutes drive) across the island to the town of Puerto Ayora and your hotel. Notice the change in environment from the red rocky surface in the north to the green wildlife in the highlands and south. As we travel through the island's agricultural zones with the surrounding wild landscape and various species of flora and fauna, we will be able to see the finches that served as the basis for Darwin's theory of evolution. Watch the famous Galapagos land tortoises in their natural habitat and learn how private farms are helping to conserve these unique animals and their habitats. You can hear them making noises while plucking leaves from trees or searching for tasty food. Here you can see turtles of different ages and sizes: young ones with sparkling shells and lazy old ones with partially cracked shells - traces of a long life. The well-known lava tunnels are another goal of our trip. The channels, resulting from the uneven cooling of lava flowing from the slopes of the volcano, extend from the highlands to the shores. Lava tubes have been destroyed in several places. However, there are preserved lava tunnels that can be walked through in 30 minutes. You will be able to see and understand how they were formed, in some places difficult to pass, and in others with collapsed boulders. The guide will share a detailed history of the origin of these tunnels. Transfer to the hotel. A welcome reception at the hotel will be followed by accommodation in our spacious rooms. You will then have free time to explore the port town of Puerto Ayora, where there are many souvenir shops. Accommodation at the Fiesta 4* hotel. (breakfast and lunch included)

Early in the morning, you will depart from your hotel by bus to the Itabaca Channel, where your pleasure yacht will be waiting for you, ready to sail. A day awaits you in a unique corner of the Earth with beautiful white sandy beaches, an out-of-this-world environment, a sea with crystal clear waters and a variety of animals. During the two-hour sail, you will have the unique opportunity to have breakfast at sea. Also in the early hours of the morning you can often see dolphins and other sea creatures very close to the yacht. Landing on the shore of Bartolome Island. You will have to hike up for about 30 minutes; You will cross an almost lunar landscape and reach the highest point of the volcanic island. From there you will have amazing views of the islands of Santiago, Seymour Norte, Baltra, Santa Cruz, Rabida and the island of Chinese Hat, as well as the famous Pinnacle Rock - the remains of an ancient volcano. This place is the habitat of thousands of birds. The landscape opening from the top is a symbol of the Galapagos Islands, captured by many photographers. Next is a change of clothes for visiting the beach. During the boat ride, our guests will see Galapagos penguins (only 50 centimeters tall) standing at the foot of a cliff or swimming at the speed of a bullet in the clear waters of the ocean. Time for a beach holiday or snorkeling: The shallow sea gives you the opportunity to swim and snorkel alongside Galapagos penguins, sharks, starfish, stingrays, sea turtles and a variety of exotic colorful fish, and you will also be able to see several species of the islands' permanent inhabitants: marine iguanas, sea lions, pelicans and much more. Lunch on board after this amazing adventure. Today will end with a return to the hotel in the evening. You will have some free time to explore the town of Puerto Ayora. Accommodation at the Fiesta 4* hotel. (breakfast and lunch included)

SEYMOUR ISLAND This excursion day will give you an amazing opportunity to visit Seymour North Island and the beaches of Bachas. We will travel by bus to our yacht in the Itabaca Channel and then sail for one hour to Seymour North Island. Landing on a rocky shore near a small forest of gray and silver palo santo trees, which are leafless most of the year. Seymour Island is famous for its numerous colonies of different species of birds. Particularly memorable are the male frigatebirds with their red crop, which they use to attract females during the mating season, and the famous blue-footed boobies. These seabirds have a wedge-shaped tail and long, pointed wings. During mating dances, males raise one wing and one blue paw and begin to dance in order to impress the females. The tour continues to a beach with small cliffs where you can see sea gulls, many sea lions, marine iguanas and pelicans. Most animals can be observed at arm's length. Freshly prepared lunch is served on board the yacht. During the afternoon rest, the yacht will continue sailing to the beaches of Bachas on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. First we will go to the lagoon behind the beach, often visited by flamingos. Next we will have a refreshing swim and snorkeling on a paradise uninhabited beach with white sand and turquoise water! Sea lions, different types of stingrays, sea turtles and tropical fish can join you on this underwater adventure! Return to Puerto Ayora at approximately 16:30. Free time to stroll along the pier, buy souvenirs or enjoy the sunset. PLACE ISLAND Departure from the hotel to the north, to the Itabaca Canal. Board the yacht and sail to the island of Plaza Sur. It is one of the smallest islands in the archipelago, located near the eastern tip of Santa Cruz Island. After an hour and a half of sailing, the Plaza welcomes guests with a red and green carpet of sesuvium, endemic plants scattered throughout the island, and the friendly barking of several families of sea lions that live here. The turquoise water of the ocean is in perfect harmony with the white sandy beaches and rock formations on the shore. Hiking around the island is very easy - the trail passes sea lions and sea lions and reaches the highest cliff, where ragged gulls cut the air with their calls, and sea lions, who cannot resist their rivals, climb up the almost vertical wall. At the same time, tropical birds, blue-footed boobies and frigate birds glide softly through the air. We recommend bringing binoculars to see this extraordinary wildlife up close. The view from the highest point of the ocean and the mighty waves crashing against the cliffs is an unforgettable sight. Next, the journey will continue to Cape Carrion. Lunch on board. This is a unique place to snorkel and swim alongside stingrays, sharks and hundreds of colorful tropical fish. Return to the hotel. Accommodation at the Fiesta 4* hotel. (breakfast and lunch included)

Breakfast. Transfer to Baltra airport for return flight to Guayaquil. Upon arrival in Guayaquil, transfer to a hotel on the Pacific coast (2.5 hours). Free time. Beach holiday. Accommodation for 3 nights at the Decameron Punta Centinela (All Inclusive).

Whale watching from the hotel - 45 minutes - 1 hour. Return to the hotel. One of the most impressive sights that nature gives us. This happens from June to September on the Pacific coast of Ecuador - whale watching. Humpback whales travel about 7,000 miles each year from Antarctica, at the South Pole, to the Ecuadorian coast for mating purposes. Here they give birth to their young and find alternatives to survival in warmer waters. Humpback whales can be seen in the ocean 30 minutes from shore on boats approved by the Ministry of Tourism, accompanied by specialists who will make the experience unforgettable. RECOMMENDATIONS: comfortable clothes, sports shoes, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen. During whale watching, the safety protocol announced by the instructors must be followed. Whale watching depends on climatic and sea conditions. IMPORTANT: This excursion is not recommended for pregnant women, people with spinal problems and people who have recently undergone surgery. The tour guide reserves the right to refuse any participant who does not meet these requirements or those under the influence of alcohol (without the right to a refund).

Return transfer to Guayaquil airport - check-in for an international flight.