Adventure in Ecuador

Flight to Quito.

Arrival at Quito International Airport. Welcome by your French-speaking guide and transfer to your hotel.
Dinner not included. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure for the historic center with your French-speaking guide. Ascent to the Panecillo for a panoramic view of the city.

You will visit the must-sees of the largest colonial city center in South America, a witness to the indigenous, colonial, inquisition, and so-called Republican eras: Independence Square, Cathedral, La Compañía de Jesús, Church and Convent of San Francisco.

Lunch included in an old building from the Republican era in the historic center.

Departure south along the chain of volcanoes until reaching the small town of Lasso in the Cotopaxi Region, where we will spend the night in a beautiful hacienda.

Dinner included.

Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hacienda.

Departure to Cotopaxi National Park, home to the world’s highest active volcano, peaking at 5890 meters. Discovery of the Andean high plateaus, lunar landscapes where the “chagras,” horseback farmers, live. Stop at Limpiopungo Lagoon. Hike to the José Rivas Refuge.

We begin the 2-hour horseback ride, following and crossing the Pita River to then reach the canyon that leads into forests and fields transforming into impressive waterfalls; there is the possibility of seeing condors flying overhead.

Lunch included in a mountain restaurant. In the afternoon, return to the city of Quito. Dinner included. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure for the Amazon, descending the slopes of the Andes mountain range. We make a stop at the Papallacta hot springs so you can enjoy their medicinal waters and relax in a natural setting.

Dinner included.

Continuation toward the Amazon. Arrival at La Punta Ahuano beach. Disembark from the bus for the short canoe crossing to the Lodge. The objective of this day is to enjoy the Amazonian atmosphere and relax in the afternoon by the pool.

Supper included. Possibility of a night walk to observe the wildlife. Night at the Lodge.

For this second day in the Amazon, you will depart early in the morning to La Isla island to observe endemic birds. Then, return to the Lodge for a buffet breakfast.

Breakfast at the Lodge.

The morning will be devoted to a walk in the jungle with a native guide, accompanied by your French-speaking guide. This is the opportunity to observe the flora and fauna and learn about medicinal plants and the way of life of the indigenous people of the Amazon forest.

Buffet lunch included at the Lodge.

The afternoon will be dedicated to encounters, with the presentation of a community and its inhabitants. The principle is to share their way of life, with two highlights: the blowpipe, a hunting weapon, and chocolate, extracted from their forest plantations.

Dinner included and overnight at the Lodge.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer by canoe then by bus. We will head to Tena from where we will begin our rafting adventure along the Jatunyacu River (3 hours). The Jatunyacu River is one of the most appreciated rivers for rafting in the country. It is located in Tena, in Llanganates National Park. An excellent trip for beginners as well as experts, it offers the perfect combination of exciting rapids.

Calm pools and fabulous jungle landscapes to delight everyone. Being the upper course of one of the two rivers that form the mighty Amazon River, this is a rafting adventure that should not be missed! No prior rafting experience is necessary. At the end of the adventure, we head to a site to change clothes and continue the journey.

Dinner included.

Continuation for a slow and gradual ascent towards the Andes cordillera. This journey is rich in contrasts, passing from the heat and humidity of the Amazon to an intermediate vegetation located at an altitude of 1,820 m.

Arrival in the small town of Baños. Supper included. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Our bike descent to the Route des Cascades will be filled with lots of adrenaline; we will cycle about 17 KM of road with spectacular views. After passing through long tunnels, you will discover, on the renowned Route des Cascades, a very turbulent little river at the end of the route. It completes its long descent into a deep hole surrounded by basalt, then falls again from a height of 80 meters. This wonder of nature is called the Chaudron du Diable.

You will continue along this magnificent Route des Cascades with a stop at the cable car that crosses the Pastaza River, to get close to the waterfall called Voile de la Mariée.

Dinner included near the Chaudron du Diable. After your dinner, return by bus to Baños to continue our journey to Riobamba.

Supper included. Night at the hacienda.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit to what is recognized as the first Hispanic church in the country and discovery of vegetable ivory, the Tagua. Continuation to the Pitishi viewpoint if time permits, in order to admire and understand the Devil’s Nose railway.

Arrival at the Inca archaeological site of Ingapirca. Lunch included near the site. Tour of the Inca archaeological site of Ingapirca, located at 3,200 m altitude.

Continuation to the city of Cuenca. Dinner included. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit to a Panama hat factory, originating from Ecuador, followed by a short guided tour of the city.

Lunch included.

Free afternoon to enjoy this beautiful city of Spanish architecture, very pleasant and well organized for pedestrians. Your guide will remain at your disposal.

Dinner included. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit to Cajas National Park. Magical, wild, enchanting landscapes. This park has nearly 165 lagoons larger than 1 hectare in surface area and 621 smaller than 1 hectare; there are a total of 786 bodies of water. We will take a walk to Laguna Toreadora, which will take us about 2 hours to enjoy a unique páramo landscape.

Lunch included.

Continuation to Guayaquil.

Dinner included.

Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport or extension of the trip to the Galapagos Islands.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Your French-speaking transfer guide will accompany you to the airport for your departure to the Galapagos.

Welcome by your French-speaking naturalist guide upon arrival at Baltra Airport, followed by transfer to the capital, Puerto Ayora.

You will head to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island to discover the twin craters, volcanic formations caused by the subsidence of the superficial layers of earth. Observation of the flora and fauna.

Continuation with a visit to a farm with giant tortoises roaming freely.

You will then traverse a lava tunnel from end to end over a distance of 300 meters underground. Lava tunnels, splendid volcanic formations, demonstrate by their scale how these islands originate from large underwater volcanic eruptions.

Dinner included at the farm. Continuation to Puerto Ayora and check-in at the hotel.

Supper included. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Walk of about 45 minutes to Tortuga Bay beach, one of the largest fine white sand beaches in the archipelago. Marine iguanas and migratory coastal birds can be observed. The beauty of the environment and the tranquility of its waters will reward this hike.

Lunch included.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about the history, flora and fauna, social issues, its inhabitants and the evolution of the Galapagos Islands through its interpretation rooms. We will also appreciate the emblematic stuffed “Lonesome George,” as the last of his species.

Dinner included. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

You can visit one of the following islands each day, depending on boat availability. In case of any hindrance, South Plaza Island or another island may replace one of the above-mentioned islands.

Boat excursion to South Plaza Island. Despite their small size, these islands possess great biological richness. Fringed with turquoise waters, they house a large population of iguanas and all kinds of seabirds, and host one of the most important sea lion colonies in the archipelago. Return to Puerto Ayora.

Boat excursion to Bartolomé Island. Discovery of the Galápagos Islands aboard a small boat. Transfer to the Itabaca Channel and navigation to the small island of Bartolomé (subject to availability – possibility of other islands). Dry landing and short climb of 600 m (wooden staircase) to the summit of the volcanic cone (115 m). Beautiful view of the entire Galápagos. Then, wet landing in a small cove and possibility of swimming. Return to Puerto Ayora via the Itabaca Channel. Possibility to take a walk on the malecón of Puerto Ayora.

Boat excursion to North Seymour Island. Transfer to the north of the island and navigation of about 1 hour to Seymour Island (subject to availability – possibility of other islands). Landing near a small palo santo grove. Among the discoveries: California sea lions, land iguanas, magnificent frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies… Possibility (depending on availability) to visit Bachas Beach. Return to Puerto Ayora via the Itabaca Channel.

Dinner included on board.

Return to Puerto Ayora and transfer to the hotel.

Dinner included.

Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Our first activity is kayaking in Academy Bay. This is the best way to discover the wild secrets of the Galapagos Islands. Explore this charming archipelago and the richness of its coves, beaches, and marine wildlife. Sea kayaking takes you outdoors to the heart: no engine, no noise, no pollution. Glide effortlessly along lava channels, blue lagoons, quiet coves, and white-sand beaches to discover the treasures of the islands. The activity will last approximately 3 hours. In this area, snorkeling is not allowed; it is exclusively for kayaking.

Lunch included.

Boarding a boat to observe blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, gulls, and other endemic birds. Snorkeling in Franklin Bay, where you can observe a wide variety of colorful fish of all sizes, sea turtles, small sharks, and the blue sharks of the ravine, which are completely harmless. You will disembark to observe the island’s vegetation as well as marine iguanes, then continue to Las Grietas, lava fissures. You will also visit the salt mines and a natural pool where the salty seawater meets the freshwater from the upper part of the island. An ideal spot for swimming with the fish and snorkeling.

Dinner included. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Guayaquil. Free dinner (at Santa Cruz airport or Guayaquil). Transfer to the hotel in Guayaquil.

Free supper. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for the return flight.