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Sat : 0900 - 1700
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This is the holiday of a lifetime for nature lovers! After flying to Ecuador's capital, Quito, your adventure begins with a trip to the Mindo Cloud Forest. You'll visit a butterfly garden and orchid park and search for hummingbirds. Pose for photos on the Equator line, before you fly to Galapagos and your first base is Santa Cruz island. You'll head to a private ranch in the Highlands where giant tortoises roam free and take a boat to Isabela Island and visit a wetland. Spend time at the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre before returning to Santa Cruz to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Then sail to San Cristóbal Island and learn about the archipelago's history, before a cruise along the coast gives an opportunity to spot sea birds including the blue-footed booby.
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Depart on your flight to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. On arrival we'll transfer you to your hotel.
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Located high in the Andes, 9,000 feet above sea level, you may need a little time to acclimatise, so today you're free to relax and explore at your leisure. You could take a stroll through the UNESCO-listed Old Town or, for a fabulous panoramic view of the city, we recommend you head to El Panecillo.
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Today we travel to the market in Otavalo, considered to be one of the biggest and best in South America. It's a few hours drive from Quito, so en-route we'll stop at Mira Lago to admire stunning views of San Pablo Lake and the nearby volcanoes. Otavalo Market has lots of colourful textiles and handicrafts on offer, so you might want to have a go at bargaining for a few souvenirs. Next we'll head to Cotacachi, a laid-back town famous for its leather. The main street is packed with shops selling jackets, shoes, wallets and more, so be warned, you might be tempted to treat yourself!
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You're free to enjoy a lazy morning if you wish. However, if you enjoy snorkelling our optional excursion to Los Tuneles is a must. You'll head to one of the best snorkelling spots in the Galapagos for a chance to explore underwater lava tunnels teeming with marine life. Look out for reef sharks, sea turtles, sea horses and more.
This afternoon there will be a highlight of the whole trip as we will visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre. This conservation centre houses almost 1,000 of these creatures in different stages of development and is helping to protect them from extinction.
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There's an exciting morning ahead, as we set off on a hike up the Sierra Negra volcano. Sierra Negra is one of the most active volcanoes in Galapagos; its last eruption was in October 2005. Then we will make our way to the Volcano, and as we hike to the perimeter of the caldera, we’ll be on the lookout for bird species found only in the highlands like the bright red vermillion flycatcher and the elusive short-eared owl. Once we reach the rim, we’ll be met with a 9km view that stretches across one of the most active calderas in the world. We'll make our way back to town early afternoon.
Later, we'll travel back to Santa Cruz by boat, and after dinner you might want to stroll down to the waterfront with your fellow travellers. At night the locals can often be found playing Ecua-volley, or Ecuadorian volleyball, which is always fun to watch.
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We'll travel to another island, San Cristóbal, by boat this afternoon. After checking into our hotel, we're going to walk to the Interpretation Centre. Here you'll learn about the history of the archipelago, Charles Darwin's famous visit in the 19th century and today's work to protect the amazing landscapes. Afterwards you can make your own discoveries. Hiking trails take you to Frigatebird Hill, and if you climb it you may be rewarded with close-up views of the birds - they have a distinctive w-shaped silhouette and are able to glide for hours without flapping their wings. This evening is yours to do as you please.
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It's your final day in the Galapagos and you're free to spend it at leisure. Perhaps head to the beach for one last swim, or shop for some last-minute souvenirs.
Later, we'll drive the short distance to the airport for our flight back to Quito. We'll round off our holiday with a farewell dinner this evening.
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Today we will transfer you to the airport ready for your flight back to the UK.
To experience the best of the islands and their wildlife, this holiday requires a significant amount of walking.
Please note: During this tour you will travel to altitudes of over 9,000ft where altitude sickness can occur. If you suffer from heart or respiratory conditions, or have any other concerns, please consult your doctor.
Island Taxes of approximately $230 including Galapagos National Park entrance fee are not included in the cost of your holiday and will be payable locally upon arrival in Galapagos.
Please note - hotels in the Galapagos Islands are generally more basic than those found on the mainland of Ecuador, and all properties used have been chosen due to location and optimised for the itinerary.Hilton Colon Quito is a comfortable property in an excellent location which offers easy access to the Historic Centre, where you can admire the old town and enjoy fine dining. The well appointed rooms and modern hotel provide guests with a comfortable stay when they are in the city of Quito.
Septimo Paraiso Lodge, ecological country hotel, is located just outside of the village of Mindo. All hotel rooms have en-suite facilities with hot water from hotel's own hot spring. It offers rustic-style wooden interiors with elegant, wooden furnishing and canopy beds. Septimo Paraiso Lodge is surrounded by exotic and lavish cloud forest and offers an extraordinary experience of the amazing biodiversity of the area.
The EB Hotel Quito offers modern decor, 5-star service, unique state-of-the-art amenities an impressive lobby bar and restaurant with a fusion of local, Ecuadorian and international cuisine that will make your visit unforgettable.
Hotel Albemarle directly sits on one of the Galapagos’ spectacular beaches. A truly stunning location is complemented by the facilities and services this hotel has to offer. Guests can enjoy the fresh water swimming pool or choose to relax in a hammock or on a sun bed. The rooms are air-conditioned, have private facilities and electronic safes. Wi-Fi is also available for those staying at the Albemarle.
Blue Marlin Hotel is an excellent choice for travellers visiting San Cristobal, offering a friendly environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. Rooms at Blue Marlin Hotel offer a minibar, a refrigerator, and air conditioning providing exceptional comfort and convenience, and guests can go online with free wifi. A pool will also help to make your stay even more special.
The EB Hotel Quito offers modern decor, 5-star service, unique state-of-the-art amenities an impressive lobby bar and restaurant with a fusion of local, Ecuadorian and international cuisine that will make your visit unforgettable.
Blue Marlin Hotel is an excellent choice for travellers visiting San Cristobal, offering a friendly environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. Rooms at Blue Marlin Hotel offer a minibar, a refrigerator, and air conditioning providing exceptional comfort and convenience, and guests can go online with free wifi. A pool will also help to make your stay even more special.
The EB Hotel Quito offers modern decor, 5-star service, unique state-of-the-art amenities an impressive lobby bar and restaurant with a fusion of local, Ecuadorian and international cuisine that will make your visit unforgettable.
Experience even more of your destination by adding one or more optional experiences to your holiday before you set off. Take a look below at the extra trips you can enjoy on this tour
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When you book a holiday, you will be asked to pay a deposit, this will be made clear at the time of booking. In most cases we will charge the following deposit amount;
On some holidays we may charge a slightly higher deposit, to cover any costs we have to pay immediately to secure your booking with our suppliers. This will be made clear at the time of booking.
If you choose a tour that is within 84 days of departure you will need to pay the full balance when you book.
If you decide to cancel your confirmed booking you must notify us (or your travel agent) in writing, as soon as possible. Since we incur costs in cancelling your arrangements, you will have to pay the applicable cancellation charges up to the maximum shown below.
Our full cancellation policy can be found in our booking terms and conditions, section 8.
We have partnered with Sherpa, an on-line self service tool that allows you to search up-to-date information regarding travel entry requirements for all countries and also allows you to apply for eVisas or eTAs via their on-line portal. Just click on this link to find out more – Travel Requirements & Visa Service
You can also refer to the Foreign Travel Advice section on the gov.uk website: Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Click on your destination and then click on 'Entry Requirements'. For Health Requirements, the Department of Health also offers travellers health advice on www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, click on country information to locate your destination.
It is important to remember that passport, visa and health requirements can change before departure; therefore, we recommend you regularly familiarise yourself with the latest requirements before you travel. If you cannot travel because you have not complied with any passport/entry/immigration requirements, we are unable to accept any responsibility.
For some destinations, it is not always discernable that a visa is required for entry at the border. For example, for some customers, to travel to the United States, an ESTA may be required. For Canada, an ETA and to India, an e-visa may be needed. Please do check your requirements to avoid any unnecessary cost and delays.
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A chance to explore breathtaking sights in three fascinating South American countries.
Explore enchanting Costa Rica from the Caribbean to the Pacific. A destination where incredible highlights include Tortuguero National Park which looks out to the Caribbean Sea, the mighty Arenal Volcano and lush Manuel Antonio National Park. Breathtaking views of primary forest and incredible wildlife are the norm here, so look out for sloths, monkeys, crocodiles and more. You'll journey by boat amongst jungle-canopied canals, view the Arenal Volcano, and explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest, home to the incredibly vocal howler monkey and finish off with a relaxing stay on the Pacific Coast.
Soak up the spectacular sights and sounds of four Latin American countries - Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil - on a tour that's strictly for the adventurous. Enjoy extended time in the fascinating city of Rio de Janeiro at the end of your holiday.
Prices shown are based on twin occupancy of a double or twin bedded room with private facilities unless otherwise stated. Single occupancy supplements will apply. Travelsphere have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the hotel images provided on this website and images of room types displayed may vary to those offered on your tour. Therefore due to the possibility of inadvertent errors we do not guarantee their accuracy. Accommodation, airlines used and flight times are subject to change and will be confirmed in your final documents.
All Travelsphere holidays are financially protected by ATOL and ABTA. When you book your holiday with us you can have complete peace of mind your money is 100% protected.
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