Ecuador Galapagos Honeymoon

Today you will take part in a tour of Quito’s old town and many of its most famous attractions.

Tour of Quito

During the historical city tour of Quito, you will explore the best preserved colonial centre of all of South America. As one of the first World Heritage Sites, it will be an unforgettable experience as if you were stepping back in time.

The first stop is the Basilica del Voto Nacional. Due to its size and style, it is considered the largest neo-Gothic temple in the Americas, and the most important piece of neo-gothic architecture in Ecuador. You will continue to the Plaza Grande, or Independence Square. Admire the historical buildings surrounding the square and it’s important history! Located here is the Presidential Palace, the Catholic Cathedral, and the Archbishop’s Palace.

Another visit you will enjoy is the most impressive of all churches, the San Francisco de Quito. The church houses masterpieces of talented indigenous artists from the famous methods of Escuela Quiteña, “Quito School”, which are the artistic traditions associated with the 17th and 18th centuries. Walk through the lively colonial streets of the old town to visit other historical highlights such as the Panecillo, from where you will have an amazing 360 degree view over the city.

The second part of this tour will take place at the north part of the city (35 minutes’ drive from Quito’s Old Town) where the equator line meets the prime meridian and the coordinates indicate point 0° 0’ 0”.

La Compañia Church

One of the highlights of the city tour is the visit to La Compañia Church, considered to be a Baroque masterpiece. The facade is made of volcanic stone and the interior is all covered with gold.

Middle of the World Monument

A must-see stop during your visit in Ecuador is the Middle of the World. Here an Equator Monument was built to honour the 18th century French Geodesic Mission, led by French scientists Condamine, Bouguer, Godin and the Ecuadorian geographer, Pedro Vicente Maldonado, who studied the curvature of the planet and who determined the supposed location of the equator. This unique place allows you to be a part of a historic landmark in what was once thought as the exact equator line, and of course you can’t miss taking your picture with the monument in the background with one foot in each hemisphere!Additionally the complex offers an Ethnographic museum, a planetarium, artisanal stores great for picking up souvenirs, coffee shops, and restaurants that serve local food.

Intiñan Museum

The Intiñan Museum is a smaller, but highly interactive museum located right next to the Mitad del Mundo Monument. Even though the monument features the division of the equator, when technology improved, geologists and cartographers realised the real equator line was just a bit off. It features outdoor exhibits of astronomical geography and explanations of the importance of Ecuador’s geographical location. One of the highlights are the solar dials, fun experiments that can only be done here, like balancing an egg on a nail, and many more activities, as well as reconstructed native homes found all over Ecuador.

Day 3 begins with the journey from Quito to Mashpi. It is the first in a three day tour of Mashpi and its surrounding area.

Mashpi – Tulip Ruins

Mashpi Lodge is located about 3 hours travelling to the northwest of Quito via the western flanks of the Andes. It blends in perfectly in the surrounding Ecuadorian Choco cloud forest with a modern, luxurious design and decor and it is where you will be staying for the next two nights.

The Ecuadorian or Andean Choco cloud forest is known for being one of the world’s best sites for bird-watching, just a few years ago it was named as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. There are many endemic plant and wildlife species here, meaning they cannot be found anywhere else in the world other than this specific micro-climate in the Andean Choco cloud forest. Once you arrive in Mashpi, you will plan your activities with the Mashpi team and receive a briefing on the lodge, accommodations, and how the activities will operate during your time in the cloud forest.

On your way to Mashpi Lodge, you will visit the archaeological ruins at Tulipe, said to have belonged to the ancient Yumbo civilisation of pre-Inca Quito, set in a magical forested location. You will taste delicious Ecuadorian appetisers and fresh-brewed coffee prepared by members of the local community before your final one-hour descent into Mashpi Lodge. You will be introduced to your naturalist guide who will briefly speak about the cloud forest and the activities offered during your stay, as well as helpful tips about what to wear and bring during the excursions. Afterwards you have time for lunch before the afternoon activities, which may include a hike through the forest or an opportunity to see the forest from above on Mashpi’s Dragonfly aerial cable car.

In the evening, your guide may ask you if you’d like to go out and search for wildlife on a night walk. When the sun sets in the Choco cloud forest, all sorts of different life forms come to life such as frogs, snakes, insects, and even tarantulas. Your guide will know how to find them and show you the best way to experience these incredible creatures.

Dragonfly Experience

The highlight of any trip to Mashpi is the Dragonfly – an exciting, open-air cable car system that carries you over, across and sometimes even directly through the forest canopy, offering guests a relaxing way to enjoy the reserve from overhead. The guides can stop the gondola you ride across the forest at any point to allow for an extended observation of any flora and/or fauna that catches your eye. An entire circuit (round trip) takes about 40-minutes to complete. Gondolas can carry up to 4 guests (plus 1 guide).

After staying the night in Mashpi Lodge Spa, you will then take part in the second day of your tour of Mashpi.

On this day you may be awakened by the mixture of bird activity, as you know, the early bird gets the worm.  After breakfast your guide may invite you for a walk to a waterfall where you can bathe in the pools with the water crashing behind you, or maybe your guide will suggest visiting the hummingbird garden, or the life centre’s butterfly farm. Here you can explore the life of butterflies, the many species found in the Mashpi area and their metamorphosis from egg, larva, caterpillar, and chrysalis to winged wonder. The guides will also discover various species of host plants that butterflies use to lay their eggs on, such as passion flowers, birds of paradise, milkweeds.

Optional Activities

Afterwards, you’ll be back for a delicious lunch where your guide will explain further the other exciting and interesting activities available at Mashpi.  You might have the opportunity to pedal on the sky bike above ground and through the canopy like one of the many birds found in the Choco Forest.  Mashpi guides are keen on noticing every sound and rustle in the leaves, hoping to reveal colorful birds, while explaining the habitat’s ecology.  Another activity available is to climb up to the observation tower to view much of the Choco cloud forest from above with a bird’s eye view and watch the sunset as it descends slowly. In the evening, the guides and staff like to prepare different and engaging lectures on the diverse wildlife and plant life, or the scientific research projects conducted in the same Choco Forest you’ve been discovering.

For your final day in Mashpi you have time to fill in as you wish. You can let your guide know if you are interested in additional activities before heading back to Quito.  You might be able to visit a waterfall or special place in the forest to soak it all in one last time.  Check out will be at about 11:00 am and you will be transported back to Quito to your hotel.

Dinner at Theatrum Restaurant

Located in Quito´s Historical Centre on the second floor of the Sucre National Theater, the oldest theater built in Quito in the 1880’s and an important cultural building, you will find the Theatrum Restaurant & Wine Bar; a perfect setting for top-class theatre performances, from dance to musical concerts.

Here, you will enjoy a five-course tasting menu, composed of spectacular traditional Ecuadorian-Mediterranean cuisine created by some of the most talented chefs in the country.

Compania de Jesus Hacienda and Rose Plantation

Ecuador is the third largest exporter of roses in the world. They are much more appealing compared to roses from other locations due to their size, longevity, and variation of over 500 colours, thanks to the special micro climate conditions of Ecuador, especially along the equator.

You will visit the hacienda “La Compañia de Jesus”. It originally belonged to the Jesuit Order when they established themselves in Ecuador about 300 years ago. What was once a barn for the Jesuits to keep them safe and in hiding, has been transformed into a unique rose museum with an exquisite permanent exhibition showing more than 5,000 different stems of the most colourful varieties of roses grown at the plantation. You will be able to discover this interesting and colourful showroom while enjoying a typical refreshment known to the region.

Otavalo and Surroundings

You will first visit the town of Otavalo, famous for its indigenous market that is held every day, with the largest bargains and traders present on Saturdays. The market is an ancient tradition and cultural exchange site among the Otavalo community. Furthermore, you can visit the peaceful town of Cotacachi, famous for its leather products such as shoes, purses, coats and belts. You can browse the products and meet the local craftsmen who create these beautiful pieces.

Hacienda Zuleta

You arrive at Zuleta in the afternoon after a drive through lush pasture lands. With some luck you will have stunning views of the snow-capped volcano, Cayambe, which is just a few miles away from Zuleta. A host will welcome you personally upon arrival, and assist you with check in to your guest suite. Once settled, one of the family owners or managers will personally tell you about the activities the hacienda offers and find out about your personal preferences, needs or questions over tea or coffee.

After planning your stay, you will be shown around the main building. You will learn more about Zuleta’s history, see ex-President Galo Plaza Lasso’s private library, our chapel and wander through our beautiful gardens. As the sun sets, it gets chilly at Zuleta, so enjoy some wine and our farm made cheese in front of the fireplace while reading from our vast libraries prior to dinner.

There are a number of activities you can enjoy during your two-night stay which are listed in the additional information section.

Luxury Picnic

You will end Day 7 with a picnic. You can enjoy an exclusive meal in the fresh Andean air and stupendous scenery in the hacienda’s tranquil picnic area, surrounded by Caranqui mounds and towering mountains. You will be served by your own personal chef and delight in an array of flavors with a delicious traditional meal.

A free day for travelling. You will spend the night at EB Quito Hotel.

You will have a private transfer from your selected hotel to the Quito airport and then fly to Baltra airport on Santa Cruz Island.

Day 9 is the first of a four-day program through the island.

Flight to Galapagos and Highlands Excursion

In the continental airport you will have to pay $20 in cash per person for the INGALA card, also known as the Transit Control Card.  This is a migratory card that you will need to enter the Galapagos Islands and present when arriving to immigration.  You will also need this card upon leaving the islands. Keep it in a safe and secure place during your time in the Galapagos Islands. Additionally, while at the continental airport before leaving, you will pass your luggage through a screening process to make sure no invasive plants or animals will enter the Galapagos Islands.

After lunch, you will go to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, up to a private farm where you will enjoy your first visit to the Galapagos Islands. Your guide will take you for a nice walk among the beautiful trees of the forest including ferns and sedges, miconias, etc. Here you will be amazed with the giant tortoises that roam freely in the farm, their natural habitat. It is very important not to bother, touch or feed these beautiful animals. The area also contains several species of birds including the famous Darwin finches, the rare “Pájaro Brujo” (Wizard Bird) with it’s beautiful red coloration, and many more. At this place you also find a simple but nice structure where you can rest and buy drinks, beers or a try delicious local fruit juices and snacks. Later on you’ll head to one of the many lava tunnels existing in the area. Here you enjoy of a short hike into the tunnel, where one can admire the amazing results of powerful volcanic eruptions occurred some 5 million years ago that shaped the islands we know now.

You will then stay the night at Finch Bay Hotel.

During the following two days in the Galapagos (Day 10 and Day 11), you can choose one land based activity and one navigable activity each day.  The activities will be booked according to their availability. The list of these tours can be found in the additional information section.

Today you will fly from Baltra Island to Quito. The air ticket is sold separately. You will have a private transfer to your hotel in Papallacta. The airport is located in the town of Tababela, about 43 km from Quito and it will take approximately 45 minutes to one hour to arrive.

Papallacta Hot Spring

You will visit the Termas de Papallacta, located in the area where the Andes begin to transform into the cloud forest and shortly after into the Amazon.  It is a place where the beauty of the natural environment combines with unique and cozy atmospheres. This will be a special stay designed with you in mind in order to enjoy unforgettable moments as a romantic getaway.

Private transfer from Papallacta to Quito Airport. From here you will take your departure flight home.