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ECUADOR AND THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Ecuador & Galapagos
WELCOME TO ECUADOR
Quito & Highlands, Cuenca, Guayaquil, the Galapagos Islands
Native & Colorful Markets, Andean Nature, Rain & Cloud Forests
Traveling to Ecuador
There are two international airports in
Ecuador which offer non stop and
connecting air service from the USA
Quito: (UIO)
Guayaquil (GYE)
Main airports within Ecuador:
Baltra (GPS) & San Cristobal (SCY)
Cuenca, Manta, Coca, Esmeraldas
Ecuador’s Four Worlds
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
HIGHLANDS
PACIFIC COAST
AMAZON RAINFOREST
•
Ecuador’s four regions are easily
accessible and offer a wide variety of
landscapes: Coast, Andes or Highlands,
Amazon and Galapagos
•
Mega biodiversity - where the most
living things occur.
•
Pleasant climate year-round by being at
the Equator
•
Ecuador currency is the US$ Dollar
•
A country committed to responsible
tourism & sustainability
Highlands (Andes) - Quito
QUITO
The capital of Ecuador has a setting that
few cities can match. During the 13th
century it was the prosperous center of
the Kingdom of Quitus. It later became
the northern capital of the Inca
Empire. In the 16th and 17th centuries,
Colonial architects built formidable
temples, monasteries and mansions,
creating an urban jewel designated by
UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage
Site. Quito's artistic creativity awaits the
visitor in cosmopolitan galleries and
boutiques filled with contemporary
paintings, sculptures and exquisite
traditional crafts.
Daily non stop service from Miami and one stop from several USA cities
Quito - Daily Tours
TOUR SUGGESTIONS WHILE IN QUITO
Half Day Tours
•Scenic Tour of Quito (3 hours)
•Quito Scenic & Archaeological Museum (4 hours)
•Quito & Middle of the World (4.5 hours)
•Panoramic Quito by night & dinner (3 hours)
Full Day Tours Outside Quito
•Otavalo Handcrafts and cultural experience
•Otavalo Indian Market
•Cotopaxi National Park & hacienda
•Papallacta Thermal springs
•Mindo Cloud Forest
Suggested stay in Quito prior to visiting Galapagos minimum 3
days. Please check with us for daily tour details, our packages and
hotel suggestions.
GT Tours will tailor the tours based on your clients needs, interests
and budget.
Quito
A visit to Quito’s downtown colonial neighborhoods is a must to appreciate the beauty of Quito
Quito
And, to appreciate the beauty of its colonial era churches
Quito
Visiting the Colonial section of Quito
Middle of the World Monument - Quito
The Famous Monument right at
the Equator
•
Earth’s measurements made
by French & Ecuadorian
scientists
•
A must place-to-visit while in
Ecuador
•
30 minutes North of Quito
•
Dry weather
•
Great pictures!
Latitude“0” – Stand in the Middle of the World
Hotels - Quito
GREAT SERVICE AND EXCELLENT RATES
We recommend the following hotels in combination with our tours
DELUXE CATEGORY
Hilton Colon International
J W. Marriott
Le Parc
Swissotel
SUPERIOR FIRST CLASS/FIRST CLASS
Dann Carlton
Grand Hotel Mercure
Sheraton
Radisson
BOUTIQUE HOTELS
Casa Aliso
Anahi
Casa Café Cultura
Fuente de Piedra I
Casona de la Ronda (Colonial downtown)
Patio Andaluz (Colonial downtown)
Recommended – Deluxe Hotels
Hilton Colon International
Le Parc
J W Marriott
Swissotel
Recommended - First Class
Dann Carlton
Patio Andaluz (Colonial
downtown)
Grand Hotel Mercure
Café Cultura
Recommended – Boutique
Casa Aliso
Café Cultura
Anahi
Mansion del Angel
Recommended – Boutique
Casona de la Ronda (Colonial
Downtown)
Casa Gangotena (Colonial Downtown)
Patio Andaluz
(Colonial Downtown)
Villa Colonna (Colonial Downtown)
Recommended Deluxe & First Class
Hilton Colon International
Hotel Hampton Inn
Hotel Oro Verde
Hotel Sheraton Four Points
Highlands (Andes) - Otavalo
OTAVALO
(Colorful Market and plenty of Nature)
The Otavalos are a people and culture
indigenous to the Valley of Otavalo in
Northern Ecuador. Otavalo is a very
prosperous community of skilled textile
weavers, who gather to sell their
products at the market in the city of
Otavalo as they have done for
centuries.
The Otavalos are proud of their
cultural heritage, hard working people
who have managed to overcome
poverty without changing their way of
life, their traditions or their dress.
Otavalo is currently considered one of
the most important tour destinations in
Ecuador, due to its ancestral cultural
heritage.
Suggested: Minimum a full day tour to Otavalo lunch included
Highlands (Andes)- Cotopaxi National Park
Beginning in Quito and going South, is the Avenue of the Volcanoes with unparalleled views of the Andes.
Cotopaxi dominates the landscape of a National Park of the same name, where llamas graze and highelevation bird species fly, including the Andean Condor
Andes – Chimborazo Volcano
There's intimate contact with Ecuador's natural wonders, whether wandering amid the páramo moorlands in
the shadow the great Cotopaxi Volcano, admiring the dramatic sub-tropical landscapes and feeling the rush
of the waterfalls around the spa town of Baños
Andean Haciendas & Hotels we recommend
GREAT SERVICE AND EXCELLENT RATES
We recommend the following hotels in combination with our tours
DELUXE CATEGORY
San Agustin del Callo
La Mirage
FIRST CLASS
Hac ienda Pinsaqui
Hacienda Zuleta
Hacienda Cusin
Termas de Papallacta
Suggested minimum stay recommended 2 days - 1 night
Haciendas of Ecuador
A collection of beautifully kept old haciendas operating as country or hacienda inns
Haciendas of Ecuador
Traditional elegance and great service
Haciendas of Ecuador
Invite your clients to relax in comfort, tradition and luxury
Highlands (Andes) - Cuenca
CUENCA
Ecuador's most beautiful city, has the placid
atmosphere of a small city, both deeply
religious and artistic. The beauty of its
landscape combined with the harmony
between old and modern architecture, has
prompted, UNESCO to name Cuenca, a
World Cultural Heritage Site.
Both the Hispanic colonial downtown and the
new homes in the residential neighborhoods,
show how Cuenca keeps traditions of bygone
eras close to its heart. Cuenca's cobblestone
streets, graceful balconies, blossoming
gardens and religious art treasures invite you
to visit it, on foot and at a leisurely pace.
Cuenca's handicrafts are outstanding in
variety, color and quality.
Cuenca - Daily Tours
TOUR SUGGESTIONS WHILE IN CUENCA
Cuenca may be visited from Quito or Guayaquil by air or by
land or rail.
Half Day Tours
•Tour of Marvelous Cuenca (4 hours)
•Cuenca Scenic Tour (4 hours)
Full Day Tours
•Ingapirca Inca Fortress Tour
•Gualaceo Valley & Chordeleg tour
•Cajas National Park
Suggested stay in Cuenca minimum 2 days. Please check with
us for daily tour details, our packages and hotel suggestions.
G T TOURS will tailor the tours based on your clients needs,
interests and budget.
Cuenca
Street Art fairs by local artists and the making of the famous Panama Hat
Cuenca
Weaving an ageless local tradition
Cuenca – Hotel Suggestions
GREAT SERVICE AND EXCELLENT RATES
We recommend the following hotels in combination with our tours
SUPERIOR FIRST CLASS/FIRST CLASS
Hotel Oro Verde
Hotel El Dorado
BOUTIQUE HOTELS
Mansion de Alcazar (Deluxe) Santa Lucia (First Class)
Please check with us for additional hotels
Recommended First Class & Boutique
Hotel El Dorado
Hotel Oro Verde
Mansion Alcazar
Hotel Santa Lucia
Pacific Coast - Guayaquil
GUAYAQUIL
Ecuador's Pacific coast lies between
the foot of the Western Cordillera of
the Andes to the Pacific Ocean,
ranging from 20 to 180 Km. (12.5 to
112.5 miles) in width. It is most
important for agricultural products,
with bananas being king, as
Ecuador is the biggest producer and
exporter of this fruit.
Guayaquil is recommended as
a gateway to the Galapagos Islands
for travelers that have limited time to
visit the islands as well as since this
city is at sea level for travelers that
for medical reasons need to avoid
the altitude of Quito.
A view of the picturesque Las Penas
Daily non stop flights from Miami and one stop service from several USA cities.
Guayaquil - Daily Tours
TOUR SUGGESTIONS WHILE IN
GUAYAQUIL
Half Day Tours
•Scenic Tour of Guayaquil (3 hours)
•Historical Park (3 hours)
•Combined Scenic Tour of Guayaquil with
Historical Park (4.5 hours)
Suggested stay in Guayaquil minimum 2 days. Please check with
us for daily tour details, our packages and hotel suggestions.
Pacific Coast – Guayaquil
Downtown Guayaquil a mixture of old and modern architecture
Pacific Coast - Guayaquil
Visit to Malecon 2000 – Great views of Rio Guayas and surroundings
Pacific Coast – Guayaquil
Guayaquil – Hotels
GREAT SERVICE AND EXCELLENT RATES
We recommend the following hotels in combination with our tours
DELUXE CATEGORY
Hilton Colon International
Hotel Oro Verde
SUPERIOR FIRST CLASS/FIRST CLASS
Four Points Sheraton
Hotel Hampton Inn
Recommended Hotels - Guayaquil
Hilton Colon Guayaquil
Hotel Sheraton Four Points
Hotel Oro Verde
Hotel Hampton Inn
The Galapagos Islands
The islands emerged about five million years ago, give or take a million, as a
result of violent volcanic action. In geological terms, this should be considered
a recent event.
As the young islands were cooling off, say, two million years later, some
species gradually arrived. They were live organisms riding on "rafts of
vegetation" from the shores of Central and South America. Unusual climatic
events, like flooding, can take lots of vegetation rafts eventually to the ocean.
These early immigrants had to adapt to a peculiar new environment, and simply
evolved -- slowly -- in a different direction from their continental ancestors.
And, wonders of nature, they developed into species unique to the islands, with
features not seen in their past ancestors.
Galapagos Islands - Airports
Baltra Airport
San Cristobal Airport
Galapagos Islands - Straddling along the Equator, 1,000 Km west of Ecuador.
Cruise programs operate in/out of Baltra, in/out San Cristobal or use both airports for their
operation. Hotel location is also a factor to select which airport to book .
Galapagos Islands
What is like to explore the Galápagos Islands?
There are three ways of exploring the Enchanted Islands
Cruises based programs based on minimum four days to fifteen day schedules
Daily excursion to the different islands according to the cruise itinerary fully escorted by English speaking
naturalist guides. Daily briefings. All meals during the cruise.
Hotel and Lodge based programs with a minimum recommended stay of 4 days.
Depending on the hotel programs are offered with set day departures or on daily basis.
Activities offered by the hotels range from: Daily yacht cruises to nearby islands; land based tours; Island
hoping staying at hotels/lodges in different islands; sporting activities such as diving, kayaking, biking,
etc.
Combination of cruise and hotel programs
Galapagos tour suggestions…
Typical Four, Five or Eight Day Cruise
(Days of operation vary for each cruise company)
Day 1 – Depart Quito or Guayaquil
All flights depart from Quito or Guayaquil to Galapagos in the morning. Upon arrival at Baltra or San Cristobal
(depending on the cruise schedule) your clients will be met at the airport and transfer to the cruise.
Afternoon start visiting islands. (L/D)
Four Day Cruise Program
Day 2 – to Day 4 - Galapagos Islands as per cruise itinerary
Day 4 – Return to Quito or Guayaquil
Transfer to airport for return flight to Quito or Guayaquil
Five Day Cruise Program
Day 2 to Day 5 - Galapagos islands as per cruise itinerary
Day 5 – Return to Quito or Guayaquil
Transfer to airport for return flight to Quito or Guayaquil
Eight Day Cruise Program
Day 2 to Day 8 - Galapagos islands as per cruise itinerary
Day 8 – Return to Quito or Guayaquil
Transfer to airport for return flight to Quito or Guayaquil
Cruise embarkation is normally between 11:00AM &1:00PM. Disembarkation normally between 9:00AM & 11:00AM.
(Depending on cruise company your clients will be traveling to/from Galapagos on LAN Ecuador. This air portion can be
booked and ticketed thru us)
Galapagos Islands (Landings)
Wet landing to explore an Island after a “Panga” ride from mother ship
Galapagos Islands (Landings)
Dry Landing – After a “Panga” ride from the mother ship
Galapagos Islands
By Galapagos National park rules all island excursion are to be fully escorted by a naturalist
guide and limited to small groups per guide
Galapagos Islands
Incredible opportunities for photography
Galapagos Islands
Lots of exploration time and lots of photography opportunities
Galapagos Islands
A Galapagos turtle.. Probably over 100 years of age and counting….
Galapagos Islands
The ever charming and friendly Galapagos Pinguin – will swim along you!!
Galapagos Islands
Blue footed, bright red mating birds
Galapagos Islands
Pink flamingos in Galapagos. Yes indeed!!
Galapagos Islands
Unafraid of humans but friendly and playful – only in Galapagos !!
Galapagos Islands
Riding along side the dolphins or the other way around…
Galapagos Islands
The Galápagos
Marine Reserve
Galapagos Islands
GBB = Glass Bottom Boat
Guests who do not snorkel, also get to appreciate the rewarding Galapagos Marine Reserve
Galapagos Islands
For the active Galapagos explorer – Kayaking is offered in certain areas of Galapagos.
Galapagos Islands – Dive Sites
DIVE SITES IN GALAPAGOS
Dive sites and days outside Academy Bay (*) have
navigation distances between 20 -38 miles. Approx.
travel time to dive sites is 1 hour.
Floreana - Monday
Santa Fe - Tuesday
Mosquera Islet - Wednesday
Cousins Rock - Thursday
Seymour - Friday
Beagle – Saturday
(*) Academy Bay is in the Puerto Ayora Area
.
Galapagos Islands - Diving
There are only a few places in the world that compare diving to Galapagos
Galapagos Islands – Our Boats
OUR SELECTION OF TOP OF THE LINE
VESSELS, YACHTS AND CATAMARANS
DELUXE/FIRST CLASS CATEGORY
VESSELS (Capacity)
M/V Santa Cruz (90)
M/V Galapagos Explorer II
M/Y La Pinta (48)
M/Y Isabela II (40)
M/V Eclipse (48)
M/Y Eric, Flamingo & Letty (20)
S/S Mary Anne (24)
S/Y Sagitta (16)
M/Catamaran Anahi (16)
M/Catamaran Athala II
TOURIST SUPERIOR CLASS
M/Y Eden (16)
M/Y Aida Maria (16)
M/Y Daphne (16)
Galapagos Islands – M/V Santa Cruz
M/V Santa Cruz
M/V Santa Cruz
International and Ecuadorean cuisine at its best
M/V Galapagos Explorer II
Operates Four Day cruises (Wed-Sat) – Five Day cruises (Sat-Wed) – Eight Days (Sat-Sat & Wed-Wed)
M/V Galapagos Explorer II
En route to exploring one of the islands in the M/V Explorer II itinerary
M/V Galapagos Explorer II
52 suites - Average size 210 to 287 square feet
Galapagos Islands- M/Y La Pinta
Operates Eight Day – Seven Night Cruises (Friday to Friday)
M/Y La Pinta
M/Y La Pinta
Enjoying a mid day meal after the morning excursion al fresco.. Lounge areas
Galapagos Islands – M/Y Isabela II
M/Y Isabella II
M/Y Isabella II
Dinning and social areas
M/V Eclipse
M/V Eclipse
M/Y Eric, Letty & Flamingo
M/Y Eric
M/Y Flamingo
M/Y Letty
S/S Mary Anne
S/S Mary Anne
S/Y Sagitta
S/Y Sagitta
M/Catamaran Anahi
M/Catamaran Anahi
M/Catamaran Athala II
M/Catamaran Athala II
M/Y Eden
M/Y Eden
M/Y Aida Maria
M/Y Aida Maria
M/Y Daphne
M/Y Daphne
Recommended Hotels in Galapagos
PUERTO AYORA – SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
Finch Bay Eco Hotel
Red Mangrove – Aventura Lodge
Angermeyer Waterfront Inn
Recommended Hotels in Galapagos
ISABELA ISLAND
Hotel Iguana Crossing
Red Mangrove – Isabela Lodge
La Casa Marita
Recommended Hotels in Galapagos
Hotel Casa Opuntia – San Cristobal Island
Galapagos Islands - Finch Bay Hotel
Galapagos Islands - Finch Bay Hotel
Galapagos Islands - Finch Bay Hotel
Sea Finch Yacht
The Sea Finch Yacht operates daily excursions to islands for Finch Bay Hotel guests
Sea Lion Yacht
The Sea Lion Yacht operates daily islands excursions for hotel based guests.
Amazon Rainforest
Ecuador's rainforest is located in the heart of the world's largest and most famous tropical rainforest, the
Amazon Basin and is regarded as the most accessible of all the countries that share the Basin.
Amazon Rainforest
Bio-diversity at its best- A truly rain forest experience
Amazon Rainforest
Hundred of species of colorful and unusually seen birds
Amazon Rainforest
And of monkeys …….
Amazon Rainforest
Our local natives dressed for the occasion..
Rain Forest Program suggestions
TOUR SUGGESTIONS
Applicable to Napo Wildlife, Kapawi, Sacha & La Selva Lodges and the
Manatee Explorer Amazon Cruise
Day 1 – Depart Quito to Rain Forest
Transfer from hotel to airport for local flight to the Amazonia.
Transfer from flight to lodges or cruise(L/D)
Day 2 - to Day 4 Daily excursions at Lodge or Cruise
Daily fully escorted excursions by English speaking naturalist and
native guides. Activities are selected by guests depending on their
interest and physical condition (B/L/D)
Day 4 – Departure
Transfer from lodge to airport for return flight to Quito. Transfer to
hotel for overnight (B)
Above lodges and cruise also offer 5 and 8 day programs. Please
check with us for days of operation. and program details.
GT Tours will tailor the tours based on your clients needs,
interests and budget.
Rain Forest – Lodges Suggestions
GREAT SERVICE AND EXCELLENT RATES
We recommend the following lodges in combination with our tours
LODGES
Napo Wildelife Lodge
Kapawi Eco Lodge
Sacha Lodge
La Selva Lodge
Casa del Suizo
Mashpi Reserve Cloud Forest
Manatee Amazon Explorer Cruise
AMAZON WILDERNESS LODGES
The lodges and programs we have selected offer the unique opportunity to visit pristine areas of the
Amazon wilderness. Each lodge is located in a different ecosystem. Our programs are designed to
show the visitor as much of the rainforest's biodiversity as can be comfortably fitted into each day.
Travel will be by motorized canoe, dugout paddle canoe and on foot, along black water rivers, white
water rivers and vast lakes to explore parts of the Amazon headwaters where human presence is
virtually unknown.
We recommend a minimum of 3 nights in any of the lodges except Casa del Suizo minimum 2 nights
because of its closeness from Quito.
Napo Wildlife Lodge
Napo Wildlife Center Lodge
Napo Wildlife Lodge
Napo Wildlife Center Lodge
Napo Wildlife Lodge
Kapawi Eco Lodge
Kapawi Eco Lodge & Reserve
Kapawi Eco Lodge
Kapawi Eco Lodge & Reserve Lodge Accommodations
Kapawi Eco Lodge
Sacha Lodge
Sacha Lodge
Sacha Lodge
Daily guided explorations
La Selva Lodge
La Selva Lodge
La Selva Lodge
La Selva Lodge
Manatee Amazon Explorer
Manatee Amazon Explorer
Manatee Amazon Explorer
Manatee Amazon Explorer
Manatee Amazon Explorer
Mashpi Reserve -Cloud Forest
Nature lovers or bird watchers will fully enjoy these short one-day outings departing from Quito,
to the protected cloud forests of Mindo, Papallacta Pass and Pasochoa Andean forest.
We hope that you found this selling tool and our
brochure on Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
very useful.
The more you know about our destinations -- the
more you will think of us as your partner in travel
G T Tours – 7270 NW 12 Street – Suite 740, Miami, FL 33126
Telephones: (800) 666 8687 – (305) 436 0933
EMAIL: mar@ gttours.com