Itinerary

Day 01  Quito:

Morning arrival and transfer from Airport to the small intimate property of Hotel Café Cultura. Afternoon to explore Quito.

 

Day 02 J: Transfer from Hotel to Quito Quito airport.

 

We depart Quito early in the morning,  for our flight to Galapagos, we arrive in Baltra at mid morning and board our boat: – Galápagos Angelito boat or similar (B)

Today we will visit North Seymour Island.

 

Day 03 : Sombrero Chino – Bartolomé Island and Sulivan Bay

 

Day 04 : Genovesa

 

Day 05 : Puerto Egas and Rabida Island

 

Day 06: return to Santa Cruz Island / Charles Darwin Reserve depart boat.

Transfer to airport: flight Galápagos – Quito,

After landing we will drive north to our Hostería Casa Mojanda, where we will have dinner and spend the night. o/n Casa Mojanda (D)

 

Casa Mojanda is an ecologically oriented inn and farm located three miles from the town of Otavalo in the Andes of northern Ecuador. At an altitude of 9,500 feet, Casa Mojanda is set on a mountainside upon 25 acres of farmland and forested gorge.

 Guests will enjoy the spacious dining room, social room, gallery and library, as well as outdoor gardens and sitting areas. At Casa Mojanda, you will get away from it all, relax in a tranquil natural setting, and enjoy our friendly family atmosphere

 

Casa Mojanda features eight guest cottages built entirely of rammed earth, wood and other natural materials. Each cottage has a garden, bath, and private terrace overlooking spectacular mountain vistas. A lovely gorge and a nearby cloud forest offer excellent opportunities to observe bird, animal and plant life.

 

Casa Mojanda is based upon the principles of ecological tourism, which seeks to exert a minimal  impact on the natural environment and actively promotes awareness of local cultures, traditions, and issues of social and ecological importance. They are continuing to explore ways that environmentally and socially aware travelers can interact with local communities in positive ways, and exchange ideas, technologies, skills, crafts, music, dance, and the like. The kitchen serves healthful and creative home cooked meals based on traditional Ecuadorian recipes and made from their own organic produce.

 

Day 07 : Walking around Lagunas Mojanda, o/n Casa Mojanda (B,L,D)

Casa Mojanda is surrounded by the "family" of three sacred mountains, Imbabura   (15,200 feet) the taita or father, mama Cotacachi (16,290 feet), and Mount  Mojanda, also known as Fuya-Fuya, one of the legendary guagua or baby mountains at an altitude of 14,040 feet. After breakfast we will have the opportunity to hike around Mojanda Lakes. These beautiful lakes are set in high páramo scenery about 17 km almost due south of Otavalo. It leads up to six lakes, dived by hills, habitat of wild rabbits. Guests can enjoy the spectacular view of the surroundings.

 

If the weather is not good as we expected, there is another option which is Cuicocha Lake. We will enjoy  learning about the orchids, hummingbirds and other exotic birds of the region. Also, we can visit a rose plantation.

 

Day 08 : Otavalo market

 

In the early morning, we head out to the hustle and bustle of market day in Otavalo. Ecuador’s best-known market, Otavalo is where you will find all manner of handicrafts and souvenirs of your visit. We will have lunch at the old Hacienda Cusin, and back to Quito in the afternoon. Overnight Café Cultura: Farewell dinner (B,L,D)

 

Day 09 : Trf out to Quito airport and flight back to US(B)

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