Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Quito through the historical center of this culturally diverse city! See the Independence Square with the Government Palace and the Cathedral (outside), admire the facade of church La Compania de Jesus. Afterwards, visit the famous hill of the old town, Panecillo (little bread) where you will see the angel statue “Virgen de Quito.”

Later, visit the Equatorial Line Monument called “Middle of the World” where you get a truly rare experience to stand in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres simultaneously!

The Equatorial Monument marks the spot where an 18th-century French scientific expedition established the exact position of the Equator. The area has been built as a typical colonial town, with restaurants, gift shops and Post Office with philatelic sales. Visit the monument and Ethnographic Museum, which shows the history of the Indian cultures of Ecuador.

Discover the world-famous Indian handicrafts market in Otavalo. Otavalo's indigenous residents have achieved economic prosperity as a result of their skill in weaving a tremendous variety of designs in belts, tapestries, ponchos and other clothing items. Residents have a long tradition as artisans and traders and they commonly travel to Europe and other countries in the Americas to sell their wares.

See families wearing their colorful clothes and speaking Quichua as their first tongue and Spanish as their second in this typical indigenous city. Enjoy the unique variety of handicrafts at the giant market and take some new souvenirs with you. 

Continue to the town of Cotacachi, known as Ecuador’s center for leatherworks. Here you can stroll along the small streets and pop into the various shops to pick up a unique leather souvenir.

Visit the Santa Cruz highlands and see the Twin Craters, also known as Los Gemelos. Located side by side and connecting Puerto Ayora to Baltra, the magnificent Twin Craters were formed as a result of the collapse of the crust into the crater. There are many craters of this type in this area, signaling the possibility that these craters are all elements of the same fissure. 

The vegetation of this area is dominated by Scalesia trees, giving the whole landscape a lush green feel. See a lava tunnel and take a short walk where you can observe the famous giant tortoise in its natural environment. Have lunch in the highlands.

On this full-day boat excursion, visit one of the Galapagos islands and witness the astonishing wildlife all around you. Enjoy lunch on board. 

• North Seymour: Located North of Baltra, North Seymour is one of the best places to see blue-footed boobies and Frigatebirds. Blue-footed boobies are found on the flat area near the coast and nest from May to November. Continuing the trail to the interior, stumbles upon the biggest congregation of Frigatebirds in the island. While on North Seymour, there is a high chance of seeing a Frigatebird robbing a booby, a gull or even another Frigate bird for food. 
• South Plaza: This island is famous for its extraordinary flora like the towering cacti "trees" that form the principal diet for both the land iguanas and the cactus finch. Other birds that may flutter by include lava gulls, yellow warblers and red-billed tropicbirds with their elaborate tails. You also might see a large colony of sea lions lounging in the sun!
• Bartholomew: A tiny island of just 0.5 square miles, Bartholomew offers one of the most spectacular views of the Archipelago. Located near the west coast of James, on the other side of Sullivan Bay, the island is famous for its Pinnacle Rock, which is the representative characteristic of Bartholomew. The climb to the high peak is both challenging and worth-doing. On your way up, you will encounter different formations of volcanic origin like spatter and tuff cones, lava flows and lava tubes. Once on the summit, admire the spectacular view of the surroundings. 
• Santa Fe: The island of Santa Fe is one of the oldest islands of the archipelago. Its age and isolation have allowed several endemic animals to evolve, including species of land iguana, rice rat and gecko. On the northern coast, visit Bahía Barrington, a small tranquil bay where you can observe green sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies and Frigatebirds. Sea lions are the most obvious sight on Santa Fe with two large colonies on the beaches and pups playing with snorkelers in the bay. 
• Dragon Hill: This rocky, low-lying hill on the northwestern side of Santa Cruz Island is home to an impressive population of Galapagos land iguanas, or miniature dragons. Explore the desert-like landscape, pass through forests of cacti and fragrant Palo Santo trees and see flamingos at the lagoon!

*The excursion is shared with international travelers and accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

Tortuga Bay is arguably one of the most beautiful beaches in South America. Be sure to keep an eye open for the marine iguanas, sea turtles, sharks, pelicans and the occasional flamingo. A western rocky edge divides the beach, resulting in a calm small cove and beach surrounded by mangroves. Here you'll have the opportunity to swim and snorkel around the bay. 

When Charles Darwin came to the Galapagos Islands in 1835 he found some truly incredible species of animals and in turn, became inspired to develop his theory of evolution. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and find the famous giant tortoises, the baby-tortoise house, iguanas and more!

See how the conservation of the islands is conducted and understand the huge efforts of scientists, park rangers and park managers to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Above all, the reduction of brought-in animals is very important to the natural balance of the archipelago. The Research station supports scientists all over the world with their work at Galapagos.