Ecuador: Volcanoes, the Amazon & the Galápagos Islands

You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle. There will be some stops along the way to your OMG Stay in the Cotopaxi area.

Visit the Intiñan Museum (Intiñan Site meaning 'Pathway of the Sun') with interactive exhibits displaying the science and myths behind the equatorial line. You will have the opportunity to interact with phenomena that occur in nature which can be tested on the magnetic equatorial line. The centre also has displays highlighting the local indigenous cultures. There is also a chance to set foot on both sides of the Equator, for which the country of Ecuador is named.

Sit down for a delicious lunch at a restaurant located on the edge of the crater of the Pululahua volcano. The interior offers panoramic views of the constantly changing landscape and was handmade using only local materials to create an inviting space that is in harmony with the natural land surrounding it.

Weather permitting, sit around a bonfire to stay warm in the cool mountain air. Eat some tasty fresh s'mores that are toasted on the fire and gaze up at the stars.

Spend a full day immersed in the wilds of Cotopaxi National Park and the high Andean ecosystem. Begin with a visit to Limpiopungo Lake, featuring amazing views of the Cotopaxi volcano. From the parking lot of the lake, the group will embark on a 2-hour hike up to 4000m and back. Then, you'll visit the Pucara de Salitre ruins, which are the remains of an old military fortress strategically built on a hilltop for the 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape. A boxed lunch will be included and eaten overlooking some of the best vistas in the park.

The restaurant at your OMG Stay lodge offers on-site regional cuisine and a local chef who will regale you with delicious homemade meals. During this cooking class you will learn how to make a traditional pastry from Ecuador called Quimbolitos. This pastry contains raisins and is steamed in an achira or plantain leaf to keep the moisture in the dough, and to add flavour. The batter is a mix of cornflour, wheat flour, butter, eggs, sugar, and creamy cheese. After you learn how to prepare this tasty treat, you will enjoy the fruits of your labour over a cup of coffee or glass of milk.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle en route from your OMG Stay in Cotopaxi to Baños. There will be stops along the way to a waterfall, for lunch, and an orientation walk of this quaint mountain town.

Enjoy an orientation walk in Baños with your CEO, followed by a Melcocha demonstration and free time. Baños is a city in Ecuador's Tungurahua province, considered the gateway to the Amazon Basin and known for its hiking trails, hot springs, and active volcano to the south. Walk about the town, pass by The Church of Our Lady of Holy Water, and watch a special kind of Ecuadorian candy be handmade before your eyes— mostly produced in this small highland town. The process requires strength for squeezing the sugar cane and kneading it into the correct shape and consistency.

Spend some time on your own in Baños. Opt for a short walk along a nearby trail or visit some of the local artisan shops.

Spend a free afternoon back at the hotel property in Baños. Opt to visit the spa, book another adventure activity through the hotel, or simply relax while staring at the impressive views of Tungurahua Volcano, Llanganates National Park, and the charming town below. From hot spring soaks to horseback riding there are plenty of options to be as active or leisurely as you wish.

Option 1: Start the day with a bike tour! Enjoy private transport from your hotel to the La Suiza area where the biking adventure starts. Then pedal through the stunning highland scenery on an exhilarating ride to Baños, travelling a total of 35km. Option 2: Begin the day with a trekking adventure. Board a short transfer to Baños where the hike starts to Torre Al Cielo (Tower to the Sky) and Casa del Árbol (Tree House). Here you'll find the famous 'Swing at the End of the World'. Torre Al Cielo offers great views of the Tungurahua Volcano. Total distance: 7km (4.34 miles) Total elevation: 762m (2,500ft)

El Pailón del Diablo is located about 30 minutes outside of Baños. The Spanish name translates to "The Devil's Cauldron" in English. These powerful falls are 80m high and pull their strength from Rio Verde. The group will take a short walk to the falls before returning to the van. Total distance: 2km (1.3 miles) Total elevation: 148m (485ft)

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle as you travel from Baños to Punta Ahuano for the next leg of today's journey into the Amazon.

From Punta Ahuano sail in a motorized canoe 15 minutes down the river to your lodge stay in the Amazon in a low-slung, lightweight boat.

This afternoon, you’re going to meet a Kichwa family and see what it’s like to live in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest. Your guide will explain how this family makes chicha, an Amazonian staple that comes from yuca and sweet potato. During this unique cultural experience you will discuss the family's traditions, beliefs and history. Then, hear about what daily life is like for them in such a unique environment with the modern world encroaching on their traditional ways of life.

Take advantage of a few hours of free time at the lodge located along the bank of the Arajuno River. From the balcony of your cabaña, you can relax in a hammock or deck chair and observe hummingbirds, or visit the open-air lounge with a pool and full-service bar.

Float down the river near the lodge gazing at the sky and tree-lined banks. A guide will accompany you on a motorized canoe and pick you up at the end of the float.

Expand your knowledge of local food production and learn everything there is to know about cacao. If it's in season, collect cacao pods from the nearby plants while learning about the history of the pods in Ecuador. The plant remains a key export and fundamental in supporting local communities across the country. Roast and de-shell the beans, then re-heat the beans with milk and cinnamon into a fondue to be eaten with local fruits. Then, enjoy a fire-side, traditional jungle snack!

From the lodge, paddle 30 minutes along the river to Misahualli Port in a low-slung, lightweight boat.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Soak in the natural hot springs the area is known for and let the mineral waters, which vary in temperature, soothe your body. Make your way through the circuit with views of the Antisana volcano in the distance. After an hour in the mineral springs, the group will have lunch together at the nearby restaurant featuring regional cuisine specialities.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle as the group transfers from Papallacta to your accommodation in Quito.

Sit back and enjoy the flight from Quito to Baltra, the gateway to the Galápagos.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of your private vehicle en route to your lunch stop. First, travel 10 minutes by public bus to the Canal Itabaca ferry for a short ride across, and then via private transfer the group will travel to the lunch stop in Puerto Ayora.

Cut swiftly through the water en route to the next stop (and hang on to your hat).

Enjoy a few hours of free time to enjoy the views on the largest Island in the archipelago.

Put on your swimsuit, grab a snorkel and head out to explore the waters to see what’s living under the sea. In the morning the group will travel by boat to Los Túneles, about a 40 minute ride away from Puerto Villamil. The lava formations and mangroves make this an ideal place for snorkelling. Keep an eye out for eagle rays, sea turtles and large schools of colourful fish. Lunch will be had onboard the boat with excellent views over the water.

After returning from snorkelling, the afternoon is yours to explore Isabela Island on your own. Opt to swim, catch some waves with a surfing lesson or hike along nearby coastal trails. Dinner later will also be at your leisure.

Option 1: Lace up your hiking boots to explore Sierra Negra Volcano, which has the largest basaltic caldera in the Galápagos. The volcano last erupted in June 2018. Hike to the rim of the 10km (6 mi) wide crater. Trek across the moon-like landscape of the lava fields and fumaroles, and enjoy spectacular views looking north toward Fernandina and the rest of Isabela Island. This hike is 7km in total (3.5 km each way). Lunch will be had at a local restaurant. Option 2: Snorkelling excursion to Tintoreras Shark Alley to observe the whitetip reef sharks found swimming in the channels between the rocks. Keep an eye out for sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas and rays as well as the sharks. It's the perfect place to glide along watching the magic unfold under the water’s surface. Enjoy a small calm turquoise bay and loads of wildlife. Lunch will be had at a local restaurant.

Spend a free afternoon on Isabela Island. Opt for more swimming or snorkelling, bike to the Wall of Tears or book a surf lesson. If you're looking for a more relaxing afternoon, spend it lounging in the sun with a good book.

Cut swiftly through the water this morning en route to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island.

Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos' ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community. Walk around the grounds and visit the exhibition hall to learn more about this important and historical organization.

Enjoy a walk along a lava stone pathway to the beautiful white beach of Tortuga Bay. Relax on the beach, walk along the mangroves looking for marine iguanas and birdlife. Kayak and take a look for sea turtles and manta rays in the shallow areas under clear turquoise waters on the south side of Santa Cruz Island. Keep an eye out for nearby pelicans, blue-footed boobies and other seabirds.

Watch the sunset on the island of Santa Cruz with a cocktail-making experience, where you will learn how to prepare a signature drink along with a snack. Listen as the waves crash nearby and the sounds of wildlife close out the day.

Head to Santa Cruz’s verdant highlands. This is a perfect place to hike through the grounds and see giant tortoises in their natural environment, before savouring an included lunch.

Visit an organic farm where you will learn more about the economy of the Galapagos and how hydroponic crops are helping to protect the environment in order to reduce the consumption of water within agriculture. As you walk through the property you will also learn about the other organic produce grown throughout the islands like coffee, cacao, and vegetables. Finish the experience with a tasting at your host's home featuring empanadas and local coffee. During the experience, the group will also try different endemics plants like, pinneaples, Scalesias, and figs.

El Garrapatero beach is accessed by a short walk along an improved trail through diverse flora such as Poison Apple trees and Mangroves. A small lagoon near the beach is often frequented by Flamingos depending on the season and the white sand beach is ideal for swimming, snorkeling and relaxing.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of your private vehicle en route Baltra Airport. First, travel 40 minutes to the Itabaca Canal ferry for a short ride across, then the group will finish the journey to the airport via public bus.

Sit back and enjoy the flight from Baltra Airport back to Quito.

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.