Tours from Ada Tours

 Breakfast at the hotel. City tour of Quito with a visit to the equator line. Duration of the excursion day including transfers - 8 hours. During the city tour of Quito, you will see fascinating panoramas, churches, domes, and roofs that are historical relics, and learn about colonial art, architecture, culture, legends, and traditions. Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and is located at an altitude of 2800 meters. Despite the earthquake in 1917, the city has the best-preserved and least-altered historical center in Latin America. The architecture and rich interiors are examples of the Quito School of Art, a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish, and indigenous art. Artists of this school worked with stone and wood to depict the most important religious events. After a one-and-a-half-hour walking tour exploring the Old Town, you will understand why Quito was the first city in the world to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Quito got its name from the Kichwa tribe that inhabited the region long before the Spanish conquest. In 1533, Sebastián de Benalcázar captured the city, which was initially the capital of the Inca Empire, and in 1541, it was elevated to the status of a Spanish city. Its full name is San Francisco de Quito. The city was the capital of the Quito state until the end of Spanish colonial rule. The Franciscan order was the first to establish itself in Quito. The Franciscans immediately began building a monastery, which became the center of education and art and has its own schools of painting and sculpture (the Church of San Francisco is visited during the tour). Around the main square, Plaza Grande, are the main buildings of the country: the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop's Palace, and the City Hall. We will visit the best example of colonial art in the city - the Jesuit church, whose facade is covered with intricate carvings. Quito is the capital city and has many contrasts, which you can appreciate by visiting the Old Town and the new areas. A beautiful view of the entire city will open up to you from the Panecillo viewpoint with the statue of the Virgin Mary with wings - the patroness of the city. We head to the "Middle of the World" (the equator line). There are two places to visit the equator line, and we will visit both places: 1.) Ciudad Mitad del Mundo. Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is a tourist and commercial center where visitors can discover a monument commemorating the geodetic expedition of 1736 that determined the passage of the equator at this location. The tourist complex "Middle of the World" belongs to the prefecture of Pichincha province, Ecuador. It is located in the parish of San Antonio in the Quito metropolitan district, north of downtown Quito. On the complex grounds stands the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations. Between 1979 and 1982, a 30-meter monument was erected, marking the spot where, it was believed, the equator line passed. A line indicating the equator extends from the center of the monument, and over the years, countless tourists have crossed it. However, in reality, the entire structure is located 240 meters south of the actual equator line, which was accurately determined in the 20th century thanks to the advent of GPS positioning. 2.) Intiñan Museum. In this museum, we will be able to conduct a series of experiments that explain the influence of the equator line on the natural forces of nature. Here, you will also receive information about the culture of ancient peoples, and we will see a series of totems from various cultures of South America. Traditional dwellings of different cultures existing in the country, such as a house with items belonging to an indigenous family that lived in this place many generations ago, are also exhibited here. Return to the hotel. Accommodation at Plaza Grande 5* Royal Suite www.plazagrandequito.com (breakfast) 

Breakfast at the hotel. We will head north of Quito on the highway, passing by the Monument of Mitad-del-Mundo and the Equator line. Then, we will travel west, stopping at a viewpoint overlooking the extinct volcano Pululahua. From here, we will head towards the Pacific coast. After approximately 2 hours of driving, we will arrive at the Tulipe Archaeological Museum to explore and learn about the Yumbo culture. We will see pools and structures built at this site. After another hour and a half, we will reach the entrance to the Mashpi Reserve, covering 1300 hectares - a haven for wildlife and biodiversity. We continue our journey to the lodge, expecting to arrive around 12:00-12:30. Guests will be welcomed with a refreshing drink and then escorted to their rooms. Typically, an introductory talk before lunch and a short break will follow. After lunch, activities commence. The specific activity chosen depends on factors such as group size, guests' physical condition, and weather conditions. After dinner, we may take an evening stroll. Accommodation at Mashpi Lodge, Wayra Room "Wayra" Rooms (19 rooms) Description: Each room has an area of 34 square meters. Fifteen of these rooms are equipped with double beds. Three pairs of these rooms are adjoining and are perfect for families or friends: 4 rooms are located on the second floor, and 2 rooms are on the first floor. All rooms are equipped with: o Wardrobes and a safe; o Luxurious bathroom with a hairdryer; o Tables, chairs, and furniture; o Bathrobe and slippers. (Include breakfast, lunch, dinner) 

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport - flight to the Galapagos Islands. Day 1 Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, a guide will meet you, assist with luggage, and escort you to the bus. A 10-minute ride to the Itabaca Channel, which separates Baltra Island from Santa Cruz Island. Crossing the Channel to Santa Cruz Island on motorboats will take 5 minutes. From here, on individual transportation, we will travel (approximately 45 minutes) across the entire island to the town of Puerto Ayora and your hotel. Note the change in the environment: from the red rocky surface in the north to the green world of wildlife in the highlands and the south. From the airport, the guide will accompany the group to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. During the journey through the island's agricultural zones with surrounding wild landscapes and various flora and fauna, we may see tortoises that served as the basis for Darwin's theory of evolution. Observe the famous Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat, and learn how private farms contribute to the preservation of these unique animals and their environment. You might hear them making sounds while munching on leaves or searching for tasty food. Here, you can see tortoises of different ages and sizes: young ones with shiny shells and leisurely old ones with partially cracked shells – traces of a long life. The well-known lava tunnels are another destination on our journey. Channels formed during the uneven cooling of flowing lava from the volcano's slopes extend from the highlands to the shores. Lava tubes are disrupted in several places, but some have survived, and you can walk through them in about 30 minutes. You will see and understand how they formed, some parts challenging to traverse, with fallen rocks. The guide will share a detailed history of the origin of these tunnels. Lunch is included. Transfer to the hotel. A welcome reception at the hotel will be followed by accommodation in our spacious rooms. Then, you will have free time to explore the port town of Puerto Ayora with its numerous souvenir shops. Accommodation at Solymar 4* Ocean View Room www.hotelsolymar.com.ec (Breakfast, lunch) 

 (confirmed after booking; both islands are equally interesting): SEYMOUR ISLAND This excursion day will give you an amazing opportunity to visit Seymour Norte Island and the Bachas beaches. We will take a bus to our yacht in the Itabaca Channel, and then embark on a one-hour cruise to Seymour Norte Island. Disembarkation on the rocky shore near a small forest of gray and silver Palo Santo trees, which are leafless for most of the year. Seymour Island is famous for numerous colonies of different bird species. The male frigates, in particular, are memorable with their red throat pouch used to attract females during the mating season, and the famous blue-footed boobies. These seabirds have wedge-shaped tails and long pointed wings. During mating dances, males raise one wing and one blue foot, starting to dance to impress females. The excursion continues on the beach with small cliffs, where you can see seagulls, many sea lions, marine iguanas, and pelicans. Most of the animals can be observed at arm's length. A freshly prepared lunch is served on yacht board. During the post-lunch break, the yacht will continue to the Bachas beaches on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island. First, we will walk to the lagoon behind the beach, often visited by flamingos. Next is a refreshing swim and snorkeling on a paradise uninhabited beach with white sand and turquoise water! Sea lions, various rays, sea turtles, and tropical fish may join you during this underwater adventure! Return to Puerto Ayora is around 4:00 PM. Free time to stroll along the pier, buy souvenirs, or enjoy the sunset. PLAZA ISLAND Departure from the hotel to the north, to the Itabaca Channel. Boarding the yacht and sailing to Plaza Sur Island. This is one of the smallest islands in the archipelago, located near the eastern tip of Santa Cruz Island. After an hour and a half of sailing, Plaza welcomes guests with a red-green carpet of sesuvium, endemic plants spread across the island, and the friendly barking of several families of sea lions that inhabit the area. The turquoise ocean water perfectly harmonizes with the white sandy beaches and volcanic formations on the shore. The hike on the island is very easy - the trail passes by sea lions and land iguanas and reaches the highest cliff, where swallow-tailed gulls cut through the air with their cries, and lonely male sea lions, unable to resist their rivals in the struggle for a harem, retreat defeated, climbing almost vertically. At the same time, tropical birds like frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, and frigates glide gently through the air. We recommend having binoculars to see this extraordinary wildlife up close. The view from the highest point on the ocean and the mighty waves crashing against the cliffs is an unforgettable sight. Next, the journey will continue to Cape Carrion. Lunch on board. This is a unique place for snorkeling and swimming with rays, reef and Galapagos sharks, and hundreds of colorful tropical fish. Return to the hotel. Free evening. Accommodation at the Solymar 4* Ocean View Room www.hotelsolymar.com.ec (Breakfast, Lunch)