Tours from Ada Tours

Arrival in the capital of Ecuador, the city of Quito. Meeting a guide. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at Hotel Finlandia 4* www.hotelfinlandiaquito.com .

Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is a tourist complex where visitors can discover a monument commemorating the geodetic expedition of 1736, which established the passage of the equator line in this location. The "Middle of the World" tourist complex belongs to the prefecture of the province of Pichincha, Ecuador. Between 1979 and 1982, a 30-meter monument was erected, marking the place where it was believed the equator line passed. A line marking the equator extends from the center of the monument, which countless tourists have crossed over the years. But in reality, the entire construction is located 240 meters south of the actual equator line, which was accurately calculated in the 20th century thanks to the emergence of GPS positioning systems.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport - flight to the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, your guide will meet you and assist with luggage, then escort you to the bus. The ride to the Itabaca Channel, which separates Baltra Island from Santa Cruz Island, takes 10 minutes. Crossing the channel to Santa Cruz Island on motorboats will take 5 minutes. From here, we will proceed by private transportation (approximately 45 minutes' drive) across the entire island to the town of Puerto Ayora and your hotel. Notice the change in the surrounding environment: from the red rocky surface in the north to the green world of wildlife in the highlands and south. On the way 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 the surrounding wild landscape and various flora and fauna, we may encounter giant tortoises, which served as the basis for Darwin's theory of evolution among other endemics. Today, we will observe the famous Galapagos land tortoises in their natural habitat, and you will learn how private farms contribute to the conservation of these unique animals and their habitat. Here, you can see tortoises of different ages and sizes: young ones with shiny shells and lazy old ones with partially cracked shells - traces of a long life. The well-known lava tunnels are another destination of our journey. Channels formed by the uneven cooling of lava flowing from the slopes of the volcano stretch from the highlands to the shores. Lava tubes are eroded in some places. However, there are well-preserved lava tunnels up to 1 km in length. You will see and understand how they were formed, sometimes difficult to pass, and sometimes with fallen boulders. The guide will share the detailed history of the origin of these tunnels. Included lunch at "Highlands." Transfer to the hotel. After a welcome reception at the hotel, you will be accommodated in rooms and have some leisure time. Next, you will have free time to explore the port town of Puerto Ayora with its many souvenir shops, restaurants, and beautiful waterfront.
Accommodation at Fiesta Hotel 4* www.galapagoshotelfiesta.com (breakfast, lunch)

(to be confirmed after booking; both islands are equally interesting):
Seymour Island
This excursion day offers you an incredible opportunity to visit North Seymour Island and Bachas Beach.
We will depart by bus to our yacht at Itabaca Channel, and then embark on a one-hour sail to North Seymour 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.
North Seymour Island is famous for its numerous colonies of different bird species. Particularly memorable are the male frigatebirds with their red throat pouches, which they use to attract females during mating season, and the famous blue-footed boobies. These seabirds have wedge-shaped tails and long pointed wings. During mating rituals, males raise one wing and one blue foot and begin dancing to impress the females. The excursion will continue to a beach with small cliffs, where you can see seagulls, many sea lions, marine iguanas, and pelicans. Most animals can be observed at arm's length.
A freshly prepared lunch will be served onboard the yacht.
During the post-lunch relaxation period, the yacht will continue sailing to Bachas Beach on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island. First, we will walk to the lagoon behind the beach, often visited by flamingos. Next, we'll enjoy a refreshing swim and snorkeling at a paradise uninhabited beach with white sand and turquoise water! Sea lions, various species of rays, sea turtles, and tropical fish may join you during this underwater adventure!
Return to Puerto Ayora around 16:00. Free time to stroll along the pier, buy souvenirs, or enjoy the sunset.
Plaza Island
Departure from the hotel heading north to the Itabaca Channel. Board the yacht and sail to South Plaza Island. This is one of the smallest islands in the archipelago, located near the eastern tip of Santa Cruz Island. After a journey of about one and a half hours, Plaza Island welcomes guests with a colorful carpet of Sesuvium plants, endemic to the region, spread across the entire island, and the friendly barks of several families of sea lions that inhabit the area. The turquoise waters of the ocean perfectly complement the white sandy beaches and volcanic formations on the shore. The island hike is quite easy, with the trail passing by sea lions and land iguanas and reaching the highest cliff, where swallow-tailed gulls slice through the air with their cries, and solitary male sea lions, unable to compete with their rivals for a harem, retreat defeated, climbing almost vertically up the cliff. At the same time, tropicbirds, blue-footed boobies, and frigatebirds gracefully glide through the air. We recommend bringing binoculars to observe this extraordinary wildlife up close. The view from the highest point over the ocean and the mighty waves crashing against the cliffs is an unforgettable sight.
The journey continues to Punta Carrion. Lunch will be served onboard. This unique spot is perfect for snorkeling and swimming alongside rays, reef and Galapagos sharks, and hundreds of colorful tropical fish.
Return to the hotel. Free evening.
Accommodation at Fiesta 4* Hotel www.galapagoshotelfiesta.com
(breakfast, lunch)