W ith our new Galapagos Islands Multi-Sport itinerary, we’ve replaced the ship portion of our Galapagos visit with camping and hotel stays on the islands. Leave the crowds of visitors and well-worn paths behind and spend time with your family actively exploring the islands.

The extra time on the islands will be used to maximize opportunities for wildlife viewing and exploration. Your family will discover wildlife as you kayak around the nesting grounds at Tijeretas and spend a night camping on the beach at Puerto Grande. You will have the opportunity to view the amazing underwater wildlife while snorkeling around the lava remains at Kicker Rock and the unique formations that are Los Tuneles. You’ll also hike to Sierra Negra Volcano, where you can explore the area surrounding this massive volcanic crater.

In the Andean Highlands, we’re sticking with the activities that we know kids love, including doing GPS orienteering activities and exploring Otavalo’s indigenous marketplace. You’ll have the opportunity to do a community culture activity with the Huarmi Maqui organization and also visit the Condor HUASI project and enjoy a bonfire at our Hacienda. At every turn, this itinerary offers something to keep your family active and interested.

This trip is for the adventurous family that is eager to trade the comforts of a cruise ships for a tent on a beach and a quaint bed and breakfast in order to discover the flora and fauna of the Galapagos in a unique way. If it's luxury that you're looking for, you may want to see about joining one of our cruises.

2010 Dates

Internal Air Discount: Children under 12 subtract $200

Discounts for More Traveling Customers:

Starting at $400 per person for 6-10

Starting at $800 per person for 11+

Dates

Don't see your travel dates? Please call and we'll offer a trip to meet your needs!

Extensions

This trip is great in combination with one of our Peru adventures. International air to/from Lima and Quito not included.

Day 1 – Depart U.S. / Arrive Quito

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, where your Ecuador family vacation begins.

Days 2 and 3 – Andean Highlands

So many families vacation in Ecuador and don’t get to experience the beauty and adventure of the highlands. With Thomson, your family will take in all this diverse region has to offer, and may even learn a thing or two in the process. In the highlands, kids will learn how to operate a GPS device that will later be used to find a buried treasure during an orienteering activity.

Orienteering After your kids have learned how to use a handheld GPS device and read topographical maps, we will put their new skills to work as we set out on a hike in search of a buried treasure. Otavalo Market Welcome to Latin America’s second largest indigenous market. At Poncho Plaza you can shop for local crafts, handmade weavings, sweaters and panama hats. Community service activity Giving back to the local community in which you are vacationing always feels good. These days sustainable tourism is more important than ever, and Thomson hopes your family enjoys the volunteer activity chosen for your teen trip. Condor Project Here you’ll have the opportunity to see the largest flying bird on Earth in its natural surroundings. Located at Hacienda Zuleta, the Condor Project was created to reintroduce captive condors to the wild.

Welcome to Darwin’s Enchanted Islands…

We'll discover the magic of the Galapagos Islands in a way that's different than the norm: by land, not sea! The Galapagos Islands, with their intriguing natural history, rich marine and bird life and incredible geology, are simply unique. Spend your days kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, swimming, exploring volcanoes, wildlife viewing and discovering the infinite natural wonders of the amazing Galapagos. Overnighting on the islands will allow your family more flexibility and more time for exploration!

Day 4 - San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands

San Cristobal Island Some say these Islands are like zoos without the bars, and San Cristobal is a great place to get started. This was one of the first Galapagos islands to form, and it is where Darwin first went ashore in 1835. Look for sea lions, marine turtles, blue-footed boobies and frigates as we kayak to Tijeretas. Our night on San Cristobal will be spent camping on the beach at Puerto Grande. Kicker Rock Also known as Leon Dormido (Sleeping Lion), Kicker Rock is what remains of a lava cone that has been eroded by seawater for thousands of years. Now it's a great spot for us to snorkel! Isla Lobos Another great snorkeling location, Isla Lobos (Sea Lion Island) is a seasonal nesting location for blue-footed boobies, although it is named quite appropriately after the frolicking sea lions which can sometimes be found making a racket here.

Days 5 to 7 – Isabela, Galapagos Islands

Flight from San Cristobal to Isabela Island An afternoon flight will get us from San Cristobal to Isabela Island in under an hour (as opposed to hours on a boat!). Isabela Island This is the largest island in the Galapagos – bigger than all of the rest combined! It is comprised of five major volcanoes, two of which are still active. If Mother Nature permits, we'll do it all here: check out the marshlands, visit Estuary Beach, swim in the mangroves, snorkel at Los Tuneles, hike to the Sierra Negra Volcano and even look for the Galapagos penguin at Tintoreras. Puerto Villamil Our three nights on Isabela will be spent in the funky little town of Puerto Villamil. This fishing village's 2,00o people are vastly outnumbered by sea lions, tortoises and marine iguanas who also call the town home. Puerto Villamil is a great place to explore before the secret gets out and the big boats discover it.

Day 8 – Galapagos Islands / Quito

After breakfast, we'll take the flight to Baltra's airport to catch our flight back to Quito. There will be free time this afternoon for shopping or enjoying the hotel’s swimming pool.

Day 9 – Quito / Arrive U.S.

Optional Community Service Extension

Have an extra week, and interested in community service? Add a week or more to your adventure and deepen your understanding of the lives of the people who live here. We’ll use our partnerships with the local community to connect you to their sustainable projects. Depending on the specific need at the time you might paint, build, plant, or simply read aloud. This is a great opportunity for our children to gain a sense of giving back to others, and to see that those who seem different can be very much the same. We've found that you need to devote at least a week to be even a small help to the sustainable project.

Please Note:   Thomson Family Adventures will attempt to adhere to this itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, cultural, or availability) may necessitate changes in the accommodations.

Why Ecuador and the Galapagos?

Galapagos Islands geography When you think of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands surely come to mind. Stunning beauty and an abundance of wildlife are the trademarks of these volcanic islands. For years to come, you and your children will reminisce about all of the wonderful species you saw on these islands – many of which are found nowhere else on earth. Galapagos Islands wildlife The Galapagos Islands are home to more than 25,000 species of plants, 6,000 species of butterflies and 1,600 species of birds. On Santa Cruz Island, enormous tortoises find refuge at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Tiny Rabida Island is home to pelicans, pink flamingos and pintail ducks in its shallow salt water lagoons and red sand beaches. On San Cristobal, the incredible wildlife includes iguanas and the rare Chatham mockingbird. Walking on lovely, remote Española Island, your family may encounter sea lions, blue-footed boobies or sea turtles as you stroll past lava cliffs where sea water jets high in the air. Darwin’s Theory Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands in 1835 on his return to England after repatriating the Fuegians. He collected various birds, which he took back to John Gould, a famous ornithologist, in England. While Darwin initially thought the birds were not closely related, Gould concluded that the birds were in fact, "a series of ground Finches which are so peculiar" as to form "an entirely new group, containing 12 species." This story made the newspapers and formed the basis for Darwin’s groundbreaking theory. Culture and history of the Andean Highlands Famous for the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador’s Andean Highlands are often overlooked. With a history dating as far back as 3,500 B.C. and a stunning landscape, the area north of Quito is a hidden gem. From the rolling highlands and snow capped peaks of the Ecuadorian Andes to the villages where locals are happy to share their ancient culture and traditions, to Latin America’s second largest indigenous market where local artisans sell Panama hats, colorful handmade weavings and sweaters, the highlands are not to be missed.

Why Ecuador and the Galapagos with Thomson?

Perfect combination of Galapagos and Andean Highlands Our adventure offers you the best of all worlds. Your itinerary starts in Quito, where you’ll tour the colonial sites of the city. Then head north into the Andean highlands, where we’ve included three nights at Hacienda Zuleta. With the picturesque hacienda as your home base, there will be opportunities to hike, check out local markets, and tour a condor rescue park. Our families return raving about how unexpectedly wonderful their time in the Andean highlands was.

With our new Ecuador & Galapagos Islands Multi-Sport itinerary, we’ve replaced the ship portion of our Galapagos visit with one night of camping and hotel stays on the islands. Leave the crowds of visitors and well-worn paths behind and spend time with your family actively exploring the islands. The extra time on the islands will be used to maximize opportunities for wildlife viewing and exploration. Spend time discovering wildlife while you kayak around the nesting grounds at Tijeretas and spend a night camping on the beach at Puerto Grande. You will have the opportunity to view the amazing underwater wildlife while snorkeling around the lava remains at Kicker Rock and the unique formations that are Los Tuneles. You’ll also hike to Sierra Negra Volcano, where you can explore the area surrounding this massive volcanic crater. Visit to Condor reclamation project at Hacienda Zuleta As a special treat, we’ve included a visit to The Condor Project. Your family will love seeing the largest flying bird on the planet. Located at Hacienda Zuleta, a working hacienda that produces cheese, the Condor Project is reintroducing captive condors into the wild. There is also the option to take a scenic hike through the spectacular highlands to get to Zuleta. Otavalo Market No visit is complete without a trip to Otavalo Market, Latin America’s second largest indigenous market. Here you will find textiles woven by the Otavalo Indians, who have been practicing their art for 400 years. Test out your bargaining skills at Poncho Plaza, where you can shop for local crafts, textiles, handmade weavings, sweaters and panama hats. Staying at Hacienda Zuleta Relax and enjoy this Hacienda that dates back to the early 17th century. Each room is unique, and the extensive grounds are dotted with cobblestone courtyards, flowering gardens, and green spaces. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, go horseback riding or take a scenic bike ride. Community service activity and orienteering for teens Thomson has created a bunch of great activities for teens to enjoy in the Andean Highlands. Novice or experienced bikers will enjoy mountain biking through the countryside and centuries-old villages. Or they can try their hand at orienteering. After your teens have learned how to use a handheld GPS device and read topographical maps, we will put their new skills to work as we set out on a hike in search of a buried treasure. Ever think of “giving back to the community” while on vacation? We can help you and your teen choose an activity that supports sustainable tourism — and your family will feel good knowing you’ve made a difference.