Galápagos ...

The Trip of a Lifetime

from GALAPAGOS TRAVEL

Typical Country Bus (Andean Highlands, Mainland)

Mainland Ecuador

All of our Galápagos programs go through Quito in mainland Ecuador. Upon your arrival in Ecuador, an employee of our associate company, GALAPAGOS TRAVEL PROINVERTUR CIA. LTD, meets you at the airport and takes you to your downtown hotel. They will also reconfirm your return flights, provide all airport transfer services out of Quito, and are always there to provide assistance and guidance. This includes extension trips in mainland Ecuador.

Indian Market (Saquisili, Mainland Ecuador)
© Mark Grantham

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a quiet, beautiful city. Flanked by the tall, snow-capped peaks of the Andes, Quito itself is at 9300 ft, yet located almost directly on the equator. On a clear day, you can see the snow cones of the volcanic peaks, giving the city an air of a mountain retreat. Based on your expectations of a bustling South American city, the serenity and the dramatic setting take you by pleasant surprise. While the population of Quito is over a million, making it the second largest city in Ecuador (Guayaquil is the largest), it has a tranquil small town feel to it (the rush hour and center-city traffic notwithstanding). The people, the city, and the setting seem to blend together, all part of the rich artistic and cultural heritage.

Birdwatching from a Dugout Canoe (La Selva Jungle Lodge, Mainland Ecuador)
© Mark Grantham

From Quito as your base, we offer a number of half-day, full-day, and multi-day guided extension trips. The more time you have, the greater the number of possibilities, including:

Popular Extension Trips on the Mainland
Jeep or Hiking Tours of the Andean highlands Visits to the Equator and La Mitad del Mundo (Center of the World) Monument Indian Market Tours Visits to the Amazon Bird Watching / Natural History Trips White Water Rafting Down the Un-dammed Rio Toachi River Visit the Colonial Splendor of Cuenca Mountain Bike Downhill from the top of Pichincha Volcano to the town of Nono Tour the Inca Ruins at Ingapirca Ride the Famous Nariz del Diablo (Devil's Nose) Railway		Nariz del Diablo Railway (Mainland Ecuador)

From active trips to quieter trips, as you are planning your Galápagos adventure with us, we will help you put together standard and/or customized tours of the mainland, based on your time and interest.