Friday 6.03 · Day 1 of 15

Four climate regions in one country: Costa, Sierra, Oriente and Insular.

Data: MET Norway

1. EveningTake-off from Tel Aviv

   Flight via Madrid to Quito, the capital of Ecuador.

2. Lodging tonightNight on the plane

Saturday 7.03 · Day 2 of 15

In less than one generation, the city went from a second Inca capital to a Spanish colonial city.

Data: MET Norway

1. Early morningLanding in Quito and transfer to the hotel

   Landing in Quito at 06:40.

2. 
   MorningWalking tour of the old town

   Plaza Grande, the cathedral, San Francisco, La Compañía and La Ronda street.

3. 
   09:00The basilica and El Panecillo hill

   View over the city from the Winged Virgin.

4. 
   AfternoonMitad del Mundo and the Intiñan Museum

   The Equator monument north of the city.

5. Lodging tonightGoQuito Hotel, Quito

Sunday 8.03 · Day 3 of 15

We go down about three thousand meters in one day, from the cold páramo (high grassland) to tropical rainforest.

Data: MET Norway

1. 
   MorningPapallacta hot springs

   Bathing in hot pools with a view of Antisana volcano.

2. 
   MiddayContinuing east to Tena

   Down from the mountains, through cloud forest, to the entrance of the Amazon.

3. 
   AfternoonCanoe trip along the Napo River

   The last part of the way to the lodge.

4. Lodging tonightLa Casa del Suizo, Tena area

Monday 9.03 · Day 4 of 15

The Day of the Dead in Ecuador. We meet a Kichwa community that lives from the forest and beside it.

Data: MET Norway

1. 
   Early morningCanoe trip to the salt lick

   Watching parrots that come to lick clay.

2. 
   MorningWalk in the heart of the rainforest

   Primary forest (never cut) and secondary forest (grown back), with local plants and wildlife.

3. 
   MiddayAmaZOOnico rescue center and the butterfly farm
4. 
   AfternoonVisit to a Kichwa village

   The village hosts us: making chicha (a local drink), traditional dance and song.

5. Lodging tonightLa Casa del Suizo, Tena area

Tuesday 10.03 · Day 5 of 15

For generations, this town has lived next to an active volcano. It has never been completely destroyed.

Data: MET Norway

1. 
   MorningArrival in Baños

   A small town at the foot of Tungurahua volcano.

2. 
   MiddayThe waterfall route

   Pailón del Diablo, and a ride across in a tarabita, a small open cable car, to Manto de la Novia.

3. 
   AfternoonCasa del Árbol

   View of the mountain from the swing at the end of the world.

4. EveningFree time in the town center
5. Lodging tonightSangay Spa Hotel, Baños

Wednesday 11.03 · Day 6 of 15

A turquoise lake inside a volcano that collapsed into itself.

Data: MET Norway

1. 
   MorningDrive through Zumbahua

   A stop at a viewpoint over the Zumbahua canyon.

2. 
   MiddayViewing Quilotoa Lagoon

   Views from different points around the edge of the crater.

3. 
   AfternoonBack to Quito

   If time and traffic allow, we stop by the road to see Cotopaxi volcano.

4. Lodging tonightWyndham Quito Airport, Tababela

Thursday 12.03 · Day 7 of 15

A whole group of islands was born from one hot spot under the ocean that never moves.

Data: MET Norway

1. 
   MorningFlight from Quito to Baltra

   We enter Galápagos National Park and board the yacht.

2. 
   AfternoonWet landing at Las Bachas beach

   Lagoons, the remains of a barge (a flat boat) from the war, first snorkeling.

3. Lodging tonightGalapagos Legend yacht

Friday 13.03 · Day 8 of 15

A day of volcanic contrasts: from the black lava of Santiago to the red sand of Rábida.

Data: MET Norway

1. 
   MorningWet landing at Puerto Egas

   A walk on a lava path beside the rock pools.

2. Late morningSnorkeling from the beach or from the Zodiac

   Curious sea lions often join in.

3. MiddayLunch on the yacht and sailing to Rábida

   A short sail south.

4. 
   AfternoonWet landing on the red beach of Rábida

   A short, flat walk along the beach and the lagoon.

5. Lodging tonightGalapagos Legend yacht

Saturday 14.03 · Day 9 of 15

Land that rose from the sea in 1954, and words written by pirates two hundred years ago.

Data: MET Norway

1. 
   MorningWet landing at Urbina Bay

   Plants, lizards and giant tortoises.

2. 
   AfternoonTagus Cove

   Dry landing, view of Darwin Lake, a Zodiac ride along the cliffs.

3. Lodging tonightGalapagos Legend yacht

Sunday 15.03 · Day 10 of 15

The youngest island of the Galápagos, and a penguin on the Equator.

Data: MET Norway

1. 
   MorningDry landing at Punta Espinosa

   A large group of marine iguanas, cormorants and Galápagos hawks.

2. 
   AfternoonPunta Vicente Roca

   We see it only from the water, by Zodiac and snorkeling. There is no dry landing.

3. Lodging tonightGalapagos Legend yacht

Monday 16.03 · Day 11 of 15

Sinkholes, a forest of sunflowers that became trees, and the story of the last giant tortoise of its kind.

Data: MET Norway

1. 
   MorningLos Gemelos and the tortoise reserve in the highlands

   Sinkholes (holes where the ground fell in), Scalesia forest, wild giant tortoises.

2. Late morningTransfer to Baltra airport
3. MiddayFlight from Baltra to Quito
4. EveningDinner at the hotel
5. Lodging tonightWyndham Quito Airport, Tababela

Tuesday 17.03 · Day 12 of 15

The most exact point of the Equator in Ecuador, trade that came before the Spanish and the Inca, and another caldera, a huge crater left by a volcano, that filled with water.

Data: MET Norway

1. 
   MorningQuitsato monument

   Standing on the exact, measured line of the Equator.

2. 
   Late morningOtavalo market

   Plaza de los Ponchos, textile stalls.

3. 
   MiddayCotacachi, the leather town
4. 
   AfternoonCuicocha Lagoon

   Views from a path that goes around the edge of the caldera.

5. Lodging tonightHacienda Pinsaquí, Otavalo

Wednesday 18.03 · Day 13 of 15

A waterfall that is sacred to the local people, and a heavy bird that cannot flap its wings well.

Data: MET Norway

1. 
   MorningPeguche Waterfall

   A walk through a small eucalyptus wood to the waterfall.

2. 
   Late morningWeaving and dyeing workshop

   Natural ways of dyeing, and wool weaving.

3. 
   MiddayCondor Park

   A center that rescues birds of prey and helps them recover.

4. AfternoonBack to the hotel near Quito airport
5. Lodging tonightWyndham Quito Airport, Tababela

Thursday-Friday 19-20.03 · Days 14-15 of 15

A travel day: Quito, Madrid, Tel Aviv.

Data: MET Norway

1. MorningTransfer to Quito airport
2. MiddayTake-off via Madrid

   Takeoff from Quito at 12:40.

3. Day 15Landing in Madrid at 05:00, then on to Israel

   For the landing time in Israel, see your international flight ticket.

4. Lodging tonightNight on the plane