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Route Rating Level 1 to Level 3

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Premiere Inns
Trip Price:
  • $5,998 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$2,500 for sgl. occ.)
  • Internal Flights:
    $460 to $530
9 DAYS, 8 NIGHTS
ROLL OVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2009 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
2010 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
TRIP NOTES

All meals included.

Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Quito, Ecuador

Special Interest

Boat, Cruise, Culture & History, Exotic Adventure, Fine Wine & Cuisine, Geological Wonders, Horseback Ride, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Snorkel, Spa, Swim, Tropical/Winter Sunshine, Water Activities

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

Ecuador Multisport Tour

Ecuador & Galapagos Multisport

Biking, Hiking & Kayaking from Highlands to Islands

Pack your sense of adventure and join Backroads in Ecuador, a country of contrasts, diverse terrain, fascinating history and remarkable natural beauty. Hike and mountain bike through the Andean highlands, stopping in mountain villages to enjoy traditional music, arts and crafts. Then explore the incomparable natural sanctuary of the Galápagos as we sail from island to island, and walk, snorkel and paddle among blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, sea lions and marine iguanas. Each day brings new discoveries, and each night offers gorgeous sunsets, local specialties and fabulous accommodations (including four nights on a private yacht). Unique cultural experiences plus fun multisport activities equals a truly one-of-a-kind trip!

View the Family Premiere Inns Itineraries.

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Days 1-2 cotacachi

Meet in Quito Pedal the countryside around Cotacachi, taking in spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, lakes and villages  Hike the orchid-lined rim of deep-blue Laguna de Cuicocha, set in a volcanic crater  Relax with an Andean-inspired body treatment at our hotel's world-class spa or shop for handcrafted leather goods in the nearby pueblo.

Day 3 San Pablo del Lago

Bike through welcoming villages in the Otavalo region and sample local fare  Enjoy traditional music and meet one of Ecuador's foremost master weavers in his studio  Spin past Lago San Pablo with views of Imbabura Volcano.

Day 4 Zuleta

Hike through emerald hills to 17th-century Hacienda Zuleta, a working farm rich in pre-Inca and colonial history, and the home of our host Fernando Polanco, grandson of a former Ecuadorian president  His grandmother's recipes must be tasted to be believed—lunch is a feast of Zuleta cheeses, fresh fruit, vegetables and local mountain trout Watch for soaring condors at a condor education and rehabilitation center.

Days 5-9 galapagos

Fly to the Galápagos Islands From our private motor yacht, sail from island to island with stops to snorkel, sea kayak and swim Accompanied by a park naturalist, go ashore and explore the volcanic islands on foot  Marvel at blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, Galápagos penguins, sea lion colonies and marine iguanas in their natural habitats Sail to Baltra and fly to Quito.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

Reserve This Trip!

Guest Trip Reviews

I had an AMAZING time on this trip, as I know the other guests did. All in all, the dynamic of the group and our leaders was wonderful. I couldn't help but rave about the trip to colleagues and friends, and even referred a couple of people to Backroads as a result! Trips, groups and leaders like this are what I think Backroads is about and what will inspire me to continue traveling the globe with you.
Jennifer D. - Chicago, IL

More Reviews of this Trip

All Guest Reviews

For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Ecuador tour experts. For multisport tours in Latin America, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Latin America multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Latin America biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Latin America walking and hiking tours click here.

Ecuador & Galapagos Multisport

GLORIOUS SURROUNDINGS: Premiere Inns

La Mirage Garden Hotel & Spa
La Mirage Garden Hotel & Spa

Cotacachi (2 nights)
This Relais & Châteaux member, where peacocks stroll across the lawn, combines Ecuadorian authenticity with European style. Features include fireplaces in every guest room, a spa with an array of massage services, a swimming pool, hot tub and gourmet dining.

Hacienda Cusin
Hacienda Cusin

San Pablo del Lago (1 night)
Located in the Ecuadorian sierra, this restored 17th-century Andean estate offers guest rooms with wood-beam ceilings, garden views and Colonial-style tranquility.

Hacienda Zuleta
Hacienda Zuleta

Zuleta (1 night)
This beautiful 4,000-acre estate and working farm is only open to select groups. Features include a riding stable with horses for all riding abilities, a condor rehabilitation center and an embroidery workshop.

Tip Top III
Tip Top III

Galápagos Islands (4 nights)
Float in comfort aboard the Tip Top III, a first-class yacht featuring an onboard bar, lounge and sundeck, and a gracious crew.

You are viewing the Clasic Premiere Inns version of this trip.

View the Family Premiere Inns Itineraries.

Ecuador & Galapagos Multisport

Route Rating: Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles
Day 1
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • Biking 5 miles
  • 300 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Level 1  3 Route Options Available
  • Walking 3.1 miles
  • 1800 feet elevation gain
  • Biking 10, 12 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 1 to 2 3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 8, 16, 20 miles
  • 500 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 1 to 4  5 Route Options Available
  • Walking 5.5, 7.5, 10.2 miles
  • 0 - 2000 feet elevation gain
  • Biking 7, 9 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Travel to Galápagos Islands
  • Snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, wildlife viewing
Day 6
  • Snorkeling, walking, wildlife viewing
Day 7
  • Snorkeling, walking, wildlife viewing
Day 8
  • Santa Cruz Island trek
Day 9
  • Wildlife excursion
  • Conclusion of trip

You are viewing the Clasic Premiere Inns version of this trip.

View the Family Premiere Inns Itineraries.