ECUADOR:
FOUR WORLDS IN A NUTSHELL Ecuador is located on the northwestern coast of South America and is noteworthy for its wide array of indigenous cultures, well-preserved colonial architecture, spectacular volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest. One can’t help but stand in awe at the beauty of its surprises. The diversity of its people, its places, and its things allows for settings less than even a few miles apart to bear little true resemblance to each other. The more you delve into Ecuador’s natural, cultural and environmental subtleties, the more you will stand convinced that there is nothing like it.
GALAPAGOS
COAST
ANDES
AMAZON
KLEINTOURS CREATES UNFORGETTABLE VACATIONS
M/Y
Coral II
M/V
Galapagos Legend
Since 1983, Kleintours has become a leading tourism operator in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, providing deluxe cruises aboard our first-rate expedition vessels M/VGalapagos Legend, M/YCoral I and M/YCoral II (100, 36 & 20 passengers each). M/Y
Coral I
Our dynamic mainland operation includes the Kleintours exclusive “Chaski Route”, with visits to Andean communities where passengers can experience a fascinating multi-ethnic cross-cultural adventure, staying in local homes and engaging in farming activities, adventure hikes and horseback riding in the heart of the Andes. Kleintours provides the greatest variety of multilingual mainland expeditions for FITS, groups, families, adventure teams, incentive congresses through semi-private, private and customizable tourism itineraries in the Andes, Amazonia, and Pacific Coast.
EXPERIENCE YOU CAN RELY ON Kleintours has been passionately dedicated to the tourism industry, offering quality control and unmatched personalized service all the way. From arrival to departure, we handle everything, boasting superbly trained personnel and meeting all international safety standards and requirements. We are proud holders of ISO 9001-2008 and Rainforest Alliance verification (2011) and long time members of the main tourism associations ASTA, USTOA, IATA, ATTA, NTA, OSSN, ACTA, ARGELateinamerika, LATA, PATA.
THE BEST VALUE We work with top-notch hotels, restaurants and providers to give our clients the best Ecuador has to offer. Our ships are periodically refurbished to meet your expectations in luxury and comfort. Spacious sun decks on our vessels, comfortable seating in our buses, superbly trained and committed drivers, crew members, multilingual guides and chefs. That’s what we’re about!
ISABEL LA -A lbem m a rl r e-
GENOVESA -Towe r-
SANTIAGO
E qu atorial Line
Q UITO
-San Salv ad a or or Jam es-
ECUADOR Gu aya q uil
Es pin n oza za P o in nt
B A R T OLOME N ORTH S E Y M OUR
Egas Eg Port Po rt
DAPHNE
U rb bina Bay
Ma a jo or
FE ERNANDINA
S no rkeling
La nd iguana
Ma r ine i guana
Flightless Corm oran t
Blue-f ooted Booby
Red-f ooted Boo by
Pelica n
Ga lapag os to r to ise
S ea tur t le
S ha rk
Alba tros s
Frigate bird
Flam ingo
Ma nta R ay
S ea lion
Peng uin
B A LT R A C a r r io o n Poi n t
RABIDA -Jervis-
Points of visit
D rag gon Hill
PLAZAS ISLAND
-Na rb b orough hPINZON
Kicker Rock
- D unc u an un n-
Ayy o ra A Ayo a Port
SANT TA C R U Z
C R ISTOBAL
Ba q ue rizo o P orr t
- C ha th am -
- Inde fati gab le SAN N TA FE
Vii llamii l P or V ort
-B ar ri ngton-
Pos t O f f i c e
N
C o r m o r a nt Po int W
S uﾃ｡ u ﾃ｡ r e z P o int
E
ESPAﾃ前LA
FLOREANA
-H oo d -
-Sa nta Ma r ﾃｭa or Cha r l e s S
G a rd d n err B a y
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS THE ENCHANTED ISLANDS Pinnacle Rock
Interact with cool animals
Impressive cliff
Land iguana, primitive and sculptural
BARTOLOME
RABIDA
SANTA FE
ISABELA
Great snorkeling opportunities with penguins and sea lions off a golden-sand beach at the foot of popular Pinnacle Rock.
A red sand beach with a large sea lion colony, Palo Santo forests, endemic cacti, and the only Galapagos site where the nine Dawin’s finches are found.
Offering one of the most beautiful and sheltered coves in the islands, home to a number of endemic species including Galapagos Hawk, Darwin’s finches and endemic land iguana.
Discover mangrove forests, lava crevices, penguins, flamingos, sea turtles, marine iguanas, tidal pools and the unusual Flightless Cormorant in the largest of the Galapagos Islands.
Galapagos Penguins
Palo Santo and Opuntia
Daily expeditions
Tortoise in its habitat
This is a paradise where animals have no fear of man; it is a magical realm where creatures seem to be enchanted. They have fantastic, unique and fascinating forms with behaviors impossible to find anywhere else in the world. Kleintours will make your island experience the most balanced blend of vacation and adventure, joining the paradisiacal waters, distinctly colored beaches and the best in cruise service with a most exciting journey into the realms of Natural History. We have thoughtfully planned out all aspects of your itinerary so that you can make the most out of your discovery of these Enchanted Isles.
Blue suede shoes
Dragon Hill
Waved Albatross
NORTH SEYMOUR
SANTA CRUZ
ESPAﾃ前LA
Discover seabird colonies and witness the most intimate courtship, breeding and nesting behaviors up close and personal.
Tortoises, lava tunnels, white-sand beaches and a picturesque modern town bring lift to one of Galapagos greenest, most tropical islands.
Espaﾃｱola highlights include Waved Albatross and Blue-footed Booby courting and nesting grounds as well as the spectacular backdrop of Punta Suﾃ｡rez blowhole.
Male frigatebird showing off
Protected giant tortoises
Blowhole
Exploring the islands
FERNANDINA The youngest and the world without astounding volcanic perceived as a ‘land
probably the only island in introduced species, admire landscapes at a site often without time’. Marine iguana
Sea turtle
Swallow-tailed Gull
Red-footed Booby
Beautiful landscape on each island
Alpha male sea lion
FLOREANA
SAN CRISTOBAL
PLAZAS ISLAND
SANTIAGO
DAPHNE
Floreana is fascinating in terms of human history and geologic formation, with penguins, flamingoes, sting rays, sea turtle nesting sites and sharks.
Home of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno,Galapagos capital; Charles Darwin first landing spot. Redfooted boobies, Galapagos tortoises and sea lions.
One of the smallest yet depending on the season, most colorful islands, with sea lion colonies, land and hybrid iguanas and countless birds soaring by the cliffs.
Explore deep pools and caves carved from the lava shoreline, home to playful Galapagos fur seals as well as a variety of resident and migrant bird species.
Eroded islet home to Blue-footed Booby, Nazca Booby, Red-billed Tropicbird, Swallow-tailed Gull, Brown Noddy and other marine favorites.
Airborne Flamingos
La Galapaguera
Experience nature first-hand
Turtle snorkeling
Nazca booby
ISLAND ACTIVITIES BRACE YOURSELF Waking up to the sights of a new island each morning sets the stage for your very own evolutionary process, from initial curiosity to the sheer excitement of knowing something new and wonderful is out there waiting to amaze you. Every day brings new surprises and you will want to be ready…
ON THEIR TURF Evolution is a rather obscure, fleeting idea in our everyday life, but in the Galapagos it is a spectacle of majestic proportions, in which every inhabitant is an active protagonist who wants to show you just how good they are at it. Far from having anything to hide, they seem pleased to share their lives with you. This is the most unique performance that Nature has to offer.
PHOTOGRAPHERS WELCOME They will pose. And they’ll pose again… until you get it right. A good subject wouldn’t have it any other way and the photographer in you won’t want to miss a beat… So don’t forget your telephoto lenses, your disposable underwater cameras, and as many memory cards as you can get your hands on… you’ll be taking pictures!
Picture of the evolution
Unique Flightless Cormorants
Getting the best shot
ISLAND ACTIVITIES EXCITING ON LAND... FASCINATING DOWN UNDER! Cormorants forgot to fly, iguanas learned to swim; turtles became gigantic, and sharks mild; a place where sea lions show off their swimming skills and blue-footed boobies perform their elegant two-step mating dance right under your nose, and explore a spectacular underwater spectrum.
AN ADVENTURE FOR ALL AGES Discover the world around you
Kayaking
Snorkeling
Experienced naturalist guides
Children really get the most out of the Galapagos, from firsthand environmental awareness to exciting interaction with wildlife that is not offered in any zoo, in any amusement park… this is a true life-changing experience, and we’ll make sure it is a safe one.
Pristine beaches
Following Darwin´s foot steps
Dinghy ride at Kicker Rock
M/VG
ALAPAGOS LEGEND 100 passengers
Panoramic windows not only allow you to observe your destination but also to be part of it. In its ample social areas you will be able to do countless activities: take your afternoon tea in the library, or mingle with fellow passengers, family and friends at the bar beside our pool. With only one hundred people on board you will enjoy exclusive service and a personalized attention. The Galapagos Legend affords an array of generous seaward verandas over the great Pacific Ocean and a comfortable, inviting atmosphere for solace and relaxation.
LIFE AT SEA WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS What puts the Galapagos Legend in a class of its own is the wide variety of spacious outdoor decks for lounging and sea-gazing from all sides. This is combined with ample, yet cozy indoor social areas with picture windows: the grandeur of expedition cruising while maintaining that intimate flavor you´ve been looking for.
Superb dinner BBQ
Stargazing
Exceeding your expectations
Relaxing after an adventurous day
From baking that special birthday cake to making sure every last question has been answered in detail, our crew will show you how glad they are to serve you, with a range of friendly treats that will surely make you feel a part of the family.
Being part of your special moments
Ode to joy at the ice cream festival
The Fisherman´s Bar
LIFE AT SEA WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS On special evenings, we also couple the beguiling sunsets over the Pacific Ocean with an outdoor barbecue. Enjoy the evening lights with a cool drink, exquisite food and a friendly atmosphere to share with fellow travelers. Take part in our Neptune Party and find the seafarer in you, refresh a day’s outing at our Ice Cream Festival, show off your talents during Karaoke Night, let your children enjoy a set of activities specially designed for them.
A sunny year-round destination
New interpretation center
Karaoke nights
Chilling out at the Sun Deck
The Galapagos Legend offers indoor and outdoor amenities, including a reading room, cozy sitting rooms, a poolside bar and sun lounging of the best kind, that complement the excitement on land to perfection.
Children at their own corner
Once -in-a-lifetime journey
Neptune’s party for having crossed the Equator
THE IDEAL INCENTIVE GETAWAY A cruise is the most effective way to combine business with pleasure to reach corporate goals. If you want to encourage your work force or staff or build up your public relations, reward your best employees or organize a specific seminar. The Galapagos Legend is spacious enough to hold any mid-sized to large seminar event or teambuilding trip. • Auditorium, main lounge & dining room: capacity for 100 participants. • Top-notch technology: microphones, LCD TV, computers, satellite communication. • Various activities on board ship and on the islands in small groups of 16 people. • 57 cabins available with single, double and triple accommodation, adjoining berth and interconnected. Personalizing your incentive
Renovated deluxe dining
One of a kind auditorium in the Enchanted Islands
Geology lecture at the Main Lounge
• Other services upon requests: secretary, interpreters, special menus, branding, and so on. • 60 crew members committed to make an unforgettable journey. • Personalized service, adjustable to any need. • Open decks, pool, Jacuzzi, spa, well-stocked bar.
Sipping “Spirit of Ecuador” cocktail
Building up team work
Delicious international and local cuisine
M/V
GALAPAGOS LEGEND
100 Passengers
CABINS
Deluxe Expedition Ship
The ultimate in cruising comfort and flexibility, cabins and suites on the M/VGalapagos Legend come in a variety of arrangements to suit your desires, from quaint Standard and Standard Plus Cabins with attractive skylights, the luxurious Junior and Legend Suites with panoramic windows to the beautiful Galapagos Balcony Suite that can be interconnected with other cabins to create a deluxe living space with its very own terrace and the option of converting two twin-sized beds into a queen size, adapting itself to our guest’s every need.
Moon deck A. Observatory / stargazing Sun terrace Chill out area Sky deck B. Sun terrace and pool C. Fisherman’s bar D. BBQ area E. Kids’ corner, Games F. Auditorium: G. Bar and lounge / Internet H. Dolphin’s observation deck. I. Jogging track Earth deck J. SPA: Jacuzzi, Gym, Sauna K. Hammocks L. Massages M. Reception N. Boutique O. Interpretation center
I
H
I
H G
H
J
J
I
I
M
J
O
L N
K
28
26
24
22 A
22
20
18
16
10
14
R
8
6
Balcony Suite (9)
4
P
Q
Sea deck P. Embarkation area Q. Restaurant R. Medical service
P
Cabins: Length: 301 feet (92 mts) Wide: 47 feet (15 mts) Decks: 5
Made in: Germay Refurbished in: September 2007 Passagers: 100
Crew: Guides:
60 7 multilingual naturalist
Speed: Cruise speed:
Legend Suite (4) Junior Suite (24)
17 Knots
Galapagos Balcony Standard Plus Legend Suite
15 Knots
Standard Cabin Junior Suite
Standard Plus Cabin (17)
Standard Cabin (3)
M/Y
Coral II
M/Y
CORAL I 36 passengers
M/Y
Coral I
&
CORAL II 20 passengers
Both equally comfortable with thoughtful interior and exterior distributions. Corals I & II are attractively decorated, spacious vessels with cozy and fully-equipped cabins. Recommended for the adventurous visitor who demands a closer encounter with the ocean’s waters.
THE SEA
CAN BE YOURS Kick back on comfy sun-loungers and feel the sea breeze or soak in a whirlpool while rekindling the marvelous experiences of the day’s excursions amongst your friends and family. “Life” onboard the Corals is a marine delight.
Spacious main lounge
Celebrating with friends and family
Activities onboard tend to carry a more informal nature as you quickly get to know your fellow passengers on these lovely, medium-sized yachts. It is also a great choice for a group traveling together, with inter-connecting cabins and easy access from one area to another. You can quite simply make these yachts your own, with unmatched personalized service and fewer visitors per guide for a more intimate island experience.
Barbecue at the Archipelago
Everyone wants to travel on board the Corals
Magical sunset on a private yacht
THE SEA
CAN BE YOURS From organizing special activities when children are on board to making sure that every passenger has what they need to enjoy the Galapagos Islands at their pace, Kleintours’ makes every effort to defy your expectations. Handsome, modern, robust vessels bring that extra sense of security so that your holiday is relaxing and carefree and the high personnel-to-passenger ratios on our cruises say how much Kleintours really cares.
Comfortable dining on a beautiful yacht
Special guests on board
Variety and fresh food everyday
THE SEA
CAN BE YOURS The Galapagos Islands, it is well known, is a romantic voyage into the natural world, where you will witness nature at its closest, where you will discover the true origins of Life on the Earth. Put freedom and adventure to the test, combining matchless intimacy with wildlife with tailored service and the coziest, most personal experience. The Corals place you face to face with the Enchanted Isles.
Children´s T-shirt dyeing activity
The whole family in a private charter
The ideal place for bird lovers
CORAL I
M/Y
TWIN L U X U R Y YAT C H S
CABINS
CORAL II
M/Y
36 passengers
20 passengers
Our five-star sister vessels Coral I and Coral II boast beautifully-appointed living spaces starting from the smaller more intimate Standard Cabins to the more spacious Standard Plus and Junior Cabins with picture windows and easy access to the sun and shade terraces. Cabins on all of our vessels offer maximum amenities while keeping with our strict policy and ethics towards the defense and protection of the fragile environments in which we operate. Air-conditioning, fresh hot and cold water, private bathrooms, TV and DVD lounge, hair dryers, safety-deposit boxes, extra storage space and smoke detectors are included across the board, to provide the best in Galapagos cruising.
Social Areas Moon deck A.
Sun and Shadow terrace Barbeque and dinning area Chill outs Reading area - Observatory Star gazing 19
17
15
18
16
14
Sky deck
C
B.
Roofed terrace
C.
Dolphins’ observation deck
I
J
E.
Lounge / Internet
F.
Restaurant
G.
Bar
H.
Boutique
8
C
SKY DECK
G
D
G E
H
12
J
7
I
H
EARTH DECK
EARTH DECK 9
7
5 3
1
J.
Embarkation area
4
2
10
Earth deck
8
M/Y
Deluxe 131 feet (39.7mts) 28 feet (8.50mts) M/Y
Deluxe 112.70 feet (34.15 mts) 20.80 feet (6.30 mts)
Interconnected Junior Cabin
3 5 4
6
2
SEA DECK
CORAL I
Decks: 4 Made in: Germany Refurbished in: 2005
Passenger: Crew: Guides:
36 10 3 multilingual naturalistic
Speed: 12 knots Cruise speed: 10 knots
CORAL II
Decks: 4 Made in: Holland Refurbished in: 2006
JUNIOR CABIN New 2 triples
STANDAR PLUS CABIN
Passenger: Crew: Guides:
20 10 2 naturalistic multilingual
Junior Cabin (14) Standard Plus (12)
1
SEA DECK
Cabins
Te c h n i c a l S p e c i f i c a t i o n s
6
E
Library
Te c h n i c a l S p e c i f i c a t i o n s
F
F
D
11
I.
Category: Length: Wide:
9
F
Jacuzzi
Category: Length: Wide:
11 10
SKY DECK
Earth deck D.
MOON DECK
MOON DECK
Speed: 12 knots Cruise speed: 10 knots STANDARD CABIN
Standard Cabin (3)
Amazing Andean Landscape
QUITO & THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD
A SAFE, PICTURESQUE CITY WITH ALL THE COMMODITIES OF COSMOPOLITAN LIFE Quito, UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, is a multicolored urban quilt draped across the steep slopes and undulating inter-Andean valleys at the foot of Pichincha Volcano. Strolling the narrow cobblestone streets of Quito’s old-town is like walking through time and back again amidst splendid 16th century architecture, churches bathed in gold, convents tucked away behind hand–carved, baroque doors and block upon block of Spanish-style villas with their charming hidden courtyards. The Middle of the world complex and the Equator Monument situated at 0º0’0” latitude where the 18th century French Geodesic Expedition built one of the three pyramids as landmarks for their planet calculations to deduct the shape of the earth. QUITO’S SURROUNDINGS The lush cloud forests of Mindo, located no more than an hour-and-a-half drive from the capital city have received world acclaim for its orchids and hummingbirds, where walks through moss ridden forest, kayaking along torrential jungle rivers, bathing in cool, quiet, crystalline streams bring you to the most intimate contact with what the Incas called the Pacha Mama-or Mother Earth. Papallacta Hot Springs, resort located in the Andean moorlands, on the last mountain ridges before descending to the Amazon Basin. This area, featuring the peculiar Polylepis “paper” tree also offers excellent trails for bird observation, hiking and horseback riding.
The Middle of the World Monument
Most biodiverse country in the world
Papallacta hot spring
Cotacachi Leather handcrafts
W
Mount Cotacachi (16,197 feet)
Mindo
Cuicocha Lagoon
N
S
Sugarcane plantations
Shamanism Indigenous market
Pululahua’s inhabited crater
E
Train station Hoja Blanca
CHASKI ROUTE SOCIAL PROJECTS COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITIES
Sicses Peguche
OTAVALO Middle of the World Monument
Cochasqui Pre-Columbian ruins
Quilotoa Volcano
Bread dough figurines
Train
Pan-American highway
Cactus Train station
San Pablo Lagoon
Calderón Pan-American highway
Imbabura Mount
Guayllabamba
Cotopaxi Volcano (19,347 feet)
Cayambe
Broccoli, tomato and corn plantations
IBARRA
Pan-American highway
San Antonio de Ibarra Woodcarved handcrafts
Broidery Chirimoyas
Our dynamic mainland operation includes the Kleintours exclusive “Chaski Route”, where visitors can discover the communities of the Ecuadorean high Andes in a special and more personal way.
Villages
Indigenous from Otavalo Ecuadorian flute
QUITO
Afro Ecuadorian villages
SALINAS Last train station stop
Colonial Ibarra
MAGDALENA KARANKI COMMUNITY
Mount Antisana (18,871 feet)
At Magdalena, we have set up another interactive tourism experience, where guests may stay overnight at one of the five local homes that were renovated. This tourism outreach program has already benefitted over 50 families, improving living standards, bringing dignity to their livelihood and economic retribution to their work. Over 40 children have enjoyed the pleasures of a dynamic summer camp program and 500 were honored last Christmas with presents and joyous festivities. More than 30 women work directly or indirectly with the Magdalena Karanki project. Our 2012 goal is to work with children and women on their rights, stop alcoholism and continue to improve customer service, trail systems and tourism opportunities within the area.
Salinas Otavalo Magdalena
Galapagos
Quito
Ecuador Guayaquil
Cayambe Volcano (15,190 feet)
Pacific Ocean
Hot springs of Papallacta
Computer Center in Salinas Community
At Salinas de Imbabura, thanks to the many donations and outreach programs offered by Kleintours, over 100 families have significantly improved their financial wellbeing. Small business ventures have initiated thanks to a series of workshops intended to train and educate villagers in order to carry out their projects successfully. Its first-rate restaurant has been managed and operated solely by members of the town for 3 years now. We have trained the entire staff in cooking, customer service, hygiene, nutrition, and housekeeping. Our 2012 goal is to provide English courses to the community.
Cuenca
Peru
Handcrafts made by local women
Innovative recycling paper workshop
Magdalena community building guests´ houses
Cultural connection
Beautiful embroidery
Chaski Route OTAVALO & SURROUNDINGS
IMAGINE A MARKETPLACE THAT CAN FILL AN ENTIRE TOWN! You can’t leave this wonderful corner of the world without an Otavalo shopping spree. This world-renowned craft fair offers countless handmade products from leatherwork, beautifully carved sculptures, musical instruments, wondrous gold-pearl necklaces, and rich naïve paintings to the myriad of hues that embellish everything from sweaters, hammocks, tapestries, and rugs to skirts, blankets, and the nearly endless variety of styles, textures and patterns that adorn the emblematic ponchos of the Ecuadorean highlands
Historic haciendas
Cuicocha Lake
Andean Instruments museum in Peguche
MAGDALENA
-
KARANKI
COMMUNITY
Once home to Atahualpa, the last of the Incan emperors, the Karanki community of Magdalena inhabits a paradise lost in time, amongst llamas and condors, peaceful lagoons and the patchwork slopes of Imbabura Volcano. It is immersed in this breathtaking pastoral setting that the Karanki keep the same harmonious relationship with their environment they’ve kept for centuries, tending to their livestock, cultivating their land and enjoying the clear mountain air.
Bike to Cubilche Hill and explore its hidden lake
Private room with all the facilities
Teaching the secrets of the Andean cuisine
MAGDALENA
-
KARANKI
COMMUNITY
Come and admire the beauty of their embroidery, share their everyday shepherding and harvesting activities and stand face-to-face with a people untouched by the urgencies of modern life. Stay overnight in family homes, taste exquisite meals prepared with the crops of the land, an innovative combination of comfort and authentic living, Horseback riding, cheer and excitement
Enjoy the traditional menu
The natural realm of this hidden mountain niche can be absorbed in a series of optional activities such as horseback riding, mountain biking, or hiking up Mount Cunrro and around Cubilche Lake.
Warm and kind Karanki people
Comfortable lounge at “Casa de los Girasoles�
Sheepherding activity for guests
SALINAS
DE
IMBABURA
Your first glimpses of the children’s marching band that receives you at Salinas de Imbabura will strike you as quite different from anything you’ve seen before. If you have already noticed the deep-rooted indigenous mettle of the Andean people, this community of Afro-Ecuadorians will also spellbind you. A fascinating history, of syncretism and adaptation, of adversity and joy, will unfold as you walk the streets, share the beats and eat the treats of a colorful, dancing crowd. At lunchtime, delicious local cuisine can be enjoyed at the town restaurant, which has been entirely refurbished by Kleintours and is currently managed by the community; guest will also have the opportunity to visit the Salt Museum that revisits salt production procedures no longer in use. Materials were donated to ensure production and motivational seminars were conducted to empower individual and communal identity, resulting in volunteer groups that helped beautify the town, repainting monuments, creating murals and establishing park gardens, among other things. Come enjoy and admire the fruits of our joint efforts.
Admire the country side by train
Murals at colorful Salinas
Enjoy a railroad from the past century
THE AVENUE OF THE VOLCANOES A necklace of ‘snow-cones’ like a jeweled crown, Chimborazo, El Altar, Antisana, Cayambe, llinizas, Tungurahua and the mighty Cotopaxi—to name perhaps the most emblematic—are all highly prized mountain-climbing destinations that rise well over 5000 meters (16,000 ft) above sea level, giving the overall Andean landscape, viewable from large cities to small towns, a character of unsurpassable splendor. The landscape is filled with vibrant colors taken from nature’s beauty with corn fields, grass and native plants adding to this colorful pallet. People wear bright ponchos and typical hats; they continue with their ancient harvesting traditions and live with their animals. In Ecuador it is easy to have close encounters with indigenous communities that still keep their own languages, traditions, and beliefs in magical towns such as Saquisili, Pujili , Baños, Salcedo, Riobamba, Alausi to be included in your journeys. Ecuador’s cultural colors are represented by more than 13 different languages and some 40-odd ethnic groups who take pride in their ancestral customs. Such unique human diversity in an area no larger than the U.S. state of Colorado gives testimony to the extreme complexities that make Ecuador what it is.
Volcanic lake, Quilotoa
Condor, Ecuador’s bird
Tungurahua active volcano
GUAYAQUIL
&
THE
COAST
The largest city in Ecuador, Guayaquil is a modern, bustling metropolis in the heart of tropical America, constantly striving for change with a people of unique warmth and grace. Malecón 2000, the complete makeover of Guayaquil’s boardwalk, and the recent restoration of Barrio Las Peñas, the original Spanish settlement site of the city, have re-appropriated the city port ward life and are always busy hangouts that feature a range of bars, restaurants, boutiques, museums, gardens and magnificent views.
CUENCA
EXPERIENCE THE CHARM OF THE PACIFIC COAST Ecuador’s beaches still possess the rare innocence of a beauty ignored for centuries. Although the pre-Colombian ceramic artifacts unearthed here are the most ancient found anywhere across the Americas, the present-day small fishing villages and deserted beach enclaves that are scattered along Ecuador’s coast seem to be untouched by time. This land, imbued in the tantalizing aroma of Palo Santo trees—where fresh lobster can be fished and served in an hour’s time and impressively vast expanses of sand confront the breaking waves—makes any visitor feel special, as if the first to have disembarked. Mangrove trees, humpback whale watching, water sports, resorts and boutique hotels are part of the attraction of the “Route of the Sun” journey.
Cuenca is the third largest city of Ecuador and is the scenic convergence of four vigorous Andean rivers and a “World Heritage” colonial center in its own right. A well-rounded crafty breed of citizens, talented in a range of creative endeavors from intricate basket weaving to fine silverwork, are the generous hosts of this hospitable town. They will proudly show you their best work. The city also features countless memorable points of interest, from colonial plazas, or cozy bars overlooking the riverbank to fragrant flower markets and historic churches. Ingapirca Ruins, Gualaceo, Chordeleg and Cajas National Park are some of the visits that the most picky visitor cannot miss.
Admire its colonial architecture
“Cholas Cuencanas” with Panama hats
Ingapirca, Inca´s complex
Barrio Las Peñas in Guayaquil
Marimba dancers
Bahia, part of the Route of the Sun
ECUADOR&
AMAZONIA
Continue discovering the marvels of the Andes in Peru, a country deeply rooted in tradition and identity. Ecuador’s small size is perfectly complemented by the vastness of Peru, with seemingly endless landscapes and a cultural heritage of profound legacy. Combining these two countries in one vacation does not only make sense logistically, it is like matching the pieces of a puzzle. Kleintours well-established partner will guarantee the perfect journey.
THE TREASURES OF THE RAINFOREST COULDN’T BE CLOSER... At just about 3 hours from the nation’s capital, you can be floating in silence down the still black waters of a jungle stream, deep in shadow amid a careful choral orchestration of countless creatures and immersed in the most exuberant botanical garden on Earth. Discover the active understory through jungle hikes or walk along a canopy bridge for unsurpassable views and face to face interaction with monkeys and other unique tree dwellers. Many different birds, insects, dolphins, tapirs, capybaras, and other animals can be found here in their natural habitat. Within and around the huge protected areas of the Amazon rainforest, several tribes inhabit Ecuador’s Amazon basin, including the Shuar, Ashuar, Secoyas, Cofán, Huaorani, and Quichua.
To this day, the city of Cuzco reflects the deep disparities between the Old and New Worlds with ancient remains of sacred Incan temples and the European feel of its streets and plazas. Other cities such as Trujillo, Chiclayo, the “white city” of Arequipa and the capital Lima are unique sites of important archeological and cultural interest, while the desert town of Nazca will astound you with its enigmatic earth art only observable from high above.
Upscale lodges were built to blend in with the natural environment. Naturalist guides take visitors on all sorts of excursions: walks through the forest to learn about the medicinal properties of the local plants. It is estimated that at least 7,000 medical components and ingredients are derived from plants of the Amazon region.
Flora and fauna observation excursion
White-river rafting
PERU
The magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu, perhaps the most visited landmark in Peru, are considered one of the seven New Wonders of the World. Nestled amidst a string of ridges and ravines in the heart of the ancient Incan Empire, the ruins of the Lost City hold a mystique of universal appeal, where the feeling of communion with the past and its spirits will truly captivate you.
The legendary Amazon region
Machu Picchu marks 100 years of discovery
Peru´s traditional flavors
Lima´s House of Pizarro, Government Palace
ECUADOR TRIP PLANNER ALTITUDE AVG: 0 meters / 0 Feet
ALTITUDE AVG: 0 meters / 0 Feet
ALTITUDE AVG: A 2000-2800 meters / 6562-9186 Feet
TEMPERATURE AVG: 25ºC / 77ºF
TEMPERATURE AVG: 25ºC / 77ºF
TEMPERATURE AVG: 16ºC / 61ºF
GALAPAGOS
COAST
ALTITUDE AVG: 200-1000 meters / 656-3281 Feet TEMPERATURE AVG: 26ºC C / 79ºF
ANDES
AMAZONIA
Salinas ½ hr
2 hrs
M/V Galapagos Legend M/Y Coral I
FD
2h
Mindo 1N
1N
2N
½D
Machalilla
Isla de la Plata
FD
2 hrs
1N
Yasuní National Park
FD
Tena-Misahuallí 2N
FD
3N
4N
2½ hrs Chaski Route
Tungurahua FD
Chimborazo
4 hrs
Devil´s Nose
Main destinations
Cajas
Complementary Sites Side Trips
Community Project
Riobamba
2 hrs
Archaeological Site
2 hrs
1N
Equatorial Line
4 hrs
Ingapirca
National Park
1N
1 hr
Natural Reserve
International Airport
Indigenous Market
Baños
1N
Destinations
Volcano Amazonian Lodge
½ hr
Cuenca FD
Trip Lenght
Nights
FD
Pujilí
½ hr
Full Day
Papallacta
National Park
GUAYAQUIL ½D
4N
½ hr
Cotopaxi
Quilotoa
½ hr
4 hrs
1½ hrs
Half Day
1N
Saquisilí
2N
National Park
3N
3 hrs
FD
2 hr
3N
Antisana
1 hr
Manta
2N
Coca
QUITO ½ hr
1N
rs
rs 2h
Lat 0º0´0´
GALAPAGOS 7N 14 N
3N
2 hrs
Bahía de Caráquez
4N 11 N
2N
rs
FD
2h
OTAVALO
Karanki Community FD
1 hr 2 hrs
3N 10 N
½ hr
Ibarra
M/Y Coral II
2 hrs
1N
Lake/Lagoon
2N
Waterfall
Loja
Podocarpus
1 hr
National Park
1N
Hot Springs
Vilcabamba
Train
PERU 4N
5N
7N
Road
Air
Train
Water route