New Year’s in Quito: Ecuador & the Galápagos
11 days, 5 cities |
Why go?
Celebrate the New Year in a place unlike anywhere else. Spend 11 days swinging over the hills of Baños, getting to know giant tortoises, climbing volcanoes, and snorkeling with fish straight out of National Geographic. That Galápagos sunshine is calling for you.
What you'll get
- Round-trip flights & airport transfers (or book 'em yourself)
- 9 nights in handpicked accommodations
- 9 breakfasts
- 4 lunches
- 3 dinners
- Expert Tour Director
- 24/7 support
- A New Year's celebration in Quito
- 2 insider tours/hikes with local guides
- Entrance to Cotopaxi National Park
- Entrance to Galápagos National Park
- 2 half-day Galápagos snorkeling excursions
Picture yourself
- Hiking around a snow-capped volcano in the Andes Mountains
- Snorkeling alongside sea turtles and sea lions
- Straddling hemispheres at the equator near Quito
- Meeting one of the chillest animals known to man, the giant tortoise
- Shopping for handcrafted goods in Ecuador’s largest market
Itinerary
Day 1: Fly to Quito
Welcome to Ecuador! You’re landing in Quito, the capital city and home to the first ever UNESCO World Heritage Site. Get ready to feel like you’re on top of the world—because you kinda are; Quito is 2,500 meters above sea level. Deep breaths everyone, you’re in for an adventure (and because the air is thinner).
- Meet a trip representative at the airport.
- Transfer to your accommodation in Quito via private coach.
- Receive the latest schedule and trip updates from your Tour Director.
- Greet your fellow travelers as they arrive.
Day 2: Explore Quito + New Year's Celebration in Quito
Quito’s a bit of modern-day meets traditional. As you get to know the area under the guidance of your Tour Director, be sure to keep a look out for people wearing traditional Ecuadorian clothes, including ponchos, long dresses, and lots of jewelry. When you’re not enjoying the rather distinctive dress code, be sure to look up at one of the eight volcanoes that surround the city.
In the evening, it's time for your New Year’s celebration. Afterwards, you’re free to take the party elsewhere!
- Join your Tour Director on a brief tour of the city and its historic center.
- Walk through the Old Town and Plaza de la Independencia, the central public square of Quito.
- Stop outside the Catedral Metropolitana, San Francisco & La Compania Church, and the Loma El Panecillo (Virgin of El Panecillo), all significant monuments and sites representing Quito’s religions.
- Fulfill your dream of standing in two places at once at Mitad del mundo, the line that divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (AKA the equator).
- Ring in the New Year with your new friends in Quito!
Plaza Foch: This is one of the busiest areas in Quito for party, fun, and entertainment. Whether you’re looking for a more chill-type bar or a dance club to get your groove on, in Plaza Foch, the choices are endless.
La Ronda: This cobblestone street, located in Quito’s Old Town, is home to dozens of stores, art galleries, and restaurants.
Chat with a Trip Expert!
1-800-766-2645
Monday–Thursday, 9am–7pm ET
Friday, 9am–5:30pm ET
Accommodations
We handpick every accommodation and focus on locations and properties where local culture is at your doorstep. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used properties for this tour.
