Ecuador Incentive 2
Programme Overview
Duration: 10 days
Created with corporate groups in mind, this itinerary also includes a once in a lifetime cruise in the Galapagos archipelago.
Highlights: Cuenca, Guayaquil, Galapagos Islands
Arrive Guayaquil
Upon arrival at Guayaquil Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Your room at hotel will be ready on your arrival.
Guayaquil, Ecuador’s second city (although ‘guayaquileños’ would doubtless refute such a statement!), is the country’s largest in terms of population, the unofficial estimate being over three million, making the city twice the size of Ecuador’s capital. The spirit of this bold city has been forever immortalised in its name: a fusion of Guayas, the Puna Chief who fought bravely against Inca and later against Spanish invasion, and his wife, Quill, who he is said to have slain before drowning himself rather than letting her fall into the hands of the Spanish marauders.
The commercial heart of Ecuador has recently seen a series of vast urban renewal projects that have turned the Guayaquil’s central waterfront into one of the most vibrant, modern and trendy urban centres in South America.
Rest of the morning at leisure to rest and get ready for the action ahead. Just a 20 minute drive away from the hotel, you will have the opportunity to take a short cruise along the bustling Guayas River, aboard the “Discovery Boat”. Enjoy a delicious lunch on board.
After lunch, sightseeing begins with the Avenue of Guayaquil and then Centennial Park which honours the heroes of Guayaquil's Independence. Make a stop at Bolivar Park, also called “park of the iguanas”, as these curious reatures roam around the park undisturbed and perch on the tree tops. Afterwards, stroll along Guayaquil's new Malecon 2000 waterfront featuring historical, cultural and entertainment areas.
To the north lies Santa Ana Hill and the oldest neighbourhood of Las Peñas, which has been beautifully restored with brightly coloured wooden buildings housing galleries. The group will be offered refreshments in a Las Peñas Art Gallery or at the Cultural Association.
Options for dinner:
- Three course meal served at your hotel
- Welcome dinner at Bankers Club: The elegant terrace/restaurant of the Bankers Club will host you for cocktail and dinner as you enjoy astonishing views of the city and the Guayas River from the 30th floor. After dinner, the best dancing orchestra in town, “Rumba” will entertain your party with live tropical music.
Overnight: Hilton Colon Guayaquil
Meal Plan: L,D
Guayaquil - Cuenca
Today, visit the traditional Hacienda Rodeo Grande, located on the Ecuadorian coastal plain just 10 metres above sea level (1h40m drive). Upon arrival you will be greeted with freshly brewed coffee grown at this hacienda and fresh cheese.
In this hacienda you will have the chance to feel, see, and share the traditions of countryside labourers and the whole process of the production and export of bananas. Bananas are one of the main exports of Ecuador and many families’ livelihood depends upon this business.
After this, you will attend an exhibition of one of the most traditional events in the rural coastal areas: the Rodeo Montubio, specially staged for you. “Montubios” is the name given to the people, predominantly of mixed race, living in rural parts of the southern Ecuadorian coast. They could well be compared to North American cowboys, or to the huasos of Chile and the gauchos of Argentina, due to the importance of riding and cattle herding in their traditional culture.
The spectacle that you will witness today is a recreation of the traditional event held yearly on October 12th (Columbus Day, known in Latin America as the "Day of the Race"), in which participants from haciendas across the region join together for a grand rodeo contest.
The Montubio Rodeo essentially consists of several parts: in the first, similar to the "buckaroo" North American rodeo tradition, Montubios (often including women and children) take turns to mount and ride bucking broncos. Later, participants give a display of extraordinary skill as they attempt to lasso the same colts using, not their hands, as is common in other parts of the Americas, but their feet!
The show you will see includes a welcome drink made of pure sugar cane alcohol. You will also see Paso horses and a traditional parade of female riders before the event ends with a small band and folk ballet from Manabi, which includes a dance with machetes.
Lunch will be offered after this show and you will be able to try the delicacies of the products grown at Rodeo Grande Hacienda.
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Cuenca. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Cuenca is Ecaudor’s third largest city and is located in the southern Andes in the valley of Guapondelig (in Quechua “a plain as wide as the sky”). It enjoys a mild climate with an average temperature of 15ºC and a privileged geographic location at 2530 metres (8300 ft) above sea level.
Cuenca was declared a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999, primarily for having been able to preserve the most valuable cultural and architectural features found in its historical centre.
Welcome drink is offered during check-in. This evening a three course meal is served in your hotel.
Overnight: Oro Verde Cuenca Hotel
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Cuenca
This morning set out from your hotel for a tour of Cuenca. Located 2,549 metres above sea level, Cuenca was founded in 1557 by the Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Benalcázar and many Ecuadorians now consider it to be the country’s most beautiful city. Its colonial architecture is well preserved and has been thoughtfully complemented with newer buildings in a neo-colonial style, all punctuated by hordes of cobblestone streets and attractive public plazas.
Begin with a visit to the blue-domed cathedral, the neo-gothic structure that dominates the skyline of the city. Started in 1880, the ‘New Cathedral’ was intended to replace the original ‘Old Cathedral’ opposite, built by the Spanish the year the city was founded. Afterwards, make your way towards the Cañari ruins at Pumapungo, before paying a visit to the Conceptas Museum with its fine collection of religious art, and finally the city’s Ethnographic Museum.
Next visit the Panama Hat Factory. Mr. Homero Ortega Peñafiel (1916-1999) was a visionary Ecuadorian businessman who belonged to a family dedicated, through five generations, to designing, producing and exporting "Panama hats", which were originally produced in the little towns of Jipijapa and Montecristi. Many years later, the art of weaving spread to the town of Cuenca, expanding very quickly throughout all of Azuay and Cañar, now the centres of hat production in Ecuador. On January 9, 1972, Mr. Ortega founded the society that has his name. This company presently produces the finest toquilla straw hats in the world. Alicia Ortega Salamea, daughter of the company's founder, along with her brothers Homero and Gladys are taking over the family's mission to offer to the world these beautiful Ecuadorian handicrafts. Presently their products have reached international recognition and are considered real collection pieces. Typical warm drink will be offered during the visit.
At the end of the visit, which takes around 25 minutes, participants will receive a typical costume to participate in a competition: the group will be divided in teams and each team has to finish a hat, the winning team is the one which finishes first and all its participants will receive a prize. Also, we can offer all the participants a gift consisting in a piece of pottery and a hat with a ribbon with the logo of the company.
The Trattoria Novecento at the Santa Lucia Hotel will be the location for lunch. The restaurant is in the interior patio of a traditional colonial house which was exceptionally remodelled and was even awarded with a prize from the Municipality. Mediterranean-style food will be served.
Rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Exclusive Dinner at Villa Rosa Restaurant: One of the most elegant restaurants in Cuenca, specialising in international cuisine. It is located in the Old Town, 25 minutes drive from your hotel. The restaurant has two levels and we can divide the group in two so each team will have a short lesson on the creating tropical fruit cocktails. Dinner can end with Caribbean dancing lessons (a good way to be prepared for the dancing contest to be held on board the Galapagos Legend Cruise).
Overnight: Oro Verde Cuenca Hotel
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Cuenca
This morning depart for a visit of the craft villages around Cuenca. (45 minutes drive). As you drive away from the hectic city life, you enter a world of tranquility, passing green rolling hills, sparsely decorated with farmhouses and cows. As the scenic road winds around, you may catch a glimpse of local people playing a volleyball or soccer game along the Santa Barbara River.
The Spaniards founded Gualaceo before Cuenca due to the discovery of gold in its riverbeds. Nowadays people frequent its colourful markets every Sunday. Chordeleg, Paute and Sigsig were established after Gualaceo. They are still popular tourist attractions mainly for their traditions, typical countryside landscapes, and the crafts made in the area, such as ceramics, jewellery, Panama hats, and wooden guitars.
BBQ Lunch is served at Hosteria Uzhupud, situated on the grounds of an old hacienda in the valley of Paute. The group will enjoy a barbecue lunch on site. Entertainment will be provided by a typical local band which plays lively traditional music usually heard in traditional fiestas of the region.The current buildings have been adapted in the style of the old, large family houses in which the Muñoz and the Vintimilla lived. During a 20 year period (1949-1969) don Cornelio Vintimilla Muñoz Sr. invested great amounts of money and developed important projects on this hacienda such as San Miguel Rum, Los Andes ketchup, and the Ecuadorian franchise production of other well known alcoholic beverages including the French liquor Marie Brizard and the Italian vermouth Gancia.
Return to your hotel to rest and prepare for an unforgettable dinner.
Gala Dinner at the monastery of "the Nuns of the Immaculate Conception of Mary", the first cloister for nuns to be established in Cuenca in 1599. Far removed from the bustle of the world, the cloistered nuns dedicate their lives to contemplation of the Divine through prayer, silence, fasting, sacraments, poverty and chastity. The Convent is divided into various courtyards and long corridors. The large whitewashed walls maintain an atmosphere of severity typical of monastic edifications with centuries-old construction methods which utilised damp clay mixed with straw. In 1986 half of the convent was sold by the nuns to be used as a Museum of Religious Art where the dinner will take place. We can offer a chamber orchestra with four musicians for background music.
Overnight: Oro Verde Cuenca Hotel
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Cuenca - Guayaquil - Galapagos Islands
Early this morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil where you will be assisted for your immediate connection to Baltra in Galapagos.
At Baltra Airport, you will be received at the airport by your guides and then taken to the pier to join the M/VGalapagos Legend.
The Galapagos, located approximately 600 miles off of Ecuador's Pacific coast, is a fascinating archipelago consisting of 13 large islands, 6 smaller ones and over 40 islets. Formed approximately four to five million years ago by underwater volcanoes that erupted and rose above the ocean's surface, the islands were made world-famous when Charles Darwin visited in 1835 and later wrote "The Origin of the Species." Due to the strong conservationist efforts and strict regulations in the archipelago, the endemic wildlife and fauna Darwin noted in his studies remain unique to the area even today.
Weather, water and wildlife conditions will affect your actual day to day itinerary but visits are planned for main islands and their landmarks. You land by panga on island beaches to wander among the Galapagos' unique species - where you are objects of curiosity rather than fear.
Buffet lunch will be served on board.
Afternoon visit to Bartolomé Island: Dry landing. Arriving on this island, you will see volcanic formations including lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. After a hike to the summit you can enjoy an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock.
During the hike to the summit, visitors will often see large colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla, bushes, and various cacti.
You will also have the chance to cool off while snorkeling. Here it is possible to see the Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, and white tipped sharks from a safe distance.
Dinner: Three course meal will be served on board.
Overnight: M/V Galapagos Legend Cruise
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Galapagos Islands
Buffet breakfast is served on board.
Morning visit to Urbina Bay (Isabela): After a wet landing, you will go towards the fossil beach and then to the coral area. On the way and depending of the season it will be possible to observe many endemic organisms such as giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants.
Return to the ship for relaxing. Buffet lunch will be served on board.
Afternoon visit to Fernandina Island (Espinosa Point): After a dry landing at Espinosa Point, you may see the biggest marine iguanas mingling with sally-light foot crabs, flightless cormorants nesting sites, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks and sea lions.
Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will note brachycereus cactus, and two kinds of lava formations “pa-hoe-hoe” lava and ”AA”. Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea, depicting a healthy and thriving eco-system.
Dinner: Three course meal will be served on board.
Overnight: M/V Galapagos Legend Cruise
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Galapagos Islands
Morning visit to Santiago Island (Egas Port): Visit the dark sand beach at Egas Port during a wet landing. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows, the surrounding area is good for spotting and observing hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, oyster catchers, and the yellow crowned night heron. Enjoy the sight of marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds at low tide sharing space with red sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur-seal swimming in deep pools of cool water.
In this beach you can swim and snorkel in search of octopuses, sea horses, star fish and other sea life.
Return to the ship for relaxing. Buffet lunch will be served on board.
Afternoon visit to Rábida (Jervis): Wet landing at the dark red coloured beach of volcanic origin frequented by sea lions. It is often considered the geographic centre of the Galapagos because it has the most diversified volcanic rocks of all the islands.
A short trail leads to a salt water lagoon, where you will occasionally find flamingos. Dingy ride to the reefs with excellent opportunity for snorkeling.
Dinner: Three course meal will be served on board.
Overnight: M/V Galapagos Legend Cruise
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Galapagos Islands
Morning visit to Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Station): You will have the chance to investigate the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here you can also admire giant tortoises that are part of the breeding program. See the impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. The visit to the station takes around 40 minutes. After this visit, you will have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.
Return to the ship for relaxing. Buffet lunch will be served on board.
Afternoon visit to Santa Cruz (Highlands): One of the options is to cross the highlands of Santa Cruz to visit Cerro Chato. In this visit, you will be able to observe the famous giant tortoises that gave the name to these islands. Another option is to literally get into the Galapagos by walking in the dormant lava tubes.
Dinner: Three course meal will be served on board. As entertainment we can offer a presentation for folklore dances on board.
Overnight: M/V Galapagos Legend Cruise
Meal Plan: B,L,D
Galapagos Islands - Guayaquil
Morning visit to Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach): Wet landing at Bachas Beach which is located on north coastline of Santa Cruz Island. Here you will be encountered by different sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and will have the opportunity to swim and snorkel near this white sand beach.
Return to the Galapagos Legend, check out and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Guayaquil.
Farewell gala dinner: The elegant terrace/restaurant of the Bankers Club will host you for cocktails and dinner as you enjoy the astonishing views of the city and the Guayas River from the 30th floor.
Overnight: Hilton Colon Guayaquil
Meal Plan: B,L,D