Conveniently located in the heart of the most beautiful residential and commercial area of Quito, the newly completed Marriott is the city’s only deluxe property.

The M/V Santa Cruz is the only first-class ship built exclusively for Galapagos Islands cruising. The 90 passengers enjoy magnificently appointed and equipped private cabins.

Perched on an Andean hillside north of Quito, La Mirage is a contemporary inn built on the grounds of a 200-year old hacienda. Superb national and international cuisine are combined with exceptional service to make your visit an unforgettable experience.

Depart USA on your afternoon flight to Ecuador. You are met upon your evening arrival in Quito and brought by private car to your hotel - the brand new Marriott clearly outshines other luxury accommodations in the city. Centrally located, beautifully decorated, it offers every amenity for the discerning traveler.

Once you have settled in, join your tour manager for a welcome reception with cocktails in the plush surroundings of the hotel. (D)

Quito sits on the lower slopes of the Rucu Pichincha, an extinct volcano, in a narrow Andean valley at an altitude of 9,350 feet. In ancient times, this site was the center of the Kingdom of Quitu, the largest tribe of an Indian confederation that left no recorded history. Today, Quito is considered by many to be the most beautiful South American city. There are many treasures from the colonial period, and modern construction is strictly controlled in the historical areas. The old town - with its whitewashed houses, red tiled roofs, and colonial churches - was designated a UNESCO world cultural heritage site in 1978.

You visit Quito’s oldest monastery, San Augustin, the elegant Church of San Francisco, la Compania Church with its ornate façade and glorious gold altars, as well as the Presidential Palace and the Archbishop’s Palace. You see the impressive stone mural that records Ecuador’s history at the Legislative Palace. From El Panecillo Hill, you have a wonderful view of the city and the enormous statue of the Virgin of Quito, as well as the surrounding snow-capped mountains. And there is time to wander through the open-air Indian market just below El Panecillo.

Driving a few miles north of Quito, you pass the quiet villages of the Andean Sierra on your way to the very interesting Museum of Ethnography, with exhibits of different Indian groups living in Ecuador. Here, a monument marks the equator; you can actually stand in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres simultaneously. Ecuadorean cuisine includes an original combination of Latin and European seasonings. At dinner this evening, you are treated to rich, plentiful and varied dishes featuring local seafood – white sea bass, shrimp and lobster - as well as chicken and pork. (B,L,D)

The Galapagaos Islands archipelago is comprised of 13 main islands and 6 smaller ones, as well as more than 40 islets. Spread over 19,000 square miles approximately 600 miles west of Ecuador’s coast, the islands form part of the Pacific Ocean’s "Ring of Fire". They are actually the crests of enormous underground volcanoes that rise several thousand feet above the surface of the ocean. Ecuador claimed the Galapagos Islands in 1832; the naturalist Charles Darwin arrived three years later and began his study on evolution. In 1959 the archipelago became a national park. The Galapagos Islands are renowned for unique and relatively friendly wildlife. The ship anchors off each island and you are ferried to the landing point in small boats called pangas.