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Welcome
to Ecuador!
Inti Travel and Tours Welcomes you
to one of the friendliest and most beautiful countries in South
America. We are here to assist you with your travel plans for the
International Dermatology Exchange Program of The Skin Cancer Foundation
from January 21-25, 2005, in Quito, Ecuador. We are also offering some great optional tours to
the Otavalo Market and the Galapagos Islands.
Quito, the capital of
Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an
Inca city and stands at an altitude of 9,350 feet (2,850 m) in
the Andes of Ecuador. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city
has the best-preserved, least altered historic center in Latin
America.
The monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo,
and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía, with their
rich interiors, are pure examples of the 'Baroque school of
Quito', which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish,
Flemish and indigenous art. It was declared a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1978 to commemorate this rich cultural
tradition.
The new part of the city
is a modern and cosmopolitan city offering world-class hotels
and tourist facilities.
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Your Package Itinerary:
Package includes all airport transfers and porterage, 4 nights at JW Marriott
with buffet
breakfast and all taxes, Scenic Quito & Equatorial Monument Tour and
meeting room facilities with tea, coffee and snack service.
Lunches and Dinners NOT included unless otherwise stated.
2005 rates
$412 US per person (double occupancy)
Add $316 for single supplement
Children under 12 in same room with parents pay only $168
Jan 21 (Friday
Night)
Upon your arrival in Quito, Ecuador, our guides will meet you at
the airport and escort you to our comfortable bus for a guided
tour from the airport to the 5 star JW
Marriott Hotel. The JW Marriott is one of the newest and most
luxurious hotels in Quito and offers some great views of the
surrounding Andean mountains. Overnight at the JW
Marriott. |
Room at the JW Marriott |
Jan
22 (Saturday)
Early morning is usually a good time to see (weather permitting) the
glacier clad volcanoes (on the equator). On a clear day you are
able to see both Cotopaxi and Cayambe volcanoes!
After a delicious buffet
breakfast, you will enjoy your conference from 9 AM to Noon in the
Marriott's conference facilities. We will pick you up at the hotel
at 1:30 PM for a tour of Quito and to the nearby Equatorial
Monument.
Scenic Tour of
Quito
First stop is at the Parliament Building, whose stone mural records
Ecuador's history. Then a stroll downtown and visit the colonial
temples and monasteries of this urban jewel, designated by UNESCO a
World Heritage Site, starting at the Independence Plaza, flanked by
the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and
the Archbishop's Palace. Visit the Church of La Compañía de Jesús.
Continue to the Church of San Francisco, one the of great religious
buildings of the New World; its impressive façade and atrium lead to
its gilt interior a Baroque influenced by Moorish style, with the
winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. This part of the tour ends at a lookout
point with a great view of Quito.
Middle of the World
The second part of the tours takes us to the Equatorial
Monument. The Equatorial Monument, 25 Kms. (16 miles) North of Quito,
marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can
stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Visit the Ethnographic Museum
inside the monument, which shows the different Native American
groups living in Ecuador. Beside the monument there is a
colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office,
bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards
and souvenirs. You will get a certificate for having crossed the
Equator.
We will have you back at the hotel by 6:30 PM. Overnight at the JW
Marriott. |
Cotopaxi Volcano from
Quito
Church of San Francisco
The Middle of the World
La Hacienda Dining
Room at the JW Marriott |
Jan 23 (Sunday)
Don't forget to check to see if you can see those volcanoes!
After your buffet breakfast you will be back at the conference from
9:00 AM 'till 1:30 PM.This afternoon is
free for you to relax, enjoy the facilities at the hotel or to
explore Quito on your own. Why not visit one of Quito's many fine
museums or art galleries?
* Optional Tours:
Archaeological Museum (3 hrs) = $16
Panoramic Quito by Night & Dinner (3 hrs) = $65
Overnight at the JW
Marriott. |
Quito by night...
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Jan 24 (Monday)
After your buffet breakfast, you will have another opportunity to
exchange ideas at the conference center from 9:00 AM 'till 1:30 PM.
* Optional Tours:
Art Gallery Tour (3 hrs) = $16
Legends & Traditions of Quito by Night (2 hrs) = $26
Overnight at the JW
Marriott. |
Health Spa at the JW
Marriott |
Jan 25 (Tuesday)
If you need to get to the airport for your flight home, we will pick
you up from the Marriott after your breakfast and escort you to the
Mariscal Sucre International Airport. This airport transfer is also
included if you are departing Quito at a later date.
Package Rate as above = $412 US per person
based on double occupancy
* excluding optional tours
Jan 25
Hopefully, you will be able to stay and enjoy more of what Ecuador
has to offer! We are offering an optional full day tour to the
famous Otavalo Market and surrounding countryside for only $84 US per person (including lunch
at a traditional hacienda!).
* Optional Tour:
Otavalo Market (full day with lunch) = $84 US per person
This excursion goes north, to the
land of the Otavaleños and South America's most famous Indian fair.
Early departure from Quito towards Calderón, a small village that
keeps the tradition of making colorful dough figurines of Indian
dolls, llamas, flowers and even great Christmas ornaments. Guests
can observe how each figure is molded by hand, with dough of
different colors carefully put together; then it is baked and
varnished. Continue on the Panamerican Highway through dramatic
mountain scenery to the textile market of Otavalo, where guests will
enjoy visiting the many stalls full of ponchos, scarves, blankets,
wall hangings, woven belts (fajas), hats, handbags and much more.
Here Otavaleños barter in silence, in marked contrast to the raucous
noise of other markets; take your time to negotiate the best
bargains.
Lunch is at one of the charming country inns or haciendas of the
area. Later, visit the small village of San Antonio de Ibarra,
famous for the woodcarving. Guests can observe the talented wood
carvers at their workshops and browse through innumerable shops
around the main square and adjacent streets. Carvings are made
mainly of cedar and walnut woods and go from life-size saints for
church decorations to baroquely decorated furniture and ornaments,
hundreds of figurines and remarkable modern art.
Additional nights at the Marriott are only $79 US per person (double
occupancy including all taxes and buffet breakfast) based on double
occupancy. |
Enjoy lunch at the
Hacienda Pinsaqui near Otavalo
Countryside near Otavalo
Women of the village of
Atuntaqui near Otavalo |
Jan 26 (Wednesday)
If you need to get to the airport for your
flight home, we will pick you up from the Marriott and escort you to
the Mariscal Sucre International Airport.
For those who choose to stay and enjoy
the fabulous Galapagos Islands aboard the Galapagos Legend, this
will be a day of rest and relaxation (or anything else you choose to
do!).
Optional Tours:
Cotopaxi National Park (full day with lunch) = $77
Toachi & Blanco River Rafting (full day with lunch) = $99
Archaeological Museum (3 hrs) = $16
Art Gallery Tour (3 hrs) = $16
Jacchigua Folk Ballet (2 hours evening) = $25 |
Cotopaxi National Park
© Banco
Central, Ecuador
Archaeological
Museum |
| And there is plenty to see and do in and around Quito! You
may wish to visit the Archaeological Museum, the art galleries
of Ecuador's famous painters, the many shops featuring quality
Ecuadorian handicrafts or stroll through the many side streets
in the colonial quarter. We also offer tours from Quito to
Cotopaxi National Park, white water river rafting on the Toachi and
Blanco rivers, and overnight stays (and horseback riding) at fabulous
haciendas in the Ecuadorian countryside. There is more to Ecuador than you
might think! |
Optional
Post-Conference Galapagos Cruise
Aboard the Galapagos Legend
You can enjoy this
legendary paradise,
navigating in a 90 passenger, deluxe, fully air conditioned cruise ship. The
Galapagos Legend has all the amenities of a cruise liner yet it's small
enough for that intimate experience with nature that brings you to the
Galapagos Islands.
Legend Suite |
Junior Suite |
Guests also benefit from the added
comfort of extra space in our fully carpeted luxurious cabins. All with
ocean views, wardrobes, and private facilities offering hot and cold water,
hair dryer, safe deposit boxes and other amenities.
| Galapagos Legend |
Number of cabins
currently available |
Special 2005
Per person rates
Double Occupancy |
| Legend Suites |
Sold Out |
$2114 |
| Junior & Moon Suites |
Sold Out |
$1690 |
| Superior Outside |
Sold Out |
$1438 |
| Superior Inside |
Sold Out |
$1290 |
Rates for the Ship or Yacht:
The rates for the ship or yacht includes accommodation aboard the ship or
yacht, all meals, island sightseeing, all guide and lecture services,
transfers in the islands and between the airport and yacht in Galapagos.
Boat itineraries are subject to change without notice (for safety,
environmental or any other reasons).
Not
Included in the rate for the ship or the yacht:
Galapagos flights, Galapagos Entrance Fee (includes the municipal tax,
currently $100 US per person payable in cash to the national park
authorities in Galapagos), tips (it is customary to tip the guide, chef and
crew) soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and any other extras not
specifically mentioned. There is also a $25 US per person departure tax from
Quito and $25 US per person from Guayaquil on all international flights. All
prices are subject to change without notice.
We pride ourselves for having highly trained hotel and
ship crew. In addition the vessel also has the services of a 24hour duty
doctor; and, naturalist multilingual guides.
Other facilities include an auditorium
for conferences, spacious social areas, culinary delights at the dining
room, 24 hour coffee bar, swimming pool with broad sun decks and observation
platforms.
At night guests can enjoy live music at the piano lounge,
cocktail bars, computers equipped with games and internet access, or keep in
touch with family and friends using our long distance call facility.
Superb Culinary Delights!
Itinerary:
5 day Thursday to Monday
Your flight to Galapagos departs from Quito on Thursday Jan 27 at 7:30
AM and arrives in Galapagos at 9:45 AM. You will be met upon your arrival by
your naturalist guide and escorted to the dock to board the ship. On Monday,
Jan 31, your guide will escort you back to the airport for your 12:45 PM
flight to Quito. This flight arrives back into Quito at 5:15 PM (flight
schedules are subject to change at any time).
Click on the link to make a
virtual visit and get a good idea of what you will experience on your
itinerary...
Learn more
about the Galapagos Islands by taking the full Galapagos Guided Tour..
Check out the links on this page for even more
information about Galapagos...
Deck Plan:
| Social
Areas : |
Services
: |
| Swimming
pool |
Glass
bottom boat |
| Outside
pool bar |
Bar
service |
| Promenade |
Buffet
service |
| Sun
terraces & observation decks |
Concierge
services |
| Dining
room |
Music |
| Clinic
& massage |
Room 24
hour medical service |
| Inside
bars |
Audio-visual
equipment |
| Library
& video room |
Multilingual
naturalist guides |
| Piano
lounge |
Inter-cabin
phone |
| Auditorium |
International
phone |
| Meeting
room |
Fax &
e-mail service |
| Business
centre |
Room
service |
| Private
living room |
Laundry
service |
Specifications:
| Type: |
Motor
Vessel |
| Class: |
Superior
First Class |
| Capacity: |
90
passengers |
| Accommodations: |
10
double cabins each with private bath and hot shower: |
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*
4 Legend Suites lower double-twin berths
* 25 Junior Suites lower double-twin berths
* 18 superior cabins lower double-twin berths
* 3 Interior Cabins lower double-twin berths |
| Length: |
300 ft. |
| Crew: |
55 |
| Guides: |
6
(multilingual naturalists ) |
| Electricity: |
110
/ 220 AC - 12 / 24 DC |
| Sets
sail: |
Thursdays,
Mondays |
Reservations
Galapagos
Islands Boats, Cruises and Yacht Charters
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