In December 2022, you have the opportunity to join artist Kathie George and celebrate the New Year in beautiful Ecuador. Ecuador is an incredibly beautiful country, with nearly every type of dramatic landscape and venues packed into its small area; the highlands, nestled in the breathtaking peaks of the snow-capped mountain range of the Andes where you will stay in 400 year old haciendas. Witness active volcanoes and clear waterfalls dotting the countryside, and Incan ruins which lay hidden in remote spots. There are colorful Inca markets waiting to be explored, painted and photographed. 

In addition to the expansive countryside, our optional add-on tour takes you to the crown jewel of the natural world, the Galapagos Islands. These islands are set along the equator, 600 miles off the west coast of South America in the crystal clear turquoise seas consisting of 13 major islands, 17 smaller islands and some 40 rocks that make up the archipelago all born from a fiery volcano deep in the Pacific Ocean. The Galapagos have never been part of a continent and have only relatively recently been discovered by man and more recently had human inhabitants. In 1835, the English naturalist Charles Darwin visited the islands and discovered this “living laboratory” which inspired his writings on the Theory of Evolution. Many of the animals on the Galapagos Islands have developed into different species from their continental relatives, and because they have never experienced man as a predator, they show no fear of humans.

Join Explore Amazing Places and Kathie George on the unforgettable painting workshop and tour. The sights, sounds, colors and beauty of Ecuador will be a treasured memory for years to come. Space will fill up soon, so don’t wait, register today!

About the Artist

Kathie George, known for her friendly, informative and energetic teaching style has been a popular workshop instructor for over 20 years.. She likes working in many different media and this workshop will be a mixed media workshop. Kathie will do demos in watercolor and/or acrylic with occasional dabbling into collage and texture. Our days are relaxed and informative (with lots of good food and laughing in the mix). If you are a first-time plein air painter (and afraid), you'll find it painless!

Advanced painters will discover new techniques and creative solutions with color & design which will move your work to a new level. There will be demos, hand-outs and personal attention.

 Kathie's work has been featured in 5 of the Splash: Best of Watercolor publications along with their Splash Retrospective: 20 years of Contemporary Watercolor Excellence. Her work and blog have been published in American Artist magazine, Artist magazine, Plein Air magazine and Watercolor Magazine among others. She has authored 4 books and is a signature member of the Ohio Watercolor Society and the Florida Watercolor Society. Visit her website here.

Friday, December 30th

Saturday, December 31st

Sunday, January 1st

Monday, January 2nd

Tuesday, January 3rd

Wednesday, January 4th

Thursday, January 5th

Friday, January 6th

Saturday, January 7th

Sunday, January 8th

Monday, January 9th

Tuesday, January 10th

Wednesday, January 11th

Thursday, January 12th

Friday, January 13th

Saturday, January 14th

Arrive in Quito and travel to Hacienda Cusin

Otavalo Inca market and New Years party at Hacienda Cusin

Cotacachi leather town and Hacienda Cusin

Relax, paint and enjoy the beauty of Hacienda Cusin

Hacienda Compania (rose plantation) & Hacienda La Alegria

Ecuadorian Chagras (cowboy) experience, Special Barbecue

Optional horseback riding, cloud forest & cooking class

Painting and hiking at Hacienda La Alegria

Alegria to Quito and the Hotel Casona De La Ronda

Art in park in Quito

Fly to the Galapagos and cruise to Santa Cruz Island

Explore Puerto Egas and Santiago Island

Enjoy wildlife at Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island

Walk with the iguanas on Santa Fe Island

Return to Baltra Island and fly to Quito & Casa Ilayaku

International flights home

You can download a full version of the itinerary, complete with times and detailed descriptions of each destination here.

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Register

Payment Details

Included in your Tour:

▪ 11 days, 10 nights at unique hotels ▪ 5 days, 5 nights optional Galapagos add-on ▪ meals per itinerary, including gratuities ▪hotel baggage handling and driver gratuities ▪ deluxe motor coaches, including driver tips

NOT Included:

▪ Airfare from your hometown to Quito, Ecuador ▪ Airport baggage handling tips (we recommend $1 per bag) ▪Alcoholic beverages and tips for alcoholic beverages (10%) ▪ Any Airport Security Taxes ▪ Any expenses incurred should you choose to deviate from the itinerary ▪ Optional Activities ▪ Guide tip (we recommend $5 - $8 per day, per person)

Price for Ecuador Hacienda Tour (Dec 30th - Jan 9th):

Price: $3780 (Double Occupancy), $510 (Single Supplement)

Price for Galapagos Islands (January 9th - 14th)

Price: $5275 (Double Occupancy)

A $500 deposit is required to confirm registration

Explore Amazing Places prefers payment to be made by check. You may make the $500 per person deposit*, pay your Balance Due, or pay the full amount for your tour by sending checks:

PAYABLE TO: Explore Amazing Places

MAIL TO: Explore Amazing Places
20553 W Legend Trail
Buckeye, AZ 85396

*If you are registering 120 days or less prior to the departure date of your tour, you must pay for the trip in FULL, rather than a $500 deposit.

If you prefer to pay by credit card, please use the link below and we will send you information on payment through Pay Pal. Explore Amazing Places was previously known as Explore Guatemala. All payment references are listed under the previous company’s title. Rest assured, your payment will be received by Explore Amazing Places.

Do not purchase airfare until you have received the “Your Trip is a Go” email from Explore Amazing Places. We will communicate all pertinent arrival and departure information at that time.