¡Bienvenido a Ecuador! A fascinating fusion of thriving cities, indigenous cultures, tropical forests and spectacular wildlife, Ecuador is a country that lives in full colour and constant motion.
Upon arrival at Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport (UIO), you’ll be transferred to your comfortable accommodation in Quito’s creative quarter of La Floresta. Get acquainted with Ecuador’s capital with free time to wander the bohemian streets and admire the vibrant murals on every corner.
Choose to follow the tantalising scent of delicious Ecuadorian llapingachos (stuffed potato patties) and fresh ceviche, or step into one of La Floresta’s many popular restaurants, then return to your central hotel for a relaxing evening.
Wake to a hearty breakfast and take your private transport northwest of the city to visit the equatorial line. Walk the fertile soil at the rim of the dormant Pululahua volcano and peer down the lush slopes at one of the only inhabited craters in the world.
Visit the nearby Ciudad Mitad del Mundo or ‘Middle of the World City’ and discover the geographic and cultural significance of this region at the Intinan Museum, positioned right atop the Equator. Cross the threshold and boldly place your feet in two hemispheres at once.
After a filling lunch back in Quito, follow your guide through the city’s impressive colonial centre. Quito’s 16th-century foundations were built upon the ruins of an Inca city before it. Walk through the ‘Plaza de la Independencia’ to see the Carondelet government palace and the grand Metropolitan Cathedral. Trace a long line through history as you pore over an array of 16th and 17th-century churches, including the staggering detail of the Convent of San Francisco – a structure dating back to just five days after the founding of the city.
Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, it’s time for your one-of-a-kind chocolate experience. Thanks to Ecuador’s unique climate and cultural legacy, skilled farmers have been cultivating cacao, known as the ‘Food of the Gods’, since as far back as 5,600 years ago. The renowned Arriba Nacional cacao – an Heirloom variety endemic to Ecuador – is regarded as some of the finest in the world, coveted for its delicate and aromatic flavour. Uncover Ecuador’s chocolate heritage with the assistance of Yumbos Chocolate, a local maker supporting families in the Los Rios and Esmeraldas provinces who have grown fine flavour cacao for generations. See the difference of their 'tree-to-bar' process with a delectable guided tasting.
The wilderness awaits you today. Bid farewell to Quito and board your included flight to Baltra Island (GPS) in the remote Galapagos Islands. A bucket list destination for countless travellers, the Galapagos hold the prestigious honour of being the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world. With a plethora of endemic species and an abundance of natural beauty, there’s not a moment to waste. Enter the ecological airport through an exclusive VIP lounge, where you can prepare for adventure over a refreshing beverage.
Transfer directly to the Itabaca Channel and take to the turquoise waters by kayak or stand-up paddleboard, or dive straight in with a snorkel and a keen eye. Glide through striking red mangroves and around volcanic cliffs and witness a busy world beneath the surface. Your quest to spot some of the Galapagos ‘Big 15’ starts here, with the chance to sight the curious blue-footed booby and the playful Galapagos sea lion.
From the water to the highlands, cross over to Santa Cruz and visit a private reserve on the fringe of the National Park, where you can watch the beloved giant tortoise meander through the wild. Enjoy a hearty lunch, then continue to your Puerto Ayora accommodation. Spend the evening at your leisure in the beachfront Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.
Please Note: All travellers must pay the Galapagos National Park Fee of US$100 on arrival into the Galapagos.
Update: For departures from August 2024 onwards, the Galapagos National Park Fee will be US$200 per person.
Embark on a motorised yacht for a phenomenal wildlife excursion. Led by your expert naturalist guide, you’ll have the chance to hop between some of the Galapagos’ best islands.
See where the winds take you as you tour a combination of North Seymour, South Plaza, Santa Fe or Bartoleme Islands, and keep an eye out for leaping manta rays against the backdrop of the endless Pacific Ocean. Look to the skies in search of the Galapagos' many vibrant and eccentric species of bird, from the brown pelican to the eye-catching frigate.
Later, return to your eco-friendly hotel and let the ocean lap at your ankles, or step out to Puerto Ayora town for fresh ceviche at an island pace.
Wake bright and early for a morning speedboat journey to Isabela Island, where you’ll check in at your boutique hotel.
Set off into the big blue and set your destination to Las Tintoreras – an islet south of Puerto Villamil, named for the white-tipped reef sharks that call these calm waters home. Walk the island, then grab your snorkel and search the crystal-clear bay for an incredible collection of unique wildlife, from the rambunctious sea lions and curious penguins to the gentle turtles swimming gracefully below the waves.
In the afternoon, hike the Wetlands trails and weave between numerous different mangrove trees as you look for colonies of marine iguanas and wild giant tortoises. At the end of the trail, visit the ‘Wall of Tears’ and listen as your guide explains the powerful and tragic history of the prisoners who toiled to build it in the years following World War II.
Grab your hiking shoes and set off to visit the active volcano of Isabela Island. Spend the day exploring the highlands, starting by mounting the rim of the enormous crater Sierra Negra crater – the second largest in the world. Keep an eye out along the way, whatever the weather, for the chance to see the Galapagos hawk and the Galapagos short-eared owl.
Continue toward Volcan Chico and watch the landscape gradually shift into something more Martian than terrestrial. Though it may appear desolate, look closer to find tiny lizards scurrying about the rocks. Take in the sweeping vistas and follow your guide as they point out lava tubes and fumaroles (volcanic vents) dotted across the land.
Relax in the shade of a soapberry or ‘jaboncillo’ tree and enjoy a well-earned box lunch as you soak up the scenery, then descend to the beaches of Puerto Villamil for a relaxing end to your day.
Say 'adios' to the boundless beauty of the Galapagos Islands as you take an early morning public speedboat back to Santa Cruz and transfer to Baltra for your onward flight to Guayaquil.
Back on the mainland, check into your Puerto Santa Ana hotel and spend the rest of your day freely with a visit to the nearby blue-and-white-striped lighthouse of Cerro Santa Ana. Alternatively, step inside the cavernous hall of the Neo-Gothic Guayaquil Metropolitan Cathedral.
Spend your final evening in comfort at your riverfront accommodation.
After one more breakfast and the chance to reflect on the wild and wonderful sights of the last week, it’s time to take your private transfer to Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport (GYE), where your Ecuador expedition comes to a close.