Ecuador & The Galápagos Islands

Welcome to Quito!

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and its second-largest city, sits at an elevation of 2850 m (9,350 ft). Founded on the ruins of an Incan city, the city has the best-preserved, least-altered historic centre in Latin America and was named the first World Cultural Heritage City by UNESCO in 1978.

You’ll find out today why the city centre is nicknamed ‘the Treasury of South America’.

After breakfast, our morning city tour starts at Independence Square. We will then continue to the colonial church of San Francisco, the elegant façades of the Carondelet presidential palace, the former Archbishop’s palace and the Jesuit church of La Compañia de Jesús. The latter is the major and best example of Latin American baroque architecture. Our city tour finishes with a visit to the top of El Panecillo (‘little loaf of bread’ – can you guess what shape it is??), crowned with a giant statue of the Virgin Mary and offering panoramic views of Quito and the volcanoes surrounding the city.

We’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Ciudad Mitad del Mundo – Middle of the World City. Here, at the Monument to the Equator, you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere! Then, at the Inti Ñan Solar Museum (Inti Ñan means “Path of the Sun” in Kichwa), you will travel back in time to learn about the history of the people who inhabited these valleys thousands of years ago. At the end of our visit we’ll be transferred back to Quito. 

We’ll head south today, to the central Ecuadorian Andes, and the majestic Cotopaxi National Park.
At the heart of the park is the Cotopaxi volcano, with its almost perfectly symmetrical cone – if you drew a volcano as a child, it would have looked like this! Cotopaxi is also one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, last erupting in 2015/16 – and subsequently one of the most closely monitored.

A native guide will give us a tour of the highlands surrounding the Cotopaxi volcano, including the picturesque Limpiopungo lagoon (at 3840 m/12,600 ft of altitude); on clear days the reflection of the volcano can be seen in the water.
There are many trails surrounding the lagoon, leading to panoramic viewpoints and spots for birdwatching, with Andean gulls, Andean lapwings, black-chested eagles, and the endangered giant cóndor occasionally flying by.

Lunch will be at a working farm, restaurant and hotel located in a very scenic prairie, after which we’ll be driven up the slopes of the volcano. We’ll reach a mostly sandy and red lava rock area where even the montane vegetation is scarce – then walk over to the mountaineer’s refuge at 4630m (15,200 ft) where we can have a hot drink while taking in the stunning views.

After enjoying the atmosphere and breathtaking views, we will be transferred to our hotel near the park for the night.

After breakfast we’ll be transferred to the town of Baños. Located in a rainforest-filled valley it is home to many activities.
To begin we’ll cycle a 15-kilometre route stretching between the National Parks of Sangay and Llanganates. Known as the ‘Route of Waterfalls’ we’ll pass several cascades before we reach the 80-metre high Pailón del Diablo (‘Cauldron of the Devil)’, which has a winding staircase carved on the rock right next to it. Make sure to take great pictures and enjoy the drizzle!

Our second activity today sees us heading to the Casa del Árbol. This treehouse was built as an observation point from where the Tungurahua volcano could be monitored – but at some point, a swing was added. “The Swing at the End of the World” allows you to swing out over a canyon whilst looking at Tungurahua.

After your biking experience in Baños, you will be transferred to your hotel.

On our second day in Baños, we’ll fly through the air with the greatest of ease, over canyons and gorges, admiring the trees!

Our half-day of zip-lining will see you attached to a suspended stainless steel cable via a safety belt, soaring above the ground. You’ll see the sights from another angle!

After breakfast in Baños we’ll head towards the upper Amazon. The route features a scenic stretch of road which takes us out of the majestic Andes highlands and down into the Amazon region. Along the way there are several opportunities to stop for photographs, overlooking lush green valleys and sparkling waterfalls.

We’ll be welcomed at our rainforest lodge with a cocktail and a short orientation talk. Then you will be shown your room and can relax for the afternoon.

You’ll start the day with a delicious breakfast before exploring the jungle and observing the flora and fauna along the Napo River with our native guide.

The Napo River is the longest in Ecuador and is one of the largest tributaries of the mighty Amazon. Behind the shores of one of its beaches flows the Arajuno River, home to an array of flora and fauna, and AmaZoonico. This refuge was founded to protect and care for native fauna; animals that have been injured, mistreated or confiscated from smugglers. It houses a range of species including woolly monkeys, capuchins, coatis, tapirs, and spider monkeys
Our visit here is an excellent opportunity to observe these creatures in their natural habitat, something which is normally tricky given their elusive nature.

After the visit, we’ll return to the lodge by canoe along the Napo River. After a box lunch, we’ll visit the home of a native Quichua family and see how “chicha” (a traditional alcoholic drink) is prepared – there will also be the opportunity for tasting. We’ll then get a hands-on experience with the blowgun – an important weapon used in hunting food. You’ll soon find out that aiming it isn’t easy!

Our final visit today will be to the Caiman Lagoon. Look out for ripples in the water…before a pair of eyes appears and looks at you fixedly.
Our guide will attract them with a little meat so we can watch them closely (but not too closely!).

We’ll return to the lodge for dinner and relaxation after our adventures.

Early morning, before breakfast, there may be an excursion to find species only visible at sunrise (subject to availability within the lodge, will be confirmed on arrival).

After breakfast you will have time to relax before our transfer back to Quito.

Today we fly to the magical Galápagos Islands!

In the morning, after breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the airport ready for your flight to Baltra Island.

Our native guide will meet us at Baltra airport and accompany us on a tour of the highlands of Santa Cruz, visiting the Twin Craters. These impressive lava formations appeared during a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, and are now covered by rich forest ecosystems. The endemic woodpecker finch, considered a holy grail of evolution, can be seen in these areas using tools to feed.

We’ll then visit a ranch visited by giant Galápagos tortoises. Since these magnificent reptiles do not stop their migrations at the official boundaries of the National Park, dozens of them enter the private properties on the island, taking mud baths, devouring fallen fruit and carrying birds on their shells.

When we reach the town of Puerto Ayora, we’ll visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, named after the British naturalist who developed his Theory of Evolution after visiting the islands in 1835. Besides working as an NGO, this institution hosts the headquarters of the Galápagos National Park, from where biological research and conservation management are directed. We’ll be taken on an educational stroll, and visit the Galápagos giant tortoise breeding centre.

We’ll enjoy lunch with a view of the tortoises, and then transfer to the hotel.

Important Information for today – payments, permits and checks
Quito Airport – you must purchase a mandatory Transit Control Card ($20, cash only) from the Galápagos Government Council counter in the departures hall). This must be presented on your return to Quito so keep it safe

Quito Airport – your luggage will be inspected to ensure no foreign plants or animals are introduced onto the islands

Baltra Island Airport – entry fee to the Galápagos National Park to be paid ($200, cash only)

Today we’ll explore a remote island, one of Bartolomé, North Seymour, Santa Fé or South Plaza.

The destination will be determined by availability and then chosen by our local team. Each island is different, but they’re all equally fascinating, as you can read below.

The colossal pinnacle of Bartolomé presents an iconic postcard view of the Galápagos. We’ll enjoy it from different angles, and climb to its summit, crossing paths with Galápagos hawks, lava lizards and snakes to reach an otherworldly landscape. Golden beaches with crystal clear turquoise waters offer an excellent opportunity for snorkelling.

North Seymour is a natural paradise, replete with seabird colonies, and offering unique opportunities to get up close and personal with blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, Galápagos sea lions, and endemic land iguanas. Here we can swim in close company with playful Galápagos sea lions; their largest colony of the entire archipelago is found on the beach here.

Santa Fé island is the oldest island in the archipelago. Here we can stroll through a Galápagos sea lion rookery and a giant prickly pear cactus forest. The Barrington land iguana is endemic to this uninhabited island and through natural selection is larger than normal iguanas. There is also a plethora of birds. We’ll snorkel in the turquoise waters of Barrington Bay

The islet of South Plaza has a distinct ambience, with reddish psychedelic flora and a strong resemblance to Jurassic Park. Endemic Galápagos land and marine iguanas can be widely seen here. We’ll be able to swim over a boulder reef that attracts an amazing variety of tropical reef fish, harmless whitetip sharks and playful Galápagos sea lions.

Snorkelling equipment is provided.

You’ll be transferred back to Santa Cruz and the hotel.

Day 3 in the Galápagos, and we’re off to our third island – San Cristóbal.

After breakfast we’ll be transferred to Puerto Ayora dock, where we’ll board a public speedboat to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristóbal island. Please bring with you a windbreaker, sunglasses, sunscreen, and seasickness pills just in case.

Our guide will meet us at the dock, and first take us to the island’s Interpretation Centre. Here we’ll get a glimpse into the seriousness and complexity of preserving the unique ecosystems of the Galápagos. After this visit, you have time for lunch (not included), before we ascend Frigatebird Hill. This hike from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno will take around an hour. The wooded hilltop is one of the rare places where both Magnificent and Great Frigatebirds form breeding colonies, and the summit offers panoramic views of the rugged coastline.

As we descend we’ll pass a statue of Charles Darwin; a reminder that this is the island where he first came ashore. A trail continues to Carola Point, a secluded beach and popular surf location, where you can opt for a refreshing swim in the sea accompanied by baby sea lions and marine iguanas.

After our optional swim we’ll be transferred to our hotel.

Kicker Rock, an impressive natural sculpture rising from the ocean at the northeast coast of San Cristóbal Island, is our destination today.

From the side, you’ll see why it is known as Kicker Rock (the shape is an upside-down giant shoe with a high heel – the tower). Looking from another direction its Spanish name – Leon Dormido, ‘Sleeping Lion’ – is more appropriate.

We’ll snorkel (equipment provided) in the chilly waters between the tower and the main formation; an area teeming with marine life. Look out for tropical fish, sea turtles, Galápagos sharks and rays.

Before and after our swim, we’ll enjoy the presence of seabirds that nest and breed on the edges of the rock. Galápagos shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds, blue-footed and Nazca boobies are a regular sight.

Following our marine adventure we’ll be transferred back to San Cristóbal for our final night on the islands.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to San Cristóbal airport to start your journey back to the UK.

Important Information for today – payments, permits and checks
Quito Airport – you must show the mandatory Transit Control Card you purchased on day 9.

Please note: if you are booking your international flights yourself, please ensure you book a late evening flight from Quito, to allow for the internal flight from San Cristobal.