Highlights of Ecuador & the Galapagos

Begin the adventure in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, high in the Andes. To make things easy, there are free transfers from the airport to the hotel for everyone today – check the Joining Instructions for further details. Around 6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Ecuadorian welcome by arranging a group dinner. Want more time in Quito? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Start with a tour of Quito’s historic centre, a World Heritage site. Led by our tour leader, we visit the highlights, including the Plaza de la Independencia, home to the Carondelet Palace and Metropolitan Cathedral, followed by the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, famous for its gold-decorated interior. After, we head to Casa Agave to learn about the cultural and economic importance of agave in Ecuador and enjoy a tasting of agave products, including miske, an indigenous alcoholic drink. Lunch is served at this venue, a delicious sample of local cuisine. In the afternoon, visit the Intiñan Equator Museum, which is located near the equator line. This fun interactive museum explores indigenous culture and traditions, as well as unique phenomena related to the geographic location.

Travel (two hours) to Cotopaxi National Park in the morning, home to Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Here, we embark on a one-hour hike through the stunning park, which sits at 12,470ft (3,800m) above sea level. Our route is a circular trail around Limpiopungo Lagoon, whose waters can reflect the volcano. Enjoy lunch at La Cienega, a colonial hacienda turned restaurant, eating traditional Ecuadorian dishes in a historic setting. Following lunch, we transfer (two hours) to Baños de Agua Santa, a town known for its thermal baths and adventure activities. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore, visit cafes, or relax in the thermal baths. Upgrade to the Highland suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Begin with a visit to Pailón del Diablo (Devil’s Cauldron), a powerful waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation. To get to the base of the falls, we take a trail (30-40 minutes) with hanging bridges and viewpoints where you can enjoy spectacular views and feel the power of nature. After, we return to the vehicle and drive to the Swing at the End of the World, where you can swing out over a cliff to enjoy panoramic views of the valleys and mountains. In the afternoon, we return to Baños for time to explore at your own pace. Visit the hot springs, stroll through local markets, or relax and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere. Upgrade to the Highland suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Leave Baños in the morning and transfer (three hours) to Tena, the gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon. The journey takes us through spectacular landscapes, from Andean mountains to lush rainforest. Enjoy lunch in Tena, then continue to our rainforest lodge – a 1hr 30min drive, followed by a 15-minute canoe ride. Settle in and enjoy dinner before we take a 45-minute night walk around the lodge with an expert naturalist to discover our new surroundings. There are fantastic sounds to listen out for, including the calls of frogs, oropendolas, jays and a variety of insects – a wonderful experience amid the rainforest humidity.

Begin with a visit to amaZOOnico, taking a short motor canoe ride to get there. A rescue and rehabilitation facility for jungle animals, it’s home to various Amazonian species, such as monkeys, toucans and ocelots. During the visit, we learn about their conservation efforts and the threats these animals face in their natural habitat. Guides provide detailed information about the different animals and the stories behind each rescue. After returning to Liana Lodge for lunch, we embark on an exploration of the Amazon jungle guided by local experts who show the rich biodiversity of the Amazon ecosystem. During the hike, we learn about medicinal plants, local flora and fauna, and survival techniques used by Indigenous communities. The order of activities today may change depending on water conditions and other factors.

Bid farewell to the Amazon after breakfast and head to Papallacta, a town renowned for its thermal baths. A drive (at least 4hr 30min) takes us through the Amazon rainforest to the high Andes, offering diverse views of Ecuadorian landscapes. This afternoon, rejuvenate in the thermal waters at the hotel (which are heated by underground volcanic activity and said to have therapeutic properties) or explore the nearby trails. Upgrade to a room with a Jacuzzi today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Leave the hotel around 6.30am and transfer (five minutes) to Quito Airport, where we catch our flight to San Cristóbal in the Galápagos via Guayaquil. Bid farewell to our mainland tour leader at the airport; our Galápagos tour leader (an official Galápagos National Park Naturalist Guide) then meets us at San Cristóbal Airport (where we pay our US$200 Galapagos taxes in cash) and takes us to the hotel for check-in and our first briefing about our time in the archipelago. Once checked in, we have time to explore the town and enjoy a restaurant lunch before the afternoon activity with two options available, depending on your preference. Option one: Snorkel from La Lobería beach, a wonderful stretch surrounded by mangroves, volcanic rocks and sea lion colonies. You’ll start by visiting a local store for an equipment fitting – this equipment is yours until the final day in the Galápagos, when our local team returns it for you. Then, guided by our Galápagos tour leader and assistant, we head into the water from the beach, ensuring everyone is paired up for safety. Please inform your tour leader if you are not a confident swimmer, or if you have never snorkelled before so they can assist you accordingly. Sea conditions can change. At times, the waves and currents can be strong, plus the shore is rocky. Option two: Enjoy one of the coastal walks on San Cristóbal. A favourite is the Puerto Baquerizo Moreno walk, which takes you to Charles Darwin’s first landing spot.

Start your day with an exciting tour to Isla Lobos, a small, uninhabited island near San Cristóbal. This excursion takes you by boat to one of the best spots in the Galapagos for birdwatching, with a chance to see frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies. It is also a great place to see sea lions in their natural habitat. This island is made of volcanic rock, so the terrain is uneven. If for any reason Isla Lobos is unavailable, we visit Kicker Rock today instead. After our slow walk around the small island, we have a second opportunity to snorkel. From the boat, we enter the clear waters around the island, guided by our tour leader and an assistant. We swim along the coastline hoping to see marine life such as turtles, rays and, occasionally, whitetip reef sharks. Please inform your tour leader if you are not a confident swimmer, or if you have never snorkelled before so they can assist you accordingly. Sea conditions can change. At times, the waves and currents can be strong, plus the shore is rocky. After lunch on board, we head to Playa Ochoa, a white-sand beach with turquoise waters. It’s ideal for relaxing, while also offering excellent birdwatching and further snorkelling opportunities. Once back in town, the rest of the afternoon is free.

A three-hour navigation by motorboat takes us to Floreana, one of the first islands to be inhabited in the Galapagos, yet still relatively untouched by development – don’t expect to see many restaurants or shops! En route, we may see whales, dolphins and sea birds. After lunch at one of the few local restaurants, we visit the highlands and see lava caves once used by pirates and a large enclosure of Galapagos giant tortoises. In the afternoon, we travel (2hr 30min to three hours) by speedboat to Isabela Island. See Boat Transfers in the Is This Trip for You? section for more information on our crossings.

Spend 15 minutes travelling to the islet and lava channels of Las Tintoreras, one of the best places in the Galapagos to see whitetip reef sharks, penguins and sea lions. This protected site is named after the white-tip reef sharks (tintoreras in Spanish) that are often seen resting in the narrow lava channel separating the island from Isabela. A 40-minute walk explores the islet and back to the boat, before we jump into the water for a snorkel! This afternoon, we have an optional walk (7.5mi/12km round-trip) to the Wall of Tears, a sad reminder of Isabela’s very different past when it was used as a penal colony. Between 1946 and 1959, convicts were forced to build this wall from huge blocks of lava as a form of punishment, which, combined with the harsh conditions, led to many deaths.

Navigate by speedboat (two hours to 2hr 30min) to Santa Cruz early this morning. Upon arrival, we leave our luggage at our hotel and head out to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station’s breeding facility – the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center. Here, we are introduced to some of the important work that takes place on the island, such as rearing giant tortoises until they reach an age where they can be released into the wild. After, we visit the exhibition hall and gift shop, where we can get our passports stamped in commemoration. In the afternoon, we walk to Tortuga Bay, a long stretch of white sand that’s regarded as one of the best beaches in the Galapagos. The trail leading to the beach is paved and takes 45 minutes to one hour each way (5.5mi/9km total). There are possibilities to observe Galapagos finches and lizards en route. The beach is scattered with marine iguanas, which lie among the clusters of black rocks or stroll along the sand. Turtles can sometimes be seen in the water, though swimming is not recommended due to the strong currents. Santa Cruz is the most inhabited of the Galapagos islands, meaning you can enjoy perusing the souvenir shops and restaurants. See Boat Transfers in the Is This Trip for You? section for more information on our crossings.

Our first stop on our bay tour is the Canal de Tiburones. Here, we follow a small trail and hope to see whitetip reef sharks and, if lucky, lava herons. After, we visit Canal del Amor, which translates to the Love Channel, as it’s known for its romantic and tranquil atmosphere. We take in the beauty while Sally Lightfoot crabs and blue-footed boobies rest on the rocks. We continue with a visit to Playa de los Perros, where the largest marine iguanas on the islands live, and finish at Las Grietas, where we have our final snorkelling of the trip. Las Grietas is a lava formation with giant walls, and we swim in deep water through the narrow canyon valley viewing the geological formations Please let your tour leader know if you would like additional swim aids or assistance. In the afternoon, we transfer (40 minutes) to the giant tortoise nature reserve in the highlands, a great place to see giant tortoises in the wild. Here, we learn about the history of the land, learning about the ongoing reforestation project and visiting the lava cave formations.

After a few days following the footsteps of Darwin, Cousteau and world-renowned scientists, it is time to say goodbye to the Enchanted Islands. After breakfast, we journey to Baltra Island Airport via minibus, boat, and airport shuttle bus – bidding a fond farewell to our Galapagos tour leader – and fly to Quito via Guayaquil. Our mainland tour leader meets us upon arrival and we have the rest of the evening at leisure.

Our adventure ends after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to stay in Quito beyond the trip, speak to your sales representative to book extra nights.