Luxury Ecuador + The Galápagos Islands Itinerary

A Menu of Rainforests, Volcanoes + the Galápagos Islands

Though smaller than its neighbours, Ecuador offers an immense range of temptations for travellers. 

For most, nature is the draw, and it’s difficult to deny staying aboard a yacht while sailing through the Galápagos Islands is one of the most magical wildlife experiences on the planet. Though less well-known for its rainforest, the country has several of the best lodges in the remote Amazon Basin jungle.

In addition, Ecuador’s Northern and Southern Sierras are very authentic parts of the Andes and its towns, markets and people make the mountains a powerful experience. For those who ride, there’s the chance to enjoy incredible Andean terrain with overnight stays in historic haciendas, hosted by the owner’s family. Starting in Quito, the world’s first world heritage city, this trip takes guests to “The Avenue of the Volcanoes” and the crater lake of Quilotoa, as well as Cotopaxi’s indigenous markets and National Park. 

Cloud Forest is one of the most bio-diverse habitats in the world, with over 35,000 species of fauna, where during your stay you can visit a butterfly farm, take a night walk to see the nocturnal wildlife or ride open cable-cars (and cable-bikes!) up through the forest canopy.  Then it’s eight incredible days of sailing around the Galápagos islands, emerging fresh from your private cabin each day to birdwatch, snorkel, kayak, paddleboard and walk in Darwin’s footsteps as your guides point out the abounding and incredible wildlife amongst the islands. Finally, you’ll have some time back on dry land in Guayaquil, where you can enjoy the welcome comfort and activities of the magical Hacienda La Danesa. 

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KEY FACTS

PEAK TIME

April-December

PRICE

From GBP £15,750 USD $19,159 pp excl. flights

IDEAL LENGTH

17 days

FLIGHT TIME

15 hours 40 mins from London
6 hours 40 mins from NYC

CURRENCY

US Dollar

LANGUAGE

Spanish

Where you'll go

Quito

Cotopaxi

Cloud Forests

The Galápagos

Guayaquil

When to go

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CELEBRATE THIS

Ecuador has declared 97% of the Galápagos territory a national park and protected area. The islands are also a UNESCO world heritage site and an important Biosphere Reserve.

Itinerary Highlights

Cotopaxi National Park

Weather permitting, you’ll be able to see the snowcapped summits of the Cotopaxi and Antisana volcanoes before learning about the spectacular volcano’s major eruptions, as well as the local flora and fauna. Then visit Lake Limpiopungo on foot, or continue on a two-hour hike around the Cotopaxi area to enjoy spectacular views of the volcano and the Andean peaks.

Quito Hands on Experience

Start with a walk through the ‘Plaza de la Independencia’ viewing the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and some of the most important 16th/17th century churches. Then, it’s off to a traditional food market for a taste of Ecuadorian food and Quito market life, followed by a chocolate tasting session, a visit to the “Intiñan Museum” and simultaneously putting a foot in each hemisphere and, finally, aiming to stay on your feet after a big day with a visit to ‘Casa Agave’!

Cotopaxi's Indigenous Markets & Rose Farm

Local markets are a big part of Ecuadorian traditional culture, where communities come to buy from vendors they often know personally – and an eye-opening contrast to the way we shop in supermarkets. Then it’s on to a world-class rose farm that produces exquisite breeds of the flowers for discerning customers all over the world. You’ll learn about the process of producing these high-quality roses and the spectacular and intense range of colours they’ve cultivated.

Mashpi Lodge Excursions and Activities

A range of guided excursions and activities are on offer during your stay at Mashpi, during which you will discover the magic of the forest. Options include hiking, birdwatching, and rides on the Dragon Fly and Sky bike, taking you up through the forest canopy. There are also visits to the butterfly farm and night walks to see the nocturnal wildlife.

7 nights in the Galápagos aboard MV Origin/ Theory/ Evolve (Ecoventura)

After being shown to your cabin and treated to a delicious lunch, you’ll be fitted with wetsuit and snorkelling gear. The yacht circumnavigates the islands for the next eight days, stopping for snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, birdwatching, whale and wildlife-spotting, swimming with sea-lions… To put it bluntly, along with incredible dining, magic sunsets and Zodiac rides to sea-caves, this will be one of the most memorable weeks of your life.

Activities at Hacienda La Danesa

Inspired by their love of nature, and appreciation of food and comfort, Niels Olsen Pons and his wife Sonia have transformed this 500-hectare dairy farm, into a magical destination where guests can go horseback riding through the scenic countryside, mountain biking, hiking, or birdwatching in the nearby cloud forests, learn about sustainable farming practices and cacao production, or (we highly recommend!) take part in the chocolate-making process.

Itinerary Highlights

Our tailor-made journeys include

  • A dedicated Destination Expert who will curate your itinerary from scratch, tailoring it to your preferences + interests
  • Private + extraordinary under-the-radar experiences
  • Access to the very best guides + experts to bring the destination to life
  • Private international airport transfers in destination
  • The MyCazLoyd app to view your itinerary offline anywhere, anytime
  • 24/7 support whilst travelling
  • ATOL protection to give you total peace of mind

Let us plan your perfect trip to Ecuador + the Galápagos

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Caroline Maber
Karen Chapman