Ecuador & Galápagos Adventure

Fly to Quito via Bogotá

Overnight flight to Quito via Bogotá. (N)

Meal basis:
As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals

Quito

Late morning arrival and transfer to the Hilton Colon for 3 nights. Remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)

Quito

Today, take a guided tour of Quito and its surrounds. Tour the historic centre, which has delightful Spanish colonial buildings and squares, surrounded by a valley with high peaks. Take a cable car ride up the slopes of the Pichincha volcano for amazing views of the city and the surrounding mountains and drive out to the Middle of the World, where you can stand with one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the south. (B)

Quito

Optional excursion options today include a full day visit to Papallacta thermal springs, set in the Andean Cordillera at the entrance to the Amazonian jungle. Here one can take a dip in various thermal pools of different sizes and temperatures and hike on paths alongside mountain streams in search of hummingbirds, condors and eagles. Please enquire for prices. (B, L)

Fly to the Galápagos (Isabela island)

Fly to the Galápagos archipelago, remote volcanic outcrops whose natural wonders once inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Here explore wetland lagoons and the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre where beautiful giant enormous tortoises can be seen, before finishing off your day on the white sand of Puerto Villamil. Stay 3 nights at the safari-style Scalesia Lodge on Isabela island, among the youngest in the archipelago. (B, L, D)

Galápagos

A full day exploration with opportunities to encounter a variety of wildlife, including Darwin's finches, flycatchers, mockingbirds, herons, boobies, penguins, marine iguanas, tortoises, and flamingos. Depending on the day of operation and yacht availability, you may visit the Sierra Negra Volcano and walk along the rim of the Galapagos’ largest caldera; the Tintoreras Islets, a maze of reefs and islets off the shores of Isabela; or the Wall of Tears, a rare combination of human and natural history. (B, L, D)

Galápagos

Experience another one of three full-day experiences on Isabela Island: Sierra Negra Volcano, Tintoreras Islet, or the Wall of Tears. After the excursion, return to your hotel. (B, L, D)

Galápagos (Santa Cruz island)

Take a scenic inter-island flight to Santa Cruz island and visit the Twin Craters volcanic depressions, which are surrounded by a forest that hoots and twitters with endemic birds, the Giant Tortoise Reserve, a sanctuary for the world’s largest species of tortoise, and impressive, naturally forged lava tunnels. Stay for 4 nights at Finch Bay Eco Hotel. (B, L) 

Galápagos (Santa Cruz island)

Spend your day exploring one of the Galápagos’ Central Islands by yacht: North Seymour, Santa Fe, Bartolome or South Plaza. On this day you may also have the chance to swim or snorkel as well as seek out an abundance of wildlife including marine iguanas, Galápagos hawks, boobies, pelicans and sea lion pups.(B, L) 

Galápagos (Santa Cruz island)

Dependent on the weekday and availability, either visit Tortuga Bay, a seasonal nesting site for green sea turtles, or Divine Bay, protected from crashing waves by volcanic reefs and mangrove trees, combined with a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the giant-tortoise rearing programme. (B, L)

Galápagos (Santa Cruz island)

Explore another of the Galápagos’ Central Islands by yacht. Your afternoon is at leisure. (B, L) 

Fly to Guayaquil

Fly to Guayaquil and transfer to the Wyndham Garden for 1 night.

Fly to London via Bogotá

Morning at leisure or an optional city tour. Overnight flight home via Bogotá, arriving the following day. (B)

Arrive UK

Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals