This journey takes you from the heights of the Andes to the extraordinary wildlife of the Galápagos Islands, offering a balance of culture, nature and discovery.

You begin in Quito, a city framed by mountains and filled with history. Its colonial old town, recognised by UNESCO for its beauty and preservation, is a place of elegant squares, churches and cobbled streets.

A visit to the Equatorial Monument allows you to stand on both hemispheres at once, while an excursion to the Mindo Cloud Forest reveals a very different side of Ecuador — a lush, green world alive with birds, butterflies and orchids.

From here, the adventure continues to the Galápagos. On Santa Cruz, you’ll see the volcanic highlands and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, home to giant tortoises and pioneering conservation work.

Each day offers the chance to explore a different island — perhaps hiking across the volcanic landscapes of Bartolomé, spotting seabirds on North Seymour, or snorkelling in the clear waters off Santa Fe or Plazas.

Wildlife is ever-present: sea lions, marine iguanas, turtles and, with luck, even penguins and Galapagos sharks.

Travelling on to San Cristóbal, you’ll encounter tortoises in their natural habitat, stroll along quiet beaches and take a boat to Española, one of the most remarkable islands of the archipelago.

Here, albatrosses, boobies and sea lions share the coastline, and a natural blowhole sends seawater high into the air. Another highlight is Kicker Rock, a striking volcanic outcrop where snorkelling brings you close to tropical fish, rays and sometimes hammerhead sharks.

After returning to Quito, there is time to enjoy the city once more before your flight home.

Along the way, you’ll have experienced the contrasts that make Ecuador so unique — from Andean peaks and colonial streets to volcanic islands and extraordinary wildlife — a journey that will stay with you long after you return.

View Itinerary in Detail

To view a sample holiday, click on one of the links below. This will open the itinerary up in a new window.

All of our Ecuador and Galápagos holidays are completely tailor-made and we can put together any kind of itinerary to suit your interests and budget.

We have many other options so if you have a particular hotel in mind just let us know, and we'll put together a price and itinerary for you.