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From UNESCO-listed cities and indigenous handicraft markets to exotic islands and incredible wildlife, Ecuador packs an amazing amount into one adventure. Spend a week exploring the mainland from perfectly preserved colonial cities to verdant forests shrouded in cloud. Then fly onto Charles Darwin’s Galapagos Islands, where we spend time both on land and in the water. Hopping between islands, we snorkel the waters in search of sea lions, turtles, and reef fish, and hike through the rugged landscapes looking for iguanas and other incredible wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.
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Sarah
Petra
CharlotteOur tour starts today in Tababela, a quiet rural neighbourhood of Quito located around 20 minutes from the airport and 45 minutes from the downtown city centre. Ecuador's mountain capital is the second highest in Latin America at 2,850 metres/9,350ft. It lies in a narrow valley at the foot of the Pichincha volcano. Arriving in the city by air is quite spectacular as you approach over snow-capped mountains and extinct volcanoes - we highly recommend booking a window seat! Due to the number of evening flights into Quito, our tour leader plans to hold a welcome meeting on the morning of day two and will leave a message in reception with details on timings and everything else that you'll need for the day. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Quito at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), approximately a 20-minute drive from our hotel. If you miss the meeting, our tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Our hotel in Tababela is a tranquil property. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, we recommend resting here by the pool and acclimatising to the altitude before the trip begins. It's approximately a 45-minute drive into downtown Quito, and the hotel can help to organise taxi transport for you if you'd like to head out and explore the city.
We start our first day in Ecuador out in nature, visiting Hacienda La Jimenita, a family-owned hacienda and private ecological reserve. We'll spend time exploring the organic orchard and learning how fresh ingredients are grown using chemical-free practices. We'll also learn about Ecuador's rich agricultural traditions, before it's time to give something back. As part of Jimenita's conservation efforts, we'll plant a native tree within the reserve, helping to restore and expand its natural habitat. It's a simple but meaningful way for the whole family to leave a positive mark on the landscape, and for the children to get their hands dirty and become a small part of Ecuador's conversation story. This afternoon we head into downtown Quito, a UNESCO Heritage site that is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in all of the Americas. We'll wander Quito's cobbled streets taking in some of best sites like the Carondelet Presidential Palace, Independence Square and the incredibly ornate La Compania Church. We'll then switch from sightseeing to something a little more hands-on with a chocolate-making experience at Yumbo Chocolate. Ecuador is world-renowned for its fine cacao, and today we'll discover what goes into turning the humble cacao bean into chocolate. After learning the secrets of the process, we'll put our skills to the test by creating our own chocolate bars — with plenty of opportunities for the most important step of all; tasting the chocolate along the way!
Heading for the hills this morning, we board Quito's Teleferico, a cable car that climbs more than 1,000 metres above the city to the foothills of the Andes. At an altitude of around 4,050 metres/13,287 feet above sea level, it offers spectacular views across Quito and towards the surrounding Andean peaks. Continuing out of the city, we make our way to the Middle of the World Monument. Ecuador, literally meaning 'equator' in Spanish, is aptly named, with the equator line cutting right through the country. The monument celebrates this unique location, as well as some of the important scientific and geographical research carried out here. We'll have the chance to straddle the equator line, placing one foot in each hemisphere. Next, we will explore the nearby Inti Nan Solar Museum (Path of the Sun), where we will engage in some fun, interactive experiments that demonstrate various phenomena associated with being at the equator. We then continue to the lush forests of Mindo, an area sandwiched between the western slopes of the Andes and the Choco lowlands, where moisture-laden clouds roll in from the Pacific. This unique geographical combination creates an environment often enveloped in an otherworldly mist. This cloud forest is one of the world's great biodiversity hotspots, with more than 450 species of birds recorded here, including hummingbirds, toucans and the eye-catching Andean cock-of-the-rock. Our accommodation for the next two nights is a beautiful eco-lodge nestled in the heart of the cloud forest. Rooms are comfortably furnished, with stunning views of the surrounding greenery, while the pool offers the perfect place to cool off after a day of exploring.
We have a full day of adventure ahead of us as we explore Mindo's cloud forest. We'll start in the Mindo-Nambillo Reserve, taking a tarabita (cable car) up the mountainside and getting a bird's-eye view of the dense forest canopy below. The ride ends at a trailhead, where there are several walking options. One 20-30-minute walk takes us to a series of waterfalls, culminating at Nambillo Waterfall, one of the area's largest drops. The longest trail takes around an hour from the trailhead to La Reina Waterfall. The paths are well maintained, predominantly downhill towards the falls, with a steeper climb on the return. Our tour leader will decide which route to take based on the weather conditions and how everyone is feeling. Along the way, we'll keep an eye out for butterflies, orchids, bromeliads and, of course, birds. After lunch, we make our way to the Nambillo River for a tubing experience. Following a full safety briefing, we'll settle into our inflatable tubes before floating down the river, a fun and alternative way to experience the forest around us. The river is usually Grade 1 (season-dependent), so the experience is gentle in nature, with all equipment provided. On our way back to our accommodation, we'll make a final stop at a butterfly garden, learning about the lifecycle and importance of these colourful mariposas (butterflies) to the local ecosystem.
We have some time this morning to enjoy the property before taking the two hour drive back to the capital. Along the way we will stop at La Cuchara Organica Project, a social enterprise set up to champion sustainable farming alongside Ecuadorian food traditions. Here we learn about how fresh, locally grown ingredients are produced before sitting down to enjoy a delicious lunch made using seasonal produce from the project. We'll then head back to Tababela, where the remainder of the afternoon is free.
We leave Ecuador's mainland today as we fly to the 'Enchanted Isles' of the Galapagos. This isolated archipelago of volcanic islands is home to a remarkable variety of wildlife, much of it found nowhere else on Earth. From giant tortoises and marine iguanas to blue-footed boobies, sea lions and the world's only penguin found north of the equator, the islands are a truly unique environment. Over the next five days, we'll have the chance to experience some of this incredible wildlife and scenery for ourselves. After landing on Baltra Island, we cross the Itabaca Channel by ferry before continuing by road across Santa Cruz, the second-largest island in the Galapagos. The landscape changes as we travel through several of the island's distinct vegetation zones. We'll stop at Los Gemelos, two enormous volcanic formations surrounded by the lush highland forest, offering an insight into the geological forces that shaped the islands. We'll then continue to El Chato Ranch, where we can come face to face with giant tortoises as they roam freely through their natural habitat. It's a fantastic opportunity to see these remarkable creatures up close before continuing to Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz's main town and our base for the next three nights.
Today we'll take a full day's boat tour to one of the smaller islands in the Galapagos archipelago. We'll have the chance of walking through the island's craggy interior, and snorkel its marine-rich waters. The exact destination is assigned on the day depending on availability, sea conditions and National Park regulations, but will be one of the following islands: North Seymour - This island is one of the best places in the archipelago to experience Galapagos wildlife up close. The island is home to large colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds, as well as Galápagos sea lions and endemic land iguanas. Bartolome - Bartolome is famous for its striking volcanic landscapes and the iconic Pinnacle Rock rising from the bay. Lava lizards as well as other wildlife have learnt how to specially adapt to live in this volcanic environment. South Plaza - South Plaza combines dramatic coastal scenery with some of the Galapagos’ most distinctive vegetation The island is also home to a large colony of Galapagos sea lions and land iguanas, which can often be seen along the trail. Santa Fe - Santa Fe offers a chance to explore one of the quieter islands visited on day tours from Santa Cruz. The island is home to a large colony of Galapagos sea lions, distinctive opuntia cactus forests and the endemic Santa Fe land iguana, found nowhere else in the world.
A morning of adventure awaits as we board kayaks and paddle along the sheltered coastline of Punta Estrada towards Franklin Cove. This beautiful stretch of turquoise water takes us alongside mangroves and through the so-called Canal del Amor (Love Channel), where striking lava formations create a dramatic narrow channel through which we can paddle. The cliffs are home to frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies, while Playa de los Alemanes (German Beach) is an important nesting site for marine iguanas. We'll also have time to snorkel, where we hope to encounter sea turtles, rays, sea lions and colourful reef fish, with the chance of maybe even spotting white-tip reef sharks too. After lunch, we'll visit the nearby Charles Darwin Research Station, which has been at the heart of scientific research and conservation in the Galapagos since 1959. During our visit, we'll learn more about the islands' unique wildlife and plant life, as well as the work being done to protect this extraordinary environment.
Switching our island base this morning, we board a two-hour speedboat to San Cristobal Island. Located in the eastern part of the Galapagos archipelago, San Cristobal was where Charles Darwin first landed during his historic visit in 1835. After settling into our new base, we head out this afternoon to visit the Interpretation Centre, which helps put the islands into context and gives us a better understanding of what we're seeing. The centre explains the islands' volcanic origins, their evolution over time and the modern challenges of human settlement and wildlife and environmental conservation.From here, we continue on foot with a gentle coastal walk towards Frigatebird Hill, a dramatic nesting site for both Magnificent and Great Frigatebirds. The trail then continues to Punta Carola Beach, where we hope to encounter the beach's resident population of sunbathing sea lions. The total length of this walk is approximately 2 kilometres which we will take at a leisurely pace, taking around 3-4 hours including stops.
We take to the water again today at Kicker Rock, one of the Galapagos' most iconic volcanic formations. Formed from a single volcanic tuff formation that has been eroded over time, Kicker Rock has split in two, creating a dramatic narrow channel where the waters are now teeming with colourful marine life. We'll spend time snorkelling in the clear waters here, looking out for sea turtles, sea lions, rays and myriad reef fish. Back on board, we'll enjoy an included lunch as we continue to one of San Cristobal's remote beaches. Depending on the day's conditions and National Park regulations, we'll visit either Witch Hill beach or Manglecito beach, both worthy options for spending our last afternoon relaxing and swimming in the Galapagos Islands.
Leaving the Galapagos behind today, we fly to Quito on the mainland (there may be a touchdown in Guayaquil en route). On arrival, we'll transfer to our hotel in the Tababela suburb of the city. Depending on the time of our arrival, it may be possible to further explore Quito's historic streets, perhaps visiting the magnificent Basilica, or visit one of the city's artisan markets - these are great places to pick up traditional handicrafts and textiles as well as ceramics and wood carvings. This evening, we'll enjoy our last meal together as a group.
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Tababela, Quito. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Quito at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), which is around a 20-minute drive from our hotel.
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