Small-scale lodges immersed in tropical forests; a small-ship cruise in the Galápagos. Ecuador's wildlife wonders, up close, in comfort and with experts.
Duration
17 days
Duration
All our trips are tailormade and therefore can be extended or reduced to suit you. You'll find a few ideas to extend your trip below, but please do ask about how we can tailor it to you.
Guide Price
£8,655 pp
$11,400 pp
€9,600 pp
n/a
Guide Price
This is a realistic guide price per person, based on you travelling at an optimum time for this holiday. Please see 'What's Included' for full details and contact us for a personalised quotation.
When
Mar-Jan
When
This is a broad indicator of when you might realistically take this holiday. Please do ask us if you'd like to chat through your options in more detail - getting the timing right is important. We'd love to help.
Ecuador is blessed with an abundance of incredible biodiversity. This holiday includes some of the greatest wildlife experiences on the planet, enriched by stays at two small ecolodges nestled in the tropical forests and with the Galápagos Islands given all the time this precious environment deserves on a small-boat cruise.
Enjoy reading this taster itinerary. Please Request Full Details if you'd like to know more, or to discuss how we can tailor this holiday for you.
Fly to Quito today. You stay at a very comfortable hotel close to the airport tonight as you leave early in the morning for the Amazon.
2 of 17
Day 2 - Spot wildlife on the journey to the Amazon lodge
Travel to the Amazon. On arrival you are taken by boat a few hours upriver to your remote lodge. Your guides help you spot the wildlife along the way.
3 of 17
Day 3 - Wake up to the sounds of the Amazon
Your first full day in the Amazon. Take an early-morning guided nature walk where you should see a huge variety of plants, flowers and wildlife including macaws, toucans, monkeys, and tapirs.
4 of 17
Day 4 - Watch the colourful macaws
Head out for one of the best Amazon experiences - the macaw clay lick. The macaws love the nutrient-rich clay and the air is filled with their squawking and shrieking as they swoop in to feed.
5 of 17
Day 5 - Discover the nocturnal wildlife
Another full day to discover new birds, mammals and plant species. Tonight is a good opportunity for a night walk to discover the nocturnal wildlife - a whole new jungle world.
6 of 17
Day 6 - Travel to the cloudforest
Say goodbye to the Amazon to travel to a sustainable eco-lodge, sat deep in the heart of pristine cloud forest. Settle in. Enjoy a stroll by the river before dinner.
7 of 17
Day 7 - Spot wildlife, take a cacao tour
Days are flexible here in the cloudforest and you can do as little or as much as you like. Follow self-guided nature trails, take a cacao tour, go mountain biking or even tubing down the river.
8 of 17
Day 8 - See rare Andean birds before returning to Quito
Visit the Cock of the Rock lek before returning to Quito. Stay in a characterful hotel in the close-knit artistic neighbourhood of San Marcos in the colonial centre.
9 of 17
Day 9 - Explore Quito with your guide
Your local guide joins you this morning to introduce you to the city on a varied and fun tour, from the baroque churches to the birdlife up on the flanks of the Pichincha Volcano.
10 of 17
Day 10 - Fly to Galapagos, meet the wildlife
Fly out to the Galapagós Islands, famous for its fearless wildlife. Meet giant tortoises this afternoon before you board your first-class 16 passenger catamaran.
11 of 17
Day 11 - Snorkel with sealions
Each day you will have two or three landings and opportunities to snorkel or swim. Today you take a boat ride to see pelicans and tortoises before snorkelling with sea lions and rays.
12 of 17
Day 12 - Walk alongside land iguanas
Today you see land iguanas, Darwin's finches and giant tortoises (among many other animals) as well as walking to caves filled with graffiti left by pirates and whalers over hundreds of years.
13 of 17
Day 13 - Walk among marine iguanas
Explore Fernandina Island, the most volcanically active part of the Galapagos. Walk through huge colonies of marine iguanas before you snorkel with sea horses, sea turtles and sunfish.
14 of 17
Day 14 - See flamingos and pelicans
Cross Santiago Island to reach a beach where turtles nest. Flamingos and pelicans are often seen along with blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, and frigate birds
15 of 17
Day 15 - Look out for penguins
The unusually striking and beautiful red landscape of Rabida is home to blue-footed boobies, penguins, hawks, pelicans, marine iguanas, flamingos and sea lions.
16 of 17
Day 16 - Enjoy iconic views
Land at Isla Bartolomé to walk up to the viewing platform for amazing views over the Galapagos. Return to the beach for some great snorkeling with white-tipped sharks and sea turtles.
17 of 17
Day 17 - Head for home
Visit Bachas beach to see flamingos, blue-footed boobies and sea turtles before travelling back to the Ecuadorian mainland and onwards home. You can always stay longer with some time on land.
1 of 17
Day 1 - Land in Quito and rest
Fly to Quito today. You stay at a very comfortable hotel close to the airport tonight as you leave early in the morning for the Amazon.
2 of 17
Day 2 - Spot wildlife on the journey to the Amazon lodge
Travel to the Amazon. On arrival you are taken by boat a few hours upriver to your remote lodge. Your guides help you spot the wildlife along the way.
3 of 17
Day 3 - Wake up to the sounds of the Amazon
Your first full day in the Amazon. Take an early-morning guided nature walk where you should see a huge variety of plants, flowers and wildlife including macaws, toucans, monkeys, and tapirs.
4 of 17
Day 4 - Watch the colourful macaws
Head out for one of the best Amazon experiences - the macaw clay lick. The macaws love the nutrient-rich clay and the air is filled with their squawking and shrieking as they swoop in to feed.
5 of 17
Day 5 - Discover the nocturnal wildlife
Another full day to discover new birds, mammals and plant species. Tonight is a good opportunity for a night walk to discover the nocturnal wildlife - a whole new jungle world.
6 of 17
Day 6 - Travel to the cloudforest
Say goodbye to the Amazon to travel to a sustainable eco-lodge, sat deep in the heart of pristine cloud forest. Settle in. Enjoy a stroll by the river before dinner.
7 of 17
Day 7 - Spot wildlife, take a cacao tour
Days are flexible here in the cloudforest and you can do as little or as much as you like. Follow self-guided nature trails, take a cacao tour, go mountain biking or even tubing down the river.
8 of 17
Day 8 - See rare Andean birds before returning to Quito
Visit the Cock of the Rock lek before returning to Quito. Stay in a characterful hotel in the close-knit artistic neighbourhood of San Marcos in the colonial centre.
9 of 17
Day 9 - Explore Quito with your guide
Your local guide joins you this morning to introduce you to the city on a varied and fun tour, from the baroque churches to the birdlife up on the flanks of the Pichincha Volcano.
10 of 17
Day 10 - Fly to Galapagos, meet the wildlife
Fly out to the Galapagós Islands, famous for its fearless wildlife. Meet giant tortoises this afternoon before you board your first-class 16 passenger catamaran.
11 of 17
Day 11 - Snorkel with sealions
Each day you will have two or three landings and opportunities to snorkel or swim. Today you take a boat ride to see pelicans and tortoises before snorkelling with sea lions and rays.
12 of 17
Day 12 - Walk alongside land iguanas
Today you see land iguanas, Darwin's finches and giant tortoises (among many other animals) as well as walking to caves filled with graffiti left by pirates and whalers over hundreds of years.
13 of 17
Day 13 - Walk among marine iguanas
Explore Fernandina Island, the most volcanically active part of the Galapagos. Walk through huge colonies of marine iguanas before you snorkel with sea horses, sea turtles and sunfish.
14 of 17
Day 14 - See flamingos and pelicans
Cross Santiago Island to reach a beach where turtles nest. Flamingos and pelicans are often seen along with blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, and frigate birds
15 of 17
Day 15 - Look out for penguins
The unusually striking and beautiful red landscape of Rabida is home to blue-footed boobies, penguins, hawks, pelicans, marine iguanas, flamingos and sea lions.
16 of 17
Day 16 - Enjoy iconic views
Land at Isla Bartolomé to walk up to the viewing platform for amazing views over the Galapagos. Return to the beach for some great snorkeling with white-tipped sharks and sea turtles.
17 of 17
Day 17 - Head for home
Visit Bachas beach to see flamingos, blue-footed boobies and sea turtles before travelling back to the Ecuadorian mainland and onwards home. You can always stay longer with some time on land.
