Wilds of Ecuador

Bienviendos a Ecuador! Upon arrival you will be met at the international airport and take a scheduled transfer to your hotel in Quito where the rest of the day is free.

Quito – Amazon. A scenic flight over the majestic Andes mountains followed by a motorised canoe ride along the Napo River brings you to your stunning jungle lodge. Over the next three days you will have plenty of opportunities to discover the pristine Ecuadorian rainforest and its colourful characters. During the day venture out into the wilds for wildlife spotting and outdoor activities and at night share your stories with the other guests at the lodge as the sounds of the jungle create your very own soundtrack.

Swim in the local lakes, observe bird species from the mini observational towers, visit the vibrant butterfly house and explore the jungle at night on foot or by boat looking out for the glowing orange eyes of the black caiman. There’ll also be numerous hiking trails available along the Rio Napo or deep into the rainforest and for those looking for a bird’s eye view, the canopy walkway is the perfect vertigo-inducing experience.

Amazon – Quito – Otavalo – Quito. After your final breakfast in the Amazon, take an easy walk on the boardwalk to watch monkeys one last time before departing your jungle lodge and heading back to Quito by plane. On arrival you will take a private transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free.

On day 7 enjoy an excursion to the market town of Otavalo. A stunning journey through dramatic Andean scenery brings you to your first stop of the day, the small town of Calderón popular for the bread dough figurines sculpted into many shapes and sizes. Continue along the valleys of Guayllabamba and Cayambe to arrive at Otavalo in time for the famous market of local handicrafts. It’s the perfect time for souvenir shopping with stalls piled high with ponchos, scarves, blankets, woven belts (fajas), handbags and much more. Next stop is the traditional Indian village of Peguche where artisans weave in their homes. Lunch is taken at one of the charming haciendas in the area.

This morning visit downtown Quito and its architectural treasures on a private city tour. Quito’s UNESCO-listed colonial quarter is one of the largest and best-preserved in South America. Your stroll takes you through Independence Plaza, past the Cathedral and the Presidential Palace, and on to the temple of La Compañia de Jesús with its dazzling gilded interior and the impressive façade of the Monastery of San Francisco. Touring continues with the Equatorial Monument that marks the exact point of the Middle of the World. With a latitude of 0°, you can stand with a foot in each hemisphere and collect a certificate for having crossed the Equator. Next visit the Ethnographic Museum to learn about the different Native American groups living in Ecuador.

Quito – Cuenca. This morning a private transfer takes you to the airport in Quito for your flight to Cuenca, the colonial jewel of the south. Considered to be one of Ecuador’s most beautiful cities, Cuenca is surrounded by the Cullca hills to the north and Turi to the south. Spend the next two days independently exploring Cuenca at leisure. Head down to the Rio Tomebamba to see the overhanging houses lining the slopes and colourful laundry hanging out to dry or wander through the colonial heart of the city and marvel at the UNESCO-listed architecture. You might also want to bag yourself a Panama hat from a local outlet.

Cuenca – Guayaquil. Departing Cuenca this morning journey through the El Cajas National Park, an expanse of glacial lakes, Andean cloud forests and volcanic peaks, on a private excursion. Stop for a stroll at Llaviucu Lake and to admire the views at La Toreadora Lake. Later continue to the coastal city of Guayaquil. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the numerous barrios, each with their own distinct flavour.

Guayaquil – Baltra Island. Early this morning take a private transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island in the Galapagos where you will be met and transferred to the dock to board Yacht La Pinta to embark on your 4 night Eastern Galapagos cruise. After a welcome introductory briefing and lunch set sail to the small, lava-formed island of South Plaza where the turquoise waters contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black rock of the shoreline littered with bright orange ‘Sally Lightfoot’ crabs. Along the coastline spot sea lion colonies and sea birds.

Please note: Galapagos flight are not included but we can book them upon request.

Take the dinghy over to idyllic Santa Fe Island today. The sandy white beaches of Santa Fe Island are home to numerous male sea lion harems and Galapagos hawks perched atop salt bushes and giant prickly pear cactus. After a walk there's the opportunity to go snorkelling or enjoy a ride on a glass-bottom boat.

Have lunch onboard before disembarking at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the island’s capital and driving to Cerro Colorado. Here you'll visit the breeding centre for endangered giant tortoises in a spectacular deciduous forest, home to dozens of bird species.

Visit San Cristobal Island this morning and stroll along the trail that ascends from the beach to enjoy spectacular views of the shoreline, spotting frigates and a colony of bachelor sea lions. After the walk there's the opportunity to enjoy a beach and snorkel.

In the afternoon, after lunch onboard, visit the beautiful white coral beach at Cerro Brujo, where Charles Darwin visited in 1835. On the beach spot seabirds, shore bird and look out for Galapagos sea lions.

Enjoy a morning outing to Punta Suárez for an exciting walk over lava and boulder terrain to visit unique sea bird colonies of waved albatross, Nazca boobies and swallow-tail gulls. Among its land birds the Hood Island mockingbird, Galápagos doves and three species of Darwin’s finches are common highlights. In the afternoon explore the white coral beach of Gardener Bay to observe sea lions. There’s also the chance to swim, snorkel or ride aboard the glass-bottom boat.

Baltra Island – Guayaquil. Disembarking at Santa Cruz this morning, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the captive rearing programme for the giant tortoises. Then transfer by bus across Santa Cruz Island and take a short ferry ride to Baltra. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the coastal city of Guayaquil on the mainland. Upon arrival take a private transfer to your hotel for the night.

Today marks the end of your incredible journey through the wilds of Ecuador. After breakfast and hotel check out you will take a private transfer to the airport in time for your onward international departure flight.