Ecuador & Galápagos: a journey into nature

In Darwin’s footsteps

ecuador-the-galapagos

Ecuador & Galápagos: a journey into nature

In 2008, Ecuador became the first country in the world to enshrine the rights of nature into its constitution. This will tell you something about this ancient equatorial paradise. But it won’t tell you everything.

This trip – which has been the work of countless annotated maps, fruitful conversations, and extensive site visits – dots an unforgettably adventurous line from the colonial cupolas of Quito and the majestic Cloud Forests of the Andes to the legendary islands of the Galápagos, introducing you – one cup of cocoa at a time – to the fascinating story of the equator, and the people, and cultures, who bring it to life.

When

All year round

Price

From $19,305pp excl. flights

(based on 2 ppl sharing)

How long

13 nights

Ideal length

Days 1-2

Quito

In some senses, Quito hasn’t changed much over the past five centuries. Its monasteries and churches go back to day 1, where its cobbled streets have been walked by 17th century priests, pith-helmeted archaeologists, and the descendants of the Inca. But the city isn’t stuck in its past. New hotels, chic eateries, and local ateliers rub shoulders with Belle Époque mansions and historic churches. It’s also the greenest city in South America, and trendy Ecuadorians have followed suit. The bars of La Ronda light up with music, artists hurry across town with their tools, and nuns sip hot chocolate in the sun. It is an unforgettable place.

Days 1-2

Day 1

Feeling Cute in Quito

This is easy. Arriving at Quito Airport, your private driver will pick you up guide you over the threshold of Casa Gangotena – where you’ll be staying for the next two nights. It’s one of Quito’s best boutique hotels – and gets a huge thumbs up from us for its central location, elegant vibe, and regal comforts. And the food and drinks are sublime.

Day 2

Been there, or bean there?

Ecuador used to export much of its cocoa. Today, chocolate – making it, eating it, and drinking it – has become a national pastime, and the Ecuadorians really know their way around the bean. Today, your private guide will give you a walking, wandering introduction to the sights (San Francisco Monastery, La Compañía, and the historic street of La Ronda), before taking you on a cocoa-dusted tour and tasting session with one of the best chocolatiers in Quito.

Amazon, Andes, and The Galápagos Islands

Days 3-5

The Cloud Forest

The Cloud Forest of Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse places in the world – a densely forested, mountainous ecosystem that’s home to hundreds of species of birds, flora, and mammals.

Days 3-5

Day 3

Crossing the equator

Today, you’ll see just how wild and untamed Ecuador is – driving into the Cloud Forest care of a private driver. Along the way, you’ll be flanked by the western flank of the Andes, cross “la mitad del mundo” – the line of the equator – and drop in altitude along the course of the Rio Blanco.

And then, with a true sense of occasion (this place is one of our favorites), you’ll arrive at Mashpi Lodge – where you’ll be staying for the next three nights. It is out of this world.

Day 3 continued

Your introduction to the Cloud Forest will come through the naturalists and guides who work in and celebrate the forest – and they’ll instantly feel like friends. It starts with a briefing in the library and continues with a trek along the winding Napa Path. Here, you’ll learn about the forest, its habitats, and the importance of forest conservation. It’s difficult to convey just how awe-inspiring these first moments are. You will fall in love.

Later that night, before dinner, you’ll enjoy a very accessible scientific lecture given by Mashpi’s resident biologist. This’ll help to enrich everything you’ve seen, heard, and touched today. The senses are important here.

Day 4

The heart of the forest

There’s a lot to do in the Cloud Forest – and a lot of things to see. Early-risers will love sitting on the terrace, coffee in hand, to watch the forest come to life. Later, you can get a bird’s eye view over the forest from the Lodge’s observation tower – and you can also “air bike” over a forested ravine. Sounds scary? It’s anything but.

From here, the naturalist guides at the Lodge are at your side – and they’ll recommend the trails and paths that you can follow. There’s also the Life Center, from which you can learn about, observe, and study the birdlife and butterflies who call the forest home.

Day 5

Wandering back

Before returning to Quito, there’s plenty of time to trek another trail or spend more time at the Life Center. We’ve always found it very hard to leave.

Eventually, we’ll drive you back through mountains, ruins, villages, and forest to Quito – with lunch along the way.

Days 6-8

Otavalo

The equatorial line might be a relatively recent innovation, in the grand sweep of history, but Ecuador is home to cultures which stretch much further back in time. For this part of your journey, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the ways of life, communities, and histories that have shaped the modern nation.

Days 6-8

Day 6

At the foot of the volcano

On the way to Otavalo, you’ll visit the Quitsato Sundial – where you’ll learn the astronomical know-how of the region’s prehispanic cultures. In Otavalo itself, you’ll get an introduction to local Kichwa indigenous culture – exploring the vibrant Otavalo Market, while also spending time with master weaver Miguel Andrango – a resident of the village of Agato. On the way back home, we’ll show you something special: the Cotacachi-Cayapaas Ecological Reserve, which not only boasts an excellent interpretation center but a truly unforgettable view over Cuicocha lagoon and the flanks of Mount Cotacachi. It’s a chance to take a small hike, eat a local lunch, and soak up the atmosphere.

Day 7

Life on the farm

While in Otavalo, you’ll be sleeping at Hacienda Zuleta – a renovated, 17th century hotel. The welcome here is warm and inviting. It remains one of our favorite hotels in Ecuador – and it’s also owned by the descendants of Ecuador’s former president Galo Plaza.

Hacienda Zuleta isn’t “just” a hotel. As a working farm, set in expansive grounds and wildlife, there’s a lot of things to keep you busy. We love taking the hike to the farm’s cheese factory and embroidery workshops and meeting the farm’s legendary purebred horses. There’s also an organic garden, the opportunity to feed baby calves, count sheep, and unwind. You’ll feel like part of the furniture.

Day 8

Look up

For your last day at Zuleta, before driving back to Quito and Casa Gangotena, we want to show you one more thing: a hike into the Andes mountains and a visit to the hacienda’s astonishing condor reintroduction project. Along the way, there’s some mysterious pre-Inca mounds to explore. For those who want to unwind at the hacienda itself, there’s still a lot to keep you entertained.

Days 9-14

The Galápagos Islands

The wildlife on these legendary, volcanic islands inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution, and that status has been confirmed with their listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Traveling here is a rare and special thing, and it’s no overstatement to say that stepping ashore makes you feel like an explorer – and this is exactly how we want you to feel. For you, that means sailing and sleeping aboard the Hermes Mega Catamaran. They’ll look after your every need and comfort.

Days 9-14

Day 9

Where Darwin walked

You’ll start at Baltra – one of the nineteen islands that make up the Galápagos archipelago. The beach here – Bachas Beach – offers a perfect introduction to the islands, with its frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions. The sand is made of decomposed coral, making it unbelievably soft. We recommend swimming or snorkelling in the beach’s shallow waters and tidal pools, where you’ll see more types of crab than you ever knew existed.

Day 10

An island for every day

Sailing around the Galápagos archipelago is one of the most unique and memorable ways to take in the immense diversity of its ecosystems. Today, you’ll set sail for Tagus Cove and Urbina Bay – where Darwin made landfall in 1835. You’ll see rock-carved graffiti attesting to all the visitors who’ve followed in his footsteps since.

Your guide will introduce you to the huge number of species that live here – brown noddy, terns, flightless cormorants – as you journey to Darwin Lake on the slopes of the (also named) Darwin Volcano. In the Bay, ancient coral reefs are framed by Alcedo Volcano. It’s a great snorkelling spot near one of the island’s largest penguin colonies.

Day 11

Getting to the point

Today, you’ll sail to two of the archipelago’s most diverse and pristine sites. The first is Espinoza Point – in view of the Island of Isabela. It is home to the highest diversity of endemic sea fauna in the entire Galápagos. The tidal pools of tiny Fernandina Island are also a highlight. Later, you’ll take a dinghy along the coast to get a closer view of the sea and coastal birds that flock along Vicente Roca Point. This is the thing we really love: snorkelling and exploring two shallow underwater caves, both teeming with marine life.

Day 12

It’s a panga, not a boat

Rays, turtles, and reef sharks congregate around Puerto Egas – and this is where you’ll sail this morning.

In the afternoon, you’ll jump into a panga – a type of small, open boat – and cruise alongside the high cliffs and rock formations on the way to Buccaneer Cove. This – unsurprisingly – was once a hideout for pirates. Sea Lions are very fond of the beaches around it.

Day 13

Touching back down to earth

Sailing back to Baltra, we’ve plotted in a visit to the wildlife of North Seymour Island. The rocky, volcanic shores here are otherworldly – and home to diving pelicans, sea lions, marine iguanas, and courting boobies.

From here, we’ll take you to Santa Cruz Island for a final night at Finch Bay – a beachfront eco-lodge sitting pretty on laidback shores. Here there are hammocks, seafront porches, a sustainable restaurant, and stretching mangroves. By foot, you’ll also find the Charles Darwin Research Station, Tortuga Bay Beach, and the swimming holes of Las Grietas.

Day 14

The end

For two weeks, you’ve weaved your way through Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands – seeing things that you’ve probably never seen before, and meeting some of the warmest guides, naturalists, and hosts in any corner of the world.

As ever, this trip is totally customizable – whether you’d like to stay longer, linger in particular places, or add in more, we’re always here to help.