The Best of Ecuador & the Galapagos

Your signature Ecuador experience begins in the capital, Quito. With a beautiful position high in the Andes, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed city is home to an abundance of well preserved Spanish colonial architecture. On a private walking tour of the old town you'll visit some of the churches and monasteries for which Quito is famous, including the green-domed Iglesia de la Compana de Jesus and the 16th-century Monastery of Saint Francisco.

Your home for two nights is Casa Gangotena. which is housed in an elegant classical mansion in the heart of the city, and is one of our favourite places to stay here. Relax on the roof terrace and take in the views. 

A short flight from Quito will take you to Coca, where you’ll board a luxury cruise ship for a three-night cruise down the mighty Amazon River. Your vessel, the MV Anakonda, is a beautiful ship with stylish, spacious cabins and great facilities for guests - it’s up to you whether you take in the view from the observation deck, the outdoor Jacuzzi or the solarium.

In the Panayacu River delta, you’ll disembark for a canoe trip on which your expert guides will help you spot pink river dolphins and squirrel monkeys; continuing to Panacocha Lake, you’ll find fearsome critters such as piranhas and caiman. You’ll also experience one of the Amazon’s most startling natural phenomena in the form of the parrot licks, where thousands of the tropical birds descend on mineral-rich pools of clay.

A visit to the Sani Warmi Kichwa Interpretation Center will give you a unique opportunity to meet indigenous Kichwa people, learn about their rich culture, and buy handicrafts and souvenirs.

You will spend one more night between your Amazon and Galapagos cruises back in Quito and Casa Gangotena. This is a chance to revisit some favourite places you discovered first time round, as well as discover some new gems. 

The next leg of your journey sees you departing the Ecuadorian mainland and flying to the Galapagos Islands, one of the most extraordinary ecosystems in the world. The islands’ unique volcanic landscapes and vast number of endemic species were key to Charles Darwin’s development of the theory of evolution, after he visited in the 1830s.

You’ll explore the islands with seven nights on the MV Origin, a luxurious ship which has raised the bar for cruising in the Galapagos. The islands’ most knowledgeable guides will lead you on one of two itineraries, which will see you meeting iconic Galapagos wildlife, such as marine and land iguanas, giant Galapagos tortoises and red-footed boobies, in their natural habitat.

The itineraries follow different routes in the interest of conservation, in order to give the wildlife a break from human interaction. Whichever cruise you choose, you’re guaranteed to spot iconic Galapagos species, with the experience enhanced by the passion and expertise of the Origin’s guides. In between the excursions and activities, you’ll stay in supreme comfort in the boat’s spacious, stylish cabins, enjoy freshly-sourced gourmet cuisine, and relax in the comfortable lounge, cosy library and outdoor Jacuzzi.

After your Galapagos adventure, you will fly to Guayaquil for one night. Ecuador's most populous city, Guayaquil is the city's commercial heart. The Parque Historico is home to a sanctuary for endangered wildlife as well as exhibitions of traditional culture, while the Botanical Gardens make for a pleasant afternoon's stroll. Your home for a night is the Hotel del Parque, a luxurious, traditional hotel set in a restored 19th-century building and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Parque Historico.