Honeymoon to Ecuador & the Galapagos

Your stylish honeymoon begins in Miami, one of the USA’s most glamorous cities. A great way to get a feel for the Magic City is with a night out in the glittering South Beach district, all glitzy bars, pastel-hued Art Deco buildings, and oceanfront restaurants. Your home for two nights is The Betsy, a South Beach landmark dating to the 1940s. A hip boutique hotel with a great location on Ocean Drive, The Betsy is perfect for getting a feel for Miami’s vintage glamour. The modern face of the city’s culture can be seen at Wynwood Walls, an area of ever-changing, brightly-coloured street murals, and in the world-class art and design exhibits of the Wolfsonian art museum. A visit to the lively district of Little Havana, Miami’s lively Cuban neighbourhood, will see you experience yet another facet of this complex, life-affirming city.

The Ecuadorian leg of your adventure begins in the capital, Quito, an afternoon’s flight from Miami. A walking tour through Quito’s UNESCO-listed old town, taking in the exquisite colonial architecture of the Monastery of San Francisco and the Church of La Compana, is a serene and romantic experience. For something a little livelier, head to Plaza Foch, a square in the party district of La Mariscal where nighthawks converge before dispersing to surrounding restaurants, bars and clubs. Your hotel, Casa Gangotena, is a beautiful boutique in a classical mansion in the heart of the old city, all marble columns and Art Deco design features.

A short flight from Quito sees you arriving on Baltra Island, where you’ll begin a seven-night cruise of the Galapagos Islands. A volcanic archipelago famed for its abundance of rare and endemic species, many of them unafraid of human visitors, the Galapagos offers one of the world’s most remarkable wildlife experiences. Your vessel, the MV Origin, has elevated the standard of Galapagos cruises with its luxurious accommodation, fantastic activities and expert guides – with one guide for every ten guests, the lowest ratio in the Galapagos. You’ll take one of two cruises, which take alternating routes to allow the wildlife to recover. The first, the Southern Central Cruise, begins with visits to frigatebird and booby populations on San Cristobal and Punta Pitt, before giving you the chance to swim with sea lions on Espanola. On Floreana you’ll meet flamingos and get to dive with sea turtles at Devil’s Crown, while on Santa Cruz you’ll visit a research station dedicated to the protection of the iconic Galapagos tortoise. You’ll also visit the photogenic volcanic formation of Pinnacle Rock on Bartolome and spot marine and land iguanas on South Plaza and North Seymour. The Northern Western Cruise also begins on San Cristobal, proceeding to the spectacular bird sanctuary of Genovesa, home to short-eared owls and red-footed boobies, among many others. You’ll then stop off at Santa Cruz for a hike on Dragon Hill, see colourful land iguanas on Isabela, and snorkel with sea turtles on Fernandina. You’ll also explore the red beaches of Rabida, where you can snorkel with sea lions and rays, finishing up with another trip to Santa Cruz to visit the giant tortoises of the highlands. Whichever itinerary you choose, you’re guaranteed to spot iconic Galapagos wildlife such as blue- and red-footed boobies, giant tortoises and marine and land iguanas. The Origin’s expert guides will ensure that you have a safe, fun and educational time, which is sure to rank as one of the experiences of a lifetime.

Your stylish honeymoon ends back on the mainland, with a stay in the Ecuadorian Andes. Flying back to Quito, you’ll be privately transferred to Hacienda Zuleta, a beautiful hotel on a working cattle ranch near the volcano of Imbabura. The hacienda dates back to the 16^th century, and combines an atmospheric, comfortable stay with one of the most authentic hacienda experiences in Ecuador. You’ll have the chance to visit a reserve for the vulnerable Andean condor, whose protection the hacienda is dedicated to; owls, spectacled bears and pumas are other inhabitants of this wildlife-rich area. Birdwatching tours can also be arranged by the hotel. A ride through the hills on horseback is a romantic way to experience the Andean landscape in traditional style, and there are various hikes and nature trails around the property.