Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Ecuador – Quito – Galapagos Archipelago
100% customisable for you
Your exciting Ecuadorian adventure kicks off today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and enjoy a glass of bubbly in the lounge before takeoff – flights to Quito, the capital, connect through North America and take around 18 hours, giving you plenty of time to slip into holiday gear.
Thanks to the time difference, you’ll land the same day, ready to grab your bags and meet your private driver for the transfer into the city centre. When you arrive, check in for two nights, freshen up and indulge in some downtime to shake off the jetlag this afternoon.
Once you’ve settled in, reach out to our local Concierge for some restaurant recommendations. Let’s make the first meal of your trip a memorable one.
Rise and shine early this morning to make the most of your first full day in Ecuador. After a hearty breakfast, meet a friendly local guide and embark on a walking tour of the historic city centre.
UNESCO-listed, Quito has been pristinely preserved, making a stroll through its streets feel like stepping back in time. It’s also high-altitude, sitting at 9,350ft above sea level – talk about starting on a high note.
Kick off with a walk along rows of one-story houses and their Spanish balconies. Then, visit the Quito Metropolitan Cathedral, the Carondelet Palace and the Basilica and Convent of Saint Francisco, where you’ll find the Virgin of Quito, an iconic wooden sculpture. After snapping a few shots for the photo wall, head to the Church of the Society of Jesus.
While you’re wandering, don't forget to stop for a taste of the local beverage: canelazo, a warming mix of schnapps, cane sugar, water and cinnamon.
Bid the mainland a fond farewell this morning as you pack up and hop in a car for your private transfer to the airport. The flight to San Cristobal, the easternmost island in the Galapagos, takes about three and a half hours – ideal for drawing up a list of bucket list experiences you’re hoping to tick off.
After landing, meet another private driver to transfer to your next hotel, your home for the next two nights. Take the rest of the afternoon to settle in and explore your stunning new surroundings.
This evening, celebrate the beginning of your time in the Galapagos with a mouth-watering meal and a restful sleep. A world of adventure awaits tomorrow...
Today is yours to spend discovering San Cristobal at your own pace – and there’s plenty to keep you busy. After breakfast, don your sunnies, pack a few snacks and step out to immerse yourself in this ancient volcanic isle.
Start by heading to the beach to admire the large colony of native sea lions that call these shores home. Then, visit Playa Mann, where you can trace the island’s geological and natural history at the Interpretation Centre.
For something a little more active today, you could also lace up your shoes for a hike along the many – and we do mean many – trails that skirt the coast, ducking into a series of secret coves along the way. Dinner will be a real treat after that…
Wake up early today to enjoy one last leisurely morning in San Cristobal before you’re privately transferred to the airport to fly to the neighbouring island of Isabela – a journey which takes just 45 minutes.
When you land, grab your bags and meet another private driver to journey towards your next hotel, where you’ll settle in for three nights in an equally extraordinary spot.
Having taken some time to unpack, head back out this afternoon to meet a friendly local for a private tour of the island. The agenda is entirely up to you, so simply tell your guide what you’re interested in and they’ll lead the way.
No matter where you end up going, you’ll be sure to learn some fascinating facts about the Galapagos, along with some of Isabela's well-kept secrets. Then, return to your hotel for a sundowner overlooking the sea. Pure bliss.
Leap out of bed this morning to enjoy a tasty breakfast before heading out on a seriously scenic sailing trip. Accompanied by an expert local guide, board a boat and push off the coast towards the lava tunnels of Cabo Rosa.
Among this network of solidified lava formations, you’ll find several colonies of nesting birds and other wonderful wildlife, such as masked and blue-footed boobies, pelicans and sea lions.
The landscape itself is also spectacular, having been created by the sudden cooling of lava upon contact with the cool sea. After coasting through these formerly molten marvels, strap on a snorkelling mask and dive into the water to discover the underwater world waiting below.
Swap boats and hikes for two wheels today as you embark on an independent bike ride around the island. Armed with bucketloads of curiosity, you’ll be free to pedal out to Isabela’s quietest corners and most idyllic coves.
Several trails sweep the island, alternating between paved tracks, dirt paths and sandy roads. Well signposted, they’re strung between a series of quaint villages and beautiful beaches. Time to start exploring...
While you’re pedalling around, keep your eyes peeled for the multitude of animals and spectacular scenery lining the route. Then, stop at (deep breath) Centro de Crianza Arnaldo Tupiza-Chamaidan, a breeding and preservation centre for the native giant tortoises. Talk about a big finale.
Another day, another gorgeous Galapagos island. Grab your bags and meet your private driver this morning to head to the port, where you’ll board a boat bound for Santa Cruz. The journey takes around two hours, giving you plenty of time to soak in the ocean views along the way.
When you arrive, dock and depart for your final hotel with another private transfer. Once you arrive, check in for three nights, do a spot of unpacking and indulge in a welcome drink – you've earned it.
The afternoon is yours to spend as you please. You could lounge by the pool, swim some lengths, cosy up by the bar or crack open your holiday read. Today, the world – by which we mean Santa Cruz – is your oyster.
Perch up in front of a lovely breakfast this morning before packing a day bag and setting off to catch a boat to North Seymour Island, just under two hours away.
A stone’s throw north of Baltra Island (also, perhaps unsurprisingly, called South Seymour) North Seymour is an uninhabited treasure trove of natural wonders. In the company of a passionate local guide, enjoy a day spent cosplaying nature documentarians as you explore this fascinating island.
Covered in dry vegetation, North Seymour is home to the endearingly named prickly pear cactus. On the animal front, you’ll also find the three-to-five-ft-long Galapagos land iguana (yes, really), blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds.
Return to Santa Cruz this afternoon to visit Bachas Beach, where you’ll find flocks of flamingoes and idyllic white sand. Having explored the area on foot, don your fins and submerge yourselves in the water for a splendid snorkelling session.
The name of the game today: satisfying your curiosity. Your final day in the Galapagos is free for you to spend as you please, and there’s not a moment to waste...
If you’d like to splash about in the sea, catch a ferry from the pier of Puerto Ayora to Las Grietas, a dramatic saltwater channel. Here, you can swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear waters that flow between cacti-lined rock walls. At the end of the channel, you’ll also find Los Alemanes Beach – a fitting reward for your efforts.
Then, this afternoon, dry off and head to the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about the extraordinary scientific research conducted throughout the archipelago. After this, stop at Tortuga Bay to relax and soak up the sun.
If you’d rather rack up your step counts today, head up to the heights of Santa Cruz, where even more lava tunnels and some fascinating forests await. There’s also the El Chato Ranch, another giant tortoise reserve, if you fancy one last dose of the Galapagos’ wonderful wildlife.
Sadly, your exciting Ecuadorian escape comes to an end today. Tuck into one last tasty breakfast before meeting a private driver to transfer to the airport and fly to Guayaquil, back on the mainland.
Your return flight connects through North America and takes 16 and a half hours, so you’ll spend the night on board and arrive the next day. In the meantime, there’s nothing left to do but sit back, slip on an eye mask and... relax.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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