Ecuador Essentials

On your arrival in Quito, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The drive into the city offers a first glimpse of Ecuador’s capital, where modern neighbourhoods sit beneath a backdrop of Andean peaks and volcanic landscapes.

At 2,850 meters above sea level, Quito is one of the world’s highest capital cities. Many visitors on arrival prefer to take the remainder of the day at an easy pace while adjusting to the altitude. Depending on your arrival time, there may be an opportunity to explore the surrounding area, enjoy a meal locally, or simply settle into the hotel before the sightseeing begins the following day.

After having your hearty breakfast at the hotel, set out to explore Quito. The morning is spent in the historic centre, where cobbled streets, churches, domes, and colonial facades reveal why Quito became one of the cities to be recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Around Independence Square, you’ll find the Cathedral, Government Palace, and Archbishop’s Palace gathered around the city’s historic heart. Nearby, La Compañia church stands out for its richly decorated interior, widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Spanish Baroque architecture in South America.

During a chocolate tasting experience, learn about Ecuador's long relationship with cacao, from cultivation and production through to the finished product. Later, continue to the Equatorial Line Monument, where an 18th century French scientific expedition helped calculate the position of the equator. The day closes at the Ethnographical Museum, which reflects the history of Indigenous culture and traditions. Return to your hotel for an overnight stay.

After enjoying your delectable breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Quito's airport to board your flight to the Galápagos Islands. On arrival in Baltra, cross the Itabaca Channel by ferry before continuing onto Santa Cruz Island, the second largest island of the Archipelago and home to both the Galápagos National Park headquarters and the Charles Darwin Research Station.

The journey across the island provides a first look at the changing landscapes of the Galápagos. Dry coastal terrain gradually gives way to greener highlands, where scalesia forests replace cacti and scrubland. Along the route, stop at the Twin Craters, large volcanic sinkholes formed thousands of years ago, before visiting a lava tunnel carved by flowing molten rock during the island’s volcanic past. Later, continue to a Giant Tortoise Reserve, where these iconic animals roam freely in their natural habitat. Lunch is served at a local ranch before travelling on to Puerto Ayora, the main town on Santa Cruz Island, for an overnight stay.

Once your breakfast is done at the hotel, walk from Puerto Ayora to Tortuga Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in Galápagos. The route follows a paved path through dry coastal vegetation before opening onto a long stretch of white sand backed by turquoise water. Along the shoreline, keep an eye out for marine iguanas, sharks, sea turtles, and migratory birds.

Later, return to Puerto Ayora and transfer to the pier for the public speedboat to Isabela Island. The journey takes around two hours across open water before arriving on the archipelago’s biggest island. Formed by merging six volcanoes, Isabela accounts for roughly 60% of the Galápagos’ total land area and is famous for its volcanic landscapes, quiet beaches, and slower pace of life. The rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own, then return to your hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, head from Puerto Villamil to Las Tintoreras, a group of small volcanic islets just off the coast of Isabela. A short boat ride brings you to one of the island’s best-known wildlife areas, where sharks are seen resting in the lava canals. Keep an eye out for marine iguanas and sea lions. Conditions permitting, there is also time for snorkelling, with opportunities to spot tropical fish and sea turtles in the surrounding waters.

Afterwards, visit Flamingos’ pools, a coastal lagoon, where Galápagos flamingos can often be seen feeding in the shallow waters. Continue your day by visiting the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre, where you can witness the tortoises at the different stages of development while learning about the efforts being made to restore their populations across the islands.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast, then get ready to travel into the highlands of Isabela Island towards Sierra Negra, one of the largest volcanic craters in the world. Weather permitting, the route offers wide views across the volcano’s rim before continuing towards the sulphur mines on the slopes of the caldera.

The excursion includes a walk for approximately 4 km through a landscape shaped by volcanic activity. Near the sulphur mines, bright green sulphur deposits stand out against the dark volcanic area, creating a scene unlike anywhere else in the archipelago.

Later, return to Puerto Villamil and transfer to the pier for the public speedboat back to Santa Cruz Island. The crossing takes around two and a half hours. On arrival, transfer to your hotel, with the remaining day free at leisure.

After breakfast, set out on a half-day boat excursion around Academy Bay, exploring several of the coastal sites that make Santa Cruz one of the most wildlife-rich islands in the Galápagos. At La Loberia, sea lions can often be seen resting along the shoreline. The route also passes through Shark Channel and Lovers Channel, where you can spot seabirds and blue-footed boobies. The excursion includes opportunities for snorkelling and a visit to Las Grietas, a narrow volcanic fissure filled with remarkably clear water.

Back on land, continue to Dog Beach, where marine iguanas are frequently spotted among the coastal vegetation and rocky shoreline. Then, lunch is arranged for you at a local restaurant in Puerto Ayora.

Later, visit the Charles Darwin Research station, which has played a central role in the conservation of Galápagos Islands for decades. Gain insights into ongoing scientific research and the efforts being made to protect the archipelago’s unique wildlife and ecosystems.

Begin your morning with breakfast at the hotel. Today is free to spend as you wish, whether that means returning to a favourite spot in Puerto Ayora, enjoying a relaxed morning by the waterfront, or simply taking time to unwind before the journey home. Optional activities and excursions can be arranged locally subject to availability.

After breakfast, transfer to Baltra Airport for your flight back to mainland Ecuador, bringing your time in the Galápagos Islands and Ecuador to a close.