The islands and mountains of Ecuador and Galapagos reveal thrilling and unique natural wonders in a small and inviting package.

Let South America Travel Specialist arrange you a small ship cruise to the Galapagos Islands. It’s the best way to see the variety of different islands where you can get amazingly close to the truly unique wildlife. Not only that, imagine snorkelling with sea lions and taking a selfie with a giant tortoise. It’s all looked after with a team of excellent naturalist guides and conservationists travelling with you.

On the Ecuador mainland, the unique and thrilling natural world experiences continue at Mashpi Lodge. This stylish rainforest retreat is in an area of extreme biodiversity and one of the world’s most intense rainforest experiences.

As well as a few nights in the dramatic capital of Quito in the high Andes mountains in a historic boutique hotel, this Ecuador and Galapagos Islands tour is packed with intense natural experiences.

Ecuador and the Galapagos Natural Wonders – Tour Highlights

• A 4 night Galapagos cruise on Yacht Isabela II
  

• Small ship cruise to avoid crowds in the Galapagos Islands
  

• Mashpi Lodge rainforest experience
  

• Quito in style at Casa Gangotena

Suggested Itinerary – We customise this for you!

Day 1 – To Quito

Fly to Quito in the high Andes mountains. A private guided transfer awaits to take you into the heart of the old town and the stylish and soothing surrounds of the Casa Gangotena hotel for 2 nights.

Meals: None

Hotel: Casa Gangotena

Casa Gangotena

We always suggest to stay in the old town of Quito in one of the boutique hotels in the city and Casa Gangotena is one of the best. It’s located on Plaza San Francisco in the heart of the city and has been renovated from an elegant 18th-century mansion. The rooms offer wonderful luxury looking into the courtyard or across to La Company church and the restaurant is well worth a try, even though there is a number to choose from in the neighbourhood. We always try and arrange sightseeing to be done in the morning so you can get back to the hotel to enjoy the excellent high tea and perhaps walk it off with a stroll around the old streets of Quito. All this combines so you feel a definite South American vibe on your travels.

Casa Gangotena hotel courtyard Quito Ecuador

Day 2 – Quito

Waking in the morning, the splendidly restored old town of Quito will surround you. Step out with a local guide on an unhurried private tour of the city.

Wander to San Francisco plaza and the church, and grab a traditional snack at the small restaurant. The old town of Quito is a delightful mix of town squares, ornate churches and imposing state buildings. There’s also little shops and markets and steep cobbled streets, and it’s a great way to get a first taste of everyday life in the Andes.  The walking tour leads up Panecillo Hill where there’s an elaborate statue to the Virgin Mary and from where there are fantastic views of the mountains surrounding the city.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Casa Gangotena

Casa Gangotena

We always suggest to stay in the old town of Quito in one of the boutique hotels in the city and Casa Gangotena is one of the best. It’s located on Plaza San Francisco in the heart of the city and has been renovated from an elegant 18th-century mansion. The rooms offer wonderful luxury looking into the courtyard or across to La Company church and the restaurant is well worth a try, even though there is a number to choose from in the neighbourhood. We always try and arrange sightseeing to be done in the morning so you can get back to the hotel to enjoy the excellent high tea and perhaps walk it off with a stroll around the old streets of Quito. All this combines so you feel a definite South American vibe on your travels.

Day 3 – To Mashpi Lodge and the rainforest

Get into the wild, quickly escaping the city and into the emerald green valleys north of Quito. On the journey, spot the snow-capped peaks of volcanoes as you cross by the equator line. Before too long you reach into the pristine cloud forest and arrive at your unique home for two nights at Mashpi Lodge.

This is truly a special place and area of rainforest which has been specifically preserved by the lodge. It’s a really contemporary design to show off the beautiful nature all around with big glass windows everywhere. You may have seen Mashpi on BBC’s Behind the Lobby series of extraordinary hotels and it certainly fits the bill.

The team of expert guides at the lodge will take you out to explore the rainforest and spot wildlife. There’s no fixed programme here, have a chat with the guide and do your thing. There’ll certainly have some tips based on what the wildlife doing on any given day.

There are loads of different trails into the completely untouched forest, a hummingbird garden or you can venture into the canopy. Go loco on a jungle swing or for something completely different there’s the sky bike between the trees.

As night falls, enjoy a signature cocktail and dine on exquisitely fresh gourmet cuisine whilst listening to the calls of the wild in the deep jungle.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Hotel: Mashpi Lodge

Mashpi Lodge

If you have the time on a visit to Quito we certainly recommend at least two nights at Mashpi Lodge deep in a pristine area of intense rainforest which has been specifically preserved due to the construction of the lodge. The lodge building is super contemporary, so that large windows look out onto rainforest all around and guests feel like they are among the trees. Guests stay on a full board basis with excellent cuisine with jungle twists. And a large selection of jungle activities is included with a team of jungle guides. Anything from canopy walks to jungle swings and a hummingbird garden. It’s also easy to reach just a few hours drive from Quito.

Mashpi Lodge and rainforest from above Ecuador

Day 4 – Rainforest adventures

If you’re like us, the curtains will stay open all night so you are woken by dawn breaking amid the jungle. The floor to ceiling windows at Mashpi makes you feel like you’re out in the forest.

It’s another full day of wild activities here. Some of the trails lead to waterfall pool which you can dive into and cool off. The wildlife and flowers are amazing here and some found nowhere else on Earth. There are 400 species of bird in the reserve, rare and endangered frogs and noisy howler monkeys. Not to mention rare fish in the rivers and fascinating palms, it’s a true Garden of Eden. Your guide will let you know the amazing work the lodge does to preserve the forest.

There’s plenty of time to switch off and just revel in the green oasis. There’s a spa with organic treatments, no need to pipe in forest noises here! And relax looking out at the soothing green natural world.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Hotel: Mashpi Lodge

Mashpi Lodge

If you have the time on a visit to Quito we certainly recommend at least two nights at Mashpi Lodge deep in a pristine area of intense rainforest which has been specifically preserved due to the construction of the lodge. The lodge building is super contemporary, so that large windows look out onto rainforest all around and guests feel like they are among the trees. Guests stay on a full board basis with excellent cuisine with jungle twists. And a large selection of jungle activities is included with a team of jungle guides. Anything from canopy walks to jungle swings and a hummingbird garden. It’s also easy to reach just a few hours drive from Quito.

Mashpi Lodge suite and rainforest views Ecuador

Day 5 – Rainforest morning then Quito

There’ll be a chance to explore the rainforest more this morning, you can go out at daybreak and breathe in this pure air.

Then it’s gradually back to the city and a night in Quito, staying in style still at Casa Gangotena.  With some free time here you can explore from your central base, pop into a local cafe and just watch the world go by. These South American cities are always pretty lively and colourful.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Casa Gangotena

Casa Gangotena

We always suggest to stay in the old town of Quito in one of the boutique hotels in the city and Casa Gangotena is one of the best. It’s located on Plaza San Francisco in the heart of the city and has been renovated from an elegant 18th-century mansion. The rooms offer wonderful luxury looking into the courtyard or across to La Company church and the restaurant is well worth a try, even though there is a number to choose from in the neighbourhood. We always try and arrange sightseeing to be done in the morning so you can get back to the hotel to enjoy the excellent high tea and perhaps walk it off with a stroll around the old streets of Quito. All this combines so you feel a definite South American vibe on your travels.

Day 6 – To the Galapagos Islands

It’s time to be amazed and enthralled in the Galapagos Islands. Flyway out into the Pacific Ocean and this collection of islands which helped change the world as we see it.

The crew from the yacht Isabela II will be there to welcome you at the airport and help you on board. It’s a yacht with a maximum capacity of 40 guests, so it’s a very manageable size for the unique Galapagos Islands. We at South America Travel Specialist prefer to use smaller boutique cruises as it means you will usually have a landing site to your self and can visit the islands in smaller groups. It’s better for the ecology and basically is a lot less messing around. It makes a big difference.

Sail out from Santa Cruz Island today and get into the rhythm of sailing around the enchanted islands. You’ll have visits to the islands mornings and afternoons in small groups with expert guides, getting amazingly close to the wildlife which is unconcerned about humans. On the first afternoon, you could have the chance to take a dip and swim with sea lions, who are the stars of the show.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Yacht: Yacht Isabela II Cruise

Yacht Isabela II Cruise

Yacht Isabela II is one of the intimate cruises in the Galapagos Islands. We like the fact it’s Ecuadorian-owned and it’s got some of the best guides in the islands, all naturalists and mostly Ecuadorian graduates so they’re particularly invested in the islands. Isabela II has capacity for just 40 guests, ensuring no lots of waiting around for shore visits. Onboard the cabins are spacious for a yacht of this size there’s plenty of space for alfresco dining and lounging. There’s even a hot tub on deck. Add to this a glass-bottomed boat for excursions, sea kayaks and snorkelling equipment, it’s all there to discover the islands, the wildlife and have plenty of downtime.

Yacht Isabela 2 port side view Galapagos Islands

Days 7 to 9 – The Galapagos Islands cruise

The island schedule will depend on your day of arrival, whether it be the west, east or centre of the large archipelago spread over the equator. But no matter which islands the sailings encounter, you’ll be sure of a wonderful variety of landscapes and wildlife.

The animals here are completely tame to humans, so no need for a zoom lens, and there are animals everywhere on land, air, and sea. Birdlife includes the characterful blue-footed boobies, albatross, hawks and the unique Darwin’s finches. On land, there are iguanas and the amazing Galapagos tortoises, and there will be a visit to the giant tortoise research station. While in the sea you can snorkel to spot marine turtles, manta rays, Galapagos penguin and those sea lions which seem to be on every island.

There’s always plenty of time to relax on deck between the islands, and make sure to keep an eye out for whales and dolphins as you cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Yacht: Yacht Isabela II Cruise

Yacht Isabela II Cruise

Yacht Isabela II is one of the intimate cruises in the Galapagos Islands. We like the fact it’s Ecuadorian-owned and it’s got some of the best guides in the islands, all naturalists and mostly Ecuadorian graduates so they’re particularly invested in the islands. Isabela II has capacity for just 40 guests, ensuring no lots of waiting around for shore visits. Onboard the cabins are spacious for a yacht of this size there’s plenty of space for alfresco dining and lounging. There’s even a hot tub on deck. Add to this a glass-bottomed boat for excursions, sea kayaks and snorkelling equipment, it’s all there to discover the islands, the wildlife and have plenty of downtime.

Santa Cruz II ship and kayaking Galapagos Islands

Day 10 – To Guayaquil

There will surely be time to sport some more amazing wildlife in the morning before you fly back to the mainland. A four-night cruise is certainly long enough to see plenty, but you can extend to seven should you wish.

Fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador’s tropical port city. Spend a night at Hotel del Parque in the centre of the city, it’s an afternoon to wind down a bit, enjoy dinner at the hotel or in town and maybe some last-minute shopping.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Hotel del Parque

Hotel Del Parque

This is our go-to hotel in Ecuador’s port city of Guayaquil because of its boutique local style and central location, meaning you can enjoy a bit of relaxing and exploring before or after an Ecuador and Galapagos journey. It’s a Relais & Chateaux hotel set in a 125-year-old mansion. It’s a tropical oasis with two courtyards and right next to the park. And don’t miss the fresh seafood from the waterfront restaurant.

Day 11 – Depart Ecuador

Transfer to the airport for your return flight. The end of a journey filled with completely unique experiences.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: None

Day 12 – Arrive home

Land back no doubt with plenty of photos and stories to share and a fresh appreciation of the wonderful natural world.