Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands, follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin and discover a new world!

The magic of Ecuador is that it’s like a movie set. You’ve got the high snow-capped Andes mountains, volcanoes reaching to the sky like they’ve been painted on, tropical rainforests and cobbled town squares like out of romantic fiction. Not forgetting the enchanted Galapagos Islands with wildlife so close it’s like in a Disney movie. All this variety is found in one of South America’s smallest countries, just like it’s been designed for adventure.

Quito and the Andes tours

The capital city Quito is the gateway for most holidays to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. It’s well worth a few days and more in order to discover a well preserved and renovated old town. Baroque churches and plazas are set in a spectacular valley and are surrounded by the looming peaks of the Andes. There are several boutique hotels in well-appointed old mansions, offering a taste of a Spanish royal court. Moreover, close to Quito you can stop by at the equator monument and stand with one foot on the northern hemisphere and one foot in the south.

South of Quito is what they call the Avenue of Volcanoes. Where seven volcanoes line the route south, dominated by the spectacular peaks of Cotopaxi and Chimborazo.  It’s a region of national parks, small country villages and historic haciendas. There’s also a train journey leading through the Devil’s Nose canyon, an amazing feat of rail engineering. At the end of the route, Cuenca is a pretty Spanish style town which has remnants of the more northerly reaches of the Inca empire at Ingapirca. It’s also a place to pick up a genuine Panama hat…yes they actually come from Cuenca!

Mountains and rainforest diversity

North of Quito is a region of green-clad mountains and towns like Otavalo, with traditional culture and one of the most photogenic mountain markets in the Americas. In the north, there’s Mashpi Lodge. This funky eco-lodge is located in a private reserve in one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. On the Eastern flanks of the Andes, you can soak in natural hot spring resorts and make your way into the Amazon Rainforest. Stay in a lodge or take a cruise on the Napo River and travel into precious, protected lands.

Galapagos Islands cruises

Ecuador’s showstoppers are the Galapagos Islands, where each of the 11 islands has unique things to see. We think the best way to experience Galapagos is on a small ship or yacht cruise, whether it be a 7, 4 or 3-night cruise you will experience the unique wonders of each island you visit away from crowds. On our Galapagos Islands by Luxury Yacht tour you can swim with sea lions, spot whale pods, get up close to incredibly tame sea birds and experience one of the world’s wildlife wonders. There are also a few hotels to stay at, and you can even combine an island stay with a cruise. South America Travel Specialists know the islands well and are waiting to pick out the best cruise and islands for you.

In a Nutshell

Visit Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands on their own or combine with another country. Just step into the movie set and begin the story.