Introducing Ecuador and the Galapagos
Watch our video to see why our specialists love Ecuador and the Galapagos...
Free Ecuador and Galapagos Guidebook
We've put together a guidebook with everything you need to know about Ecuador and Galapagos. Written by our specialists, it details destination information, a wildlife guide, some suggested itineraries and plenty more to inspire your holiday. Fill in the form below and if you live in UK, your guidebook will arrive by post within the next couple of days. For those who live abroad, we will send you a copy by email.
Ecuador Itineraries
Ecuador is the most perfect pocket-sized country in Latin America. Nothing is too far away, the diversity is extraordinary and you can get a real feel for the place and the friendliness of its people without requiring too much time. You may find that you can avoid taking any internal flights at all, but only if you can’t resist the lure of the Galapagos and the depths of the Amazon, then you’ll need to get airborne. On our tailor made itineraries, you will experience colonial Quito, cruise on board MV Santa Cruz in the Galapagos islands or head North to the Andes where a stay ona hacienda will show you a different way of life. You can also combine a stay in Ecuador and The Galapagos Islands with visits to the fascinating Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru.
Ecuador highlights
The Ecuador Mainland is often overlooked by those heading straight to the Galapagos Islands, yet this little explored country is a destination made for travel. Home to soaring Andean peaks, Amazon wilderness, jagged coastline and cobbled colonial towns, Ecuador boasts all of South America’s allure, and more. Galapagos Islands aside, here are a few of our recommended wonders which highlight Ecuador as a mini South America.
Top 5 things to do while in Quito
Quito is Ecuador’s charming capital city, perched high in the Andean mountains in the shadows of the Pichincha volcano.
Amazon wildlife guide
Ecuador
Straddling the equator and bordered by Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean, Ecuador is South America’s tiny country and is easily one of the most diverse on the planet with 25,000 plant species, 1,600 bird species, the mighty Andes, the lush Amazon, and nine national parks - including the unique Galápagos Islands. Packed with heritage, colonial architecture, rainforest, mountains, historic cities, and palm-fringed beaches, it is little wonder that Ecuador is known as ‘the microcosm of South America’.
From our gallery
View allNamed after the Equator and straddling both hemispheres, a holiday to the relatively tiny Ecuador packs in an astonishing array of landscapes, wildlife and indigenous cultures.
Head to Quito, the jewel of a capital that fuses colonial churches, cathedrals, Indian markets, plazas and museums against the backdrop of the Andes and Volcán Pichincha. Marvel at the sumptuous interiors of the San Francisco Church, and admire both the grandiose Carondelet Palace and La Compañía. Two hours north of here is Otavalo, the rural town of Andean artistry that is most famous for its market selling woven goods and textiles.
For more colonial charm, Cuenca, in Ecuador’s artisan-filled southern highlands is trip-worthy for its UNESCO-listed old-world town. Discover whitewashed buildings, cobblestone streets, cathedrals, domed churches, and a daily flower market in the town square.
The Andes form the backbone of Ecuador. Climb the iconic (and active) 19,347-foot-high Cotopaxi Volcano at Cotopaxi National Park, and drive down the Avenue of the Volcanoes, a fascinating chain of active and dormant volcanoes that crown the central highlands.
Ecuador’s attractions are limitless. Straddle the Equator at Mitad del Mundo, watch humpbacks breaching between June and September, and see gasp-inducing mountain panoramas from the confines of your train carriage on the Nariz del Diablo, or ‘Devil’s Nose’ – the celebrated train line that travels between the towns of Alausi and Sibambe.
For back-to-nature thrills, venture deep into the Amazon. Stay in an eco-lodge, take jungle river rides on canoes, and spot a huge variety of wildlife. Equally rewarding for nature-lovers are the volcanic Galápagos Islands, set 596 miles west of Ecuador’s Pacific Coast. This archipelago was inspirational to Charles Darwin, and remains a treasured wildlife haven where you can meet blue-footed boobies, swim with sea lions, and see giant tortoises, birds, penguins, marine iguanas, and much more.
On a recent trip to Ecuador, it was the experience of horse riding in Cotopaxi National Park that really blew Latin America specialist Simon away. As a novice on horseback, here he tells us why this wonderful excursion is something every visitor to Ecuador should try…
To start planning your tailor-made holiday, call us on (646) 934-8942
Did you know?
Ecuador is the closest country to space due to its location on the equatorial bulge, as a result, the highest mountain in the country, Mount Chimborazo, is the closest point on Earth to the Sun.
Did you know?
Home to two of the first UNESCO listed sites. Quito, was the first capital city to make the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Galapagos Islands were also one of the first places to be recognised.