12 days from £3115pp plus international flights.
An exciting Ecuador holiday taking in the diversity of this charming country, from cloudforest to Andes to the Galapagos Islands. You'll get a real feeling for authentic Ecuador on this trip.
From Quito you travel into the Ecuadorian highlands, staying in a charming hacienda near Otavalo. You'll visit the town on market day, which is a lively and colourful sight. This is a great opportunity to mingle with the local people and maybe pick up some gifts and souvenirs. Back at the hacienda there's a full day to relax and revel in the mountain scenery, maybe strolling in the gardens or for the more energetic taking a hike in the hills or exploring by bike.
From here you travel to the cloudforest with time to explore this fascinating environment with your personal naturalist guide or at your leisure on the miles of trails. Horse riding is another excellent way to explore this area. Head back to Quito and get to know the city better with a guided tour of the main highlights.
Next you fly from the mainland to the famous Galapagos Islands. You have a 5 day cruise on the Anahi, taking in several islands. You'll have your own guide, an expert on the flora and fauna of the islands, to help you make the most of your time here. There'll also be time to relax on board and go swimming in the sea - perhaps alongside curious sealions!
Hacienda Cusin in Otavalo is a great place with an organic veggie garden (which you will definitely taste the produce of!) and they strongly back conservation of Intag cloudforest. Their efforts in environmental sustainability have been rewarded by Rainforest Alliance as they are Smart Voyager certified. So you're staying with some good people!
Your yacht, the Anahi, is also Smart Voyager certified, this time for their care of the flora, fauna and inhabitants of the Galapagos Islands. So you can rest assured that your visit to the islands will have minimal impact and hopefully bring some benefit instead. For all wildlife and nature lovers like you, our many other travellers and us, it means a lot that we are not adding to the issues faced by this most sensitive of unique ecosystems.
Guide price from (pp sharing): £3115 (ex. international flights) Includes: Transfers, ground transport, meals as specified, guide at Otavalo, in the cloudforest, on the cruise and for the Quito city tour, Quito-Galapagos-Guayaquil flight. Excludes: International flights, departure taxes, visas, travel insurance, meals not specified, drinks, Galapagos National Park tax and transit card currently US$110 but subject to change and payable locally is US$. Getting there: ”‹The holiday starts in Quito and ends in Guayaquil. Flight from the UK will start from about £675. Departure dates: This trip is based on travelling with a specific yacht called Anahi. This means that the trip needs to start on a Friday. However if you decide to use a different yacht that starting day might well be different. |
Anahi is a comfortable, modern motor catamaran offering cabins and suites and with a comprehensive Galapagos cruise itinerary.
A fabulous spot in the cloudforest two hours north of Quito. Excellent birding, natural history and eco-adventure.
An Andean estate welcoming guests with comfortable accommodation and a great range of activities near the town of Otavalo.
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Find the best time to visit Ecuador
Time: GMT -5 hours
Flight time: There is an international airport at Quito and at Guayaquil. KLM and Iberia have routes via Europe to both cities. The flying time is about 14 hours. It is also possible to fly via America.
Language: Spanish is Ecuador's official language.
Visas: Not required for British travellers. Other nationalities should obtain advice from their embassy.
Health: There are no compulsory vaccinations, except yellow fever if visiting the rainforest. Malaria prophylactics are also recommended in the rainforest.