Ecuador holiday: Andes & Iguanas Itinerary
Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, cloudforest and Andean scenery. Twelve exciting days you'll never forget!
12 days from £5400pp plus international flights.
Full itinerary
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Call: 01473 890499
Start planning your tailor-made holiday now. Tell us what you want, and we will tailor make your perfect trip.
Day 1
Quito
Arrive at Quito airport where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Day 2
Quito To Otavalo
Depart Quito with your driver guide for Otavalo where you have a guided tour. This small town in the highlands of northern Ecuador is surrounded by huge volcanoes, but its main attraction is the market and today is market day! You'll have lunch before checking into your hotel for a two night stay.
Full board
Day 3
Otavalo
Free day. Your 17th century hacienda is set in three hectares of lush gardens with many species of orchids and over 50 species of birds - all yours to explore. The hacienda offers a variety of activities including hiking, climbing, mountain biking and horse riding. It is also possible to visit local villages.
Breakfast, dinner
Day 4
Otavalo To Cloudforest
Transfer from the hacienda to Bellavista Cloudforest Lodge which is about three hours drive. The lodge is in a private reserve formed by sharp and deeply forested mountains, descending to gorges with rushing waterfalls and streams.
Breakfast, dinner
Day 5
Cloudforest
A free day at Bellavista. The lodge has resident naturalist / birder guides who accompany guests in their exploration of some of the 13km of trails around the lodge. There is a self-guided trail if you prefer to explore on your own, and hiking the roads through the reserve is also a good way to spot the wildlife. Horse riding is also offered, from short rides around the lodge to full day rides.
Full board
Day 6
Cloudforest To Quito
The morning is free at Bellavista for further exploration. In the afternoon you are transferred back to your Quito hotel.
Breakfast, lunch
Day 7
Quito
This morning you have a guided tour of Quito's old and new towns. The city's colonial past is very much in evidence and as it is now a UNESCO world cultural heritage site with new building is very restricted. In the afternoon you are free to wander round the streets and plazas at your leisure and enjoy the vast array of shops and restaurants and cafes.
Breakfast
Day 8
Quito To Galapagos
Today you fly from Quito to Baltra in the Galapagos. It is about a four hour flight. On arrival you will be transferred to your yacht, the Anahi. She is a fast, comfortable catamaran with en-suite accommodation for up to 16 passengers. This afternoon we will visit Bachas Beach in Santa Cruz. Your Galapagos adventure starts here!
Breakfast, dinner
Day 9
Genovesa
Today you will visit Genovesa island to see Darwin Bay and Prince Philips Steps. Genovesa is particularly known for its large colony of red-footed boobies, but it also has a lot of the gorgeous red-throated frigatebirds, lava gulls and many more species. It is one of the most northerly islands in the archipelago.
Full board
Day 10
South Plaza & Santa Fe
Today you visit the islands of South Plaza and Santa Fe. South Plaza was formed by uplifted lava and is like a huge tilted plate with one side dipping into the water. It has tall tree-like opuntia cactus, plus land iguanas, sealions, swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropic birds. Santa Fe has a well-protected cove with a white sandy beach and blue waters - wonderful for swimming and snorkelling! Often curious sealions come swimming too.
Full board
Day 11
San Cristobal
You have reached San Cristobal island and head for the visitor sites of Punta Pitt and Kicker Rock. Kicker Rock is a dramatic marine site with two sheer rocks jutting from the sea. Birds such as frigatebirds, boobies and tropicbirds fill the air and tropical fish swarm below. It's quite a sight. Punta Pitt is the eastern-most site in the Galapagos and special due to having all three types of boobie (blue-footed, red-footed and Nazca) in the one place.
Full board
Day 12
Galapagos To Guayaquil
This morning you visit the Interpretation Centre on San Cristobal before heading for the airport and your flight to Guayaquil. This exciting trip ends on arrival at Guayaquil airport.
Breakfast
Call: 01473 890499
Start planning your tailor-made holiday now. Tell us what you want, and we will tailor make your perfect trip.
