Ecuador &
Galapagos

Travellers from across Canada gather in Toronto for our flights to Quito. Known as the northern capital of the Incas and a 16th century Spanish colonial city, Quito has had a varied and fascinating history. Today, the city is a storehouse of elegant churches, ancient monasteries, colonial mansions, fascinating antiques and hand-crafted native artifacts.

JW Marriot (2 nights)

Gain a deeper understanding of this beautiful Andean city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with visits to the impressive San Agustin Church, the Monastery of San Francisco and the church of La Compañía de Jesús. Afterward, savour a sweeping vista of the city from the heights of Panecillo Hill. Complete the excitement of the day with a delightful welcome dinner.

We begin our exploration of the Andean World and the awesome scenery of the Ecuadorian Andean Region. Enjoy close-up views of unique flora and fauna at Cotopaxi National Park while making our way across the slopes of Cotopaxi Volcano for lunch. This evening we catch a flight to Cuenca. 

Four Points by Sheraton Cuenca (3 nights)

Cuenca, Ecuador's third largest city, is sure to charm and captivate you with its red-tiled roofs, cobblestone streets, flowery plazas, and museums. We will visit the Plaza of San Sebastián, the Museum of Modern Art, the flower market and stroll in the Main Square. Then enjoy a relaxing drive along the Tomebamba River to admire the overhanging houses. After lunch, we will visit a ceramics handicraft shop and a Panama Hat factory.

Follow the traces of an advanced culture whose history in Ecuador was brief but important. Explore the only archaeological site located inside Cuenca, the Pumapungo Museum, where ancient Cañari and Inca settlements once stood, on a high bluff above the River Tomebamba. The most important Inca archaeological site in the country, dominated by the Temple of the Sun on its platform, Ingapirca makes an impressive complex of ancient stones surrounded by rolling hills. These majestic ruins have a mystique to them that requires them to be explored with patience, pausing and observing, to understand the greatness of an empire that lasted just 72 years in the country.    

Today offers us another wonderful experience as we drive from the highlands to the coast, crossing through a series of climatic and vegetation zones. En route we will visit El Cajas National Park, a highland park known for its many lakes and scenic beauty. On arrival in Guayaquil, enjoy a brief orientation drive through Ecuador’s second city and major port.

Hotel Hilton Colon Guayaquil (1 night)     BLD

This is the day that we have been anticipating! We fly westward to the Galapagos Islands, some 600 miles away. After landing, we cross the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island. We head inland to the highlands, where we will learn about its unique ecosystems and biodiversity. After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit a nearby reserve that is home to the archipelago’s most famous inhabitants, the giant tortoise. A short bus ride takes us down to Puerto Ayora to board the Yacht Isabela II. Designed to hold 40 passengers, our ship is fully air-conditioned, has a comfortable lounge and dining room, and all cabins have private facilities.

Yacht Isabela II (4 nights) 

Following a wet landing on the black sandy beach, our trail takes us to enjoy the close-up encounters with recently reintroduced land iguanas, plus land and marine birds amid a landscape of tuff stone layers, jagged rocks, and lava flows. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds. We can also observe a colony of fur seals, unusually dozing in the shade of some rocks. The Chinese Hat Islet was formed relatively recently and makes a wonderful afternoon visit along its 400m trail. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities amid white tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins. 

Experience a panga ride along the cliffs of Genovesa Island, affectionately nicknamed ‘Bird Island’. Once onshore, we climb a steep staircase and follow the trail through large colonies of Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, great frigate birds, and storm petrels. With luck, we shall also spot the short-eared owl. Those who wish may stay on the panga to enjoy a longer boat ride along the cliffs. After lunch, we land at the white beach of Darwin Bay to get close with the diverse avian species of the island. 

Santa Fe Island is home to colonies of sea lions often lounging on the white sand beach. Galapagos hawks fly over iguanas sunbathing along the shore. Following a walk, we can enjoy a swim along the natural wave barrier or take a ride on a glass bottom boat. The turquoise waters contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava shoreline of the South Plaza Island. Inland, a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for the grove of luminescent green prickly pear cactus. Along the coast, we’ll find sea lions, frigates, swallow-tailed gulls, and shearwaters. 

Disembarking at Baltra, we catch our flight back to Quito, with the afternoon free to explore the city or simply relax. 

JW Marriot (1 night) 

Heading north from Quito, we navigate through the rugged mountains that divide the coastal plains from the rainforest interior. Our journey leads us to an exceptional eco-lodge, meticulously crafted to harmonize with its surroundings and provide a close-to-nature experience in the Cloud Forest. In the afternoon, a welcome briefing awaits, offering us the chance to explore our interests with on-site naturalists and receive an introduction to this extraordinary environment. 

Mashpi Lodge (2 nights)  

A full day of activities awaits us with our dedicated naturalist and local guides. Enjoy walks through the pristine jungle surrounded by 150-foot-high trees, visit the butterfly farm to learn about these delicate creatures, or take a ride on the tree-top gondola to enjoy the flora and fauna of the cloud forest. Be sure to visit the observation tower, where you can stand on top of the rainforest canopy and learn about this ecological wonder. Observe toucans, parrots and dozens of other birds and, with some luck, the infamous howler monkeys, foraging squirrel monkeys, or the gentle three-toed sloth. This will be a day to remember!

As we depart from our cloud forest reserve, we journey northward through lush farmlands and awe-inspiring mountain vistas until we reach Otavalo, home to South America's most unique market. En route, enjoy lunch in a traditional hacienda, and visit the artisan village of Peguche, famous for its hand-woven textiles and sacred waterfall.

Hacienda Pinsaqui (1 night)

Following an early visit to the stunning Cuicocha Lake, we’ll have the pleasure of exploring the renowned leather goods and exquisite woodcarvings of the artisan villages of Cotachchi and San Antonio de Ibarra. Lunch today will feature a gourmet interpretation of common Ecuadorian homemade recipes. Visit the world-famous silent market of Otavalo, where sellers barter with their hands, a welcomed contrast to the raucous babble of most markets. We will have ample time to bargain for colourful ponchos, woolen goods, and native jewelry.

JW Marriot (2 nights)   

Quito's artistic pathways lead to some of the most rewarding cultural journeys you can embark on. The pre-Inca people crafted the oldest and most exquisite artifacts and jewelry, the Spanish conquest introduced new skills and religious fervor resulting in the creation of superb religious sculptures, and 20th-century artists have produced dramatic and expressionist paintings. Discover three pivotal eras in the country's history (pre-Columbian, colonial and contemporary) at the National Archaeological Museum and La Capilla del Hombre (Chapel of Man), a striking modern edifice that houses the works of Ecuador's most renowned painter, Oswaldo Guayasamín. This evening, we enjoy our farewell dinner. 

Our ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ journey draws to a close as we catch our flights to our homes across Canada.