Ecuador in Luxury

Day 1 — Quito

Arrive in Quito and transfer to the wonderful Casa Gangotena, consistently rated amongst the very best hotels in all of South America.

Day 2 — Quito

Enjoy a leisurely private walking tour through the historic heart of Quito. This delightful city, considered to have the most well-preserved colonial centre of any Latin American capital, was in fact the first city in the world to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Visit beautiful churches and the charming main square, where you can admire guards dressed in traditional costume at the entrance to the Presidential Palace, and wander cobbled squares. Nearby, step inside La Compañia Church, an extraordinary Jesuit masterpiece bathed in gold leaf from tip-to-toe. Then make your way into San Francisco Church and Convent, one of the most important religious complexes in the city and a landmark deeply woven into Quito’s history. You’ll also have the chance to climb up to the belfry for an unexpected open-air surprise: rooftops, domes, hills and the movement of the Old Town seen from above.

Day 3 — Quito › Mashpi Lodge

A scenic three-hour road transfer takes you to Mashpi Lodge. Situated in the Ecuadorian Choco rainforest and known as one of the world’s greatest biodiversity hotspots, this multi-award winning luxury lodge is your base to begin the afternoon forest excursion. In the evening, enjoy the fine cuisine this lodge has become well known for after perhaps enjoying a treatment in the Wellness Spa.

Day 4 — Mashpi Lodge

A full day of exploring with activities available to suit all levels of fitness. You can ride the Sky Bike along a cable stretched high in the forest canopy or, to see it from above, take the wonderful Dragonfly gondola and gently glide over the forest to admire the incredible variety of trees, ferns and birdlife that lives there. The more energetic can go on hikes with their guide, or if a quieter time is preferred, perhaps sit and be enchanted by dozens of alluring hummingbirds coming to feed close by.

Later in the day, listen to the call of the howler monkeys and enjoy a night walk when the forest transforms as a whole new set of nocturnal creatures appear. Throughout your time at Mashpi Lodge, an English speaking naturalist guide and a guide native to the area will accompany you. They will share their knowledge of the forest, explaining some of the food and medicinal qualities of the plants, as well as locating many birds, insects and reptiles this region is so rich in.

Day 5 — Mashpi Lodge › Quito

Time for morning activities before you transfer back to Quito and arrive in the late afternoon at the Casa Gangotena Hotel.

Day 6 — Quito › Galapagos Islands

This morning fly to the Galapagos Islands, situated some 1000km off the coast of Ecuador, to commence your 4 night/5 day cruise. Choose from two itineraries offered aboard the luxury 48 passenger La Pinta. The Origin of the Species cruise explores the northern islands, while the Humboldt Isles Expedition explores the eastern islands. All meals, shore excursions and snorkelling equipment are included when on board. This afternoon you will commence your first excursion as your Galapagos adventure begins.

Days 7 – 9 — Cruising the Galapagos Islands

Each day is filled with both morning and afternoon excursions ashore as the history, geography and wildlife of these amazing islands is unfolded by your expert naturalist guide. Zodiac rides allow you to see more of the coast and snorkelling or glass bottom boat excursions reveal a wonderland of rich marine life beneath the waves. You will visit a number of islands during the cruise, each with their own unique personality which will be explained to you each evening in your pre-dinner lecture. The equatorial constellations will also be revealed during a stargazing lecture on board.

Day 10 — Galapagos Islands › Guayaquil

Enjoy a final morning activity ashore in the islands, then fly back to Guayaquil and to connect with your onward flight.

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What’s included

• 5 nights’ accommodation
• 4 nights’ onboard M/Y La Pinta in the Galapagos Islands
• 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners
• Meet & Greet in Quito and the Galapagos Islands
• Private transfers in Quito
• Shared transfers to/from Mashpi Lodge and in the Galapagos Islands
• English-speaking local guides
• Private sightseeing in Quito as per the itinerary
• Shared activities as per the itinerary at Mashpi Lodge and in the Galapagos Islands
• Entrance fees as per the itinerary
• Flights Quito › Galapagos Islands › Guayaquil
• INGALA Transit Control Card for the Galapagos Islands
• Wetsuits onboard
• Carbon offset fee

Not included

• Galapagos National Park Fee currently US$200 per person is payable in cash on arrival in the Galapagos
• A fuel surcharge may be applicable on your cruise at time of booking
• Alcoholic beverages
• Gratuities

The whole trip, one booking

We arrange your international and regional flights alongside your journey — in whichever cabin suits — with stopovers, travel insurance and the rest of your time in South America, so it’s all priced, ticketed and looked after together.

Talk to us about your trip →

Why book through us

A South American itinerary takes real co-ordination: flights across the Pacific, internal flights between countries, trains, lodges, guides and the occasional boat. Booking through Fine Travel, you benefit from partners on the ground who have been chosen and tested over many years by our specialist partners — and you deal with one TAANZ-accredited agency in New Zealand.

One consultant, first call to home again

Your Fine Travel consultant looks after your enquiry and your booking from the first conversation to your return, with the operator’s on-the-ground partners behind the journey itself.

Complimentary documentation

If you prefer printed copies of your travel documentation, we’ll courier a full hard-copy set to you at no cost — a service few agencies still offer, and one our clients tell us they value.