From cloud forest to the wild Galápagos
When to go
July-December
Trip length
14 days / 13 nights
Typical investmentPrice
from $8,800 pp
This 14-day journey traces Ecuador's most vivid landscapes, from the swirling cloud forests to Andean highlands and the iconic Galápagos Islands. Along the way, hike with naturalists, kayak through mist, dine under stars, and encounter wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.
Along the way
Visit flamingo-filled lagoons and a historic pirate post at Floreana Island
Explore traditional Andean culture at a historic hacienda near Otavalo
Walk among wild tortoises and through lava tunnels on Santa Cruz Island
Ride a sky bike through the cloud forest canopy at Mashpi Lodge
Your route
Enter the Andean gateway
Arrive in Ecuador's capital and transfer to your boutique hotel. Depending on arrival time, enjoy a gentle evening walk or a quiet dinner as the city settles beneath volcanic silhouettes.
Discover Quito’s UNESCO-listed Old Town with a local guide, wandering its cobbled streets and grand plazas. The afternoon is left open for coffee stops, galleries, or time to rest and acclimate.
Andes of Art and Tradition
Travel to your hotel, a working Andean farm with colonial charm. Spend the afternoon exploring trails or visiting the on-site embroidery workshop. Mountains rise around you in every direction.
Ride through your hacienda's alpine landscapes on a shared horseback tour, scanning skies for Andean condors. Return to the hacienda for a private dinner by the fire, comfort food with Andean flair.
Relax on your own schedule: visit Otavalo Market or stroll the hacienda gardens. That evening, enjoy a private dinner at the condor-viewing platform, with Andean skies twinkling above.
Glass walls & swirling mist
Travel by private vehicle to your hotel, a glass-walled retreat in the Chocó cloud forest. Settle in with forest views and gentle fog curling through the trees.
Soar across treetops on a sky bike ride, pedaling above canyons and cloud-draped trees. In the afternoon, set out on a river canyon discovery. Then, savor a private candlelit dinner, with local ceviche and a warm forest breeze.
Take a guided hike to Copal Waterfall, where orchids bloom and hummingbirds dart beside the trail. Return to your cloud forest lodge to relax, perhaps with a glass of wine and a misty sunset from your suite.
Endemic worlds & ocean time
Fly to Baltra and transfer to your hotel, a five-star eco-retreat perched on the volcanic highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Spend the afternoon at Tortuga Bay, where white sands meet turquoise surf.
Join a day trip to Santa Fe Island, snorkeling with sea lions, rays, and reef fish in crystal-clear waters. Return to your island lodge for sunset cocktails and a slow evening by the infinity pool.
Visit El Chato Reserve, where giant tortoises roam freely among lava tunnels and lush highlands. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Puerto Ayora or relax at the lodge.
Choose another island excursion or enjoy a slower day on Santa Cruz. Kayaks, trails, or simply time to rest. This day is intentionally open, allowing the rhythm of the islands to set the pace.
Cruise to Floreana Island for a walk through its pink flamingo lagoons and a visit to Post Office Bay, where pirate-era letter drops still function. Return to your island lodge, memories swirling with salt air.
After breakfast, bid farewell to the Enchanted Isles. Your driver escorts you to Baltra Airport for your return flight, carrying with you the colors, creatures, and stillness of Ecuador's most unforgettable places.
Let's discover your next adventure
Our top picks
Casa Gangotena occupies a restored mansion facing Plaza San Francisco in Quito’s historic center. Its 31 rooms, rooftop terrace, garden, and Ecuadorian restaurant place guests directly inside the architecture and daily life of the old city.
Illa Experience Hotel contains only 10 rooms in Quito’s quiet San Marcos neighborhood. Colonial, Republican, and contemporary design layers are joined by daily artisan experiences, a private spa, and an ambitious restaurant.
Mashpi Lodge places 20 Wayra Rooms and three Yaku Suites behind floor-to-ceiling glass in a private Ecuadorian cloud-forest reserve. Guided expeditions, waterfalls, research, observation platforms, and the Dragonfly canopy gondola are included in the lodge experience.
Hacienda Zuleta is a 21-room working estate and former presidential family home in Ecuador’s northern Andes. Four thousand acres support horses, dairy, cheese making, gardens, embroidery, archaeological sites, and an Andean condor conservation program.
Hotel Otavalo places 29 rooms inside a restored heritage building in the center of Otavalo. Indigenous textiles, contemporary Ecuadorian art, a rooftop terrace, Sarance restaurant, and a location near the Plaza de Ponchos make it the town’s most polished small hotel.
Pikaia Lodge places 14 rooms and suites on a restored 76-acre giant-tortoise reserve in the Santa Cruz highlands. Floor-to-ceiling glass, a private exploration yacht, guided land days, an infinity pool, and two private suites support a land-based Galápagos expedition.
Finch Bay Galápagos Hotel places 33 rooms beside a small beach across the water from Puerto Ayora. Six large Evolution Suites, a pool, day yachts, gardens, and guided excursions make it one of the most convenient land-based Galápagos hotels for couples and families.
Montemar consists of two fully serviced villas on a 43-acre restored giant-tortoise reserve in the Santa Cruz highlands. Villa Tortuga sleeps eight, Villa Lechuza sleeps four, and the full property can be reserved for a private 12-person Galápagos expedition.
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Let’s start planning
Tell us a little about your plans. We’ll be in touch to talk through this trip with you.
