Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America, but it has more than its fair share of the continent’s diverse wonders. From the dramatic Andes and the Amazon rainforest to the fascinating indigenous cultures and ancient Inca remains. Ecuador is a remarkable land of contrasts.

We have included activities which fit perfectly into these natural surroundings including: mountain biking down volcanoes, zip lining through the lush cloud forest, horseback riding through the Cotopaxi National Park and white water rafting through the Amazon rainforest.

The itinerary then moves onto the incomparable Galapagos Islands. The world famous wildlife and award winning national parks need little introduction, but surpass all expectations.

You will spend four nights staying on the islands in specially designed eco friendly hotels, whilst experiencing a range of activities including: snorkelling, mountain biking, hiking and the option to scuba dive amongst the stunning marine life in the area.

Day 1: Arrival and transfer
You will be met at Quito Airport and be driven through the city centre to your hotel. En route your driver will provide you with an introduction to Quito before an evening meal served in the hotel restaurant.

Day 2: Quito city tour
This morning is free to relax and acclimatize to the altitude of Quito (or enjoy the outdoor swimming pool!). Your guide will meet you at the hotel in the afternoon to discuss the upcoming itinerary. You will then head out on a guided tour of the bustling capital city with its fascinating mix of Inca and Spanish architecture and vibrant local markets.

Day 3: Zip lining and horse riding through the Avenue of the Volcanoes
Today you will drive south on the Pan American highway, through the stunning Avenue of the Volcanoes.  Your first stop is the stunning cloud forest reserve on the foothills of the Pasochoa Volcano. A short hike through the forest will bring you to the Pita River Canyon, where you will be given safety equipment before zip lining across the canyon enjoying spectacular views of the forest below.

You will then continue onto a traditional Hacienda to enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch. This afternoon we saddle up, Chagra style, complete with ponchos, chaps and cowboy hats to head out on a stunning scenic horseback ride through the national park.

Day 4: Cotopaxi Volcano cycling adventure
After a delicious breakfast you head towards Cotopaxi; the highest active volcano in the world. The day will begin with a hike through the national park to visit some fascinating pre-Incan ruins. After this visit you will set off on mountain bikes and start a stunning descent of Cotopaxi Volcano on two wheels. En-route you will discover a crystal clear glacier lake which is the local habitat of many native birds. A visit to the interpretation centre at the entrance to the national park offers a wonderful insight into the local flora and fauna. You will then continue onto your hacienda accommodation for the evening driving through the lush Patate valley.

Day 5: Mountain bike descent of Tungurahua Volcano and Baños town
Your guide will drive you into the Llanganates National Park to a fantastic viewing point of Ecuador’s most active volcano. Here you will be reunited with your mountain bike for another fantastic stretch of descent. You will be able to watch as the landscape changes from the highland paramo to mountain cloud forest and ending in the fringes of the lowland rainforest. The journey continues along a fantastic gorge which eventually feeds into the Amazon basin. At the lively town of Baños you will stop for lunch and travel by cable car across the valley to the Avenue of the Waterfalls; a very dramatic sight indeed! From here you will travel to the eco lodge in the Amazon to get settled into your lodges and enjoy an evening meal.

Day 6: Jungle Rafting in the Amazon Basin
After breakfast you will travel down to the Amazon Basin which has been declared a Biosphere Zone by the United Nations. A short walk will take you to the rafting start point and en-route you will find some naturally formed swimming holes and waterslides. You will raft down the Jatunyacu River, which is one of the most renowned in Ecuador. Along the crystal clear waters of the river you will see glimpses of the local communities who live along the river bank with the local wildlife and bird species.

On the way back to the lodge you will visit a Kichwa Amazonian Indian community who will introduce you to their traditional way of life in the jungle. This fascinating culture uses the jungle for every part of their daily lives; making medicine, religious rituals, furniture building and even making a traditional beer! This community’s relationship and knowledge of the rainforest is fascinating and it is fantastic to see a unique culture still thriving today.

Day 7: Cloud forest hot springs
Today we will travel back to Quito to fly to the Galapagos tomorrow. On the journey we will spend some time at some natural hot springs located on the edge of the cloud forest. There are many pools to choose from at varying temperatures and lots of comfortable seating areas to relax and enjoy your surroundings. Extra spa treatments are available here including massages, aromatherapy and beauty treatments at extremely reasonable prices. The journey will then continue on to your hotel in Quito.

Day 8: Welcome to the Galapagos Islands!
A morning flight over to the islands (try to get a window seat!) and a short transfer to the hotel, before a delicious lunch served on the terrace with an amazing view of the harbour. From the hotel it is a short walk to the nearby visitor’s centre for a fascinating reminder of exactly how these volcanic islands were formed. You will learn about the colourful history and be shown practical evidence of evolution for the animals living here compared to elsewhere in the world. From here it’s up to the Frigate Hill view point, with stunning views over the harbour and Charles Darwin Bay. You will also have the opportunity see the beautiful Frigate birds who nest here.

This afternoon you will have your first snorkelling experience on the islands and in no better place than Charles Darwin Bay. Sea lions, turtles, brightly coloured Galapagos crabs and hordes of tropical fish are regularly found here. You will return to the hotel, walking along a post card worthy beach very popular with sea lion harems in the evenings. After dinner we highly recommend a short walk along the promenade to see a different sea lion colony at the edge of the harbour.

Day 9: Sea kayaking, snorkelling and Kicker Rock
A short boat ride along the coast brings you to the kayaking start point. En-route it is common to see sun bathing sea lions, heron, blue footed boobies and frigate birds. Kayaking along the rocky shore allows a fantastic opportunity to get close to native animals and birds in their natural habitats. You will travel through picture perfect surroundings with crystal clear turquoise water and dramatic volcanic rock formations on the shore. You will return to the boat to have lunch before spending the afternoon snorkelling in a sheltered bay which is consistently the best place on the island to interact with sea lions. Turtles and marine iguanas are also regularly seen here along with tiger eels, a range of reef fish and some beautiful birdlife along the shoreline.

A short boat trip will then transport you to Kicker Rock; two huge rock massifs jutting out from the ocean. Kicker rock is home to a different kind of marine life and in the channel between the two rocks you are likely to see spotted eagle rays, golden rays, Galapagos sharks, white tipped sharks, star fish, sea turtles and if your very lucky hammerhead sharks. At your own risk it is possible to snorkel here, but only if you are brave enough!

Day 10: Free day with optional PADI diving adventure
Today we have left free for you to relax on the picture perfect beaches or by the hotel swimming pool. If you have a taste for the undersea world, we can arrange for a PADI diving excursion to explore even further.

Day 11: Wall of Tears mountain biking
This morning we will take a light aircraft flight across to one of the other islands, before checking into your new hotel. Here your guide will meet you with some mountain bikes to head off on the inland trails to the Wall of Tears. This dates back to when the island was used as a penal colony and the prisoners constructed this huge wall of lava rocks to distract themselves from the madness of isolation; a very impressive sight indeed. This afternoon will include another chance to snorkel in this new island setting with a new range of marine life to explore! After snorkelling by boat you will explore the small islets of the island and have sightings of Galapagos penguins and huge numbers of marine iguanas.

Day 12: Active volcano hike
This morning you will drive as far as the road will take you to the foot of the Sierra Negra volcano. From here you will begin the hike, whist admiring the incredible panoramic views of the surrounding volcanoes and beaches. The landscape here is otherworldly and reminiscent of mars, with spectacular lava formations and dramatic puffing fumaroles. When you reach the rim of the volcano, the views are completely stunning. This is the second most active caldera on the planet and is a huge 30 mile square crater. It is possible to continue the hike to a second caldera, enjoy the views or to return to the vehicle to return to the lazy beach town and relax on the paradise beaches or enjoy the rooftop hot tub.

Day 13: Flight to Balta and return to Quito
Today you will leave your island paradise and take a boat ride over to the islands main airport to return to Quito. Here you will have the rest of the day free to relax, or you could visit the Teleferico cable car which transports you to the summit of nearby Cruz Loma for breathtaking views of the city.

Day 14: Departure
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your return flights home.

Ecuador and the Galapagos islands are regularly used as examples within the industry of how tourism should be controlled and used to benefit the local community as much as possible, whilst also ensuring tourists get the best possible sustainable experience.

17% of Ecuador’s land is protected within 44 national parks and reserves across the country. These are all heavily monitored and regulated to protect the stunning natural areas for generations to come. In 1998 UNESCO named Ecuador as one of only 17 countries in the world classified as “mega diverse” due to the four clearly defined regions in this small country – the stunning Galapagos Islands, the warm and sunny Pacific coast, the majestic Andes mountain range and the Amazonian rain forest.

To take part in any guided activity in the National Parks, including the Galapagos Islands, by law you must be accompanied by a fully trained native guide along with your Ecuadorian guide. To live on the Galapagos Islands you must either have been born there or to have married one of the natives. This ensures that all employment generated by tourism directly benefits the local communities. Building of hotels in the Islands is heavily regulated to ensure they are environmentally friendly and as beneficial as possible to the local community as possible. You will see clear evidence of this during your visit including only native employees, use of local produce wherever possible and recommended guidelines for behaviour from the hotel guests.

The haciendas we have chosen in Ecuador have been owned by the same families for generations and have allowed them to use their fascinating heritage to continue their lifestyle in this stunning area. The lodge in the Amazon Rainforest is recommended by the Rainforest Alliance and considers protecting the local environment of upmost importance. The Hotel in Quito which is independently owned has won awards for its environmental policies.