Welcome to Quito! Transfer from the airport to your accommodation and spend the rest of the day at leisure. In the evening, you will receive a welcome briefing from one of our expert staff who will answer any questions about the journey that lies ahead.

We make our way to Pululahua after breakfast, making a brief stop en-route at the equator monument to stand on both sides of the hemisphere at the same time. After you have taken plenty of photos, continue onwards to Pululahua for incomparable views of the Pululahua crater, the third-largest inhabited volcano crater in the world.

You will then reach the little town of Mindo. Surrounded by the Andes Mountains and blanketed by low-lying clouds, Mindo is home to a unique eco-system that is filled with a variation of plant and animal life. The surrounding cloud forest is particularly renowned for its dazzling species of birds; you will get to see hummingbirds, the Andean emerald and the aptly named velvet-purple coronet.

In the afternoon, learn about the chocolate making process from start to finish ending with a tasting of this Ecuadorian speciality.

Today will be spent exploring the pristine cloud rain forest of Mindo. Cross valleys by cable car, hike along waterfalls and wander through lush green rain forest that is filled to the brim with croaking toucans and technicolor birds.

Enjoy some free time or you can partake in an optional activity. Go white-water rafting, tubing or zip-lining; sail along one of 13 zip-lines over the stunning cloud forest canopy.

We round off the afternoon with a soothing trip to the butterfly nursery where you will watch enchanting butterflies flutter from flower to flower; you may even catch sight of them emerging from their jewel-shaped cocoons. Dip your fingers into a banana-based mixture, and watch as they alight on your hands to eat the snack.

Begin your day with a drive into the highlands, along the Pan-American Highway, in the direction of the famous indigenous town of Otavalo. When you arrive, take some time to stroll through the quaint cobblestone streets where local people go about their daily lives in traditional blue ponchos. Stop to browse the range of handicrafts at the market; you will be spoilt for choice with the assortment of textiles, ceramics, jewellery and paintings that are available to purchase.   

From here, drive to Cotacachi to peruse the leather goods that the small village is famous for. You will have some free time to explore the shops and to relax with one of the best coffees in Ecuador in the main plaza before heading to your hotel. Here, enjoy a refreshing Ecuadorian cocktail and learn a little about the local history.

Today we will first visit Cotacachi Cayapas ecological reserve to see the breath-taking scenery of the crystalline-clear waters of this active volcano and the amazing surrounding landscapes. At the end of an hour-long hike along the rim of the Cuicocha Crater Lake, take a relaxing boat ride to the centre of the crater and watch as the bubbles emerge.

For lunch, we will head to Pijal, a small village located in the heart of the Andes to visit the Sacha Warmi Kuna (women from the mountain) project. Set up to help women support their families.

Help prepare “Aji”, a local spicy salsa and enjoy a tasty traditional lunch prepared with fresh products harvested from the surrounding organic fields. We then learn more about the weaving process, take a memento of your travels back with one of the hand-woven scarves.  

In the late afternoon, drive to the luxury volcanic hot-springs resort of Papallacta, where you will have the chance to relax at the spa resort surrounded by the view of the majestic Andean mountains.

Begin today bright and early with a drive south on the Pan-American Highway to Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world. The snow-capped peak is surrounded by a sprawling national park, home to abundant wildlife and ancient Incan ruins. Enjoy a stroll around the placid waters of the Limpiopungo Lake to observe a variety of birds and panoramic views of the towering Cotopaxi volcano. Continue to Quito for an overnight stay.

Today you will transfer to the airport to catch a flight to the island of Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. When you arrive, board a ferry and cross the Itabaca Channel to reach the island of Santa Cruz. From here, you will drive into the highlands for lunch at a private ranch.

Next, head out in search of the magnificent Galapagos tortoises. The Galapagos tortoises are the largest of their kind and can grow to be more than five feet tall and live for around 40-50 years. Continue the adventure and visit the lava tubes formed when the outside of flowing lava solidifies, causing thick rock walls. The running lava inside eventually subsides, leaving long empty tunnels.

We then drive to your accommodation for an evening at leisure.

Enjoy breakfast before heading out for a half-day tour of Academy Bay. Head out on the boat where you can swim and snorkel (equipment provided) with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, as well as the famous sea lions, don’t be surprised if they swim alongside you!

Here you can also see the sought after blue-footed boobies. Afterwards, climb to a nearby viewpoint, and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below. We then take a walk along the Playa de los Perros, where many sea iguanas are found basking in the sun.

This morning we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about many of the endemic species, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands.

In the afternoon, hop on a speedboat to San Cristobal Island. Look out for dolphins and whales swimming through the turquoise waters (July-October). On arrival transfer to your hotel, evening at leisure.

Today’s activity is an excursion to the nearby Isla Lobos. Explore the island with your guide who will take you on a trip around the island in search of Frigate birds, boobies and sea lions. Take some time to relax on the exquisite beaches of Isla Lobos before returning to your hotel for the evening.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, in the afternoon, you will transfer to the airport in San Cristobal to catch a flight back to Quito for overnight stay.

Enjoy your final breakfast in Ecuador and at the appropriate time transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.