Board a day flight from the UK to Quito, the Ecuadorian capital.

Note: There are no direct flights between the UK and Ecuador. The quickest connections are with KLM, via Amsterdam or Iberia via Madrid. There are also options via the USA, with British Airways and American Airlines. 

You will arrive into Quito in the afternoon of day one and be transferred north to Ibarra and your charming hacienda, arriving in time for dinner.

Over the next two days a variety of activities are included. You will have the opportunity to explore the surrounding area by ebike, visit the nearby El Angel Ecological Reserve (famous for its endangered frailejon plants) and search for illusive spectacled bears in the surrounding forest. Trails, picnics, visit to local villages and a chance to relax in the hacienda’s beautiful grounds and outdoor pool are all encouraged too. 

Stay: Three nights at Hacienda Piman – full-board

The journey from Hacienda Piman to Quito will take you through a number of charming towns, including Ibarra, Cotacachi and the market town of Otavalo. Famous for its animal market, you’ll find locals in traditional dress and stalls heaving with bright ponchos, Indian jewellery and other locally made handicrafts in Otavalo.

After lunch you will continue to Quito, where you’ll be staying in a polished hotel in La Ronda, the city’s bohemian heart and a hotspot for painters, writers and poets in the 1930s.

Spectacularly set at the foot of the Pichincha Volcano, Quito is one of Latin America’s highest cities and is best known for its exquisitely preserved colonial centre. A guided tour of the old quarter will reveal the city’s rich historic heritage, taking in the grand mansions and monasteries designed by colonial architects in the 16th  and 17th centuries.

Stay: Two nights at La Casona de la Ronda – bed & breakfast

On day six you will fly to the Galapagos Islands, where you will board your small expedition ship for a six-night cruise of the archipelago.

Throughout the journey, you will enjoy daily panga, snorkelling, kayaking and island excursions alongside experienced naturalists guides, who will give you a fascinating insight into the islands wildlife, history and geology.

Bonita is a sixteen passenger expedition boat, which was completely refurbished in 2019. It has one experienced naturalist guide on board, leading daily activities and on board presentations. Cabins are split across three-decks and each cabin has air-conditioning and a private bathroom. A crew of eight make sure guests are well-looked after on board and there is a comfortable lounge, dining room and sun-deck.

Over the next six-nights you will explore the unique landscapes and wildlife of the islands. See blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds, colonies of sea lions and giant tortoises and snorkel with turtles, inquisitive fur seals and possibly even hammerhead sharks and whales. Explore beautiful sandy beaches, lava-tunnels and giant craters, each day returning to the boat for dinner and drinks.   

Stay: Six nights on board Bonita – full board (including activities with your naturalist guide)

After your final breakfast in the Galapagos you will fly back to mainland Ecuador and connect onto your overnight international flight back to the UK.