Ecuador & Galapagos Islands | Quilotoa Lake | The Ultimate Travel Company

ITINERARY INSPIRATION

Simply Ecuador & Galapagos

A combination of extraordinary wildlife, majestic landscapes and enchanting colonial towns, this itinerary promises you an unmissable adventure.
SIMPLY ECUADOR & GALAPAGOS

ABOUT THE ITINERARY

You’ll cruise the Galapagos – known the world over for its unusually fearless wildlife – for six nights aboard Bonita, an intimate and recently refurbished vessel. Along the way you’ll discover the remote islands of Isabela and Fernandina, learn about their history and encounter their intriguing cast of wildlife.

Before you set off on your Galapagos cruise you’ll have time to discover the charming colonial architecture, churches and monasteries of Quito – Ecuador’s delightful capital city – as well as the famous market town of Otavalo.

Galapagos Islands | The Ultimate Travel Company
ITINERARY INSPIRATION

DESIGNED BY SPECIALISTS

Bear in mind, these are just a starting point as all holidays are customised to the specific requirements of our guests. Whether you prefer a different style of accommodation, a greater focus on a particular interest or to go to a different destination all together, every itinerary is created individually around your preferences.

Quito | Ecuador | The Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 1 – 3

NORTHERN SIERRAS

Board a day flight 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

Ecuador | Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 4 – 5

QUITO

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

Bonita, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador | The Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 6 – 11

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

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)

DAY 12 – 13

FLY HOME

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

THE PRICE BREAKDOWN
13 days from £5,906 per person

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Domestic flights
  • All transfers
  • Bed & breakfast throughout
  • Full board at Hacienda Piman and in the Galapagos
  • Activities in small groups in the Galapagos
  • All national park fees (including the Galapagos)

PRICE EXCLUDES

  • International flights
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“BEAUTIFULLY ORGANISED AND PERFECT RECOMMENDATIONS. ”
“What a fantastic trip organised by Ultimate. They listened to what we wanted and set up perfect destinations for us. Everyone was friendly and professional from the office in London through to on-the-ground support. The organisation of pick-ups, connecting flights and so on, went like clockwork.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“MY FIRST PORT OF CALL FROM NOW ON. ”
“Efficient, friendly and helpful throughout. made everything a million times easier, Ultimate Travel Company will by my first port of call from now on.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“FANTASTIC!”
“Sophie went above and beyond to ensure we had a fantastic honeymoon. We had 0 stress relating to planning and everything was taken care of from the moment we stepped off the plane. Sophie anticipated what we wanted when we didn’t even know ourselves. We will certainly be booking with Ultimate again.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“PROBLEM FREE EXCELLENCE.”
“Efficiently organised, everything went like clockwork. This is all the more remarkable since the tour involved considerable complexity.”
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“AN EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE COMPANY.”
“We have continued to ask Ultimate Travel to make our distant overseas travel arrangements for many years and they have always given us great service.”
TAILOR-MADE TRAVEL

ITINERARY INSPIRATION

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