Ecuador & Galápagos Journey: Quito & Santa Cruz
Three nights in Quito for the old town, the equator and Otavalo or Cotopaxi, then four nights on Santa Cruz with three day boats to the islands. Nine days from £4,399 per person with flights.
Your trip
Your 9 days in Ecuador
This is the straightforward Ecuador and Galápagos holiday from the UK: enough of the mainland to feel the Andes, then a proper stay on the islands without a cabin. You have three nights in Quito to walk the old town, stand on the equator and choose between the Otavalo market and Cotopaxi National Park. Then you fly to the Galápagos for four nights on Santa Cruz, with giant tortoises on the first afternoon, Tortuga Bay, and three day cruises to Bartolomé, North Seymour, South Plazas or Santa Fe. The Galápagos flights, park fee and transit card are in the price, and a final night on the mainland keeps the flight home relaxed.
At a glance
9 days
Private tripJust your own party
Easy to ModerateActivity level
Flights includedATOL protected
Flexible datesYou choose when you go
EcuadorOur destination guide
What makes it special
Highlights
Quito and the equator
Old Quito on foot with your guide, then the equator line at Mitad del Mundo
Otavalo or Cotopaxi
A day at the Otavalo market or in Cotopaxi National Park, your choice
The Santa Cruz highlands
Giant tortoises in the wild in the Santa Cruz highlands on your first afternoon
Tortuga Bay
The walk to Tortuga Bay for marine iguanas, pelicans and a swim at Playa Mansa
Day trips by boat
Three day cruises to Bartolomé, North Seymour, South Plazas or Santa Fe
The Darwin Station
The Charles Darwin Research Station
Galápagos flights included
Galápagos flights, the USD 200 park fee and the transit card all included
Day by day
Your itinerary
Day 1London to Quito
Fly from London to Quito. Your guide meets you at the airport and drives you to your hotel in the old town. Overnight at Patio Andaluz or similar.
Day 2Old Quito and the equator line
A morning on foot through the colonial centre: the cathedral, the gold-leaf interior of La Compañía and the church of San Francisco with its craft shop and café on the plaza. Around midday you drive to the Mitad del Mundo monument on the equator. The afternoon is free. Breakfast included.
Day 3Otavalo market or Cotopaxi
Your choice. North to Otavalo for the famous textile market on the Plaza de Ponchos, with stops for cherimoya fruit at Guayllabamba and bizcochos at Cayambe. Or south to Cotopaxi National Park for the páramo, Limpiopungo lake and the highest active volcano in the world. Breakfast included.
Day 4Fly to the Galápagos
An early flight to Baltra, where your naturalist guide meets you. On the drive across Santa Cruz you stop in the highlands to see giant tortoises grazing in the open, and have lunch there. After checking in you walk the cactus trail to Tortuga Bay: marine iguanas and pelicans on Playa Brava, then the calm lagoon at Playa Mansa for a swim. Overnight at Ikala or similar. Lunch and dinner included.
Day 5Day cruise to an outer island
Your guide collects you from the hotel for the first day cruise on a small yacht, with lunch on board. Which island depends on the park permits for the day: Bartolomé for the view over Pinnacle Rock and its lava landscape, North Seymour for frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies, South Plazas for land iguanas and turquoise water, or Santa Fe for its sea lions and giant cactus. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 6Second day cruise
A second island from the same four, with snorkelling at the landing site. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 7Third day cruise
A third island, so over the three days you cover both the birdlife and the landscapes the Galápagos is known for. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 8Darwin station and the flight back
A visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the tortoise breeding programme, then the drive to Baltra for the flight back to the mainland and a last night in Quito. Overnight at Patio Andaluz or similar. Breakfast included.
Day 9Quito to London
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Breakfast included.
Your price covers
What's included
Flights
Return flights from London (other UK airports on request)
We can also book other airlines, including flights with one stop, to suit your dates and preferences.
Internal flights
Return flights between Quito and the Galápagos
Entry fees
Galápagos National Park entrance fee (USD 200) and the transit card
Accommodation
Four nights in Quito and four nights in a first class hotel on Santa Cruz, twin or double rooms
Meals
Breakfast every day, all meals on the four Galápagos days
Guides and tours
Private guide and transport on the mainland, naturalist guide and three shared day cruises on the islands
Equipment
Snorkelling equipment
ATOL protection
ATOL protection on the whole package
Not included: Travel insurance · Meals not listed · Drinks · Tips for guides and drivers · Personal spending · Wetsuit hire · Entry to optional museums at the equator line
Your next step
Dates and price
No commitment, we reply within one working day
Before you book
Frequently Asked Questions
From £4,399 per person, two sharing, with return flights from London, the Galápagos flights, the park fee and transit card, eight nights and all the guiding. It is a from price: your dates, the hotel grade and the fare on the day move it. We send a firm quote before you commit.
Yes for a first visit. Three nights in Quito is enough for the old town and one day trip, and four nights on Santa Cruz gives you three islands plus the tortoises. If you have more time, the natural additions are a second island such as Isabela, the cloud forest at Mindo, or Machu Picchu in Peru.
Santa Cruz is the hub of the islands, so the day boats reach four different islands from one hotel and you sleep ashore every night. A cruise sees more of the far islands and costs more. If that is what you want, our Galápagos cruises start from £6,299 per person with flights.
One of Bartolomé, North Seymour, South Plazas or Santa Fe on each of the three day cruises, decided by the national park permits on the day. You will not repeat an island.
Any month works. December to May is warmer with calmer seas and clearer snorkelling; June to November is cooler, greener on the mainland and busier with marine life. In Quito the driest months are June to September.
Plan your Ecuador and Galápagos holiday
Tell us your dates and whether Otavalo or Cotopaxi is more your thing, and we will send a full quote with flights, hotels, the park fee and the day boats included.
Real reviews
What our customers say
They organised excellent accommodation and transfers from airport to destination and between destinations which was seamless and gave us peace of mind for our trip. We stayed in the nicest casa particular in Havana right on the outskirts of the major hustle of the old town but within walking distance to every site and lots of lovely restaurants. Our hotel in Varadero had 5 a la carte restaurants which were delicious and wonderful beaches! Would definitely go back to Cuba and use TravelFab again.
Annabelle
Excellent service. Fabien responded to all our queries promptly and efficiently and was always willing to spend time talking to us. The itinerary was well-considered and well-organised with an adequate amount of time in each location. Locations were varied and interesting. The service provided by the B&B owners was good to outstanding. The organisation of the coach services for transfers from one destination to another was super with comfortable journeys in clean, air-conditioned coaches. Thanks, TravelFab!
David
I was very impressed with Fabian's dedication, patience and professionalism in organising a group of 8 young persons (over 60's) to get to Cuba. The whole experience has been a very positive one. Despite having to relocate to another hotel at the last minute, that change over went very smoothly. Our accommodations were excellent. We will definitely book with TravelFab again. Thank you!
Yvette T
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Travel Guides & Tips
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Best Time to Visit the Galápagos: A Month-by-Month Wildlife Guide
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