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.
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.
Highlights
Old Quito on foot with your guide, then the equator line at Mitad del Mundo
A day at the Otavalo market or in Cotopaxi National Park, your choice
Giant tortoises in the wild in the Santa Cruz highlands on your first afternoon
The walk to Tortuga Bay for marine iguanas, pelicans and a swim at Playa Mansa
Three day cruises to Bartolomé, North Seymour, South Plazas or Santa Fe
The Charles Darwin Research Station
Galápagos flights, the USD 200 park fee and the transit card all included
Your Itinerary
Day 1: London 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 2: Old 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 3: Otavalo 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 4: Fly 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 5: Day 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 6: Second day cruise
A second island from the same four, with snorkelling at the landing site. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 7: Third 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 8: Darwin 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 9: Quito to London
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Breakfast included.
What's Included
- Return flights from London (other UK airports on request)
- Return flights between Quito and the Galápagos
- Galápagos National Park entrance fee (USD 200) and the transit card
- Four nights in Quito and four nights in a first class hotel on Santa Cruz, twin or double rooms
- Breakfast every day, all meals on the four Galápagos days
- Private guide and transport on the mainland, naturalist guide and three shared day cruises on the islands
- Snorkelling equipment
- ATOL protection on the whole package
What's 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
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.
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.
We typically respond within 24 hours
Tailor-Made Holiday
Guide price from£4,399
Flights Includedper personATOL protected (10898)
Private holiday
Flexible dates
9 days (suggested)
Fully customisable
No commitment, we respond within 24 hours
Tailor-Made Holiday
Guide price from£4,399
Flights Includedper personATOL protected (10898)
Private holiday
Flexible dates
9 days (suggested)
Fully customisable
No commitment, we respond within 24 hours
Real reviews
What our customers say
From travellers who visited Ecuador with us
“
Spent twelve days in mainland Ecuador and was blown away by the diversity. The cloud forest at Mindo had incredible birdwatching, we spotted toucans and hummingbirds within the first hour. The indigenous market at Otavalo was colourful and authentic, and the Amazon lodge near Tena gave us a taste of the jungle. Good food throughout, especially the llapingachos. Solid four stars, the roads can be a bit hair-raising.
Alastair F.
“
Ecuador packs an extraordinary amount into a small country. We started in Quito, the old town is a UNESCO gem, then took the train to the Avenue of Volcanoes. Cotopaxi on a clear day is unforgettable. The highlight was Baños: zip-lining over canyons, the swing at the edge of the world, and soaking in thermal baths afterwards. Fabian's planning was meticulous.
Barbara & John L.
“
Ecuador is a hidden gem. We trekked to Cotopaxi, explored the Amazon and spent time in gorgeous Cuenca. The variety in such a small country is remarkable. Highly recommend Travelfab.
Tom & Lisa B.
More holidays in Ecuador
Ecuador
Haciendas of Ecuador: Otavalo, Papallacta & Cotopaxi
6 daysEasy to ModeratePrivate to 2 or more travellers
From£1,999
ATOL 10898
Ecuador
Ecuador Amazon & Andes: Quito, Otavalo & the Jungle
8 daysEasy to ModeratePrivate to 2 or more travellers
From£2,399
ATOL 10898
Ecuador
Ecuador Volcano Avenue Adventure
13 daysChallenging4-10 persons
From£3,699
ATOL 10898Tailor-made · ATOL 10898
Want to customise this trip?
Every Travelfab holiday is tailor-made, extend a leg, swap a hotel, combine with another country. Tell us the shape you want and a specialist will redesign it around you.
Customise this trip with a specialist