Ecuador highlights & Galapagos island hopping holiday

Planet

Planet

We plan every part of this trip with care, from the route itself to the local partners, guides, hotels and lodges we work with on the ground.

Over 15 days, there are only two domestic flights, to and from the Galapagos. The rest of the journey is by road transfer or boat. Every excursion is led by a local guide who explains the wildlife and ecosystems you're seeing and the challenges facing these regions. You'll explore mostly on foot, by kayak, by bike and while snorkelling. Along the way, that means sticking to marked paths, taking all rubbish with you and keeping a respectful distance from wildlife.

At El Monte in the cloud forest, much of the food is grown in the lodge's own vegetable garden, and guides introduce you to the forest and its wildlife. At Chilcabamba Lodge near Cotopaxi, a small lodge set in the Andean landscape, the team works with nearby communities and runs walks and rides into the surrounding páramo.

In the Galapagos, all island visits are regulated by the Galapagos National Park Authority. Park fees are included and help fund the running of the park, and everyone follows the park's visitor guidelines. Staying on land means you travel more slowly, spend longer on each island and get to know the local communities.

People

People

Community-based tourism is a key part of our trips to Ecuador, and our ground partners in Quito have a long track record in it. The aim throughout is to offer genuine cultural experiences that benefit the people in those communities directly.

We don't use international chain hotels or large cruise ships, and choose independent, locally owned properties wherever possible. This keeps more money in the immediate area and creates business and employment for local people, and it makes for a more personal stay. All our guides and drivers are based at our partners' local offices in Quito and the Galapagos.

Our Galapagos island-hopping trip was inspired by the families on Floreana Island and created by our partners on the ground with the Galapagos National Park. Rather than a typical cruise, you move between islands and spend real time with residents such as the Cruz family.

On every trip, you'll meet former fishermen who now introduce visitors to the marine life they once harvested. On Floreana, you'll explore old pirate caves, hear the colourful history of the island's first settlers and visit local farms to see daily life in the Galapagos. As well as plenty of wildlife, this itinerary goes beyond the usual tourist trail to uncover the history of the archipelago and the people who live there.