Ecuador highlights & Galapagos island hopping holiday

Planet

This itinerary takes a holistic approach across every aspect of our operations, from the thoughtful design of the journey to the carefully selected local partners, guides, hotels, and lodges we work with on the ground.

Purposefully crafted to immerse guests in Ecuadorian life, the itinerary explores the country’s diverse ecosystems while minimising environmental impact. Over 15 days, only two domestic flights are included to and from the Galapagos; the remainder of the journey is by road transfer or boat, helping to reduce the overall carbon footprint. All excursions are led by expert local guides who share in-depth knowledge of wildlife, ecosystems, and the conservation challenges facing these regions. Low-impact activities such as walking, hiking, kayaking, cycling, and snorkelling allow guests to experience each destination responsibly while protecting fragile environments.

The lodges and hotels selected throughout the journey are committed to conservation, biodiversity protection, and low-impact tourism, with a strong focus on education-led experiences that create meaningful connections between guests and place.

At El Monte in the cloud forest, guests stay within one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems, directly supporting forest preservation, habitat restoration, and environmental education. The lodge operates with sustainability at its core: much of the food is grown onsite in the vegetable garden, and a micro-hydro electrical system provides renewable energy for both the cabañas and main house.

At Chilcabamba Lodge in Cotopaxi, the property was built using local materials and traditional techniques, blending into the surrounding Andean landscape. The lodge actively supports local communities, promotes responsible land use, and encourages guests to explore the páramo ecosystem through low-impact activities that foster appreciation and conservation awareness.

In the Galapagos Islands, this itinerary enables guests to experience one of the world’s most extraordinary biodiversity hotspots while actively contributing to its protection. All island visits are strictly regulated by the Galapagos National Park Authority, with mandatory park fees and environmental guidelines in place to safeguard ecosystems. Staying land-based allows for slower travel, deeper immersion, and meaningful engagement with local communities, while supporting conservation-minded hotels and responsible tourism initiatives across the archipelago.

People

Community based tourism is a key element of our trips to Ecuador, and in fact our ground partners based in Quito are multi-award winners in this field. The aim throughout is to provide non-touristy, authentic cultural experiences, that benefit the people from those communities directly.

We also avoid any international chain hotels or large cruise ships, prioritising independent local owner-run properties where possible. This keeps more money in the immediate area, and helps provides business and employment opportunities to local people, whilst providing us and our guests with a more genuine and enriching stay as part of our trips. All of our guides and drivers are also based out of partners local offices in Quito and the Galapagos.

Our island-hopping adventure in the Galapagos was inspired by the families on Floreana Island and created by our partners on the ground in collaboration with WWF and the Galapagos National Park. Designed in an immersive way to explore the best of the archipelago while directly supporting local communities every step of the way. Rather than a typical cruise, guests move between islands spending meaningful time to really connect with residents like the Cruz Family.

On every trip guests will get to know former fishermen who have transformed their careers from harvesting sea life to introducing the marine ecosystem to visitors while helping to preserve them. On Floreana, guests will explore former pirate caves and learn about the colourful history of Floreana’s first inhabitants. They will visit local farms to see daily life in the Galapagos and develop an understanding of the local environment. This itinerary not only offers a wildlife rich experience but goes beyond the tourist trail to uncover the history of the archipelago and people living on these islands.