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Private Journeys

Signature Ecuador and Galapagos: Volcanoes to the ocean

14 days from £7,160pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands

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Overview & Highlights

Top quality comprehensive holiday with the highlights of Ecuador and a cruise around the Galápagos Islands. Includes Quito, Otavalo market and the Avenue of Volcanoes, the gracious colonial city of Cuenca and a small first class small motor vessel.

An opportunity to combine a luxurious cruise in the Galápagos Islands with exploration of the Andean landscapes of their host country, Ecuador. 

Travel to Quito: Ecuador’s capital surrounded by snow-capped mountains and active volcanoes. Explore Quito and go south along the Avenue of the Volcanoes via the Inca ruins of Ingapirca to the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca and the upland wilderness of Las Cajas National Park.

Fly from the port of Guayaquil to the Galápagos Islands for a 5-day cruise.It was on a similar trip 200 years ago that Darwin returned to the archipelago to write the seminal book ‘On the Origin of Species’. Step into his shoes and explore the diversity of land and marine life which inhabit these enchanting islands. A holiday in the Galápagos is a totally unique experience, inevitably rewarding, richly educational, blissfully tranquil, and photogenic.

You’ll sail on a first class, compact motor cruiser offering an intimate and informal atmosphere favoured by those who prefer the laid-back approach of smaller craft. You will have ample opportunity to make new friends among people with shared interests. In addition to landings on the islands you will have the opportunity to snorkel or swim with sea-lions.

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  • Walking tour of colonial Quito
  • Visit Otavalo market
  • Cuicocha volcanic lake walk
  • Visit Cotopaxi National Park
  • See traditional Andean markets
  • Visit Ingapirca Inca ruins
  • Explore Cajas National Park
  • 4 night cruise in the Galapagos Islands

THE UK’S NO. 1 SPECIALIST IN TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

Heloise

Heloise Buxton

Travel Expert

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Outline itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Quito and transfer to hotel.

Day 2

Guided walking tour of colonial Quito.

Day 3

By road to Otavalo in the Andean highlands, visit Otavalo market overnight in hacienda.

Day 4

Guided excursions to Lake Cuicocha

Day 5

By road along the Avenue of the Volcanoes; visit Cotopaxi National Park, overnight at an hacienda.

Day 6

Visit local artisan markets, overnight in Riobamba.

Day 7

Continue via Ingapirca ruins to Cuenca.

Day 8

At leisure in colonial Cuenca, Ecuador’s second city.

Day 9

By road down to the tropical coast of Guayaquil via a stop at Las Cajas National Park.

Day 10

Fly to the Galápagos Islands

Days 11-13

Land excursions from the cruise around the Galápagos Islands.

Day 14

Fly to Guayaquil, connect with international flight home.

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Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

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Walking tour of colonial Quito
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Snorkelling in the Galapagos
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Take a cruise in the Galapagos
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Bird watching in the Galapagos
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Wildlife watching in the Galapagos
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Visit Cotopaxi National Park
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Visit a traditional Andean market
Ingapirca Inca Ruin

Visit Ingapirca Inca ruins
Cajas National Park

Explore Cajas National Park
Cotachi

Cuicocha volcanic lake walk

Accommodation

Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.

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Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Quito

Casona de la Ronda

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Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Otavalo and the northern highlands

Las Palmeras Inn
Hacienda el Porvenir

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Avenue of the Volcanoes

Hacienda el Porvenir

  • This is a Satisfaction Rating based on our own customer feedback
ECU_AvenueOfTheVolcanoes_HaciendaAbraspungo (1)

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Avenue of the Volcanoes

Hacienda Abraspungo

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ECU_Cuenca_SantaLuciaAtrium

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Cuenca

Santa Lucia

  • This is a Satisfaction Rating based on our own customer feedback
UniPark

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands / Guayaquil

Unipark

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ATC ©

Galapagos Islands / Isabela (Albemarle) / Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

Treasure of Galapagos

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Itinerary Essentials
Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • This was a holiday I have wanted to do for many years and it did not fail to deliver. Our tour leader was professional,knowledgeable, understanding and integrated with the local guides to ensure received the best service and information.The recommendations we were given for restaurants, optional tours, tango evenings,sorting money etc were spot on. And finally, the visits to various ice cream parlours for dessert after group meals was most welcome!

    GM, Fairford
    Apr 2018

  • “Everything, from the planning, through to the actual journey, was excellently arranged. All connections were smooth and punctual and there was detailed information disseminated at every stage.”

    DH, Tufnell Park
    Jan 2014

  • I loved the beauty of the Solentiname Islands and Corn Islands.  But my favourite part of the trip was definitely Leon as there is so much fascinating recent history.

    FW, Leamington Spa
    Apr 2018

  • Enjoyed the trip to the equator while in Quito. Loved Alausi, very interesting place, people. Cuenca was lovely, very easy to get around, felt safe, staff at hotel very helpful, happy hour cocktails 2 for 1 delicious! Las Cajas national park very interesting. The Galapagos week was fantastic! Staff really professional, islands and wildlife more than I imagined, learnt to snorkel, scenery fantastic. The group were also really nice, and as a single traveller this made my holiday really special. And on the whole the weather was very sunny and warm. Enjoyed the picnics we had during our trips in the Andes, which the tour leader arranged, especially the exotic fruits which she advised us to try.

    JC, Bury
    Feb 2016

  • Overall a very enjoyable trip - some long days and early starts but was easily do-able for a group mainly consisting of people in their 50s and 60s. Saw many amazing sights. Excellent organisation - everything worked - buses, flights, pick ups, minibuses, coaches, boats, trains etc! Never arrived anywhere and there was no-one to meet us. Had a great holiday!

    LB, New Malden
    Jun 2016

  • Many good memories - arriving at Macchu Picchu was something we had wanted to do for many years, so was probably the most memorable.

    CA, Wembley
    Mar 2018
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Our expert's view

Heloise
Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

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Inspired by this trip

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
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Step-by-step Panama Hat
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Just Back From

Just back from… the Galápagos Islands with Nicola
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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

Get in touch Meet our experts
  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

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