Private Journeys

Signature Ecuador: Volcanoes to the ocean

10 days from £3,440pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

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Overview & Highlights

The top highlights of Ecuador on an adventurous family-friendly holiday  Fly to Quito; visit the craft market at Otavalo, and travel by road along the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Cuenca and the upland wilderness Las Cajas National Park.

A variety-packed holiday in Ecuador. Travel first to Ecuador’s highland capital,  visit the world renowned artisan craft market at Otavalo, and travel south by road along the Avenue of the Volcanoes via the Inca ruins of Ingapirca to Cuenca and the upland wilderness of Las Cajas National Park.

Ecuador sits right on the Equator, but its landscapes and climate are governed by altitude: from the sultry tropical coast to the dizzy heights of ice-mantled volcanoes at over 7,000m above sea level, there's huge diversity. It's a tiny country, you can travel from one highlight to another on relatively short, scenic drives or short domestic flights. This holiday of just over a week takes you on an amazing road trip through the Andes, visiting indian villages  where the inhabitants, who still wear their colourful fabrics, maintain a lifestyle little-changed since Spanish colonial times.

The colonial period is not neglected: you'll stay on one of the haciendas originally granted to the Spanish conquistadors, the restored historic core of Quito and Cuenca, a quintessential example of colonial grace and grandeur.

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  • Walking tour of colonial Quito
  • Visit Otavalo market
  • Guided excursion to Lake Cuicocha
  • Avenue of the Volcanoes
  • Visit Cotopaxi National Park
  • Explore Ingapirca Inca ruins
  • Las Cajas National Park

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Chris Rendell-Dunn

Travel Expert

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What our clients say

  • Thank you for giving me an amazing trip, with a wonderful leader and a lovely group of people to travel with.

    BK, London
  • So well organised and efficient, yet personal, easy-going, fun. Felt looked after and well-informed throughout. Also particularly enjoyed being on the less touristy Tico Tico tour – an excellent recommendation…

    DS, Invergordon
  • A really interesting, varied and contrasting tour encapsulating the spirit and culture of the region. Excellent value and made even more enjoyable by a fantastic tour guide.

    RG, Bishopton
  • The amazing scenery - every kilometre of the Carretera Austral, every turning, offers stunning views which never cease to surprise...I am impressed with the way it is possible to combine…

    SC, Penryn
  • Most memorable experience? "Lots - Tour of Caracas, the canoe trip to Angel Falls plus the Falls themselves, the night bus trip to St Elena followed by good facilities to…

    ET, Huddersfield
  • Highlights? "There were many. Cuba itself is a fascinating country, a unique combination of geography, history, politics, culture and music. Highlights include: horse riding through the Valle de Silencio in…

    DK, Coventry
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Our Expert's Opinion

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.

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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.

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Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • 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.

  • 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!

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • 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.

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

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