Location
Ecuador & The Galapagos
Luxury Safari
Best time to go
Year Round
Luxury Ecuador & Galapagos Safari
This luxury safari takes you on a journey of natural highlights on land and at sea. Explore Ecuador’s wonderful capital city, Quito as you weave through the streets and plazas on a guided tour to learn about the interesting mix of cultures in the city. Get up close to the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, from land iguanas and flamingo, to blue-footed boobies and tortoise, and you can even snorkel with sea lions and sharks.
What to expect?
After landing in Quito this morning, you will be met by one of our representatives and transferred to the heart of Ecuador's 'Avenue of Volcanoes'. Spend the next few days enjoying the stunning setting of Zuleta Region, learning about the local condor conservation project, or enjoy hiking on the nearby trails with a chance to spot the elusive Andean bear. You can also go birdwatching, biking, stargazing or just sit back with a glass of wine and take in the fresh air.
Head back to Quito for a city tour; start at a panoramic viewpoint to enjoy a bird's eye view of the city. Strolling through the magical Old Town, you will pause to admire some of the staggeringly well-kept architecture, from the Cathedral to the President's Palace on Plaza Independencia. Many of the colonial buildings were built atop an old Inca settlement and your guide will talk you through the detail, whilst you weave the streets and plazas observing the local way of life. After, visit the Middle of the World Monument and enjoy standing on both sides of the equator at once!
Transfer to the airport for an included flight across to the Galapagos Islands for the start of your cruise. Set sail to `Kicker Rock`, a vertical lava cone formation that rises abruptly almost 500 feet out of the ocean. On the cliffs, we can spot blue footed boobies, Nazca boobies and magnificent frigate birds. You will spend your time exploring various islands; the exact destination will depend on weather conditions and national park regulations, but there will be a chance to observe the fascinating geology and wildlife of the Galapagos.
Travel by bus through all seven vegetation zones found in the Galapagos Islands to the highlands of Santa Cruz. Here you will get the chance to walk through the mysterious lava tubes, the result of molten lava flows cooling down millions of years ago and forming ominous paths to walk through. Located in northwestern Santa Cruz, Dragon Hill consists of an easy trail only 1,6km long that runs through three different eco-systems. It's beach is very rocky and at high tide is a perfect spot for snorkelling. Here you will get the chance to walk through the mysterious lava tubes, the result of molten lava flows cooling down millions of years ago and forming ominous paths to walk through. Visit the Twin Craters located opposite to each other on both sides of the road leading from Puerto Ayora to Baltra. These formations were created by the collapse of surface material in underground fissures and chambers.
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Why book this trip?
- North Seymour Island - Teaming with wildlife with cliffs only a few metres high form the shoreline and are home to swallow-tailed gulls. A tiny forest of silver-grey Palo Santo trees stand just above the landing, where a 2.4km trail will take us to see sea lions, marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, pelicans, magnificent frigate birds and land iguanas.
- South Plaza Island - Steep cliffs formed by rising lava, now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colourful yellow and red land iguanas.
- Rabida Island - Red volcanic rocks surrounding a beautiful red sand beach, home to a colony of sea lions and a pelican nesting site. The trail leads to a salt water lagoon where shore birds can be seen as this island shelters some of the rarest bird species of the Galapagos, such as the Galapagos Hawk, multiple varieties of finches as well as brown pelicans.
- Bartholomew Island - After your climb to the top of Pinnacle rock, you can cool off in one of the best snorkelling sites in the Galapagos where you are likely to see sharks, rays, lots of colourful fish and maybe even the Galapagos penguin.
- Santiago Island - Renowned for its spectacular volcanic formations, relatively young pahoehoe lava flows, and unique geological scenery. Pay particular interest to the low-lying pioneer plant known locally as 'mollugo' as well as the lava cactus.
Accommodation Highlights
Natural Paradise Yacht
The Natural Paradise is a modern luxury yacht, purpose-built for exploring the Galapagos Islands. Hosting just 16 passengers at a time, the spacious cabins are spread out over three decks, with upper deck cabins having their own private balconies. The sundeck also boasts a large jacuzzi and al fresco barbecue area, perfect for relaxing with a sundowner.
Finch Bay Eco Hotel
Located on Santa Cruz Island, Finch Bay Eco Hotel is a charming retreat, surrounded by the unique flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands. In a tranquil spot on a quiet beach, it accommodates up to 52 guests and has a completely eco-friendly infrastructure. Named after Darwin Finches, you will often spot friendly pelicans or herons at the pool having a drink and to explore further afield there are two boats to explore the nearby Islands.