Highlights of Ecuador & the Galapagos

Begin the adventure in Quito, Ecuador's capital, high in the Andes. To make things easy, there are free transfers from the airport to the hotel for everyone today – check the Joining Instructions for further details. Around 6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Want more time in Quito? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative. Stay: Vieja Cuba Hotel (or similar).

Start with a tour of Quito's historic centre, a World Heritage site. Led by our tour leader, we visit the highlights, including the Plaza de la Independencia, home to the Carondelet Palace and Metropolitan Cathedral, followed by the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, famous for its gold-decorated interior. After, we head to Casa Agave to learn about the cultural and economic importance of agave in Ecuador and enjoy a tasting of agave products, including miske, an indigenous alcoholic drink. Lunch is served at this venue, a delicious sample of local cuisine.

In the afternoon, visit the Intiñan Equator Museum, which is located near the equator line. This fun interactive museum explores indigenous culture and traditions, as well as unique phenomena related to the geographic location. Your tour leader then ensures a big Ecuadorian welcome by arranging a group dinner. Stay: Vieja Cuba Hotel (or similar) (B/L/D).

Travel (two hours) to Cotopaxi National Park in the morning, home to Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Here, we embark on a one-hour hike through the stunning park landscapes, which sit at 12,470ft-15,750ft (3,800m-4,800m) above sea level. Our route takes us to Limpiopungo Lagoon, whose waters can reflect the volcano. Enjoy lunch at La Cienega, a colonial hacienda turned restaurant, eating traditional Ecuadorian dishes in a historic setting.

Following lunch, we transfer (two hours) to Baños de Agua Santa, a town known for its thermal baths and adventure activities.

The rest of the afternoon is free to explore, visit cafes, or relax in the thermal baths. Stay: La Floresta Hotel (or similar) Upgrade to the Highland suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details (B/L).

Begin with a visit to Pailón del Diablo (Devil's Cauldron), a powerful waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation. To get to the base of the falls, we take a trail (30-40 minutes) with hanging bridges and viewpoints where you can enjoy spectacular views and feel the power of nature. After, we return to the vehicle and drive to the Swing at the End of the World, where you can swing out over a cliff to enjoy panoramic views of the valleys and mountains.

In the afternoon, we return to Baños for time to explore at your own pace. Visit the hot springs, stroll through local markets, or relax and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere. You can also use this time to pack your smaller bag for the next two nights in the Amazon. Stay: La Floresta Hotel (or similar) Upgrade to the Highland suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details (B).

Leave Baños in the morning and transfer (three hours) to Tena, the gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon. The journey takes us through spectacular landscapes, from Andean mountains to lush rainforest. Enjoy lunch in Tena, then continue to our rainforest lodge – a 30-minute drive, followed by a 45-minute canoe ride. Settle in and enjoy dinner, before we take a 45-minute night walk around the lodge with an expert naturalist to discover our new surroundings. There are fantastic sounds to listen out for, including the calls of frogs, oropendolas, jays and a variety of insects – a wonderful experience amid the rainforest humidity. Stay: Liana Lodge (or similar) (B/L/D).

Begin with a visit to amaZOOnico, taking a short motor canoe ride to get there. A rescue and rehabilitation facility for jungle animals, it's home to various Amazonian species, such as monkeys, toucans and ocelots. During the visit, we learn about their conservation efforts and the threats these animals face in their natural habitat. Guides provide detailed information about the different animals and the stories behind each rescue.

After returning to Liana Lodge for lunch, we embark on an exploration of the Amazon jungle guided by local experts who show the rich biodiversity of the Amazon ecosystem. During the hike, we learn about medicinal plants, local flora and fauna, and survival techniques used by Indigenous communities. Stay: Liana Lodge (or similar) (B/L/D).

Bid farewell to the Amazon after breakfast and head to Papallacta, a town renowned for its thermal baths. A drive (at least 3hr 30min) takes us through the Amazon rainforest to the high Andes, offering diverse views of Ecuadorian landscapes.

This afternoon, rejuvenate in the thermal waters at the hotel (which are heated by underground volcanic activity and said to have therapeutic properties) or explore the nearby trails. Stay: Termas de Papallacta (or similar) Upgrade to a room with a Jacuzzi today – speak to your sales representative for more details (B).

Leave the hotel around 5am – taking a box breakfast with you – for our transfer (50 minutes) to Quito Airport, where we catch our flight to San Cristóbal in the Galapagos via Guayaquil. Our Galapagos tour leader (an official naturalist guide) will be at the airport to take you to the hotel for check-in and our first briefing about our time in the archipelago. We have time to explore the town and enjoy a restaurant lunch before our visit to La Lobería, a wonderful beach surrounded by mangroves, volcanic rocks and sea lion colonies. It's a perfect spot to snorkel, enjoy beach time, or have a short walk along the shore. Stay: Paraiso Insular Hotel (or similar) (B).

Start your day with an exciting tour to Isla Lobos, a small island near San Cristóbal. This excursion takes you by boat to one of the best spots for observing sea lions in their natural habitat. Isla Lobos is also an excellent location for birdwatching, including frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies. Snorkel in the clear waters around the island, swimming with marine turtles, rays and, occasionally, whitetip reef sharks. After, we head to Playa Ochoa, a white-sand beach with turquoise waters. It's ideal for relaxing, while also offering excellent birdwatching and snorkelling opportunities. Enjoy lunch on board the boat as we head back to town for a free afternoon. Stay: Paraiso Insular Hotel (or similar) (B/L).

A three-hour navigation by motorboat takes us to Floreana, one of the first Galapagos Islands to be inhabited. En route, we may see whales, dolphins and seabirds. After lunch at a local restaurant, we spend an hour exploring the highlands, visiting lava caves once used by pirates and seeing a large enclosure of Galapagos giant tortoises.

In the afternoon, we transfer (2hr 30min to three hours) to Isabela by speedboat. Stay: San Vicente Hotel (or similar) (B/L).

Spend 15 minutes sailing to the islets and lava channels of Las Tintoreras, one of the best places in the Galapagos to see whitetip reef sharks, penguins and sea lions. A 40-minute walk takes us to an excellent place to snorkel! This afternoon, we hike 6mi (10km) to the Wall of Tears, a sad reminder of Isabela's very different past when it was used as a penal colony. Between 1946 and 1959, convicts were forced to build this wall from huge blocks of lava as a form of punishment, which, combined with the harsh conditions, led to many deaths. Stay: San Vicente Hotel (or similar) (B).

Navigate by motorboat (two hours to 2hr 30min) to Santa Cruz very early this morning.

Upon arrival, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre, where scientists come from all over the world to study the flora and fauna.

In the afternoon, we visit Tortuga Bay, a long stretch of white sand that's regarded as one of the best beaches in the Galapagos. The trail leading to the beach is paved and takes 45 minutes to one hour, with possibilities to observe Galapagos finches and lizards along the way. The beach is scattered with marine iguanas, which lie among the clusters of black rocks or stroll along the sand. Turtles can sometimes be seen in the water, though swimming is not recommended due to the strong currents. Stay: Lobo de Mar Hotel (or similar) (B).

Our first stop on our bay tour is the Canal de Tiburones. Here, we follow a small trail and hope to see whitetip reef sharks and, if lucky, lava herons. After, we visit Canal del Amor. At this beautiful turquoise water channel, we hope to snorkel among sea lions and marine iguanas, while Sally Lightfoot crabs and blue-footed boobies rest on the rocks. We continue with a visit to Playa de los Perros, where the largest marine iguanas on the islands live, and finish with snorkelling at Las Grietas, a lava formation with giant walls.

In the afternoon, we transfer (40 minutes) to the giant tortoise reserve in the highlands, a great place to see giant tortoises in the wild. There is also time to visit underground caves formed by lava that once flowed here. Stay: Lobo de Mar Hotel (or similar) (B/L).

After a few days following the footsteps of Darwin, Cousteau and world-renowned scientists, it is time to say goodbye to the Enchanted Islands. After breakfast, we drive to Baltra Airport – bidding a fond farewell to our Galapagos tour leader – and fly to Quito via Guayaquil. Our Quito tour leader meets us upon arrival and our groups normally gather for a final dinner this evening, a chance to celebrate the adventures we've had together. Stay: Vieja Cuba Hotel (or similar) (B).

Our adventure ends after breakfast this morning. If you'd like to stay in Quito beyond the trip, speak to your sales representative to book extra nights (B).