Ecuador Encounter
From £2096
Ecuador is located on the northwest of South America, straddling latitude 0°. Its four natural regions are easily accessible and offer a wide variety of landscapes: From pearly beaches on the Pacific to enchanting rainforests in the Amazon. From snowcapped mountains and volcanoes to quaint Colonial cities. From business oriented centers to the fabled Galapagos Islands.
Travelling in and around the highlands and lowlands of Ecuador, you will particularly enjoy the amazing biodiversity of the country - 1,800 species of birds, 1,000 species of fish, 680 of reptiles and amphibians, 230 of mammals, and more than 20,000 species of plants. Beyond fauna and flora, the people of this endowed place developed, through centuries of civilization, a culture of rich heritage, as is evident in its traditions, archaeology and all manifestations of art, from architecture, to music and plastic arts. Ecuadorians are gentle and friendly; you will be warmly welcomed in cities large and small. Local cuisine is highly appealing and varied, including the best Pacific shrimp and assorted tropical fruits. The weather is another plus - springtime around the year.
Quito
At 2,850 meters (9,360 ft), Quito is the second highest capital in the world. It is also one of South America's most entrancing cities, possessing a balmy climate, a wealth of fine Spanish colonial architecture, and a magnificent setting at the base of Pichincha volcano. Quito was a major stronghold of the Inca. Now it brings the past to life in its museums, monasteries, the carved stone facades and golden altars of its many churches, as well as in the Archaeological Museum that displays centuries of pre-Columbian treasures. Enjoy scenic, Colonial and artistic Quito, then stand with a foot on each hemisphere at the Middle of the World.
Galapagos Islands (GPS)
Ecuador's most beloved and popular national park lies in splendid isolation about 960 kilometers off the mainland. Made famous by Charles Darwin, the Galapagos Islands are no less enthralling now than they were a hundred years ago. Every year, thousands of curious visitors journey to the remote islands to behold the wondrously variegated wildlife that inspired The Origin of Species. Many of the animals on the Galapagos Islands have developed into different species from their continental relatives, and because they have never experienced man as a predator, they show no fear of humans.
Guests are taken to shore in small groups by a multilingual naturalist guide, who will explain the fascinating geology and history of an eco-world that takes you back millions of years. There is ample opportunity to walk, swim, snorkel, photograph, and observe the abundant variety of wildlife on each island. You can swim with sea lions, walk among black marine iguanas basking in the sun and observe the elaborate mating rituals of boobies, albatrosses, or male frigate birds displaying their red pouches.