^{Ecuador &}the Galapagos Islands

17 Days from only £5,425

Day 1 Quito - 4 nights

We gather at London Heathrow for our Iberia flight via Madrid to Quito. On arrival and after clearing customs clearance our waiting coach will take us to the JW Marriott, Quito's most luxurious hotel, where our accommodation is booked for the next four nights. This evening join your fellow passengers for welcome drinks so we may be better acquainted for our forthcoming travels together.

(Meals: Lunch).

Day 2 Quito

Founded in 1534, Quito has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its exquisite Spanish colonial architecture. Today Quito showcases the richness of the colonial architecture of the Spanish empire. We visit the old town this morning and see the Church and Plaza of San Francisco, the gold leafed La Compania Church and the Plaza de la Independencia. North of the city is the 'centre of the world'. Latitude 0° marks the Equator, where you can stand with one foot in the Southern Hemisphere and one foot in the Northern Hemisphere - an excellent photo opportunity! We visit the Equatorial Monument and it's ethnocentric museum before lunch at a restaurant in one of Quito's most dramatic locations. Spend the remainder of the afternoon in Quito. Laze by the pool, or explore the old city with its parks, plazas and low adobe houses.

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch).

Day 3 Quito

At first glance the Andean highlands blend into a palette of green, dotted with farmlands. Impressive Spanish haciendas and whitewashed colonial towns are interspersed with deeply rooted Indian tribes whose culture and traditions remain as they were centuries ago. Just north of Quito is the small town of Calderon, known for the brightly coloured dough figures crafted by local villagers. Next we visit the Otavalo Indian Market featuring a fascinating array of colourful textiles and handicrafts. For more than 400 years Otavalo was a predominant market town along the Inca's Royal Road, where goods from the highlands were traded for products from the lowlands. The Otavalo Indians are Latin America's most prosperous indigenous group. Following lunch at the delightful Hacienda Pinsaqui we return to Quito.

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch).

Day 4 Quito

Today our drive south takes us along the Avenue of Volcanoes for a view of some of the tallest volcanoes in the Southern Hemisphere. Over 20 snow-capped volcanoes rise majestically from the Andean mountains. Keep your fingers crossed for clear weather ! Snow- capped Cotopaxi, at 17,000 feet, is the world's highest active volcano. A special experience today is lunch at the Hacienda Hualilagua, after which we return to Quito for our fourth and final night.

(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch).

Day 5 Cuenca - 3 nights

At leisure in Quito to spend as you please until our departure for the airport early afternoon. Arrive at Quito airport in plenty of time to board our flight to Cuenca, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a city considered by many to be the country's hidden jewel. Our hotel for the next three nights is the Oro Verde Cuenca.

(Meals: Breakfast).

Day 6 Cuenca

Located in the southern highlands, Cuenca is a delightful university city that has flourished in the arts. This morning we take a tour to further explore its beauty. Visitors are fascinated with Cuenca's unique colonial atmosphere; buildings with elaborate wrought iron balconies, plazas filled with flowers and a wealth of religious art. Red-tiled roofs contrast with the surrounding emerald hills, retaining the charm and ambience of a small village. Included in our tour is a visit to the 'original' Panama hat factory. Your afternoon is left at leisure. Dinner this evening will be taken at the fabulous Villa Rosa.

(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 7 Cuenca

Today has been left free to spend as you please. Maybe consider a tour to the ancient Inca ruins at Ingapirca in the province of Cañar.

(Meals: Breakfast).

Day 8 Guayaquil - Overnight

After breakfast we depart for the airport in time for our late morning flight to Guayaquil. Upon arrival we drive to the nearby Hilton Hotel where we enjoy the rest of our day at leisure.

(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner).

Day 9 The Galápagos Islands - 7 nights cruising

This morning the adventure of a lifetime begins when we fly to the Galápagos Islands ! Remotely located, 600 miles to the west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, these incredible volcanic islands are the breeding ground for some of the most rare and unique wildlife in the world. Charles Darwin arrived as a naturalist aboard HMS Beagle in 1835; 24 years later he used his findings as the basis for 'The Origin of Species'. Anchored in the nearby harbour, our private yacht awaits. Our state of the art mini cruise ship has been chartered exclusively for our group and will take us on a never to be forgotten Galápagos experience. We shall spend a week of discovery and adventure aboard Isabela II exploring Ecuador's renowned World Heritage Marine and National Park. Following an introductory briefing and lunch we disembark at North Seymour Island to observe colonies of blue footed boobies, frigate birds and swallow tailed gulls. The island's male magnificent frigatebirds are always a memorable sight when they inflate their enormous crimson pouch to attract a mate. We will also have our first sighting of sea lions as well as marine iguanas found only in the Galápagos.