Tours of Ecuador

Darwins Ecuador: Andes to Galapagos

Tour Map of Darwins Ecuador: Andes to Galapagos

Straddling the equator on the Pacific coast, wedged between Colombia and Peru, the smallest of the Andean nations covers an area no bigger than 284,000 square kilometres. For all its diminutive size, however, the country is packed with the most startling contrasts of scenery, and the diversity of this tiny country is simply dazzling. Encompassing tropical islands, towering snow-capped peaks, cloud forests, and simmering jungle, visitors are treated to a variety of unique landscapes, and many say that Ecuador manages to capture an entire continent in one country. This trip incorporates traditional villages, bio-diverse cloud forests, colonial towns and the incredible volcanic Galapagos Islands, where the vast variety of flora and fauna will delight the nature lover and activity seeker alike.

Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

Tour Map of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

A land once ruled by the Inca, with a rich native Amerindian and Spanish colonial heritage, snow-capped volcanic peaks, dense Amazonian jungle and Andean highlands, Ecuador is one of South America’s most exciting and rewarding destinations. Discover the UNESCO-listed old towns of the capital, Quito, and charming Cuenca, stand in the mysterious Temple of the Sun at Ingapirca, where Inca priests celebrated the solstices and browse colourful markets where indigenous people sell their handmade textiles. Our Ecuadorian tour is followed with a four-night cruise through the incomparable Galapagos Islands, which hold a pivotal place in the history of science. Little changed since Charles Darwin, then resident naturalist aboard the Beagle, first stepped ashore in 1835, this remote archipelago is home to unique wildlife which has evolved over millennia to suit these particular habitats. Darwin’s research here culminated in his landmark work, ‘On the Origin of Species,’ and a visit to these astounding islands is the ultimate adventure for any nature lover.