Ecuadorian Odyssey: Tropical Andes, Colonial Quito & Exploring Galápagos

Quito • The Andes • Quito • Baltra • North Seymour & Isabela • Fernandina & Española • Floreana & Santa Cruz • Bartolomé & Santiago • Genovesa • San Cristóbal • Baltra • Quito

Experience the best of Ecuador with luxury Quito, magical Mashpi Cloud Forest and an unforgettable Galápagos cruise. Discover colourful wildlife, volcanic islands, pristine beaches and incredible snorkelling, with unforgettable encounters with giant tortoises, sea lions, penguins and marine iguanas.

Cruise Line: Lindblad Expeditions
Ship: National Geographic Endeavour II
Departure date: 16 August 2027
Duration: 13 nights
Cabin: Oceanview


Flight from London Heathrow Airport to Quito, Mariscal Sucre Airport Via Madrid Barajas International Airport
Shared transfer from hotel to airport
Touch down at Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport, situated high in the Andes at an elevation of 9,350 feet. Your driver will meet you outside customs and transfer you through the dramatic Andean landscape into the heart of the capital. Check into the luxurious Casa Gangotena, a meticulously restored historic mansion overlooking the cobblestone Plaza San Francisco. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure, resting and acclimatizing to the altitude. Take time to wander through the hotel's ornate courtyards


Immerse yourself in UNESCO-listed Old Town, starting at the grand Plaza de la Independencia. Step inside the breath-taking La Compañía de Jesús church, renowned for its lavish gold-leaf interior, before visiting the vast San Francisco Church and Convent. Next, immerse your senses in a bustling local market, sampling tropical fruits unique to the high Andes. After a traditional Ecuadorian lunch, stroll along the historic street of La Ronda, meeting local artisans and craftsmen in their workshops. Return to Casa Gangotena for a special welcome dinner featuring refined regional cuisine alongside your fellow travelers and expert local expedition host.


Depart Quito after breakfast and descend westward through dramatic landscapes as the high Andes give way to lush, misty cloud forests. Arrive at the award-winning Mashpi Lodge, nestled deep within a 6,000-acre private biodiversity reserve in the Choco region. Settle into your contemporary room with floor-to-ceiling rainforest views before enjoying a fresh farm-to-table lunch. In the afternoon, join expert naturalist guides for your first exploration along forested trails, learning about the complex ecosystem. Search for brightly colored toucans, tanagers, and rare orchids. End the day with a fascinating guided night walk to discover bioluminescent fungi and nocturnal creatures.


Spend a full day discovering the wonders of the forest canopy. Rise early to visit the Life Center, observing hummingbirds and toucans feeding at eye level. Take flight above the treetops aboard the Sky Bike or ride the silent Dragonfly aerial tram for panoramic views stretching across the cloud forest. Trek down through lush foliage to hidden jungle waterfalls, pausing for a refreshing dip in natural river pools. Visit the butterfly research center to learn about native species and conservation efforts. Return to the lodge for a gourmet evening meal and relax in the hot tub surrounded by nature's sounds.


Enjoy a final early morning birdwatching walk as the rainforest awakens, followed by a hearty breakfast at the lodge. Farewell Mashpi and begin your journey back up the mountain slopes toward Quito, stopping en route for lunch at a picturesque hacienda. Arrive back in the capital during the afternoon and check into your hotel. Spend your remaining hours shopping for artisan crafts, exploring more of the historic center, or simply relaxing after your cloud forest adventure. Prepare your gear and rest well tonight in anticipation of tomorrow morning's departure for your main Galapagos Islands expedition.


Conclude your 5-night pre-tour extension with an early airport transfer and luggage assistance for your recommended group flight to the Galapagos Islands. Board your flight across mainland Ecuador, crossing the Equator and soaring out over the Pacific Ocean toward the remote volcanic archipelago. Upon arrival at the island airport, clear national park entry control, retrieve your luggage, and meet your expert naturalist guides waiting in the arrivals area. Enjoy a seamless, scenic transfer into town, catching your very first glimpses of unique native wildlife, including sea lions resting near the shore and lava lizards darting across the volcanic terrainas your adventure begins


Flight from Quito, Mariscal Sucre Airport to Galapagos Island
As the star of your expedition begins, board your vessel in the harbor and step into your home on the water. Meet your hospitality crew, receive your cabin assignments, and take time to settle into your comfortable stateroom. Gather on deck with fellow travelers for an initial safety orientation as the captain prepares for departure. Enjoy a delicious welcome lunch onboard as the ship weighs anchor and sets sail into pristine turquoise waters. Spend your first afternoon taking in panoramic volcanic views and watching for playful sea lions, officially launching your extraordinary voyage through this iconic wildlife sanctuary.


Set out across North Seymour's coastal trails, passing playful sea lions along the shoreline. Inland, walk through silvery forests of endemic palo santo trees where blue-footed boobies execute courtship dances, frigatebirds nest, and prehistoric land iguanas feed on prickly pear cactus. Later, sail toward Isabela, crossing the Equator near the massive shield volcano Volcan Ecuador. Keep watch across open waters for whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and rare ocean sunfish. Land on Isabela's dramatically eroded volcanic shores to trace the historical steps of Darwin and Melville, discovering diverse wildlife nestled among black basalt cliffs and quiet coves


Explore Fernandina, one of the planet's most active oceanic volcanoes and the youngest, most pristine island in the archipelago. Trek across vast fields of recent lava flows to observe flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, and massive colonies of sunbathing marine iguanas. Later, sail to Espanola, a haven for birdlife. Hike coastal paths to spot swallow-tailed gulls, Espanola mockingbirds, Nazca boobies, and seasonally, the world's only breeding population of waved albatrosses. Conclude your island exploration at Gardner Bay, walking alongside sea lions along powdery white sands and snorkeling through turquoise waters filled with colorful tropical fish.


Arrive on Floreana to follow scenic trails leading toward pink-tinted lagoons frequently visited by flamingos. Drop a postcard in the historical wooden barrel at Post Office Bay, continuing a whaling tradition starting in the 18th century, or snorkel among sea lions at Champion Islet. Next, anchor at Santa Cruz to visit Puerto Ayora, headquarters of the Charles Darwin Research Station. Tour giant tortoise breeding corrals and honor the memory of Lonesome George. Travel into the island's lush, green highlands to witness wild giant tortoises freely roaming through pastures, misty trails, and natural subterranean lava tunnels


Ascend the wooden staircase to the summit of Bartolome, a 300-foot volcanic wonderland offering panoramic views over Pinnacle Rock. Head down to the golden beach to swim, snorkel, and spot rare Galapagos penguins resting on lava ledges. Sail onward to Santiago to explore tide pools sheltering fur seals inside grottos of dark basalt. Enjoy sea kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling along dramatic coastal rock formations. Finish with an onshore walk through a tranquil coastal forest where Charles Darwin famously explored in 1835, observing endemic mockingbirds, finches, and bright yellow warblers flitting through the canopy


Cross the Equator into the northern realm of the archipelago, anchoring inside the flooded caldera of Genovesa Island. Known as bird island, this crater hosts over one million nesting seabirds. Climb Prince Philip's Steps to reach the island's plateau, where red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and Great Frigatebirds nest in low bushes alongside short-eared owls. Walk across hardened lava trails lined with storm petrels before returning to the water. Snorkel along the calderas sheer cliff walls, swimming alongside sea turtles, playful fur seals, manta rays, and occasional hammerhead sharks patrolling the nutrient-rich deep water.


Discover San Cristobal, the easternmost island in the chain. Walk along powdery white sand beaches fronted by the magnificent offshore rock formation of Kicker Rock. Search along rugged cliffs for red-footed boobies, endemic San Cristobal mockingbirds, and colorful lava lizards found nowhere else on Earth. Spend time in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the provincial capital, where large colonies of sea lions thrive alongside local docks and town walkways. Snorkel in calm, clear bays among green sea turtles and marine iguanas before


Enjoy your final morning onboard before disembarking the vessel with full luggage support. Join the recommended group flight from the archipelago back to mainland Ecuador, landing at Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport. Meet your driver for a seamless transfer into the capital city, checking into your hotel for an overnight stay. Spend the remainder of the afternoon and evening completely at leisure to rest, explore local dining options, or shop for artisan souvenirs. Optional extensions are available to prolong your stay in Quito or continue your South American adventure onward to Peru, Machu Picchu, and the sacred Land of the Incas


Total price inclusive of all charges:
• C22711 Heathrow from £17,629
Deposit: £1,625

• Return flights from Heathrow with 23kg baggage
• 5 nights National Geographic Tropical Andes and Colonial Quito Escorted Tour
• 3 nights' stay at Casa Gangotena
• 2 nights' stay at Mashpi Lodge
• 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 3 dinners
• Guided Quito Historic & Market Walking Tour
• Guided Naturalist Hikes & Night Walks
• Canopy Aerial Rides (Sky Bike & Dragonfly Tram)
• Life Center, Butterfly Farm & Hummingbird Viewpoint
• Charter flight from Quito to Baltra Island
• 7 nights all-inclusive cruise on-board National Geographic Endeavour II
• Full-board meals
• Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
• Wi-Fi
• Kayaks, Zodiacs, paddleboards, snorkel gear, and glass-bottom boat rides
• Guidance and expertise of expedition staff
• Charter flight from Baltra Island to Quito
• 1 night at a Quito hotel with breakfast
• All overseas transfers