Discover nature's playground: rainforests, volcanoes, and island skies
Wild Romance: Andes to Isles
Visit flamingo-filled lagoons and a historic pirate post at Floreana Island
Explore traditional Andean culture at a historic hacienda near Otavalo
Walk among wild tortoises and through lava tunnels on Santa Cruz Island
Ride a sky bike through the cloud forest canopy at Mashpi Lodge
Day by Day
Enter the Andean gateway
Quito
Day 1: Arrival in Quito
Arrive in Ecuador’s capital and transfer to your boutique hotel. Depending on arrival time, enjoy a gentle evening walk or a quiet dinner as the city settles beneath volcanic silhouettes.
Day 2: History, art & architecture
Explore Quito with a private guide, moving through colonial plazas, historic churches, and hilltop viewpoints. The afternoon is left open for coffee stops, galleries, or time to rest and acclimate.
Arrive in Ecuador’s capital and transfer to your boutique hotel. Depending on arrival time, enjoy a gentle evening walk or a quiet dinner as the city settles beneath volcanic silhouettes.
Day 2: History, art & architecture
Explore Quito with a private guide, moving through colonial plazas, historic churches, and hilltop viewpoints. The afternoon is left open for coffee stops, galleries, or time to rest and acclimate.
Andes of Art and Tradition
Otavalo Highlands
Day 3: North to the highlands
Travel north into the Andean countryside, where rolling hills and open skies replace city streets. Arrive at Hacienda Zuleta, a historic working estate. Spend the afternoon wandering gardens, meeting resident artisans, or simply settling into the pace of the highlands.
Day 4: Riding the valley
Saddle up for a guided horseback ride through Zuleta’s pastures and valleys. Condors often circle overhead, and views stretch across quiet farmland and distant peaks. Return for a relaxed afternoon and a fireside dinner featuring Andean flavors.
Day 5: Markets & mountain calm
Visit Otavalo Market with a local guide or explore nearby weaving villages and countryside trails. The afternoon is unstructured. Walk the estate, read by the fire, or enjoy the stillness before a private dinner beneath a wide night sky.
Travel north into the Andean countryside, where rolling hills and open skies replace city streets. Arrive at Hacienda Zuleta, a historic working estate. Spend the afternoon wandering gardens, meeting resident artisans, or simply settling into the pace of the highlands.
Day 4: Riding the valley
Saddle up for a guided horseback ride through Zuleta’s pastures and valleys. Condors often circle overhead, and views stretch across quiet farmland and distant peaks. Return for a relaxed afternoon and a fireside dinner featuring Andean flavors.
Day 5: Markets & mountain calm
Visit Otavalo Market with a local guide or explore nearby weaving villages and countryside trails. The afternoon is unstructured. Walk the estate, read by the fire, or enjoy the stillness before a private dinner beneath a wide night sky.
Glass walls & swirling mist
Chocó Cloud Forest
Day 6: Into the cloud forest
Depart the highlands and descend west toward the Chocó region. As the air warms and mist gathers, arrive at Mashpi Lodge, a glass-walled retreat immersed in cloud forest. Spend the afternoon settling in and listening as the forest comes alive.
Day 7: Canopy & rivers
Begin the day suspended above the forest on Mashpi’s sky bike, gliding quietly across the canopy. In the afternoon, follow your naturalist guide along river trails where orchids, butterflies, and birds thrive. Evening returns you to refined comfort and thoughtful cuisine.
Day 8: Waterfalls & wild detail
Hike through dense forest to Copal Waterfall, moving slowly through mossy ravines alive with sound. Return to the lodge for a final afternoon at leisure and a quiet evening as fog drifts past the glass walls.
Depart the highlands and descend west toward the Chocó region. As the air warms and mist gathers, arrive at Mashpi Lodge, a glass-walled retreat immersed in cloud forest. Spend the afternoon settling in and listening as the forest comes alive.
Day 7: Canopy & rivers
Begin the day suspended above the forest on Mashpi’s sky bike, gliding quietly across the canopy. In the afternoon, follow your naturalist guide along river trails where orchids, butterflies, and birds thrive. Evening returns you to refined comfort and thoughtful cuisine.
Day 8: Waterfalls & wild detail
Hike through dense forest to Copal Waterfall, moving slowly through mossy ravines alive with sound. Return to the lodge for a final afternoon at leisure and a quiet evening as fog drifts past the glass walls.
Endemic worlds & ocean time
Galápagos Islands
Day 9: To the Galápagos
Fly to Baltra Island and transfer to Pikaia Lodge, set in the highlands of Santa Cruz. In the afternoon, visit Tortuga Bay, where pale sand, lava formations, and rolling surf frame the shoreline.
Day 10: Sea lions & blue water
Cruise to Santa Fe Island for snorkeling in clear, sheltered waters. Swim alongside sea lions, rays, and tropical fish before returning to Santa Cruz for a relaxed afternoon and sunset views from the lodge.
Day 11: Tortoises & lava tunnels
Visit El Chato Reserve to walk among giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Continue on to explore volcanic lava tunnels, then spend the afternoon at leisure, either in Puerto Ayora or back at the lodge.
Day 12: Island choice day
Choose another island excursion or enjoy a slower day on Santa Cruz. Kayaks, trails, or simply time to rest. This day is intentionally open, allowing the rhythm of the islands to set the pace.
Day 13: Floreana Island
Sail to Floreana, where flamingos wade through shallow lagoons and history lingers at Post Office Bay. Return in the late afternoon, sun-warmed and salt-kissed.
Day 14: Departure
Transfer to Baltra Airport for your return flight to Quito. The journey ends with memories shaped by highland air, cloud forest stillness, and the elemental calm of the Galápagos.
Fly to Baltra Island and transfer to Pikaia Lodge, set in the highlands of Santa Cruz. In the afternoon, visit Tortuga Bay, where pale sand, lava formations, and rolling surf frame the shoreline.
Day 10: Sea lions & blue water
Cruise to Santa Fe Island for snorkeling in clear, sheltered waters. Swim alongside sea lions, rays, and tropical fish before returning to Santa Cruz for a relaxed afternoon and sunset views from the lodge.
Day 11: Tortoises & lava tunnels
Visit El Chato Reserve to walk among giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Continue on to explore volcanic lava tunnels, then spend the afternoon at leisure, either in Puerto Ayora or back at the lodge.
Day 12: Island choice day
Choose another island excursion or enjoy a slower day on Santa Cruz. Kayaks, trails, or simply time to rest. This day is intentionally open, allowing the rhythm of the islands to set the pace.
Day 13: Floreana Island
Sail to Floreana, where flamingos wade through shallow lagoons and history lingers at Post Office Bay. Return in the late afternoon, sun-warmed and salt-kissed.
Day 14: Departure
Transfer to Baltra Airport for your return flight to Quito. The journey ends with memories shaped by highland air, cloud forest stillness, and the elemental calm of the Galápagos.
Where will your story take you?
Let's discover your next adventure
Where You Could Stay
