Trip Highlights
15 DAYS PRICES FROM £3,500 pp SAVE £150 pp | |
2 nights in Quito
2 nights in Hacienda Zuleta
1 night in Quito
7 nights in the Galapagos
1 night in Guayaquil
1 night flying
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Quito is the capital of Ecuador. It is set in an Andean valley with the verdant Pichincha volcano rising to the west. From the scenic hill of El Panecillo, the Virgin of Quito spreads her silver wings and watches over the fine colonial buildings of the old town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its chaotic narrow streets, lined with colonial churches, monasteries and mansions, radiate outwards from attractive plazas.
Recently smartened up, this part of the city tempts the visitor with an abundance of history at every turn and a walking tour here is a must. The city’s 'new town' has less to entice the visitor but more to entertain them, as it is here that you will find the majority of the shops, cafes and restaurants. From Quito you can travel an hour north by road to visit the geographic characteristic that gives the country its name, the equator. It is marked by a monument and museum, and offers the opportunity to stand with one foot in each hemisphere.
Otavalo area:
Only couple of hours north of Quito, the small town of Otavalo, nestling in amongst the surrounding hills and mountains, is famous for its bustling indigenous market, which dates back to pre-Inca times. Known to be one of the most colourful and vibrant markets in Latin America, the stalls are spread over three main squares and spill over into the adjacent streets. The Otavalenos host the market in their distinctive traditional dress - the men sport calf-length white trousers, rope sandals and ponchos and wear their hair in ponytails; the women wear delicately embroidered blouses and dark skirts, long hair in swinging braids, and their wrists are adorned by red beads.
Barter for one of the many high-quality crafts and textiles on offer, or just soak up the atmosphere with a stroll around the market.
The Galapagos:
The Galapagos Islands’ reputation as one of the world’s great travel experiences is more than justified.
Untouched by humans for many thousands of years, this isolated volcanic archipelago of rugged lava flows, mountain grasslands and sandy beaches was a hothouse of evolution that gained everlasting fame as the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s “On The Origin Of The Species”.
Over 170 years later you can discover the islands for yourself, with their marine and land iguanas, giant tortoises, fearless birds and staggering marine life, and you are sure to be as mesmerised as Darwin. The diverse range of animals that live on these remote islands have no fear of man, and a cruise around their home is a real delight. Walking along sandy beaches around the lazy sea lions as their inquisitive pups try to steal your shoelaces, watching the comical bluefooted boobies perform their mating dance, carefully stepping around a tangled pile of sun-bathing marine iguanas, admiring the male great frigate bird’s inflated red chest, all will be part of an unforgettable Galapagos experience.
PRICES
From £3,500 pp sharing. Includes international flights from the UK, internal flights to Galapagos, all accommodation, transfers, breakfast in Quito, full board at the hacienda and on the Galapagos cruise. Contact us now for your tailor-made itinerary on 0207 622 1116 or email us with your requirements.
