Nature's Masterpiece: The Galápagos Islands and Amazon Rainforest

Welcome to Quito, a city of dramatic mountain backdrops, colonial charm, and soulful creativity. Upon arrival at the airport, we’ll arrange a private transfer to the Illa Experience Hotel, a beautifully restored heritage home in the historic San Marcos district. More than just a place to sleep, Illa is an immersive cultural stay that makes it easy to engage with local traditions, art, and flavors through daily on-site experiences such as traditional candy-making and Andean music.

Spend the evening settling into your elegant room or enjoying the rooftop views of the city. We’ll gather for a welcome cocktail on the rooftop as the sun sets over Quito’s skyline, followed by dinner at the acclaimed La Purísima, known for its innovative take on Ecuadorian cuisine.

After a delicious Ecuadorian breakfast at the hotel, we’ll explore the heart of Quito through a curated city tour. This is no ordinary city tour, expect a multisensory journey through the UNESCO-listed Old Town, with visits to artisan workshops, centuries-old churches, and vibrant local neighborhoods that offer an insider’s glimpse into Quito’s living culture.

We’ll stop for a locally inspired lunch before continuing to the Fundación Guayasamín, home and museum of Ecuador’s most revered artist, Oswaldo Guayasamín. His emotional works highlight Latin American struggles and strength. The museum enhances his contemplative aura, with expert guides bringing Guayasamín’s story to life.

This evening, we’ll indulge in an extraordinary tasting menu at Urko, one of Latin America’s most innovative restaurants. Chef Daniel Maldonado showcases Ecuador’s biodiversity through his “Ciclo de la Vida” concept, with each dish telling a story of the country’s seasons, regions, and traditions. A truly unforgettable culinary experience.

This morning, we’ll accompany a local chef on a visit to one of Quito’s bustling markets. As we browse stalls brimming with tropical fruits, herbs, and Andean ingredients, you’ll learn how food connects to Ecuador’s identity. 

Back at Illa, we’ll step into the kitchen for a hands-on cooking class, followed by a leisurely lunch made with our own creations.

In the afternoon, enjoy free time for shopping, wellness appointments, or exploring. We’ll get dropped off at one of the city’s most picturesque squares, where we're free to explore artisan boutiques, galleries, and cozy cafés—perfect for picking up handcrafted treasures or simply people-watching.

This evening, we’ll gather for dinner in-house at Inés Restaurante, where the chef brings contemporary elegance to traditional flavors. It’s a relaxed and intimate setting to reflect on our Quito adventure.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning, sampling fresh local fruit, warm breads, and rich Ecuadorian coffee one more time. Take in the final moments of our stay at the Illa Experience Hotel, whether it's a quiet moment on the rooftop terrace or a stroll through the San Marcos neighborhood.

When it's time, a private transfer will bring us to the airport, where we will meet with the rest of the group for our flight to the Galápagos. While your Quito extension may be coming to an end, this awe-inspiring adventure in Ecuador is only just beginning.

Fly into Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO). Since most incoming flights arrive late, we've built an Arrival Day into the trip cost, with a stay at the Courtyard by Marriott at Quito Airport. Rest and relax. We'll head to the Galápagos Islands tomorrow morning.

We'll transfer back to the airport together this morning to fly from Quito to the Galápagos Ecological Airport. Once we touch down in paradise, our driver will be waiting to whisk us away to our (women-owned!) home for the week: The Monique Catamaran.

The Ecuadorian government has designated 97% of the Galápagos Islands' land area as the country's first national park. To protect this extraordinary natural resource, access is tightly controlled. A licensed naturalist must accompany any trip ashore. We'll have one aboard as a resource for the voyage.

All of our meals on this trip will be prepared and enjoyed on the boat. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients are transformed into gourmet dishes by the ship's chef, what a treat! Lunch today will be buffet style. 

We'll have an orientation for our ship before we set sail for Las Bachas, a beautiful white-sand beach on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. If we're lucky, we might even spot a few sea turtles, as this is one of their preferred nesting sites. If you're ready for a dip in the ocean, grab some snorkeling gear and get your first taste of the crystal clear waters of the Pacific. 

After visiting Las Bachas, we'll board the boat again to circumnavigate Daphne Major Islet, a treeless volcanic cone formed from compacted ash. This small yet significant islet serves as an important nesting site for Nazca boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, and blue-footed boobies. 

Dinner will always be a formal, sit-down event onboard, and our welcome dinner tonight will be a delightful way to get to know your fellow travelers and chat about our upcoming adventures. 

We'll enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet this morning before we set sail for Rabida Island, where it will feel like we’ve landed on an extraterrestrial planet complete with dramatic rocky landscapes, towering cacti, and a breathtaking red sand beach.

We'll see how volcanic activity has shaped this island over time, most notably its omnipresent red hue, created by the high iron content of its lava. As we approach the island, we'll most likely see plenty of resting marine iguanas and sea lions in the nearby shady caves. 

Rabida is known as one of the best places to see nesting brown pelicans, one of only two pelican species in the world to hunt by diving headfirst into the water from heights of over 50 feet. They're very social birds, so they typically congregate in groups known as rookeries. 

Just past the beach lies a saltwater lagoon that, depending on the year, is a feeding area for flamingos. If you happen to glance up, you might catch a glimpse of blue-footed or Nazca Boobies hanging out on the cliffs above. 

Then we're off to visit Chinese Hat, a small islet off the south coast of Santiago that's one of the most easily recognizable landmarks due to its unique shape. It's typically visited only by those aboard a Galapagos Cruise due to tourism restrictions that help keep its fragile ecosystem intact.

Our dinghy will drop us on the island, giving us the chance to wander the visitor trail and spot some wildlife. Sally Lightfoot crabs, lava lizards, and the orange-beaked American Oystercatcher are just a few animals that call this island home. Take some time to snorkel as well; the water here is fairly calm but still deep enough to attract unique marine life.

What a day! We'll share stories of our adventures over dinner tonight.  

This morning, we're heading to Isabela Island to visit Vicente Roca Point. Accessible only by dinghy, this large bay on the island's northwest coast features two coves that are home to various nesting birds, such as blue-footed and Nazca Boobies, storm petrels, and brown noddies. 

Even better, the bay's nutrient-rich waters make it a top snorkeling destination, where whales, dolphins, sea lions, and seabirds are often seen feeding. Grab a mask and take the plunge! You won't regret it.

After lunch, we'll head to one of the most pristine islands in the whole archipelago, namely because no foreign species have ever invaded it. Ferdinanda Island is the Galapagos as nature intended it to be.

Once we land at Espinoza Point, take time to walk around and spot marine iguanas, Galapagos hawks, and maybe even a Galapagos penguin. There is a longer walk up to the edge of a lava flow area, if you're feeling up for it. You could also snorkel around the point; its waters are teeming with marine life and birds.

This morning's destination is Moreno Point on the west coast of Isabela Island. Initially, the landscape seems barren and rocky due to lava flow; however, as you walk along the nature trails, you'll be treated to a variety of vibrant green lagoons and mangroves. These habitats serve as homes for penguins, blue herons, and flamingos. 

Beyond the rocky shoreline, you can snorkel and see black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, golden cow-nose rays, and spotted eagle rays. Pelicans and blue-footed boobies hunt here, diving gracefully into the water.

Enjoy a hearty lunch back on board the Monique before we set sail for Elizabeth Bay. Because wildlife authorities have not designated a safe landing point in this area, we'll remain in the dinghy as we appreciate the abundance of marine life that call these clear waters home. 

A mouthwatering dinner awaits us on the boat, rounding out another beautiful day in the Galapagos.

We'll continue exploring Isabela Island today, visiting more of its iconic bays and coves. Isabela Island is the largest island in the archipelago, spanning 120 kilometers. Made up of 6 volcanoes and their craters, Isabela offers a wide range of volcanic landscapes, providing plenty of places for wildlife to nest and hunt. 

Our first stop is Urbina Bay, a sprawling beach that was once lying on the ocean floor. As landmasses shifted due to volcanic activity, a 6-kilometer stretch of coral reef was uplifted 5 meters (15 feet!) and is now visible from the beach. This is a popular spot to relax and enjoy the sunshine, with the option for a walk towards a more arid zone of the island if you want to stretch your legs. 

Following lunch, we're in for a history lesson at Tagus Cove. Once a popular spot for pirates and whalers, the cliff walls surrounding the cove are filled with the etchings of past visitors. 

Stay near the cove to snorkel or kayak, or join a short, steep hike up to Darwin Lake. The hike passes a saltwater lagoon and mangroves that are home to the last remaining pairs of Mangrove Finches before leading to a turquoise lake filling an inactive "chimney" of a nearby volcano. 

Let's head back to the boat to relax and recoup with a glass of wine before dinner. 

After breakfast, we'll sail over to Santiago Island and hop in our dinghy to land on Espumilla Beach on the island's northern coast. Sit and watch the Sally Lightfoot crabs scutter over the white sand, dodging an array of predatory birds looking for their next meal.

We highly recommend going out for a snorkel off this beach. It's known for octopi, moray eels, white-tipped sharks, and sea turtles. What better way to start the day than catching a glimpse of these magical marine creatures? 

Refuel and refresh with lunch on board as we sail north to Buccaneer Cove, another excellent snorkeling destination. Once a refuge for passing sailors and pirates, the underwater formations now provide a fantastic home for the many tropical fish species found here.

The dinghy approach is equally as spectacular, offering views of the massive red cliffs filled with nesting boobies and gulls. Find a friend and take out a kayak, granting a more up-close-and-personal vantage point of the cove's flora and fauna. 

Relish in a moment of reflection as you watch the sun set on another bucket list day in the archipelago.

Savor breakfast overlooking the Pacific before we take a dinghy ride to our first destination of the day. Formed by uplifted submarine lava, North Seymour Island is home to a vast colony of about 2,500 land iguanas and large populations of sea lions, blue-footed boobies, common noddies, and frigatebirds. It's possible to see land and marine iguanas along the coast, maybe we'll even spot the marine iguanas diving for algae.

Following lunch, we'll visit the Mosquera Islet, nestled between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour. It's a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a wide, white-sand beach. This island has one of the largest populations of sea lions in the Galápagos, occasionally attracting hungry Orcas. 

The surrounding reef is home to various marine life, making it a great place to snorkel one last time. 

Tonight's dinner will be a special one as we toast to a week well spent in these beautiful islands. 

For our final morning, we'll head over to the famous Charles Darwin Research Station, offering us a unique opportunity to discover the vital work required to preserve the archipelago’s ecosystems. 

The Research Center is also home to a significant breeding program for Galapagos tortoises, whose numbers have declined since the 1970s. These captivating reptiles aren't camera-shy, so be sure to snap a few close-ups!

After bidding farewell to the research station, our trip draws to an end. We'll transfer to Baltra airport for our group return flight to mainland Ecuador, landing in Quito around 3 pm. Please schedule any onward flights after 6 pm to allow adequate time to clear security and customs.

For those of you joining the optional trip extension to the Amazon rainforest, we'll overnight at the Courtyard by Marriott Quito Airport for convenience and fly out in the morning. If this concludes your time with us, safe travels!

This morning, we'll take a 30-minute flight to Puerto Francisco de Orellana, aka "El Coca". We'll be whisked from the airport to the Napo River, where we'll board a motorized canoe heading downriver at the beginning of an unforgettable experience in the Amazon rainforest. Staff will help with our larger luggage - you just have to take care of your carry-on items.

Our destination is La Selva, a stunning, woman-owned, eco-lodge on 50 acres of rainforest. It takes about 2.5 hours in the boat to arrive, but don't worry, there are plenty of sights to see, and the crew will provide us with a boxed lunch and drinks throughout the journey. 

After we unpack, rest, and gather for a briefing from one of the naturalist guides, we'll walk down the Matapalo Charapa Trail. As we stroll under immense strangler fig and mahogany trees, our guides will share their knowledge of the flora and fauna. At this time, soft natural light shines through the canopy, and the diurnal and nocturnal animals are beginning their daily transitional activities.

After dinner, Garza Cocha Lagoon is an excellent place for a night canoe ride to search for caimans, bats, owls, and nocturnal mammals with the help of a spotlight. If the night sky is clear, there's also great opportunity for stargazing! 

After breakfast, we'll take a 15-minute walk to La Selva's observation tower, soaring an impressive 120 feet above the forest floor. The naturalist and native guides will use a sighting scope to show us the colorful birds enjoying the canopy and perhaps even primates. 

Mandi Cocha is a 30-minute walk from the tower. This small lake boasts a myriad of vegetation and landscapes, displaying the beauty of the flooded forest. With some luck, we might spot the famous giant otters that make their home nearby. 

We'll break for lunch and have time to chat about all the critters and birds. 

This afternoon, we'll head back to Garza Cocha Lagoon. This is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Ecuadorian Amazon, where we'll have several opportunities to spot species of monkeys and birds. Sometimes, large groups of squirrel monkeys join capuchin monkey families to search for food. Howler monkeys also enjoy spending the late afternoon near the lake. The hoatzin, a large, unique bird found only in pristine Amazon habitats, is easy to spot as well.

We'll indulge in a delicious meal at the lodge, with time to relax before bed.

After an early breakfast, we'll return to the Napo River and take a motorized canoe ride to the clay lick, one of the most fascinating displays of the wild world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather here to eat the mineral-rich soil, an essential part of their diet.

Then we'll visit the indigenous community of Pilchi where we'll learn about how the first nations of the Amazon lived for thousands of years, including how they dress, what they eat, how they cook, and the many ways they use what the forest provides in their daily lives - a truly unique and fascinating experience!

Don’t be shy to ask them questions, and be brave enough to try some of the traditional drinks and food! They love to share their ancestral knowledge and spread awareness about their culture. 

After lunch, we'll take a fantastic walk on the Coto Trail to the edge of the Garza Cocha Lagoon. In the afternoon, the sun's light makes this walk a tremendous experience and the perfect opportunity to enjoy the forest's beauty. The naturalist will discuss the creatures and medicinal plants we encounter, giving us a better understanding of the awe-inspiring world of the Amazon.

It's been a busy day. Let's relax and have a leisurely dinner.

After breakfast, we'll head to the Yasuní National Park, the largest protected area in Ecuador. On this adventure, we’ll visit a different clay lick where scarlet macaws and other species of parrots congregate to drink the sodium-rich water. Other mammals, such as deer, wild pigs, and tapirs, also come to drink water here!

Afterward, we'll enjoy another walk through this stunning forest, where we'll observe other primate species unique to the region. Yasuní National Park also hosts the last uncontacted Indigenous tribe in Ecuador, but since they are uncontacted, we certainly won’t see them.

After lunch, we'll paddle down the beautiful Morete Yaku, the main creek that feeds into the Garza Cocha Lake. We'll see the difference between the Terra Firme forest and the swamp forest, also known as Moretal. Morete is a major plant species in this ecosystem. This tall palm plays a crucial role for various animal species and indigenous communities, who rely on its fruit as an essential energy source.

This is our last night in the Amazon. Over dinner, we'll regale each other with stories about the wonders we've experienced.

After breakfast, we'll take a 2.5-hour boat back to Coca, where we'll be transferred to the airport. What a spectacular trip it's been!

We'll take the short flight to Quito together, where you can connect to your return flight home. We'll arrive around 4:30 pm, so make sure you book your onward flight accordingly.