Rainforest, Amazon & Galápagos

Fly from London to Quito, where you’ll begin your Amazon adventure. High in the foothills of the Andes, at over 3000 meters, Quito is the second highest capital in the world. It’s an imposing city, surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks. Quito’s winning feature is its old town, a UNESCO world heritage site packed with colonial monuments and impressive architecture.

This morning, catch your flight to Coca to enjoy a three night cruise. This is a journey that takes us into the depths of the jungle, teeming with one of the most spectacular displays of biodiversity on earth. The best way to explore this area of jungle is by boat. Our experts will navigate down the river in a state of the art vessel, the MV Anakonda, while you learn more about the surrounding wildlife.

Today return to civilisation to enjoy the wonders that Quito has to offer. The old town is the pride of the city, and for good reason. Here you’ll find a wide range of traditional restaurants, overflowing markets and picturesque plazas to explore. Head to the ‘gringolandia’ of the Mariscal, a compact area teeming with restaurants and bars.

Ecuador's fascinating capital city is rich in history. The best way to discover this city on high is on foot. Explore the city’s museums, cathedrals and Baroque architecture before eating a traditional Ecuadorian meal in one of the many restaurants in the old town. In the evening, you can enjoy a spectacular sunset over the city and surrounding mountains from the top of Panecillo Hill.

This morning fly to Baltra Island in the Galápagos, where you'll board your Galápagos cruise. Explore these world-famous islands with a naturalist guide who will show you the best of this unique eco-system. Most expeditions with your guide are by inflatable Zodiac craft, providing an extra thrill and getting you even closer to nature. If you’re feeling more adventurous, explore the treasures of the sea by snorkeling among the colourful reefs that surround the islands.

Today is mainly taken up with travel. Bid goodbye to your crew as your cruise comes to an end at Santa Cruz island. From here you’ll board an internal flight back to Quito.

You’ll spend the next few days admiring a staggering 500 species of bird in one of Ecuador's hidden wildlife gems:- the Mashpi Rainforest Biodiversity Reserve. Monkey, peccarie and even puma make their home inside the Reserve, crisscrossed with waterfalls between dramatic, verdant hills. Perched at 900 metres above sea level and surrounded by lower montane rainforest and cloud forest, you’ll be surrounded by a profusion of plant species, from ferns and bromeliads to hundreds of orchid species.

Return to Quito this afternoon for your evening flight back to the UK.