Durarion: 9 days / 8 nights, with option of Galapagos extension
Included: Breakfast, lunch and accommodation
Highlights: regional food and dishes, Ecuadorian countryside
Code: SI-05

The biological mega-diversity of Ecuador transcends its many ethnic groups and their traditional cooking styles.

In Ecuador we can find one of the largest variety of soups in the world. For their preparation, a great amount of products is normally used among which we count the quinoa, maize, barley, green plantain, different varieties of beans, manioc or potatoes considered as king of tubers. These items when cooked together with different kinds of meat or fish or simply using dairy products and a great variety of legumes, fruits or vegetables can be deliciously combined to produce nutritious, tasty soups.

The chroniclers from the time of the Spanish Conquest tell us about a dish prepared by the Indians of the "Puna Island" in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Province of El Oro where fish was "cooked" or marinated in a lemon juice. This special variety of lemon grows in the coastal region and the dish is known at present times as Ceviche. This typical dish has spread to other coastal provinces and can be prepared in many different ways using different types of seafood as its main ingredient.

The various geographical zones and climates allow the production of native fruits and vegetables in addition to the exotic plants introduced by the Conquistadores. Certain fruits are restricted to small areas such as Naranjilla, a juicy tart orange coloured fruit in the family of tomato that only grows in the surroundings of the Cloud Forests on the slopes of the Andes. The great diversity and contrasts of the Ecuadorian cuisine is the result of merging the local products of the traditional cooking styles under the influence of the outside world.

This tour takes you through various regions of Ecuador where you will sample the typical foods and dishes of those areas. Then there is the option of going on to Galapagos on board one of our vessels… there you have a chance to savor all the dishes from all the regions. The grand summary of it all. (this will add 8 more days to the journey.)

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Included: All meals and accommodations (except in Quito)
Activitites / Highlights: Hacienda visits, pampere comfort, Andean Condor breeding centre, horse-riding
Code: SI-03

This journey takes the traveler to the finest haciendas in Ecuador, transporting the visitor into another time while offering the highest quality comforts and luxury designed to forget the daily worries and liberate the stress caused by the accelerated pace of contemporary life.

Accompanied by a specialized guide with in-depth knowledge of  the visited areas, the tour begins with a 2-hour drive South from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park.  After spending the morning in the park enjoying views of Mt. Cotopaxi (5897 m), the trip continues to San Agustin de Callo.  Built on the site of an important “Inca Palace”, this working farmhouse, luxuriously furnished, offers today’s discerning traveler an unrivaled glimpse into Ecuador’s rich and colorful past.  The following day the journey continues to the Northern province of  Imbabura, for two nights at Hacienda Zuleta.

One of the world’s “Top Ten Finds”, this beautiful hacienda on a 4,000-acre working ranch in the Andes belongs to the family of former Ecuadorian President Galo Plaza Lasso.  Fernando Polanco, the gracious host of this wonderful place, takes the visitor hiking to Condor Huasi, where Andean Condors are being reintroduced into the wild.  You can also ride the high-quality  horses that are bred at this hacienda. 

The last night of this amazing tour is spent at La Mirage Garden Hotel and Spa, the only Relais & Chateaux member in Ecuador.  Here the luxury and pampering reach a climax:  each room or suite is individually decorated, the service is impeccable, the cuisine extraordinary, and the hotel is equipped with a spa which rivals any first-class spa in the world.

Duration : 13 days / 12 nights
Included : All meals and accommodation (except in Quito)
Activities / Highlight : Ingapirca ruins, Agua Blanca ruins,  Machalilla National Park
Code : SI-02

On the Pacific coast, in the highlands and in the wilderness of the Amazon rainforest, traces of different cultures that developed, flourished and disappeared, can still be found.  Discover these many wonders. Starting in Quito, with its charming colonial center and its interesting archaeological museum, then travel on the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Ecuador's largest archaeological Inca site, Ingapirca. This fortress built by the Incas, boasts a "tambo", a sun temple and storehouses. The last part of our trip takes us from Cuenca to Guayaquil, to explore the beautiful Pacific coastal  region. 

Drive North to Puerto Cayo, a small fisher's village. In addition to the sandy beaches of Machalilla National Park, the area also offers the Agua Blanca ruins. Archaeologists working here to uncover the mysteries of the Machalilla culture will tell us about their work, including the small but very interesting museum in Salango, with its carefully chosen collection of artifacts from the area. From Manta fly back to Quito.

Duration: 1 day Included: Lunch
Activities / Highlight: Natural hot springs, modern spa
Code: AH-01

Leaving Quito,  cross the Eastern Cordillera along a dramatic glacier-carved canyon. Before arriving at a cloud forest area we will see many changes in vegetation. Thermal springs are nestled in these beautiful Andean Highlands.  Spend the rest of the day in these curative sulfate alkaline thermal waters, enjoying the extraordinary landscape.  PM drive back to Quito.

Note: Optional overnight at cabañas "Termas Papallacta".  Price upon request.

Community tours offer the traveler an opportunity to get involved in local projects and in cultural exchanges.  Ecuador offers a variety of community experiences ranging from rural agricultural projects, living and working with locals while learning about traditions and cultures, aid in the reconstruction of homes and schools, or lending a hand at a homeless children’s centre. Please contact us for further information.

Ecuador, being a small, compact country with a diversity of landscapes as well as cultural settings, is an ideal country for family travel.  There are activities for all interests and age groups, such as travel to the Galapagos, rafting, horseback riding, biking, relaxing on the beach, among many other activities.  

If you are interested in a family holiday in Ecuador, please contact us, stating your interests , and we will design a tour to suit your wishes.

We have had many years of experience designing trips for student groups interested in a variety of subjects, such as nature, indigenous cultures,  pre-columbian and colonial art, etc.

Please contact us for more information.  We will gladly tailor an educational tour for your specific needs and fields of interest.

We offer additional Special Interest Tours, please contact us for more information