Ecuador & Galapagos Islands

The phrase ‘small is beautiful’ could have been coined specifically with Ecuador in mind.

By South American standards it is tiny, dwarfed by its neighbours Colombia and Peru. But it is this relative compactness that is a feature of its attractiveness. Here you can watch dawn break over the jungle canopy, have lunch high in the Andean mountains, then watch the sun slip into the Pacific Ocean, all in the same day.

 Click to view tours

To the west of the Ecuador mainland are the Galapagos Islands where wildlife and humans live in harmony; a destination featured on many a wish-list, for most this is a once in a life time experience. The capital city, Quito, is the perfect base from which to explore the delights of Ecuador. The other international gateway and commercial centre is Guayaquil which is on the coast. As Ecuador is small it lends itself perfectly to overland travel, of which there are many options.

Cuenca to the south is a must see with its Inca history and beautiful churches. The Galapagos Islands can be accessed most directly from Guayaquil but also from Quito with just one stop. These magical islands are most people’s once in a lifetime dream, we can assure the fearless wildlife will make for an experience that won’t be forgotten.

When to go:

Quito maintains a moderate climate all year-round with lows in the mid 7 C and highs in the low 22 C, whereas the Amazon is always hot and humid. The June-September dry season is the most popular in the highlands. Ultimately temperatures are determined more by altitude than by the calendar, so you should pack accordingly, and whenever you visit, it’s a good idea to take something warm for the cool mornings and evenings.

Currency: US Dollar
Time: GMT – 5 hours
Capital City: Quito
Language: Spanish

Food:

Cuisine varies with each region. Seafood is very good, especially on the coast - ceviche de pescado for instance. Also you might like to try empanadas de morocho which is ground corn shell filled with meat.

Beverages:

The native drink in the highlands is Canelazo made with aguardiente (sugarcane) liqueur, also known as “fire water”, blended with sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice and served hot.