Ecuador Todos!
The Best of...
Exploring the best of Ecuador
This itinerary covers the best of the best of Ecuador in just over three weeks! Start off with a night in Santiago, a hub to the rest of South America, before arriving to Quito with a little bit more down-time, and with time to explore Otavalo, meet the locals and to explore its markets.
Head into the Amazon and spend four nights at Napo Wildlife Centre in the Yasuni National Park, the most biodiverse place on the planet. The journey arriving to the lodge is part of the excitement, travelling my motorboat then dugout canoe. Search for species such as caiman, otter, monkey, a plethora of birds and enjoy night-time jungle walks along with the remote location and spending time in the local community.
Return back towards Quito and out to the highlights for a couple of nights at Hacienda Zuleta, a working farm where you can either rest and enjoy simply being on the farm with its horses, cows, alpacas, condor and more, or you can choose to enjoy farm produced cheese with a bonfire, or activities such as mountain biking, horse riding, birdwatching, cooking or embroidery classes.
Enjoy a night back in Quito before heading out to the Cloud Forest and enjoy the rainforest with its walks, birdlife where you can spot hummingbirds and toucan, its waterfalls, bio luminescent species upon night-time walks, the skybike, dragonfly and/or searching for monkeys and more.
You will love
- Searching for wildlife in the Amazon
- Hiking nature trails in the Cloud Forest
- Exclusivity at Hotel del Parque
- Farm life at Hacienda Zuleta
- A full week in the Galápagos
Let us design your perfect itinerary.
24 UNFORGETTABLE DAYS
PLEASE NOTE:
This itinerary provides the perfect framework for a spectacular journey but it is an example only. All journeys will be individually designed and quoted on a case by case basis.
DAY 1 | SANTIAGO | 1 NIGHT
Arrive to Santiago and check into your accommodation. Freshen up and head out again with your guide for a half-day afternoon city tour exploring Santiago’s highlights.
DAY 2 | QUITO | 2 NIGHTS
Fly to Quito and check into your accommodation. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to rest or to head out and wander about the plaza as you wish.
DAY 3 | QUITO
Head out after breakfast along the Pan American Highway to the famous market of Otavalo. Visit the textile and vegetable markets, then continue to Peguche, a small Indian town just five minutes north of Otavalo. You can wander around the town and shop for handicrafts as well as wall hangings, scarves, blankets, shawls, woven belts and more. Enjoy lunch at an Indian home, prepared traditionally and with the opportunity to taste Andean delicacies. Return back to Quito late afternoon.
DAY 4 | AMAZON | 4 NIGHTS
Fly from Quito to Coca, before a 5-minute transfer to the port to start a motorised boat journey towards Napo Wildlife Centre. After approximately 2.5 hours on the boat and with your packed lunch which you eat along the way, transfer into dugout canoes for the remainder 1-1.5 hours to travel through small inlets to arrive to the lodge. Check in and the remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.
DAY 5 | AMAZON
After breakfast, experience life above the forest floor by visiting the 36-metre canopy tower where you can look out for over 600 species of bird such as macaws, toucans, flycatchers or even spider or howler monkeys. After an Ecuadorian lunch back at the lodge, you can choose to hike through Terra Firme forest to explore its complex eco-system. After the hike, explore the surrounding lake and creeks, perhaps running into a giant otter family.
DAY 6 | AMAZON
This morning with an early start, take a short boat ride and visit the parrot clay licks. Return to the land area and take a short hike to the parakeet’s clay lick. Have lunch at Napo cultural centre and in the afternoon visit the interpretation centre to learn about the traditions of the ancestral Kichwa community of Anangu.
DAY 7 | AMAZON
This morning hike along the Tiputini trail, enjoying the mixture of terra-firma and swamp forests while searching for wildlife such as white-faced capuchin monkeys, sloths, pigmy squirrels and more. Return to the lodge for lunch and for some down-time. Later in the afternoon take a paddle canoe deeper into the areas of the surrounding creeks to see more wildlife such as the hoatzin and caiman.
DAY 8 | OTAVALO | 2 NIGHTS
After a VERY early breakfast, leave the lodge and return back to Quito the same way that you arrived. Road transfer to Quito’s highlands and check into Hacienda Zuleta where you can either rest this afternoon, perhaps with a cheese platter from the hacienda, or enjoy an activity such as cycling, horse riding, an embroidery or cooking class, if time allows.
DAY 9 | OTAVALO
Enjoy activities at the hacienda such as cycling, horse riding, a carriage ride, bird watching and searching for condors, an embroidery class, cooking class, or enjoy farm activities.
DAY 10 | QUITO | 1 NIGHT
Prior to lunch, check out from Hacienda Zuleta, and enroute back to Quito, stop in and explore a rose farm/factory. Upon arrival to Quito, explore the city and its highlights with your guide, then check into your accommodation late this afternoon with the evening at leisure.
DAY 11 | CLOUD FOREST | 3 NIGHTS
This morning you are collected and transferred to Mashpi for your 3-night stay. Pass the Middle of the World en route and note the latitude at zero. The journey takes 3-4 hours, and arrive to check in and for a late lunch. Meet your guides and plan your next few days, this afternoon perhaps for a walk on one of the trails such as the Capuchin Monkey Trail or the Strangler Fig Trail.
DAY 12 | CLOUD FOREST
Enjoy a range of activities with your guide such as visiting The Life Centre to admire small creatures such as butterflies and birds, or head out on more walking trails, ride the dragonfly or the sky bike. This evening you have the option to go out with your guide after dinner for a night safari/walk in search for creatures such as bats, luminescent wildlife, snakes, frogs and more.
DAY 13 | CLOUD FOREST
Enjoy another full day of activities with your guide including more walks and visiting waterfalls with a chance to swim, heading up the observation tower above the canopy to admire birdlife, or to visit the hummingbird garden with hundreds of hummingbirds where children can feed them and admire them drinking sugar water. Once more the opportunity is there to head out for a night-time safari walk after dinner.
DAY 14 | QUITO
Rise early and head out with your guide for a final walk in the cloud forest or a final activity, before breakfast. Check out of the lodge late morning and return to Quito, arriving mid-afternoon. Check into your hotel and the afternoon is at leisure to walk about and enjoy the local surrounds.
DAY 15 | GALÁPAGOS | 7 NIGHTS
Fly to San Cristobal Island in the Galápagos and after a bus and zodiac ride, boat your boat, the MY Grace for your 7-night itinerary. Explore San Cristobal, Isla Lobos and Kicker Rock.
DAY 16 | GALÁPAGOS
Explore Española Island, Punta Suarez and Gardner Bay.
DAY 17 | GALÁPAGOS
Today visit Floreana Island, Post Office Bay and Baroness View Point, then in the afternoon go to Cormorant Point and Champion Islet.
DAY 18 | GALÁPAGOS
Step ashore at Santa Cruz Island and visit Dragon Hill, then the Highlands and Puerto Ayora.
DAY 19 | GALÁPAGOS
Head to Santa Cruz Island, Bachas Beach and in the afternoon, Chinese Hat.
DAY 20 | GALÁPAGOS
Stop at the small island of La Rabida and later visit Santiago Island and Sullivan Bay.
DAY 21 | GALÁPAGOS
Disembark onto Bartolome Island, Pinnacle Rock and Overlook. Later today explore North Seymour Island.
DAY 22 | GUAYAQUIL | 1 NIGHT
This morning visit Mosquera Islet and enjoy some last-minute photos before transferring to the airport, then flying to mainland Ecuador. Check into the Hotel del Parque and the evening is at leisure to explore the Parque Historico’s grounds.
DAY 23 | SANTIAGO | 1 NIGHT
Fly to Santiago and check in once more for the evening at Le Reve. The afternoon and evening is at leisure – you may wish to organise a spa treatment or simply relax by the pool before commencing your home bound journey.
DAY 24 | INFLIGHT OR END OF ARRANGEMENTS
After breakfast, check out of your accommodation and your itinerary comes to an end.
ACCOMMODATION
A handpicked selection
Expeditionary Cruising | Galapagos Colonial Classic
An absolutely fantastic travel company - every one of the many trips they have organised for us over 22 years have been faultless and fabulous.
Judith & Roger Williams
Would do it all again and not change a moment. Best holiday ever!
The McGowan Tribe
It certainly was the best trip we have EVER had. The experiences were mind blowing. We want everyone we know to experience Africa - the animals, the people - magical.
Jo-anne & Dean Mifsud
The Classic Safari Company is the best I have dealt with. Extremely knowledgeable & professional, friendly, patient & understanding of first timers to Africa.
Annette Whiley
Classic Safari Company were brilliant - 10/10
Di & Kingsley Yates
Classic Safari is the place to go to for "top end" adventure travel.
Ron & Alison Guthrie
If you want the most sensational experience in Africa let Julia and the staff at Classic Safari Co plan it for you! Their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for their job means your every wish will be fulfilled.
Miriam & Joseph Harrison
Their experience and knowledge of Africa is evident and we couldn't have been happier with the total package. This has given us a taste for Africa - now we are ready for more.
Andrew & Pip Stevens
Classic Safari Company has done it again! A unique experience that ticked all the boxes - wildlife, culture and dining experience. A dream come true!
Ros Wheeler
Absolutely everything was first class & so well organised.
Simon & Jackie Adams
The trip of a lifetime, couldn't have dreamt of a better adventure if I tried.
Emma Jeffcoat
You can't improve on perfection. I had my best birthday and holiday with my family celebrating my 80th birthday in Africa. Everything that Julia organised was perfect and the whole trip was a highlight!
Buckingham Family
Everything was perfect! Advice and information on destinations and activities hit everything I had hoped to experience. I contacted the Classic Safari Company upon recommendation and have now, in turn, recommended to others.
Tim Bradley
Very knowledgeable and patient. Our trip was all that we hoped for. Wonderful!
Jane & Robert Happell
Thank you for making our trip to Africa so spectacular. The attention to detail really made it special. It really was the trip of a lifetime.
Paul Cozzi
An amazing experience - the best family holiday we have ever had. We were extremely impressed by the meticulous attention to our itinerary. I can't speak highly enough of all the elements of this exciting journey!
Sheryl & Robert Taylor
We loved it all. Our son wants to go back tomorrow. We would ALL go back again!
Laurence & Remi Cunningham
Classic Safari are the people who genuinely know other culture and offer incredible insight to perfectly meet your expectations.
Melanie McMillan & Iain Jones
The trip exceeded my expectations and was the best family holiday I have ever had. Our children simply loved it and now I know more about African wildlife than they do about our own farm animals.
Rowntree family
We are so happy we put our trust in CSC, we had an amazing adventure and would recommend them to anyone.
Kim & Brad Balance
Julia you did a fantastic job - everything was first class. Well organised, efficient and stress free. We all agreed it was the best holiday we've ever had. Cant wait to travel with CSC again.
Milford family
We wanted the opportunity to see as many wildlife parks as possible and the Classic Safari Company provided an action-packed itinerary that included six, with 11 tiger sightings and nine leopard. This was overlaid with an introduction to Jaisalmer, Jaipur and the 'real' India. Pench and Panna were the hidden gems of a really great trip, very well organised, seamless and enjoyable. As a solo traveller I felt incredibly safe at all times. I want to go back!
Mark Taylor
Exellent and wonderful, reaching way above expectations.
Elizabeth Mackintosh
Thank you for putting together the ancestral adventure of a lifetime. I cannot speak highly enough of the trip.
Jenny Kidd
