HIGHLANDS TO ISLES
ECUADOR & GALÁPAGOS
Ecuador earns its reputation through contrast. The highlands around Quito move at the pace of cobblestone markets and centuries-old plazas, while the cloud forest northwest of the capital operates on its own timetable entirely. Then the Galápagos, where evolution works in the open and wildlife has never learned to be afraid of people. This journey covers that full arc, from colonial streets to forest canopy to volcanic islands shaped by fire and sea. Ten nights and a long way to feel like the world is larger than you remembered.
Note that everything you see here is an example of what your trip could look like. Your adventure will be tailored specifically to you.
WHEN TO GO
DURATION
JUN - NOV
10 NIGHTS
LANGUAGE
SPANISH
CURRENCY
USD
ESTIMATED COST
$9,000
per person, excl. int'l flights
(based on two adults sharing)
Why this adventure
Ecuador is one of the few places on Earth where the landscape changes so completely within such a short distance that a single journey can feel like three different countries. The Andean highlands carry the weight of indigenous tradition and colonial history in equal measure. The Chocó cloud forest northwest of Quito is one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, and Mashpi's resident research team has discovered 23 new species within the reserve alone. The Galápagos operate on different terms entirely: the wildlife here has had no reason to fear humans for so long that encounters happen at arm's length, and the naturalist guides who lead the excursions have spent careers learning what most visitors never see in a week. We built this journey for travelers who want to move through a place rather than past it, who understand that the transitions between landscapes are as interesting as the destinations themselves.
Journey flow
The journey opens in Quito, where the Old Town's UNESCO-listed colonial center earns time on its own terms: the San Francisco Plaza, the covered markets, the Andean restaurants. From here the road drops northwest into the Chocó cloud forest. Days here are structured around guided exploration: aerial gondola rides above the canopy, trails to hidden waterfalls, and evenings with the resident biologist explaining what the day's encounters actually meant. The Galápagos follows, reached by a short flight from Quito. Aboard the Elite, the islands reveal themselves through daily excursions: Zodiac landings on volcanic shores, snorkeling with sea lions, giant tortoises moving through highland mist. The wildlife here sets the pace, and the naturalist guides make everything legible.
Take it farther
A private photography guide in Mashpi adds depth that the standard group excursions can't replicate, particularly for bird photography in a forest with over 400 species on record. Extended cloud forest time with night walks and access to the reserve's private research trails opens up encounters that most guests never reach. And upgrading the Galápagos sailing to a premium vessel with enhanced naturalist programming changes the quality of the expedition considerably. A hands-on culinary experience in Quito with a local chef working with Andean and coastal ingredients rounds out the cultural dimension the city introduces.
Adventure highlights
SEAMLESS LAND & SEA
The arc from Quito's colonial plazas to Mashpi's cloud forest to the Galápagos' volcanic islands covers more ecological and cultural range in ten days than most journeys manage in three weeks. The transitions are as deliberate as the destinations.
WILDLIFE-RICH GALÁPAGOS
Sea lions, marine iguanas, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and frigatebirds in landscapes shaped by volcanic activity and total isolation. Expert bilingual naturalist guides offer daily briefings that turn wildlife sightings into something closer to understanding.
HISTORIC HIGHLANDS & CULTURE
Quito's Old Town is one of the best-preserved colonial centers in Latin America, and the private guided experience goes considerably further than the standard tourist circuit. Markets, workshops, plazas, and restaurants doing serious work with Andean and coastal ingredients.
ANDEAN CLOUD FOREST IMMERSION
Mashpi's reserve protects 3,017 hectares of Chocó cloud forest, and the in-house research team has discovered 23 new species within its boundaries. The Dragonfly gondola above the canopy, the trails below it, and evenings with a resident biologist who can explain what you're actually looking at.
How it unfolds
DAYS 1-2
QUITO
The journey opens at altitude, Quito sits at 2,850 meters, in one of the best-preserved colonial centers in South America. Two days is enough to move through it properly: the San Francisco Plaza and its convent, the Basilica del Voto Nacional, the markets in the Mariscal district, and the particular quality of Andean light in the late afternoon. Private guided walks go deeper than the standard circuit and find the things worth finding.
DAYS 3-5
MASHPI CLOUD FOREST
The road northwest from Quito descends through the Andes foothills into the Chocó, one of the world's great biodiversity hotspots. Mashpi Lodge sits atop 3,000 protected acres, and the reserve has yielded extraordinary discoveries even in recent years. The Dragonfly gondola carries guests above the canopy; the trails below it move through forest alive with hummingbirds, orchids, and species found nowhere else on Earth. Three nights here is the right amount of time to let the place settle.
DAYS 6-10
GALÁPAGOS ABOARD M/C ELITE
A short flight from Quito begins the final chapter. Five days covering the northern and central islands: Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz, Genovesa's remote booby colonies at Prince Philip's Steps and Darwin Bay, Santiago's black sand shores at Egas Port, Black Turtle Cove and the giant tortoise highlands of Santa Cruz, and a final morning at Lobos Island before the flight back. Each day is built around two excursions led by a bilingual naturalist guide, with snorkeling, kayaking, and Zodiac landings woven throughout.
Where you could stay
CASA GANGOTENA
In the heart of Quito's historic center on the iconic Plaza de San Francisco, the city's only Relais & Chateaux property, recognized with 1 Michelin Key and named Ecuador's Leading Boutique Hotel and Heritage Hotel by the World Travel Awards. A beautifully restored mansion that blends the charm of Ecuador's rich history with modern sophistication. The third-floor terrace offers panoramic views over the Old Town, the bell towers and spires, Panecillo hillside, and Pichincha Volcano. The right place to begin a journey through Ecuador's contrasts, and one of the strongest boutique hotels in South America.
M/C ELITE
Built in 2019 to offer luxury small-ship cruising in the Galápagos Islands, with eight spacious suites and one single cabin, each featuring panoramic windows, private balconies, and convertible king-size beds. The twin-hull design provides stability on longer crossings between islands. A top bilingual naturalist guide offers daily briefings and lectures on board, and daily excursions are led by certified guides who know the island system's permit zones and timing with the precision the national park requires. Sixteen passengers maximum, which is the right number for the Galápagos.
MASHPI LODGE
One of National Geographic's Unique Lodges of the World, a 22-room luxury boutique hotel perched atop 3,000 protected acres in the Ecuadorian Chocó Bioregion. Three hours northwest of Quito, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows in every room aimed at the surrounding forest, a resident biologist, a Dragonfly gondola above the canopy, and a research program that has discovered 23 new species and published over 50 scientific articles. The food is taken seriously, the guides know the reserve with genuine depth, and the property makes a strong argument for the idea that luxury and ecological rigor are not in conflict.
Ready to start planning?
All Peregrine trips include:
Every trip we design starts from scratch, built around how you travel and what you're actually after. No fixed routes, no shared departures, no compromises. If something on this page resonated, that's a good place to start a conversation.
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A dedicated travel designer to custom-build your trip
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A network of on-the-ground guides and local experts
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Accommodations chosen for style, not star-rating
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Private transfers throughout your destination
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Around-the-clock support while traveling
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