Galapagos Island Hopping

Sign up for some of the world’s most spectacular sights and experiences. Discover Ecuador’s colonial history, captivating culture, and UNESCO-listed landmarks, before island hopping in the enchanted Galapagos Islands. Explore other-worldly volcanic landscapes. Meet giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas. Swim alongside reef sharks, sea turtles, penguins, and sea lions, before relaxing back on the mainland with a stay at a fabulous hacienda set in the glorious Andean landscape.

Quito, Isabela Island, Santa Cruz, Otavalo.

12 nights private tour from GBP £9,600

Journey highlights

Immerse yourself in the many UNESCO-listed charms of the Ecuadorian capital, Quito. Discover the largest and best-preserved colonial Old Town in South America on an engaging walking tour, before indulging in a gourmet chocolate tasting experience.
Soak up the peaceful laidback vibe of Isabela Island in the magical Galapagos Islands. Meet the incredible bird, marine and wildlife on a series of land and sea-based excursions and visit the active Sierra Negra Volcano which boasts the second largest caldera in the world.
Hop over to Santa Cruz Island for more Galapagos adventures, staying in a luxury tented camp overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre, giant tortoise reserves and flamingo-filled lakes and take to the ocean for snorkelling, diving, and swimming adventures alongside the extraordinary wildlife.
Relax in the stunning Andean landscape with a stay at a stylish hacienda near Otavalo. Enjoy the country house vibe, wonderful homecooked meals and opportunity for hiking, biking and horse riding across the magnificent endless terrain.
Exceptional itinerary:A harmonious blend of authenticity and superlative luxury, our Exceptional Journeys are designed for the discerning traveller, providing unparalleled insider access and exclusive luxury private experiences

Our tailor made journeys include:

Your dedicated Travel Consultant who will take care of arrangements
Private international airport transfers in destination
Your own private, English-speaking local guides
Unique experiences, hand-picked by our Journeys team
Entrance to must-see local sites
Dedicated 24/7 team providing in-country support and guidance
Complimentary access to My Scott Dunn – industry-leading travel app providing pre-departure information and in-journey support

When to visit

Best time to visit

Good time to visit

Average time to visit

There's never a bad time to visit the Galapagos. The peak season lasts from mid-June through early September and from mid-December through mid-January. The national park limits the number of visitors to each island and coordinates each ship's itinerary, so the Galapagos will never feel like Disney World. But if you visit in the summer, you are less likely to feel a sense of solitude and isolation.

From December through to May the water and the air are warmer, but this is the rainy season. It drizzles almost daily for a short period of time. Ironically, this is also the sunniest time of year.

June through November, the Humboldt Current makes it way up to the Galápagos from the southern end of South America. The current brings cold water and cold weather, but it also brings water rich in nutrients and plankton, which attracts fish and birds. During this season there always seem to be clouds in the air, but it rarely rains. It's also quite windy, and the seas tend to be rougher.

Itinerary

Day 1-3

Quito, Ecuador

This island-hopping adventure begins on the Ecuadorian mainland with two nights in the country’s charming capital city, Quito. Based at the Illa Experience Hotel, this elegant 10-bedroom boutique property, housed in a former colonial mansion, is in the city’s artsy San Marco neighbourhood. The area has long been popular with artists, musicians, writers and artisans and the hotel prides itself on introducing guests to authentic Ecuadorian culture, through experiences that connect visitors with local artisans. These include opportunities to learn how to make an original Panama hat, and traditional sweet and ice-cream making.

The hotel is within easy walking distance of Quito’s main attractions and your stay includes a Colonial Walking Tour of the city’s UNESCO-listed Old Town. Your guide will lead you through the charming, cobbled streets and shady plazas, to highlights that include the majestic Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace, San Francisco Monastery, and Independence Plaza. After enjoying some of Quito’s impressive cultural highlights, it’s time to savour the city’s world-famous gourmet chocolate. The To’ak Chocolate Experience involves a 2-hour tasting session during which you will learn about the history of Ecuadorian chocolate making, and how the chocolate is produced, along with sampling the nuanced flavours and tastes of this delicious sweet.

During your time in Quito, we’d also recommend taking the El Teleférico cable car (known locally as TelefériQo) from the city which travels up the dormant Volcán Pichincha to the summit, Cruz Loma, for fabulous panoramic views. Slightly further afield, around 45-minutes north of the city, the Equatorial Monument provides the opportunity to stand with one foot in each hemisphere, literally straddling the Middle of the World.

Accommodation: Illa Experience Hotel ( 2 nights )

Junin Suite bathroom - Illa Experience Hotel

Day 3-6

Galapagos, Ecuador

Having enjoyed two days in the capital, the following morning you board a flight to the awe-inspiring Galapagos Islands. The first sight of this volcanic archipelago as you fly overhead is spectacular. After initially touching down in Santa Cruz, you will be transferred to the port for a 2-hour boat trip to Isabela Island. For three nights, you will be based at Iguana Crossing. This comfortable beachfront boutique hotel is named after the marine iguanas that regularly cross from the surrounding wetlands to the sandy beach in front of the property. Just a 10-minute walk from the charming town of Puerto Villamil, Iguana Crossing features an infinity pool with ocean views, rooftop lounge, delightful restaurant, and friendly service.

Isabela boasts some of the world’s most diverse flora and fauna, and you can enjoy several activities and excursions during your stay on this volcanic island. These include the chance to visit the other-worldly landscapes of the active volcano, Sierra Negra which has the world’s second largest caldera. Along with smoking fumaroles and lava tubes, you can expect to see some of the famous birdlife, including Darwin finches, flycatchers, and mockingbirds. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the island’s sandy beaches, mangrove forests and salty lagoons, meeting the resident giant tortoises, flamingos, and lava lizards. There is also a trip to a giant tortoise conservation and breeding centre to see these fine creatures in their natural habitat. Another highlight is the Cuevas de Sucre, a network of lava caves and tunnels within an endemic forest. The golden vegetation which has grown on the walls create the impression of being in a gold mine. You can also learn about the island’s history as a former penal colony with a visit to the Wall of Tears, Muro de Las Lagrimas. Built by prisoners during the 1940s and 50s, many lost their lives working under torturous working conditions, cutting black lava bricks by hand under a burning sun.

For the chance to swim alongside reef sharks, sea turtles, penguins, rays and countless colourful fish, there are two snorkelling excursions to enjoy. One amid the clear calm waters of Las Tintoreras, a chain of islets just off the coast of Puerto Villamil and the other to explore the magnificent natural underwater arches and tunnels of The Tunnels, Los Tuneles. Created by a series of lava flows, this fabulous diving site is also a great place to see numerous seabirds including albatross, blue-footed boobies, and Galapagos frigatebirds.

Accommodation: Iguana Crossing Hotel ( 3 nights )

Day 6-10

Galapagos, Ecuador

After a final breakfast on Isabela, you head to the island of Santa Cruz for four nights staying at the Galapagos Safari Camp. This luxury tented camp overlooking the Pacific Ocean, has nine private and comfortable tents spread across the hillside. All have balconies and ocean views, while the camp has a shared infinity pool and dining room. Along with the tents, there’s a family-friendly cabin sleeping up to six.

During your stay, you can choose from a wide range of privately guided land and sea activities and excursions. While individual requests can be tailored to meet your requirements, the camp offers several expertly planned land and sea-based itineraries to help you maximise the opportunity for exploring the striking volcanic landscapes and meeting the extraordinary wildlife of Santa Cruz Island.

Land-based excursions include tours of the Charles Darwin Research Centre and trips to explore active volcanoes, along with wildlife highlights which include visits to giant tortoise reserves and flamingo-filled lagoons. Sea-based tours include trips to uninhabited islands, snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities, as well as the chance to see and swim alongside reef sharks, sea turtles, penguins, rays, and an abundance of tropical fish.

Accommodation: Galapagos Safari Camp ( 4 nights )

Safari tent deck - Galapagos Safari Camp

Day 10-13

Otavalo, Central Highlands, Ecuador

At the end of your stay, it’s time to say goodbye to the magical Galapagos Islands and head back to Ecuador, for a three-night stay at Hacienda Zuleta, a 4,000-acre working ranch, an hour from the market town of Otavalo. The ranch is along the famous volcano-lined valley known as the Avenue of the Volcanoes, surrounded by the snow-capped Andes Mountains and green fertile valleys. Dating to the 16th century, the hacienda was once owned by the President of Ecuador and includes a cheese and dairy factory, trout farm, organic garden, and a sewing workshop. The interiors reflect the property’s colonial heritage with antiques, hand-embroidered linens, and old family pictures, all of which contribute to the relaxed country house atmosphere. Each of the 19 individually decorated rooms retain their own charm, and guests enjoy wonderful home cooked meals, as well as a chance to indulge in a range of activities.

Hacienda Zuleta has its own breed of horses, known as Zuleteños, which are renowned for being gentle and versatile and horse riding is a highlight of the property. Whether you hike or ride through the fragranced woodlands and endless landscapes of this stunning part of the world, it is an experience that will live long in the memory. Mountain bikers will be in their element riding across the rugged mountain terrain and birdwatching is also of note here. The hacienda runs a successful condor rehabilitation programme, so the chances of seeing condors soaring overhead are excellent. Guests can also take a traditional embroidery class or simply choose to relax in this fabulous rural idyll. Evenings at Zuleta are a treat. After a hearty dinner, head outside to enjoy a cracking bonfire, Andean music, and extraordinary stargazing.

On your final morning, you will be transferred back to Quito to make the journey home, having enjoyed spending time exploring some of the planet’s most amazing landscapes and meeting some of the world’s most incredible wildlife.

Accommodation: Hacienda Zuleta ( 3 nights )

We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something completely bespoke to you.
Call us on 020 3930 4802 to start planning your holiday.

Price Guide: ( based on double occupancy and includes international flights)

Departing	Price from^* Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers. Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type. Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.	Deposit from ^*	Enquire
December 2024	GBP £10,100	GBP £1,500	plan your trip
January 2025	GBP £10,100	GBP £1,500	plan your trip
February 2025	GBP £10,100	GBP £1,500	plan your trip
March 2025	GBP £10,100	GBP £1,500	plan your trip
April 2025	GBP £10,100	GBP £1,500	plan your trip
May 2025	GBP £10,100	GBP £1,500	plan your trip
June 2025	GBP £10,100	GBP £1,500	plan your trip
July 2025	GBP £9,800	GBP £1,500	plan your trip
August 2025	GBP £9,800	GBP £1,500	plan your trip
September 2025	GBP £9,800	GBP £1,500	plan your trip
October 2025	GBP £9,800	GBP £1,500	plan your trip
November 2025	GBP £9,800	GBP £1,500	plan your trip

December 2024
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £10,100
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
January 2025
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £10,100
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
February 2025
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £10,100
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
March 2025
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £10,100
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
April 2025
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £10,100
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
May 2025
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £10,100
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
June 2025
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £10,100
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
July 2025
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £9,800
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
August 2025
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £9,800
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
September 2025
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £9,800
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
October 2025
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £9,800
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
November 2025
Price from ^*

Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.

Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.

Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £9,800
Deposit from*
GBP £1,500
plan your trip