Depart from London Heathrow this morning by British Airways flight to Miami (9 hours 45 minutes). Continue from Miami by American Airlines flight to Quito (4 hours). On arrival in Quito, you will be met and transferred to the Grand Hotel Mercure Quito. Stay here for 4 nights.

Full day excursion to the Cotopaxi National Park. Surrounding Cotopaxi Volcano, this is an ecological sanctuary of 36,000 hectares (88,920 acres), especially attractive for nature lovers, with the treeless vegetation of the Andean moorlands or paramo. From the entrance to the park, you travel on a dirt road for approximately 1 hour. On arrival at the park, you will receive a briefing about the flora and fauna of the area and visit the small Interpretation Centre. Continue on to Limpiopungo Lagoon to see a variety of birds and occasionally, wild horses. On clear days, the Cotopaxi Volcano is an awesome backdrop. A short walk around the lagoon allows the observation of the Andean flora. After lunch at a local restaurant, board the "Chiva Express", a colourful one coach train, like a bus on tracks, for the ride back. A highlight of the trip is to 'ride the roof' with panoramic views of the stunning Andean region of Ecuador. A short stop at a hacienda is made on the way, where a mid-afternoon snack will be served. The Chiva Express ride ends at the Tambillo station, where the bus is waiting to transport you back to Quito.

Morning sightseeing of Quito and the Equatorial Monument. Quito’s colonial quarter is one of the largest and best preserved of South America and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your walk starts at the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace. Visit the temple of La Compañía de Jesús and its awesome gilded interior. Continue on to the Monastery of San Francisco, one of the great religious buildings of the New World; its impressive façade and atrium that lead to its Baroque interior influenced by Moorish style, with the winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. Afterwards continue to the Equatorial Monument, 25 kilometres north of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the different Native American groups living in Ecuador. Beside the monument there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs. The afternoon is free.

The day is free. Optional excursions can be booked locally.

Morning flight to Cuenca (40 minutes). On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Santa Lucia Hotel. Stay here for 2 nights. Afternoon city tour of Cuenca which is Ecuador’s third largest city. It’s red tiled roofs, cobblestoned streets, flowery plazas and museums make it very special. This comprehensive tour includes San Sebastian Plaza, a colourful artisans market, where handicrafts are sold. Visit the Museum of Modern Art which features an excellent collection of contemporary fine art. The original building was the “House of Temperance” where alcoholics were once shut inside its thick walls in an effort to cure them. A stop is made at Plaza San Francisco, where small handicraft shops can be visited and the exquisitely embroidered skirts of the cholas are for sale. Next is a visit to the flower market at the small plaza in front of the carved stone entrance to the church of El Carmen de la Asunción. From here, stroll to the main square, surrounded by the imposing blue-domed cathedral, the Court of Justice, the Municipal Palace, the Governor’s Palace and the Church of El Sagrario. Also, visit the ruins of Todos Santos, where in different archaeological strata are vestiges of the rough Cañari construction, the classical Inca stone walls without mortar and remains of Spanish arches. Then, a drive along the Tomebamba River to admire the city’s overhanging houses and the laundry spread out to dry on its river banks and finally enjoy a great view of the city from Turi Hill.

The day is free.

Leave Cuenca in the morning, traveling through the Cajas National Park to Guayaquil. A jacket and walking shoes are necessary when heading for the area of Cajas, 19 miles (30 kms) west of Cuenca. Cajas is lake country, a protected 28,800-hectare area starting at 3,000 metres above sea level; the region shows remains of intense volcanic activity and glaciation. The highest point is reached on the road at Three Crosses. The wind and drizzle can make it very cold, but the scenery surrounding these 230 lakes is splendid, for walking and hiking and observing flora, fauna and bird life. The vegetation includes small forests of quinua trees, a high protein grain. These dwarf forests are home to many species of birds like hummingbirds and the grey-breasted mountain toucan. The cold lakes of Cajas are full of trout. Lunch is included. In Guayaquil, stay at the Oro Verde.

Morning flight to Baltra in the Galapagos Islands (1½ hours). On arrival, cross the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island. Visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island to see the unique experience of Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat. Also stop at the Twin Pit Craters, great depressions of volcanic material, formed by a long process of slow sinking of the ground, where exceptional Scalesia trees, ferns, mosses and orchids can be seen in the surroundings. Continue to the Finch Bay Eco Hotel where you stay for 3 nights.

Your yacht excursion takes you to North Seymour Island. Here, on the flat surface, you will see Palo Santo trees and colonies of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and magnificent frigate birds. Towards the other side of the island, the ocean crashes against the rocks and sea lions surf in the waves.

Today’s excursion takes you to Plaza Island. This small island is full of fascinating wildlife both on the seashore and along the cliffs. You can see sea lions, land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, Opuntia cacti and vegetation that changes colours with the seasons.

Leave the hotel early in the morning for a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, home to famous “Lonesome George” and many other giant tortoises. Continue to the Baltra for the flight to Guayaquil. Transfer to the Oro Verde Hotel for 1 night.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport. Fly on American Airlines to Miami (4 hours). From Miami, continue by British Airways overnight flight to London.

Morning arrival at Heathrow.