Join a hosted visit through the countryside around Riobamba to glimpse Andean rural life. Meet local producers or artisans, see traditional fields backed by volcanic ridges, and hear how seasonal rhythms shape work, markets and community ties.

From a historic hacienda setting, this gentle cultural encounter emphasizes conversation and authenticity over spectacle—ideal for thoughtful photography and a respectful window onto everyday Ecuador.

Walk the lofty moorlands of El Cajas National Park, a rugged mosaic of wind-rippled grasslands, twisted quinua trees and more than 700 glacial lagoons linked by clear streams. Crisp air and vast horizons invite unhurried wildlife watching and photography.

Reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands, this serene landscape shelters hummingbirds and Andean waterfowl among cushion plants and lichens. Trails are moderate and scenic, rewarding you with far-reaching views at every turn.

Explore UNESCO-listed Cuenca on a guided city tour of cobbled streets, elegant plazas and the blue-domed New Cathedral. Step into a Panama hat workshop to see fine toquilla straw woven, blocked and finished, before comparing classic and contemporary styles.

Conclude at a local market alive with Andean textiles, fresh produce and flower stalls. Stories of craft, migration and identity lend depth to this refined colonial city in the southern highlands.

Stroll the white sands of La Lobería to watch marine iguanas warming on black lava and sea lions lazing in the surf. Slip into the shallows to snorkel with sea lions, over rocky reefs where damselfish, parrotfish and sea turtles often glide past.

This protected shoreline frames classic island contrasts—jade water, ebony lava and salt-white spray. Naturalist guidance ensures respectful distances, rewarding encounters and memorable images.

Cruise by small boat to Isla Lobos, landing on a rocky trail to observe colonies of blue-footed boobies at close range. After a simple lunch on board, snorkel in a sheltered lagoon where curious sea lions twirl through shafts of light and reef fish shimmer below.

Later, visit the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center to explore natural history, human settlement and ongoing protection of the archipelago. Exhibits illuminate challenges and hard-won progress in Galápagos conservation.

Explore the green highlands of Santa Cruz at the El Chato Reserve, walking quietly among giant tortoises grazing in mist-draped fields. With a flashlight, step inside ancient lava tubes to see rippled basalt walls and feel the island’s volcanic geology in cool, echoing chambers.

Continue to a local farm for a hearty lunch of regional specialties, then visit a small distillery to sample a traditional digestif. This blend of wildlife, geology and flavor captures Santa Cruz’s highland character.

Board a small boat to cruise Academy Bay and drop anchor over clear shallows perfect for snorkeling. Watch sea lions and rays sweep past sandy flats and, with luck, reef sharks and sea turtles patrolling the blue.

Lava ledges, mangroves and vivid water colors create a cinematic backdrop. Guidance from local crew helps both novices and experienced swimmers make the most of this protected marine reserve.

Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora to explore the science that safeguards the islands. See Lonesome George preserved, then walk through the giant tortoise breeding centre where juveniles are reared for release into the wild.

Displays and open-air pens reveal restoration work, invasive-species control and habitat research—offering a clear lens on how conservation and community coexist across the Galápagos.

Soar on a multi-stage zip-line canopy adventure across forested ravines near Mindo, feeling cool mist and birdsong as you sweep over the treetops. Panoramic platforms reveal layered ridgelines and lush valleys with exhilarating 360-degree views.

This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour. Helmets, harnesses and safety briefings are provided; best for active travellers comfortable with heights.

Join a hands-on chocolate-making workshop to follow cacao from bean to bar. Roast, winnow and grind fresh nibs, then temper silky chocolate before tasting flights that reveal notes from tropical fruit to toasted nuts.

This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour. Learn how Ecuador’s prized cacao and rainforest terroir shape distinctive flavors and textures.

Embark on a boat trip to Santa Fe for a wet landing on a pristine white-sand cove. Follow a short guided hike to spot the pale land iguana, then snorkel in turquoise water where sea lions often glide close.

This optional excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to weather and park regulations. A wet landing over a rocky seabed is required; water shoes are recommended.

Cruise to Bartolomé Island to climb a wooden boardwalk viewpoint over cinder slopes for sweeping vistas of Twin Bays and Pinnacle Rock. Afterwards, snorkel with penguins and sea turtles along lava ledges in clear, cool water.

This optional day trip is at additional cost and bookable on tour, and depends on sea and weather conditions. Stark lava fields, cones and tubes reveal the archipelago’s raw geology.

Experience the rare thrill of placing one foot in each world as you stand astride the Equator at a site north of Quito. Explore engaging exhibits that introduce geodesy and indigenous cosmology, and capture the moment where the north and southern hemispheres meet for that essential photo.

Beyond the snapshot, learn how pre-Columbian cultures tracked the sun and how 18th-century expeditions refined global mapping here. Wide Andean skies and volcanic horizons frame a stop that is playful, informative and truly geographic.

Glide above emerald treetops as you ride a canopy cable car designed for sweeping 360-degree views of the cloud forest of Mindo. Follow mossy trails to tumbling cascades while scanning for iridescent hummingbirds, toucanets and colorful tanagers flitting through the canopy.

At around 1,300 metres, this biodiverse transition zone between the lowlands and Andes nurtures orchids, butterflies and crystalline streams. Birdsongs, leaf-filtered light and mist-cooled air make every step feel close to the forest’s living pulse.

Visit the rim of the Pululahua Crater to gaze into one of the world’s few inhabited volcanic calderas. Patchwork fields on the floor, drifting mists and steep green walls create a natural amphitheatre that invites you to pause for photos and reflection.

Shaped by ancient eruptions, the caldera shelters a unique microclimate. From this vantage, trace the sweep of the Avenue of the Volcanoes as the high Andean landscape rolls away toward snow-dusted peaks.

Travel the storied Avenue of the Volcanoes to panoramic viewpoints in Cotopaxi National Park. On clear days, the volcano’s near-perfect snow-capped cone commands the horizon, while high páramo grasses, wild horses and mirror-bright lagoons set an elemental Andean scene.

Later, visit a rose farm to see Ecuador’s meticulous cultivation and export craft inside fragrant greenhouses. Meet growers and learn what gives these long-stemmed blooms their celebrated elegance and longevity.

Discover Quito’s UNESCO-listed historic centre as you join a guided walking tour through Independence Square, past the Carondelet Presidential Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace. Step inside the baroque Compañía de Jesús, famed for its gilded interior, and admire the vast San Francisco Church and Convent set on a lively Andean plaza.

Nestled beneath the Pichincha volcano, Quito reveals stone-carved facades, incense-scented naves and intimate courtyards that speak to centuries of faith and craft. Rich architectural details and local street life bring this elevated capital’s heritage into clear focus.