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Ecuador & Galapagos Holidays

A family tour of Ecuador and an amazing Galapagos wildlife cruise

13 Night Itinerary from  £5,887

Ninos Galapagos Family Tour

Explore Ecuador's natural wonders including a 7-night Galapagos cruise with close encounters with tame wildlife that will inspire youngsters to develop an appreciation of the natural world. Doing so with your family builds a bond and interest for life.

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Tour Route

Travel Highlights

  • Departing the UK: 23 May, 6 June, 18 July and 1 August 2024
  • Visit the colourful Indian market in the Andean town of Otavalo
  • Explore the colonial centre of the Ecuadorian capital
  • Spend a day in the unique Bellavista Cloud Forest
  • Take a trip to the Equatorial Monument
  • Hike in the foothills of Cotopaxi Volcano and visit a local Indian Market
  • Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime seven night Galapagos Islands cruise 
  • Learn about navigation and nautical skills and enjoy on-board family facilities
  • Get up close to the amazing nature in the company of a child-friendly naturalist guide
  • Snorkel with the friendly sea lions

This itinerary can be tailored to your preferences by our specialist advisors, who can provide a guaranteed price based on your choice of route, duration, flights, hotels, transport and excursions.

Tour Itinerary

Otavalo

Quito & Otavalo Market - 6 Nights

Day 1 - Fly to Quito

Day 2 - Guided tour of Quito 

Day 3 - Full day excursion to Bellaviate Cloud Forest

Day 4 - Otavalo Market & Andean Landscapes

Day 5 - The Equatorial Monument

Day 6 - Cotopaxi National Park & Indian Market

  • Full Description
  • Accommodation

Thursday, 28 March 2024

Fly to Quito

Depart the UK on your flight to Quito, arriving in the same evening. Our friendly guide will meet your family and take you to your hotel for a four night stay. Your guide will also provide a briefing and introductory walk of the area around your hotel, so you are well prepared for your activities ahead. Our guides are very experienced working with families of all ages and will ensure each excursion or guided tour is adapted to your family's individual requirements.


Friday, 29 March 2024

Guided tour of Quito 

Today enjoy a guided tour of Quito, again completely adaptable to your family's interests, including the magnificent old colonial centre, the Gold Museum, the cathedral and main square with the impressive Presidential Palace. 


Saturday, 30 March 2024

Full day excursion to Bellavista

Today enjoy a full day excursion the Bellavista Cloud Forest. Here, observe hummingbirds on a guided hike with a naturalist guide into the forest. You will also see many species of plants and birds, as well as stunning views and the remarkable ever-changing light. Lunch is included today. 


Sunday, 31 March 2024

Otavalo market & Andean Landscapes

Today enjoy an included visit to nearby Andean towns, villages and famous Otavalo Market. Strolling around Otavalo on market day is a festival for the eyes. You will see people selling textiles, jewellery, hats, native art and woollen jumpers, as well as all kinds of exotic fruit and vegetables. A chance to try your haggling skills with the merchants. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.


Monday, 01 April 2024

The Equatorial Monument

Enjoy a half-day excursion to the Equator Monument, which stands as a tribute to the French scientists who in the 1700s made history by determining the shape of the earth. We also visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the Monument, where the colourful way of life of the different ethnic groups of Ecuador are displayed.


Tuesday, 02 April 2024

Cotopaxi National Park & Indian Market

Today we take the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Machachi local market, where there are many unique local arts, crafts and textiles on offer. Then continue to Cotopaxi and the magnificent, Cotopaxi Volcano. At 5.897 metres above sea level, the volcano is considered the highest active volcano in the world! You will have an opportunity to take short hikes and learn about the flora and fauna of the Paramo. Also depending on weather conditions, visit the "refuge" located at 4.800 meters. An invigorating day.

Plaza Sucre

Quito - Tourist Hotel

The Hotel Plaza Sucre is located at the very heart of Ecuador's capital, in the historical downtown named by UNESCO as a Human Heritage site in 1978, because of its architectural beauty and cultural richness. The sober and colonial atmosphere of the hotel makes you feel being transported to the republican era. The hotel offers 25 comfortable guestrooms equipped with private facilities, TV cable, internet, Wifi, and modern facilities. Breakfasts are served in a wonderful rooftop patio with great views of "El Panecillo" statue which towers over the city.

1869 Plaza Sucre

Casona de La Ronda

Quito - First Boutique

This delightful 22 room hotel has been converted from an original Colonial townhouse, and is located on the pedestrian La Ronda street, close to many bars and restaurants. The rooms are comfortable and traditionally styled, decorated with fabricsand patterns from local communities. The hotel alos has a small lounge and fireplace, and serves local cuisine and Ecudorean wines.

1872 Casona De La Ronda

Casa Gangotena

Quito - Deluxe Hotel

Situated in a newly-restored historic mansion overlooking Plaza San Francisco in the heart of the Old Town, the three-story Casa Gangotena has 31 luxury rooms: a showcase of eye catching style, contemporary design, antiques, furnishings, fine dining, modern technologies and quintessential comforts. Beautifully and eclectically appointed, the hotel invites its guests to explore and to relax, whether in the dining room, glassed-in patio, garden redolent with the perfume of native flowers, wood-panelled library, or else atop its panoramic third-floor terrace. Sophisticated and eclectic, historic yet contemporary, at Casa Gangotena style, passion and service blend seamlessly and delightfully.

The hotel includes several 'experiences' for its guests at no extra cost, including San Francisco’s courtyards & Brewery, Museo del Carmen Alto, San Fransisco Choir & Bell Tower and Chocolate Quiteno tasting.

Rates are on a room and breakfast basis.

Casa Gangotena Hotel Quito
Galapagos Family

Galapagos Cruise - 7 Nights

Day 7 - Fly to the Galapagos Islands

Days 8-13 - Galapagos Islands Cruise

Day 14 - Departure

Day 15 - Arrive in the UK

  • Full Description
  • Accommodation

Wednesday, 03 April 2024

Fly to the Galapagos Islands

Fly to the Galapagos Islands and transfer to your chosen cruise yacht or ship for a 7 night cruise on a full board basis including guided excursions every morning and afternoon. We recommend the tourist class Cachalote Explorer, superior first class Beluga or the larger newly refurbished Galapagos Legend - all if which tailor the experience, lectures and entertainment to the ages of the children and teenagers that join the cruise. 

In the afternoon, visit Santa Cruz Island (Indefatigable) - we visit the highlands of Santa Cruz where Galapagos giant tortoises can be seen in the wild in the highlands of Santa Cruz. Continue to the Charles Darwin Research Station, a research facility and National Park Information centre. The Charles Darwin Station has a giant tortoise and land iguana breeding program and interpretation centre.

 


Thursday, 04 April 2024

Santa Fe Island and South Plaza Island

AM: Santa Fé Island (Barrington) - AM: Santa Fe is a smaller island of 24 km2. The visitor site Santa Fe is located on the northeast end of the island. Highlights include Santa Fe land iguanas, pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, mockingbird, and Palo Santo trees.

PM: South Plaza Island - Plazas consists of two very small islands that were uplifted from the sea, separated by a channel. Only South Plazas has a visitor site. The highlights include tall Opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas, rocky cliff that looks out towards open ocean which is also a nesting site for red-billed tropic birds and gulls, and a seal lion bachelor colony.


Friday, 05 April 2024

San Cristobal Island and Galapaguera

AM: San Cristóbal Island (Chatham) - San Cristóbal is the easternmost island of Galapagos and also one of the oldest. Cerro Brujo is a white sand beach on the west side of San Cristóbal. Highlights include: Sally Lightfoot crabs, marine iguanas, and sea lions, Chatham mockingbird, lava lizards.

PM: Galapaguera & El Junco - The lagoon is the only fresh water reservoir in Galapagos and has great views from its altitude of 700m in the highlands of San Cristóbal. Rainwater has collected in the caldera for hundreds of years and formed this lagoon. Galapaguera is a good area to see tortoises in their natural environment


Saturday, 06 April 2024

Espanola Island and Punta Suarez

AM: Española Island (Hood): Española is the oldest of the Southern Islands and is the southernmost in the archipelago. Because of its remote location a unique range of endemic species evolved here. Gardner Bay - Located on the northeast of the island, the site has a long and beautiful white sand beach inhabited by sea lion colonies. Visit to Islote Gardner and Islote Osborn - These islets are snorkeling sites where visitors will see an abundance of tropical fish, reef sharks, and turtles.

PM: Punta Suarez - The wildlife at Punta Suarez is plentiful and varied. Along the cliff visitors can enjoy the blowhole where seawater is forced about 20m into the air. The highlights are the Waved albatross (April-Dec) that are only found on Hood, Galapagos Hawks, blue-footed boobies, Ñasca boobies, and Española lava lizards.

 


Sunday, 07 April 2024

Floreana Island and Punta Cormorant

AM Floreana Island (Charles): Floreana is best known for its colourful history of buccaneers, whalers, convicts, and early colonists.

PM Punta Cormorant has two contrasting beaches and a large inland lagoon where pink flamingoes can be seen. We continue to Devils Crown, a snorkelling site located just off Punta Cormorant. The site is a completely submerged volcano that has eroded to create the appearance of a jagged crown. And fianlly today, we visit Post office Bay, one of the few sites visited for its human history. Visit the wooden mail barrel where letters are dropped off and picked up and remains of the Norwegian fishing village.

 


Monday, 08 April 2024

Santa Cruz and Santiago Island

AM Santa Cruz Island (Indefatigable) - Dragon Hill is located in the northwestern side of Santa Cruz Island. Some highlights include small lagoons with flamingos, Palo Santo trees, and Opuntia cactus.

Santiago Island (James): Santiago Island is located between Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands. This Island offers a wide variety of seabirds, marine iguanas and fur seals.

PM Sullivan Bay. This site is of great geological interest. Highlights: 100 hundred year old lava flow field, pahoehoe formations and lava bubblesSanta Cruz and 


Tuesday, 09 April 2024

Genovesa Island and Prince Philip's Steps

AM: Genovesa Island (Tower): Genovesa is an eroded flat volcanic island, with a natural harbor, which is actually the submerged caldera of this volcanic island. Darwin Bay - The steep cliffs of this area dominate the island. This area is home to thousands of frigate birds, red-footed boobies, Noddy terns, lava gulls, tropicbirds, doves, storm petrels and Darwin's finches.

PM: Prince Philip's Steps - We take a dingy ride and we make a dry landing on Prince Phillips's Steps (Barranco), we walk and observe the interesting lives of the birds here. There is a good possibility of seeing the unique "Short eared owl" at this site. During the dinghy rides along the cliffs fur seals and several species of seabirds can be spotted.


Wednesday, 10 April 2024

Turtle Cove and fly back to the UK

AM: Caleta Tortuga (Turtle Cove) - Turtle Cove is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and a perfect example of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat. Then transfer to Baltra for return flight to the mainland for your overnight flight back to the UK. 


Thursday, 11 April 2024

Arrive in the UK

Arrive back in the UK in the morning.

Cachalote Explorer

Galapagos Islands - Tourist Motor Yacht

Enjoy the small ship experience of cruising from island to island, getting close to the shore, feel the breeze and listening to the sea. After the morning and afternoon landings ashore, you can enjoy the spacious sundeck areas, sunbathe and admire the sea lions playing around you.

The Cachalote Explorer accommodates up to 16 passengers in 8 air conditioned double cabins, all with private bathroom facilities. There is a crew of 9 including your Galapagos Naturalist Guide that will take you on daily excursions.

The Cachalote Explorer offers good comfort, a quality experience and exceptional value

Beluga

Galapagos Islands - First Motor Yacht

The M/Y Beluga is a spacious and comfortable superior first class motor yacht accommodating up to 16 passengers in 8 double cabins. One of these has an additional berth which becomes a triple room which is ideal for families.

Beluga is fully air-conditioned, has spacious social areas with all the comforts and facilities of a superior first class Galapagos yacht, including panoramic windows in the lounge and dining area and a large sundeck for relaxing, sightseeing or sunbathing.

Enjoy daily excursions ashore led by expert naturalist guides, fascinating evening talks and explorations by dinghy.

View the video

The first class Beluga

Galapagos Legend

Galapagos Islands - First Cruise Vessel

The Galapagos Legend is a spacious ship that can take up to 100 passengers, and has a large outdoor area with sun deck, bar and swimming pool. 5 expert Naturalist Guides take you ashore on daily excursions, morning and afternoon, in small groups of up to 16 guests. The cabins are comfortable and modern, located on four decks, all with lower berths and private facilities. 3 cabins are interior and the rest have either portholes or panoramic windows - and top suites have balconies.

IDEAL FOR FAMILIES

The Legend is the perfect ship for families, as she has 3/4 bed family suites, kids club, kids menu and activities to keep children entertained.

View the video

 

Galapagos Legend sailing in the Galapagos Islands

Price Guidelines

Season Low Season
Travel Dates 23 May, 6 June, 18 July and 1 August 2024
Room Arrangement Tourist First
Multiple Travellers - Twin Room £5,887 £6,340

Prices are a guideline and per person. Please request a quote for Special Events, Christmas, New Year's Eve & Easter.


What's Included

  • 15 Days/14 Nights
  • International flights (1 overnight)
  • Internal flights
  • Accommodation as shown on the itinerary
  • 13 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 7 dinners
  • 7-night Galapagos Cruise including all meals and daily excursions
  • Transfers to and from airports
  • Transport throughout the itinerary
  • Excursions listed, all with expert, English-speaking guides
  • Children 7-11 years have reduction of 20% when sharing a room/cabin.

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