Ecuador & Galapagos Holidays
Luxury Cruise
9 Night Itinerary from £8,518
Luxury Cruise Tour
The Darwin Tour - explore Quito and cruise the Galapagos for 7 nights aboard the luxury mega-catamaran Ocean Spray.
Select your Preferred Departure Date OR Default to Today's Date
Tour Route
- Quito - 2 Nights
- Luxury Galapagos Cruise - 7 Nights
Travel Highlights
- Departing the UK on Thursdays
- Enjoy a special Veloso guided tour of Quito's World Heritage Centre
- Discover the wildlife of the Galapagos on a 7-night cruise aboard the luxury Ocean Spray
- Observe the wildlife from your private balcony stateroom
- Enjoy delicious included meals in a friendly small ship environment
- Take daily excursions and walks through the islands with expert naturalist guides
- Gain special insights on the Galapagos with included lectures and talks
- Snorkel with sea lions and colourful marine life
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
Quito - 2 Nights
Day 1 - Fly from the UK to Quito
Day 2 - Guided tour of Quito
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Meet your Guide
Our hand-picked guides offer you an exclusive insight into the best excustions and activites on offer.
Saturday, 20 April 2024
Fly from the UK to Quito
Depart the UK on a daytime flight to Quito, arriving the same evening. You will be met by our representative and taken to our recommended hotel, the Casona de la Ronda, for a 2 night stay. Our guide will provide you with expert local advice, explain your programme and answer any questions you may have.
Sunday, 21 April 2024
Guided Tour of Quito
This morning is at leisure at your hotel to rest and adjust to the high altitude. In the afternoon, your Veloso guide will meet you and take you on a special tour of Quito, including the historic old part of the city with its fabulous colonial architecture, many convents, churches and small streets to explore. We will visit the three main squares including impressive San Francisco square as well as the Presidential Palace and the Gold Museum. Your guide will adapt the tour to your interests.
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.
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.
Luxury Galapagos Cruise - 7 Nights
Day 3 - Fly to the Galapagos & embark Ocean Spray
Day 4 - Pitt Point & Cerro Brujo
Day 5 - Floreana Island
Day 6 - Santa Cruz & Bartholomew Islands
Day 7 - Genovesa Island
Day 8 - Santiago
Day 9 - North Seymour & Santa Cruz
Day 10 - Mosquera Islet & return to UK
Day 11 - Arrive in the UK
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Monday, 22 April 2024
Fly to the Galapagos & embark Ocean Spray
Transfer to Quito domestic airport and fly to San Cristobal Island where you will be met and transferred to the Ocean Spray for your 7 night cruise on a full board basis. The Ocean Spray offers a choice of superb 7 night itineraries, the Isabela, Fernandina and Espanola itinerary or the East & Central Itinerary. We focus o the East & Central itinerary. Briefing onboard about the boat and the island.
After lunch, we explore Isla Lobos, a small island named after the sea lions that rest and play on its rocky shores. We then continue to Leon Dormido, an island comprised of two rocks which jut out of the ocean and home to a large colony of sea birds.
Tuesday, 23 April 2024
Pitt Point & Cerro Brujo
This morning we visit Pitt Point, home to many endemic species such as lava lizards and red-footed boobies.
In the afternoon, explore Cerro Brujo, a beautiful white-sand beach full of pelicans, blue-footed boobies, sea lions and marine iguanas.
Wednesday, 24 April 2024
Floreana Island
Today we sail north and explore Floreana Island, starting at Post Office Bay, a white-sandy beach where in the past sailors used to leave and receive their letters in a barrel. You can do the same even today!
After lunch, we visit Cormorant Point and take a walk on a trail overlooking a saltwater lagoon that is a favourite of flamingos. We continue to Devil's Crown, one of the best snorkelling sites in the Galapagos Islands islands, where you will observe an amazing variety of marine life.
Thursday, 25 April 2024
Santa Cruz & Bartholomew Islands
This morning we visit Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz Island. This shallow inlet is surrounded by mangroves and provides natural protection for a variety of marine life, including flamingoes.
After lunch, we sail to Bartholomew Island, home of the Pinnacle Rock, with the most famous view in the Galapagos Islands.
Friday, 26 April 2024
Genovesa Island
Today we explore Genovesa Island. In the morning we visit Darwin Bay where we take a walk on a coral beach where a 750 metre trail takes you through friendly seabird colonies.
After lunch, we visit Prince Phillip's Steps, an extraordinary, steep path leads through a seabird colony full of life, up to cliffs that are 25m high.
Saturday, 27 April 2024
Santiago
We arrive at Santiago Island where in the morning we explore Espumilla Beach, a popular place for marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot. We continue to Buccaneer Cove, a testament to the fact that Santiago was once a refuge for British buccaneers. After lunch, we visit Puerto Egas, with its black sand beaches, and once the site of small salt mining industry in the 1960s.
Sunday, 28 April 2024
North Seymour & Santa Cruz
This morning we explore North Seymour Island, with its rocky coast, passing colonies of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds.
After lunch we arrive at Santa Cruz Island, where we take an excursion to the highlands located in the northern part of the island with elevations up to 1500 mt. We visit a wild tortoise sanctuary.
Monday, 29 April 2024
Mosquera Islet & return to UK
In the morning we visit Mosquera Islet with its long narrow stretch of white sand, rocks and tide pools. We then continue to Baltra Airport for your flight to Guayaquil to connect with your overnight flight to the UK.
Tuesday, 30 April 2024
Arrive in the UK
Ocean Spray
Galapagos Islands - Luxury Catamaran
The Mega-Catamaran Ocean Spray cruises at 15 knots, one of fastest cruising speeds in the Galapagos. Add to this cabins with private balconies and the luxury of space for relaxation and al fresco dining and you will be smitten. The vessel features beautifully upgraded public areas and cabins, offering a contemporary and luxury on board experience.
Accommodating a maximum of just 16 guests, the elegant design includes a huge sundeck with teak flooring and a jacuzzi. On the main deck, enjoy fabulous cuisine in a stunning dining room, relax in the lounge - and enjoy a drink at the bar on the upper deck.
Ocean Spray offers a good choice of itineraries, from a 4 day introduction to the Galapagos to a 15 day mega cruise where you'll thoroughly explore the Galapagos from end-to-end.
The fully air-conditioned cabins are also spacious, each very well appointed as you would expect for a luxury ship, with private bathroom with shower, twin or double bed and your own private balcony looking out to sea.
Included in the price is use of wet suits, snorkelling equipment and the on board kayaks, further enhancing your enjoyment and experience. In summary, the Ocean Spray offers exceptional comfort and service in a stylish, relaxed atmosphere.
Price Guidelines
| Season | Low Season | High Season | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Dates | Year round, except Xmas & New Year and Easter | Xmas, New Year & Easter | ||
| Room Arrangement | First | Deluxe | First | Deluxe |
| Multiple Travellers - Twin Room | £8,518 | £8,847 | £8,811 | £9,138 |
Prices are a guideline and per person. Please request a quote for Special Events, Christmas, New Year's Eve & Easter.
What's Included
- 11 Days / 9 Nights
- International flights (1 overnight)
- Internal flights to/from the Galapagos Islands
- Accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners
- 7 night cruise on the Ocean Spray on a full board basis
- All transfers
- Excursions with English-speaking guides
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