Ecuador & Galapagos
Cloud Forest, Volcanoes & the enchanted Galapagos Islands
Mashpi Tour - 14 Night Itinerary
Discover Quito's famous old town, immerse yourself in the cloud forest, travel high into the Andes and spend 7-nights exploring the Galapagos Islands with expert naturalist guides
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Travel Highlights
- Discover Quito's UNESCO protected old town on a guided tour
- Spend 3-nights at the luxury Mashpi Lodge in the Ecuadorean cloud forest
- Enjoy daily guided walks in the cloud forest discovering incredible flora, fauna, birds and wildlife
- Visit the local Indian market in the Andean town of Machachi
- Travel through the dramatic Avenue of the Volcanoes and observe mighty Cotopaxi volcano
- Enjoy an unforgettable 7-night Galapagos Cruise on the first class superior yacht Beluga
- Enjoy daily guided excursions, dinghy rides and treks with expert naturalist guides
- Snorkel and come face-to-face with the extraordinary creatures in the Galapagos Islands, unafraid of humans
Tour Route
- Quito - 2 Nights
- Mashpi Lodge - 3 Nights
- Return to Quito - 2 Nights
- Galapagos Islands Cruise - 7 Nights
This itinerary can be tailored to your preferences by our specialist advisors, who can provide a guaranteed price based on your choice of departure date, route, duration, flights, cabin, hotels, transport and excursions.
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Tour Itinerary
Quito
2 NightsDay 1 - Fly to Quito
Day 2 - Guided City tour
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Fly to Quito
Depart the UK on a daytime flight to Quito. On arrival in the evening, our guide will transfer you to your chosen hotel for a 2-night stay including breakfast.
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Guided tour of Quito
Today enjoy a guided tour of Quito with our expert local guide visiting Independence Square, the Presidential Palace, Cathedral and Archbishop's Palace. Marvel at the exquisite stone facade of La Compañía Church and continue to San Francisco convent and its magnificent church, built over the ruins of the Inca Palace in the 16th century. We also visit to the Metropolitan Cultural Centre, the home of former philanthropist Maria Augusta Urrutia, but also the Alberto Mena Caamaño museum, which has a waxwork depiction of the beginning of the independence struggle, as well as modern and historical works of art.
Gina Castillo
Rincon Puembo
The Rincon de Puembo is located 20 minutes from Quito's new airport, in the small town of Puembo, making it ideal for travellers having to overnight in between flights. The accommodation is all found in a replica colonial-style street, with wonderful traditional touches. Perfect for relaxing by the pool and taking a rest stop from…
Dann Carlton Hotel
The Dann Carlton Hotel is an elegant and cozy first class hotel located in the centre of Quito close to the old town. Enjoy attractive interior spaces, with avant-garde design for a relaxed and pleasant stay.
The hotel has 210 air-conditioned rooms, with queen size beds, TV, FREE Wi-Fi, telephone, desk and chair, two types of pillow,…
Casa Gangotena
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…
Mashpi Lodge
3 NightsDay 3 - Drive to Mashpi Lodge
Day 4 - Exploring the cloud forest
Day 5 - Exploring the cloud forest
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Drive to Mashpi Lodge
This morning we drive to Mashpi Lodge (about 3 hours from Quito), visiting the Pululahua Crater and archaeological ruins at Tulipe on the way. On arrival, check-in and relax amidst the nature of the cloud forest. We stay for 3-nights with all meals included. Mashpi Lodge is located in 1,300-hectares of pristine lush tropical forest and 900 m (3,116 feet) above sea level. Here you will experience a profusion of plant species, a staggering 500 species of birds, monkeys, peccaries and even puma.
Friday, 26 June 2026
Exploring the cloud forest
Today your expert naturalist guide will take you on guided walks into the cloud forest. You can also opt to ride aboard the Dragonfly, an innovative cable system which carries you under, through and above the forest canopy: a unique way to see the world anew. Spend time in the expedition room or laboratory learning about the nature and wildlife in the cloud forest.
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Exploring the cloud forest
A further day of discoveries with your expert naturalist guides. Return to the lodge to relax in the spa and wellness centre - or enjoy the views of the cloud forest from the observation tower.
Mashpi Lodge
Located in the Ecuadorian Choco, just 3 hours’ drive from Quito, lies Mashpi Lodge, in the heart of a 1,300-hectare pristine lush tropical forest where you will experience the perfect fusion of nature and luxury. The lodge offers the perfect base for adventures in the Ecuador forest, where you discover the sounds and colours of…
Return to Quito
2 NightsDay 6 - Drive back to Quito
Day 7 - Cotopaxi volcano & Machachi market
- Full Description
Drive back to Quito
This morning we drive back to Quito and check-in to your chosen hotel for a 2-night stay including breakfast. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Monday, 29 June 2026
Cotopaxi volcano & Machachi market
We head into the high Andes today following in the footsteps of the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt and discover what in 1802 he called the Avenue of the Volcanoes. The route is surrounded by snowcapped summits and the mystical beauty that, in times past, nourished the mythology of early cultures and later provided incentive to the conquering Spanish to settle here. On our way to Cotopaxi volcano we stop at Machachi local market. The magnificent, Cotopaxi volcano is considered the highest active volcano in the world! We take a short hike and learn about the flora and fauna of the Paramo.
Galapagos Islands Cruise
7 NightsDay 8 - Fly to the Galapagos Islands
Day 9 - South Plaza & Santa Fe Islands
Day 10 - San Cristobel Island
Day 11 - Espanola Island and Punta Suarez
Day 12 - Floreana Island
Day 13 - Santa Cruz & Santiago Islands
Day 14 - Genovesa Island & Prince Philip's Steps
Day 15 - Fly back to the UK
Day 16 - Arrive back in the UK
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Fly to the Galapagos Islands
Transfer to the airport and fly to Baltra, the Galapagos Islands. On arrival, transfer to the Beluga yacht for your 7-night cruise including all meals and daily excursions. In the afternoon, visit the highlands of Santa Cruz and the famous Charles Darwin Research Station, home to giant tortoises.
Wednesday, 01 July 2026
South Plaza and Santa Fe Islands
This morning we visit South Plaza Island observing tall Opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas. We walk to a 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. In the afternoon, explore Santa Fe Island with its land iguanas, pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, mockingbird and Palo Santo trees.
Thursday, 02 July 2026
San Cristobel Island
Today we explore San Cristóbal, the easternmost island of Galapagos and also one of the oldest. We walk to Witch Hill, a volcanic cone that looks over a beautiful white sandy beach which has plenty of sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, waders and marine iguanas.We also visit Galapaguera and El Junco, the only fresh water reservoir in Galapagos and has great views from its altitude of 700m in the highlands of San Cristóbal.
Friday, 03 July 2026
Espanola Island and Punta Suarez
This morning explore Española, the southernmost island in the archipelago. Visit Gardner Bay's long and beautiful white sandy beach inhabited by sea lion colonies. Continue to Islote Gardner for snorkelling with an abundance of tropical fish, reef sharks and turtles. In the afternoon, visit Punta Suarez observing the waved albatross (April-Dec), Galapagos hawks, blue-footed boobies, Ñasca boobies, and Española lava lizards.
Saturday, 04 July 2026
Floreana Island
Today we explore Floreana Island, known for its colourful history of buccaneers, whalers, convicts and early colonists. In he afternoon, visit Punta Cormorant with 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. And finally 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.
Sunday, 05 July 2026
Santa Cruz & Santiago Islands
Today we visit Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island, observing small lagoons with flamingos, Palo Santo trees and Opuntia cactus. Continue to Santiago Island with its wide variety of seabirds, marine iguanas and fur seals. In the afternoon, visit Sullivan Bay, a 100 hundred year old lava flow field with pahoehoe formations and lava bubbles.
Monday, 06 July 2026
Genovesa Island & Prince Philip's Steps
This morning we explore Genovesa, an eroded flat volcanic island, with a natural harbour and steep cliffs home to thousands of frigate birds, red-footed boobies, noddy terns, lava gulls, tropicbirds, doves, storm petrels and Darwin's finches. In the afternoon, take a dingy ride for a dry landing on Prince Phillips's Steps (Barranco). Here, we walk and observe the unique "short eared owl", fur seals and several species of seabirds.
Tuesday, 07 July 2026
Fly back to the UK
Disembark the Beluga and visit Turtle Cove, 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. Continue to Baltra airport and fly to Guayaquil where you connect to your overnight flight back to the UK.
Wednesday, 08 July 2026
Arrive back in the UK
Arrive back in the UK in the morning.
Beluga
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…
Passion
The M/Y Passion offers 14 guests the opportunity to enjoy a spacious cruise in the largest chartered yacht in the Galapagos. With over 200 square metres of fine teak decking, enjoy the Panoramic sky lounge or sun bathe further back on the secluded sun deck.
The gourmet chef serves food of international standards and weather permitting…
Price Guidelines
| Season | Low Season | High Season | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Dates | March - June & September - 10 December | July - August & 10 December - February | ||
| Room Arrangement | First | Deluxe | First | Deluxe |
| Multiple Travellers - Twin Rooms | £8,556 | £10,792 | £8,956 | £11,298 |
Prices are a guideline per person, for travel within the next year and booking early and are subject to availability. Please see below what is included and request a detailed quotation with a guaranteed price for your specific departure date and for Special Events, Summer, Christmas, New Year's Eve & Easter.
What's Included
- 16 Days / 14 Nights
- International flights (1 overnight)
- Internal flights
- Accommodation as shown on the itinerary
- 14 breakfasts, 10 lunches and 7 dinners
- 7-night Galapagos Islands cruise including daily excursions
- Transfers to and from airports
- Transport throughout the itinerary
- Excursions listed, all with expert, English-speaking guides
Complete a form or call our specialist advisors to start planning your trip. Please provide as much information as possible, and we will aim to respond to your enquiry the same or next working day.
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HIGHLIGHTS - 20 June 2026
BEACH RESORTS - Superb: Idyllic Setting, Remote Islands
PERU - Machu Picchu, Andean Landscapes, Historic Heritage
GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR - Friendly Wildlife on the Islands
BRAZIL NATURE - NEW Atlantic Forest Birdwatching Trails
BRAZIL IMPERIAL - NEW Brazil Royal Family Heritage
HONEYMOONS & CELEBRATIONS - "en Tete-a-Tete"
TRAVEL INSURANCE essential comprehensive cover