Total Ecuador and Galápagos Explorer

Overview

Our favourite hacienda accommodation in Ecuador. This 17th century property was formerly the residence of a much-loved president and remains in his family to this day. The illustrious history of the property shines through in every room, many decorated with antiques dating back to the original owners.

The libraries and communal areas are replete with photographs, paintings and exotic furniture, many made as gifts from abroad to the former president. Far from being a museum piece the hacienda is still very active with more than 2,000 hectares of pastureland; mainly used for cattle and horses (the stables have around 100 horses) as well as a trout farm. The estate produces its own cheese onsite and there is also an interesting program for the rehabiliation of Condors.

The surrounding countryside and nearby village are beautifully picturesque and relaxing. There are fifteen well-appointed rooms and service is helpful and friendly. A great deal of care is taken to ensure that you make the most of the wonderful surrounds and there are a number of activities possible including horse-riding, mountain biking, hiking, birdwatching and visits to the local community with its own weaving workshops.

The hotel is located some distance from the Otavalo Market itself (just over an hour) so it makes most sense to make the visit to the market on the journey to (or from) Quito.

Overview

Set in a converted Hacienda dating back to the seventeenth century in the small town of the same name, this is a charming property conveniently close to the market town of Otavalo.

Decoration is warm and very much a mix of colonial and indigenous styles with warm colourful shades and period colonial style furniture.

Though this is no longer a working hacienda and the formally vast grounds are now reduced, they are still large with stables, courtyards and beautiful gardens, not to mention many off and on-site activities to choose from.

Overview

The Illa Experience Hotel can be found in the neighbourhood of San Marcos, long the home of Quito’s artists, writers and musicians, aiming to encapsulate the traditional hospitality of quiteños.

In a restored colonial mansion, each floor represents a different period in the city’s history – colonial, Republican and contemporary – with six rooms and four indulgent suites featuring hand-embroidered linens and artisan-crafted furniture.

As well as well-stocked wine cellar, a rooftop bar with panoramic views and a spa with Jacuzzi, the restaurant here is a partnership with the award-winning minds behind Nuema, offering a refreshing take on Ecuadorian cuisine with farm-to-table produce.

Overview

Removed you may think, but the hotel sits quite comfortably in this characteristically Old World part of town, and being conveniently positioned at the colonial and cultural heart of Quito its thirty-one rooms have magnificent views over the square and surrounding monuments.

Inside the décor is elegantly traditional, but is kept quite minimal for a contemporary twist. Downstairs is the lobby, complete with marble floors, velvet Chesterfields, and peppered with the odd antique, as is the dining room, bar and conservatory central patio. Then via the spiral stairs (or lift) are the rooms that feature all the contemporary amenities matched to the more modern soft furnishings, but the high ceilings, mouldings, wall murals and marbled bathrooms nod loyally to the mansion’s past and the opulence of a bygone era.

We can arrange for a number of private city tours of Quito with our expert, local guides. Please discuss this with our consultants when planning your itinerary

Overview

The Plaza Grande, set in a beautifully converted Belle Epoque mansion of one of the city’s founding fathers, is not lacking in history.

The hotel is set in a prime spot in the beautiful old town on the Plaza de la Independencia. Fitting to the setting and history of the building the hotel is decorated in luxurious and opulent style with heavy drapes, tapestries and artwork adorning the walls.

As well as the traditional fittings, rooms are appointed with all of the modern amenities that one might expect from a hotel of this calibre, with 42 inch flat screen televisions, jacuzzis and sound-proofed windows installed in all the rooms.

Service is excellent and the hotel has several restaurants and a well-stocked wine cellar.

Overview

Patio Andaluz is just steps away from the main square of Quito’s UNESCO-protected colonial quarter and many of the attractions can be reached on foot. The hotel has been built in a converted old building set around a central patio ensuring that there is plenty of light in the day and spacious communal areas.

A protected historic building converted to a hotel, every room is slightly different. Some of the larger suites have windows onto the front and are spaced over two levels with a connecting spiral staircase. Other smaller rooms have limited window space with light coming from the well-lit internal area of the hotel.

Decoration is in the period style and the rooms are quite spacious and comfortable. Dining is in the central patio and the restaurant is among the better ones in the area. Staff are friendly and very helpful making this one of our favorite hotels in the historic area.

Overview

Focusing supporting the local community and protecting its biodiverse surroundings, Sani is an ecolodge set in 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres) of beautiful rainforest between two of the most diverse ecological reserves on the planet.

Make yourself at home in a rustic, yet spacious cabin, offering an intimate experience of the Amazon rainforest. Up to 38 guests can be accommodated in thatched-roofed cabanas and family-sized cabins, which are all screened to keep insects out and have eco-friendly solar lights. Warm fabrics and rich wood panels made for an inviting place to relax as you take in the sounds of the jungle.

The more adventurous can stay at the camping site, an hour away from the lodge. Together with local guides, guests make their way to the site in canoes. Tents are on platforms with thatched roofs to provide a little extra shelter, and all meals are prepared on site by a chef.

Twitchers will have a field day as there are some 550 species identified in the area. It is estimated that on a 4-day trip you may come across around 120 of these, while real enthusiasts may even hit the 250 mark. These flit between 1500 species of tree along with 1000 types of butterfly and 13 monkey species.

From the top of the 37m high tree tower, get an awe-inspiring view of the region, before heading out at dusk to explore Oxbow Lake – home to the endangered black caiman. Night time is when the forest truly comes alive, with night hikes to discover an astounding world of insects and animals. Take time to visit the Sani community and the Kichwa people and let them show you how their traditions still shape their lives today.

Overview

Possibly one of the most luxurious lodges in this very remote region, La Selva is a delightful and first class Amazon experience.

Eight naturally designed cabanas and fifteen suites are decorated simply but comfortably, all with private bathrooms and the suites come with their own private balcony and jacuzzis in the family ones. The staff are fantastically helpful not to mention a very enthusiastic team of bilingual guides to take you out to explore the rainforest each day.

La Selva sits on the border of the Yasuni National Park looking over the Garzacocha Lagoon and Napo River, so you couldn’t be better placed for your daily explorations. The scheduled activities of daily (and night time) jungle expeditions and canoe rides are included, and there is a good choice of special activities and programs (wellness, family, honeymoon).

For a remote Amazon ecolodge, the food is top knotch too.

Overview

The Napo Wildlife Centre is one of the best-run and most environmentally sound lodges in this area of the Amazon. There are 16 lakefront bungalows which are all spacious and decorated simply but comfortably, with king-size beds in every room. Each bungalow also has its own private balcony (with hammock) from which to enjoy the views.

Guiding is excellent and the lodge has a great observation tower from which to view the area as well as a macaw clay lick (one of the only one in the area). No motorised vehicles are allowed anywhere near the lodge and the last part of the journey to the lodge itself is by canoe.

Overview

Slightly closer to the town of Coca, Sacha lodge is more easily reached than other lodges (just 2.5 hours journey). The location is still excellent however and the lodge is one of the best in the area.

There are 26 comfortable cabins nestled in the jungle all including private bathrooms and hot showers. The high thatched roofs mean the rooms are spacious and airy and whilst by no means luxurious they are comfortable considering the wilderness location. There are interconnecting rooms perfect for families.

Guiding is generally of excellent quality with all tours in small groups and accompanied by two guides, a local, native guide raised in the area and a bilingual naturalist.

The lodge also has a very pleasant dining area and a canopy walk through the jungle great for spotting birdlife. The self standing suspension canopy walkways, 275m long and 36m high, is one of only a few in the world.

Overview

The Alya ensures a relaxing, informative and fun journey through this wonderful part of the world.

The 105-foot catamaran accommodates up to 16 guests in nine comfortable en-suite cabins, eight of which feature private balconies. Rooms are bright and fresh with large windows that allow plenty of natural light to flood in.

Itineraries combine hiking, snorkelling, swimming and kayaking with expert guided tours led by naturalist guides who will take you to the best spots on each island and help you get up close to the incredible wildlife of the Galapagos.

Back on board, there is a dining room, a library where you can unwind and watch a DVD, two bars and a sundeck with Jacuzzi – perfect for sinking into at the end of a day exploring, drink in hand.

Overview

Ocean Spray is a well-equipped and very reasonably priced vessel.

With a capacity for only 16 guests with eight very spacious cabins (the top four are 32m² in size) all with their own private balconies, this is a cruiser that prizes an intimate and comfortable Galápagos experience for its guests.

Enjoy al fresco dining on the deck to soaking in the Jacuzzi after your day’s excursions.

A comprehensive schedule of land-based and boat excursions to the islands will be discussed with you before the trip and when you first board the Ocean Spray. Talk to our designers for more details.

Overview

Billed as both the most luxurious and the most environmentally efficient yachts in the Galapagos, the Origin,  Theory and Evolve feature panoramic windows, a hot tub and while on board you’ll enjoy locally sourced, gourmet meals. They are both the only Relais & Châteaux-certified yachts operating in the Galápagos Islands and have been built with environmentally friendly, zero-emission material.

With ten deluxe double staterooms, each with large panoramic windows, private bathrooms, seating areas, local art work and satellite TVs, the yachts are able to accommodate up to 20 passengers in the utmost levels of comfort. The guide to passenger ration is one of the best in the Galápagos ensuring you enjoy first-class service.

The spacious interior features a dining and bar area, lounge, fitness centre, library, boutique and a computer station. Outside, the large sun deck features outside dining space, loungers, hammocks, Jacuzzi, hot tub and BBQ.

To ensure you make the most of your visit to the Galápagos Islands, daily excursions are led by two highly trained naturalist guides in small groups of no more than ten. You’ll enjoy nature walks with plenty of time for photographs and questions.

Overview

The Isabella II is a comfortable expedition yacht and also one of the smaller vessels of this standard in the Galápagos with capacity for just 40 passengers.

The 20 cabins are relatively spacious with double, twin and triple rooms available. Decor is modern and sophisticated. On the main deck you’ll find the dining room, library and bar while the boat deck is home to the fitness room, an al fresco bar and hot tub.

Guiding is excellent on the Isabela and there is state-of-the-art technology for multimedia presentations and natural history lectures. There are glass-bottomed boats, kayaks and pangas for exploring as well as snorkelling equipment for getting up close to the Galápagos’ incredible marine wildlife.

Overview

The vessel has capacity for just 48 guests, striking a good balance between size and facilities. All of the twenty four staterooms are located mid-ship on the upper deck and come with spacious double or twin beds. As one of the newer boats in the Galápagos, La Pinta is kitted out with the latest equipment and has an excellent restaurant and bar, jacuzzi and a gym.

All tours are conducted with small groups of just ten guests or less with expert naturalist guides. Travellers have exclusive use of snorkelling equipment, sea kayaks, wetsuits and trips in the glass bottomed boat.