Early morning departure from London Heathrow by Iberia to Madrid (2 hours 20 mins) continuing by non-stop flight to Quito (11 hours). On arrival in the evening, you will be met and transferred to the Mercure Grand Hotel Alameda Quito. Stay here for 4 nights. Meals: Inflight

Morning sightseeing of Quito and the Equatorial Monument. Quito’s colonial quarter is one of the largest and best preserved of South America and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Equatorial Monument, 25 kilometres north of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the different Native American groups living in Ecuador. The afternoon is free. Meals: B

The day is free. Optional excursions can be booked locally. Meals: B

Early departure from Quito by motorcar on the Pan-American Highway to the south, to visit the Cotopaxi National Park, an ecological sanctuary of 88,920 acres, around the magnificent Cotopaxi Volcano, which rises 5,897 metres (19,347 feet) above sea level. Lunch is at a restaurant of the area before returning to Quito in the afternoon. Meals: B & L

Morning flight to Cuenca (40 mins). On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Santa Lucía Hotel or similar. Afternoon city tour of Cuenca which is Ecuador’s picturesque third largest city. Meals: B

The day is free. Meals: B

Leave Cuenca in the morning, traveling through the Cajas National Park to Guayaquil. A jacket and walking shoes are necessary when heading for the area of Cajas, 30 km west of Cuenca. Cajas is lake country, a protected 28,800-hectare area starting at 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) above sea level. The scenery surrounding these 230 lakes is splendid, for walking and hiking and observing flora, fauna and bird life. In Guayaquil, stay overnight at the Oro Verde Hotel. Meals: B, L

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Guayaquil airport. Fly to San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands (1½ hours). Transfer to the M/V Santa Cruz and later you will take a dinghy ride to Cerro Brujo's white coraline beach. Here you should see a number of sea-birds like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds, and some shore birds. Also, look for Galapagos sea-lions. Return to the Santa Cruz. (Please note: On arrival at the San Cristobel Airport, you will be required to pay the Galapagos National Park Entry Fee, which is currently $100 per person - cash only). Meals: B, L, D.

The Santa Cruz will have sailed to Espanola (Hood Island). In the morning you will land at Punta Suarez (dry landing) for an exciting walk on lava/boulder terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April to December), Nazca (masked boobies), blue-footed boobies, swallow-tail gulls, and the famous blowhole. Among its landbirds, the Hood island mockingbird, and three species of Darwin’s finches are common highlights. Also, look out for red-green-black marine iguanas, and a rookery of sea-lions at the landing site. Return to the boat for lunch and sail to Floreana Island The afternoon excursion on Floreana Island is at Punta Cormorant (wet landing). On an olivine-crystal beach, an easy walk leads to a brackish water lagoon where bird species like Greater flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, sandpipers, and others may be seen. This outing also includes a white-sand beach where sea turtles come out at night for nesting (from December to May). There is a possibility of snorkelling from the beach, or joining the Santa Cruz’s Glass Bottom Boat or advanced snorkelling (if conditions permit). Meals: B, L, D

Morning excursion to the youngest island, Fernandina. Disembark at Punta Espinoza (dry landing) for a short walk. Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their island habitat with sea-lions, sally-light foot crabs, and hawks. The lava terrain calls for good walking shoes. Return to the boat for lunch and as the Santa Cruz sails along the Bolívar Channel to Isabela, astonishing views of the Galapagos’ youngest volcanoes can be seen. The nutrient-rich waters of the west can also bring surprises like encountering sea birds feeding, dolphins, and possibly whales. In the afternoon, depending on the ocean conditions, snorkel along the cliffs of partly-sunken Ecuador Volcano, in the northern tip of Isabela Island. A dinghy ride along the coastline is included. This is the nesting place for flightless cormorants. Wildlife also includes sea- lions, Galapagos Fur seals, Galapagos Penguins, Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies and noddy terns. This area has a very rich marine life, and is seasonally visited by green sea turtles. Meals: B, L, D

Early morning visit to the famous Charles Darwin Research Station which is located on Santa Cruz Island. Arriving at the Itabaca Channel, between the islands of Baltra and Santa Cruz you disembark at the public dock (dry landing) for a bus ride to Puerto Ayora. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the rearing-in-captivity programme for the famous giant tortoises. After the visit, return to Baltra Island airport in time for the late morning flight back to Guayaquil. Stay 1 night at the Oro Verde Hotel. Meals: B

Day at leisure. Evening transfer to the airport. Depart by Iberia non-stop flight to Madrid (11 hours). Meals: B

Arrive at Madrid, continuing by Iberia flight to London Heathrow (2 hours 20 mins).