Tailor Made Ecuador Holidays 2025 & 2026 

This small Equatorial country offers a huge diversity of wildlife, history, culture, scenery and more in a far more concentrated way than its far larger neighbours: from the breath-taking and varied scenery of the Andes to the steamy jungle of the Amazon rainforest, with so much more in between. 

 

Known for its orchids, the cloud forest is also home to a plethora of butterflies and over 450 species of birds, as well as waterfalls, hiking trails, adventure activities, and reserves protecting the biodiversity of the area. 

 

Otavalo, in the northern highlands, is world famous for its huge livestock, vegetable and colourful textile market, organised by the prosperous Otavaleño Indians who attend dressed in their distinctive costumes. In the surrounding area there are snow-capped volcanoes, lake-filled craters, rolling hills, cobbled lanes, and tiny, whitewashed adobe villages. There are leather goods to inspect in Cotacachi, and a walking trail leading to the rim of Cuicocha volcanic crater lake. 

 

The aptly named Avenue of the Volcanoes is flanked by eight soaring volcanoes, making the area perfect for hiking, with trails leading to craters harbouring turquoise volcanic lakes, usually with views of the biggest peaks, Chimborazo and Cotopaxi. In amongst this, you will find traditional indigenous and colonial settlements with their horticultural and artisan markets. 

 

For colonial architecture, there is nowhere better than the quintessentially Spanish colonial city of Cuenca. 

 

And then, of course, there’s the Galapagos Islands – the “Enchanted Isles” – with their stunning, volcanic scenery and abundance of native wildlife. Explore the islands from the deck of your sailing yacht, on foot and in the water. From giant tortoises to comical blue-footed boobies; from sea lions frolicking in the sea to flightless cormorants drying their wings out on the beach after diving for fish, octopi and eels. Climb a volcano, kayak to a white sand beach and swim with penguins, sea lions, rays and even sharks.