Luxury Ecuador Holidays

Flights to Quito take around 13 hours excluding stop-over time. There are currently no direct flight options from the UK; however, there are various indirect flights to Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito from various UK airports. 

 Ecuador follows Ecuador Time (GMT -5) and it has no daylight saving, so this stays the same year-round. 

There are various domestic flight options available from Quito or Guayaquil on the mainland to Baltra Island or San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. The flight from Quito stops at Guayaquil en route so most people prefer to get to Guayaquil first.

Ecuador is a country in the western part of South America. It has a population of around 16 million people, and it has a landmass of about 283,000 square kilometres. Ecuador is known for its high biodiversity and many attractions to visit.

Some popular places to visit in Ecuador are the Galápagos Islands, Quito, Otavalo Market and Cuenca.

The top 5 things to do in Ecuador are:

• Go to the Galápagos Islands
• Visit the Amazon Rainforest
• Visit Otavalo Market
• Visit Quito Old Town
• Explore Cotopaxi Volcano

Ecuadorian cuisine is a mixture of Spanish and Amerindian influences. It is heavily influenced by the culture of the people who live in Ecuador. The dishes are typically made with ingredients that are grown locally including potatoes, corn, rice, cassava, and plantains.

The most popular Ecuadorian dishes include empanadas, ceviche (fish), locro (a soup), tamales (a dish made with ground maize dough wrapped in banana leaves), and patacones (fried plantain).

The distance between Quito and Galápagos Islands is about 1,500 miles. If you fly, it will take less than 3 hours to reach Galápagos Islands from Quito.

The Galápagos Islands are a collection of 18 islands that are situated in the Pacific Ocean near Ecuador. The islands are known for their unique flora and fauna that is found nowhere else on earth!

The best time to visit Ecuador and Galápagos Islands is during the dry season from December to April. This is when there are less tourists and it is also when most of the animals give birth to their young.

Ecuador is five hours behind the UK.

• Flight is the quickest and safest way to travel between cities in Ecuador. 
• Ecuador has a good public and private bus network. 
• Within Ecuador’s big cities, you can cover most attractions by taking the bus or taxi. 
• Car rentals are an option for inter and intra-city travel, but poor road conditions and lack of signage make self-driving through the country challenging. Talk to our consultants about renting a car with a chauffeur on your Ecuador holidays from the UK, if you like the freedom and flexibility it offers.

Ecuador’s cuisine is marked with an abundance of seafood from the coastal region, meats with rice and potatoes from the mountains and a wide variety of fruits from its tropical forests.

Sip on warm bowls of fish soup, savour fresh ceviche, bite into deep-fried seafood, and enjoy lots of flavourful rice dishes with juicy meats. 

International cuisine, such as Italian and Chinese, is not hard to find in Ecuador’s big cities. Away from the tourist hotspots, the focus is on traditional Ecuadorian food made with locally sourced ingredients.

Travellers can explore the archipelago on a cruise or land tour. Cruises help maximise your experience in the time available. 

You can also explore the islands of the Galapagos on a land tour by staying at a hotel on some of the bigger islands, such as Santa Cruz or San Cristobal and then embark on day tours to the neighbouring islands. A land tour offers a lot more freedom and flexibility to your itinerary and is a good pick for a more immersive and relaxing experience.

Ecuador is a great destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Here are some outdoor activities you can try out on your holidays to Ecuador – 

• Set off on birdwatching tours in the Amazon forests
• Swim with sea lions and more at the Galapagos islands
• Go horseback riding in the Andes
• Trek to Ecuador’s many stunning waterfalls
• Sign up for white water rafting at Baños

Here are our top five cultural attractions to see, do and experience on your Ecuador holidays – 

• Wander through Quito’s Old Town
• Shop for jewellery, textiles and more at Mercado de Otavalo 
• Savour Ecuador’s many regional culinary specialities
• Visit the stunning churches of Cuenca
• Explore Ingapirca, among the country’s largest Inca ruins