Highlights of Ecuador and The Galapagos

I recently travelled to Ecuador to sample some of the delights that the country has to offer. I flew with Avianca who have a daily direct flight from London Heathrow to Bogotá with convenient onwards connections to Quito and I thought they offered an excellent service.

From Quito I took a short flight to Coca in the Amazon basin before taking a 2 hour boat trip down the Napo River to the landing station for my lodge. This was followed by a 30 minute walk through the jungle and finally a 10 minute ride across a lake in a dugout canoe!

My final stop on the mainland was the region of Imbabura in the north of the country where I stayed in a charming hacienda tucked away in a secluded valley near the town of Ibarra. This area is known for its dramatic mountainous landscapes and beautiful scenery. During my stay I visited the towns of Otavalo (which has one of the largest and most colourful Indian textile markets in Ecuador), Cotacachi (known for its leather goods) and San Antonio de Ibarra (known for its wood carving). I especially enjoyed a walk around the beautiful Cuicocha Lake in the Cotacachi Cayapas National Park.

I then departed for the Galapagos Islands which are located 600 miles from the mainland and are a 2 hour flight from Guayaquil (2 hours 50 minutes from Quito). There are 19 islands in total and they can be visited all year round with two main seasons – hot with intermittent rain from December to May (with warm air and sea temperatures) and a misty (garua) season from June to November with cooler air and sea temperatures and more wind.

On Santa Cruz I stayed in the Finch Bay hotel which is located in a lovely bay surrounded by mangroves and just a 5 minute water taxi ride from the port of Puerto Ayora. I also visited the Scalesia lodge on Isabela which has African tented style rooms which will be opening later this year.

During my short stay on Las Encantadas (the enchanted islands) I managed to see some amazing scenery and get close up to some extraordinary and unique wildlife, including marine iguanas, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sea-lions and frigate birds. It was a truly fascinating experience!