
The Experience
Darwin’s Enchanted Islands & the Ecuadorian Highlands
Rare is the traveler who returns home untouched by the magic of Ecuador. The glorious scenery, rich traditions and welcoming people of the highlands – it’s not just the thin Andes air that leaves you breathless. Witness blue-footed boobies perform a dance of seduction, while five hundred-pound tortoises lumber across the volcanic Galápagos landscape. Curious penguins swim figure eights among snorkelers, as marine iguanas enjoy a casual seaweed lunch. The unusual and wonderful wildlife that intrigued Charles Darwin when he visited the islands in 1835 is still here. To experience this land firsthand is to feel a sense of joy and wonder in one of the world’s last great wild places.
Explore highland villages, where Otavaleño Indians continue centuries-old traditions
Connect with one of Ecuador’s foremost master weavers during a tour of his studio
Visit award-winning Condor Huasi, a rehabilitation center for Andean condors
Get set for a life-altering experience as you view Galápagos wildlife up close with an expert local guide
Swim and snorkel with sea lions and, yes, even with white-tipped reef sharks!
The Route
