Algarve Odyssey
The coast, villages and countryside of the Eastern Algarve and then explore the treasures of this most westerly corner of Europe.
The world's more beautiful on foot...
Call us on 01707 331133
Or, email us at [email protected]
Call us on 01707 331133
Or, email us at [email protected]
Exploring Andean Ecuador and the Galapagos where on each island we’ll walk with an expert naturalist guide
From£5,299
Ecuador
Sightseeing
Wildlife
Oct
What does this mean?
Tour codes: 45400
Full and half day walks at a moderate pace over hilly terrain. Half day walks will probably involve about 3 hours of walking, with full day walks having around 5 hours. Expect ascents and descents of up to 600m. Some days of this holiday will be dedicated solely to sightseeing (or include an element of sightseeing). To enhance your experience, a knowledgeable local guide will accompany your small group for part (or the majority) of the holiday.
Overview
Imagine an early stroll along the quay in Puerto Ayora, the pelicans and sea lions gathering in hope of some fisherman’s scraps. The sea lions have been known to relax on the sun loungers whilst waiting. Or picture the sun rising across snow covered Chimborazo on the barren altiplano.
Perhaps the most diverse of all our Latin American holidays, this is as good a microcosm of Latin America as you will find. Starting in the Andes at Quito, the most charismatic of capitals; its colonial centre makes it the most attractive of South America’s capital cities. After some time to explore we head south along the corridor of volcanoes, walking under Chimborazo (6,263m). You will learn how the summit of Chimborazo is the furthest point on earth from its centre, ride on the Devil’s Nose train, and observe and learn more of local life visiting homes, markets and communities along the way. Look out for the classic village scene of women in bowler hats and brightly coloured skirts. These clothes are not for show, they are everyday wear for the Andean ladies.
Cuenca is a beautifully preserved colonial city well worth exploring. Continuing from here we walk in the Cajas National Park where at up to 4000m, this lakeland landscape will be at the highest altitude we reach on this tour. From Cajas we descend to Guayaquil with time to walk the impressive Malecon, the redeveloped river front.
We fly to Baltra Island, a small island of the Galapagos where after lunch we enjoy a boat journey from Puerto Ayora to Isabella Island. We will enjoy some great walking through volcanic terrain, visit a turtle interpretation centre and hopefully encounter a myriad of diverse Galapagos wildlife.
Returning to Puerto Ayora we explore the area and spend a day, travelling by boat, to one of the other islands with more diverse habitat, flora and fauna. On each island, we’ll walk with an expert naturalist guide to make sure we get plenty of exercise whilst enjoying the huge natural diversity of each island for which the Galapagos are world famous, including sightings of Sea Iguanas and Blue Footed Boobies.
Click the button below for a detailed Holiday Information Sheet containing all the particulars about this trip.
NOTE: Itineraries and Holiday Information Sheets can vary by a specific date chosen
Itinerary & Travel
Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the outlined itinerary and advertised programme, local conditions can change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. This may mean that routes and timings need to be amended or the order of days may change, sometimes at short notice.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we may unfortunately need to withdraw a tour that is currently confirmed to operate and we therefore reserve the right to cancel your booking. We would always do our utmost to give you plenty of notice should we have to do this. Selected elements of this tour, including local attractions and restaurants, may change at late notice. Please ensure you have valid insurance cover before you travel.
Accommodation
Below is the accommodation featured on this holiday across all departure dates. Please refer to the Itinerary for more detail about each night's accommodation for each departure date.
The fully refurbished Hotel Mercure Alameda, offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere allowing guests to enjoy a comfortable stay and a range of excellent services at the best hotel in Quito. Rooms are comfortable and spacious with free Wi-Fi throughout.
Hosteria La Andaluza has been declared as part of the Cultural Heritage of Ecuador. It is a unique site which houses centuries of history. The Andean landscapes and beauty of its architecture make the hotel ideal for rest and relaxation. Early morning there are often outstanding views of Chimborazo to be enjoyed. Rooms are simply furnished but comfortable and welcoming. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi.
Centrally located in downtown Cuenca the Hotel Los Balcones offers traditional hacienda style accommodation of an excellent standard. Rooms offer safe, minibar and free Wi-Fi.
Centrally located, a short walk from the Park Seminario (look out for the Iguanas) and the Malecon, the Grand Hotel offers large comfortable rooms with free Wi-Fi, hairdryer, fridge and tea & coffee making facilities. There is a large outdoor pool on the roof of the hotel.
The Casa de Marita is a boutique hotel right in front of the beach on Isabella Island. The rooms are brightly coloured and offer Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a minibar.
Ideally located between the centre of Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Centre, the Hotel Silberstein offers comfortable rooms with Wi-Fi, ceiling fan and air conditioning. The hotel has an outdoor pool and a garden generally filled with flowers and bird life. It is a lovely place to relax.
Trip Information
This is a Grade 4 holiday which mixes active sightseeing and nature watching with mountain and coastal walks. The climate is cooler in the mountains, warm and humid by the coast. We will always walk at a gentle pace, taking into account the altitude in the mountains and the warmth and humidity on the coast. Quito is at 2850m, whilst this is unlikely to cause serious medical issues it will undoubtedly leave you a little short of breath on arrival. We are well aware of this having operated holidays here for many years. The programme has been tailored to offer a gentle start with time to acclimatise. Walks are accompanied by our RWH Travel tour guide and our Ecuadorian national guide so there is some flexibility in arrangements.
Local Transport Costs
All local transport costs in conjunction with the advertised activity programme are included in the holiday cost. There may be occasions where additional visits or excursions are added to enrich your experience, these will be paid for locally by you if you choose to participate. Local transport can be a mix of private hire coaches, taxis, local buses and ferries depending on the itinerary.
Optional Excursions
A range of local excursions and activities may be available to book at your destination through a local operator. We have no involvement in such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised or controlled in any way by us. Your contract will be with the local activity supplier and we accept no responsibility for their actions or omissions.
Holiday Budgeting
When budgeting for your holiday, you will need to consider drinks, any meals not included in the holiday price, non-included entrance fees, optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally and any souvenirs or additional services such as laundry. A general guideline for lunches and drinks is £10-£20 per person per day.
Currency in Ecuador
The currency in Ecuador is the US dollar. The Ecuadorians mint their own coins but all notes are standard American bills. ATMs dispense US Dollars.
Tipping
Although entirely at your own discretion, tipping is an important aspect of tourism and hospitality life and expectations are fairly high. In order to simplify tipping, we strongly recommend that you allow your leader to take care of making sure tips are given to hotel and restaurant staff & to local guides and drivers. This will be done using some funds provided by us together with, if you wish, a contribution from you, which he/she will collect during the holiday.
Tour Leaders
Your tour leader makes the world of difference to your holiday and ours are as passionate about discovering the world on foot as you are. They're resourceful, organised and widely travelled. They will handle all the local administration and other needs that might arise to ensure that you don't have to worry about planning your days and you can enjoy your holiday. Although leading group holidays, they won't forget that every group is made up of individuals. Each tour leader has their own individual style, talents and professional backgrounds and all are trained, qualified, experienced and dedicated to making your holiday as enjoyable, interesting and inspiring as possible.
Leader's Evening Briefing
Each evening, your tour leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. This will be your opportunity to discuss the details and ensure the planned activities suit your walking ability. If you have concerns on clothing or equipment, this can be discussed then also. If you do not wish to join the organised group programme, please let the leader know.
Local Guides
To enhance your experience, as well as your tour leader, each holiday will be accompanied by a well qualified and knowledgeable English-speaking local guide.
We fly from London Heathrow to Quito and return on Iberia, with a change of aircraft in Madrid.
Travel within Ecuador is by road, rail, and boat. Please note that the road system in Ecuador is not maintained to the same standard found in Europe, and occasionally detours or delays may occur due to blockages or road works. The Devil's Nose rail journey may be suspended without notice and be replaced with a coach transfer - we cannot guarantee that the rail service will be operating, but will include it if at all possible.
Booking Your Own Travel Arrangements?
If you wish to organise your own flights from a non-UK or provincial airport or travel by rail or car to your holiday destination, 'land only' reductions are often available. Please contact us for details.
Before finalising any independent travel arrangements, please check with us first - especially if doing so 12 weeks or more before your intended date of travel. If you do intend to join your holiday locally please do tell us at least 14 weeks in advance.
If you are joining and leaving your holiday overseas we assume, unless you advise us otherwise, that you will join and leave the holiday at your hotel.
Although airport transfers are not included for those making their own independent travel arrangements, if you wish to join the group at the overseas airport, depending on your flight arrival time, you may be able to be included on the group's transfer. Please contact us at least 5 weeks before departure for more details.
Please note that your flight must arrive within 30 minutes of the group flight to be able to join the group transfer. We also need your flight number, arrival time and departure point so that the group leader is able to meet up with you.
Luggage Allowance & Travel Documents
For all those booking a flight or rail inclusive holiday, details of your travel arrangements and baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days prior to departure.
Personal Details Check
To ensure that we can accurately administer your holiday arrangements, please confirm that the personal details we hold for you are up to date and that you have provided the information we need to secure your holiday travel and accommodation arrangements. Please check your passport details, date of birth and any other important details necessary for us to properly manage your holiday booking. You can view and update information already provided, and add details not yet asked for, by using the Manage My Booking facility on our website www.ramblersholidays.co.uk, or by calling our Sales and Reservations team on +44 (0)1707 331133. When you receive your booking confirmation please check the details as soon as possible.
General Passport Advice
It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to your home country.
Passport and visa requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements.
General travel and destination advice for UK nationals is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel and at www.gov.uk/travelaware.
Passport Information for Ecuador
Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry; this is a strict legal requirement from the Ecuadorean government. Without this minimum validity entry to the country will be denied. British Citizens do not require a visa to enter Ecuador. On arrival in Ecuador you will be issued with a stamp that allows stays of up to 90 days.
The holiday is on a half board basis with breakfasts and dinners provided in hotels or local restaurants. Meals commence with dinner on Day 1. Lunch is included on 4 days. The food is generally excellent with potatoes, beans and rice predominant in the mountains and fish common on the coast and in the Galapagos. Vegetarians are generally well catered for but some patience at mealtimes may be required.
The hotel(s) listed within this document are examples of standard only. Whilst we strive to deliver the hotel(s) listed within this Holiday Information Sheet, there will be times throughout the year when they change. If this occurs, we will advise you as such. From time to time hotels will change near to departure and you will not be advised until after arriving into the destination. We always aim to provide a replacement of similar standard and location, although we cannot guarantee similar facilities such as pool or bar.
Electricity is supplied at 110 Volts at 60Hz. If you wish to use electrical equipment you will need a two pin North America style adaptor with flat pins. (Supplies in some places can be at 220V).
More information can be found at https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/
Footwear
Lightweight waterproof walking boots with a good moulded sole (such as Vibram or similar) and a deep tread and which provide ankle support are strongly recommended and may be essential for some walks.
General Kit List
Outdoor activities are always safer and more enjoyable if you are prepared.
If you have not travelled with us before the following list might be of use:
This list is not exhaustive and every walker is different and may have their own preference.
Country Specific Kit
Wildlife and scenery viewing experiences are always improved with binoculars. For seeing a bird in the treetops or picking out some detail on the horizon they are invaluable. If you have a pair, please bring them with you on your holiday. On some holidays it will be appropriate to have them with you all the time. Sometimes you might prefer to avoid carrying the extra weight. Your tour leader will always be happy to advise which days it will be particularly useful to take them.
Travel Documents Checklist
Documents and Information to take with you:
Water To Go
An alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter such as a Water-to-go bottle available from www.watertogo.eu. Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles.
We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays.
Maps, Guidebooks & More
There are all manner of guides available covering Ecuador. Most notable are the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet.
Evolutionists might care to read the definitive text, The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin and another excellent book covering Ecuador is The Conquest of the Incas by John Hemming.
The Map Shop
Maps and guidebooks relating to the areas you will be walking in may be bought before your holiday from The Map Shop at www.themapshop.co.uk
Weather
Visit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination:
Health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP.
High Altitude
Altitude sickness can affect travellers whose itineraries take them above about 2,500m although some individuals can experience a milder form above about 1,900m.
Early symptoms include a headache, nausea, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and insomnia.
Further Travel Advice
For further advice please visit:
You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel with you for times when you're unable to wash your hands.
You must be adequately insured to join our holidays. You will be unable to participate in our local walking and other activity programmes without being able to demonstrate that you have valid travel insurance.
Please ensure that as a minimum your travel insurance policy covers you for travel to your holiday destinations (country and geographical region) and for medical expenses, mountain rescue (including helicopter rescue) and emergency repatriation to your home country in the event of illness or injury. Your policy should also provide adequate cover for the activities, included and optional, you are likely to participate in during your holiday.
Whoever you insure with, please ensure that you take full details, and ideally the policy itself, with you on holiday and provide our tour leader with your insurer's name, the policy number and emergency assistance contact numbers.
Please note that it is very difficult to obtain travel insurance once your holiday arrangements have started.
Extra Insurance
The Ecuadorian government have recently updated immigration requirements for travellers arriving in Ecuador. Any person entering the country must be able to show they have full medical insurance cover for the duration of the stay.
The Ecuadorian Government reserves the right to refuse entry to anybody unable to produce the correct documentation.
To avoid any confusion or delay at immigration we recommend you have full insurance policy details available for inspection at immigration rather than just a cover note.
The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up to date information on security and local laws for travellers, together with current passport and visa information, at www.gov.uk/travelaware. Please take a few minutes to look at the current advice on your planned destination.
Please be aware of what's going on around you, take sensible precautions with your credit cards and passport and avoid displays of wealth such as wearing expensive jewellery or watches. Do not carry more cash on you than you will need for each day, and we recommend that a money belt is used.
Responsible Travel
We're committed to ethical tourism in all our destinations. Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence of the country you are visiting. Travelling in small groups not only gives you an up close and personal experience of your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate environment. We feel that the most important starting point to protect the environment is to be out in it. For more details visit our website.
The Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust
Unlike many tour operators we have our own trust through which RWH Travel’s profits are channelled back into a variety of outdoor, walking-related or environmental conservation projects in the UK. The focus of the Trust’s financial support is Britain’s leading walking charity, The Ramblers, and their role in promoting the benefits and importance of walking to the British public. In addition the Trust welcomes applications for small grants from local organisations in the UK who need support for walking-orientated activities. This includes the establishment of footpaths and bridleways, funding for rebuilding bridges and renovating huts, as well as bursary funding for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for children who could not otherwise afford to do it. Please visit the ‘About Us’ section of our website and click on the Charitable Trust link for more details.
Heart and Sole
We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to be able to use our profits to help make a difference to people's lives. Heart & Sole is a venture managed by our office staff, whose aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries we visit. Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a long term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less developed countries where even a small amount goes a long way. See our website for more information and details of some of the projects we support.
Mobile Phones
Please do provide us with a mobile phone contact number. We will only use this to contact you with important information relating to your holiday arrangements.
Do keep your mobile phones switched on and readily available when travelling to the airport or if delayed in transit so that we can contact you with any last minute information relating to your travel arrangements.
As a matter of courtesy, please switch off your mobile phone during walks, or endeavour to minimise its use. Please also try to minimise the use of mobile devices during group meals.
Reviews
Useful Information
Capital
Currency
Language
Time Difference
Flight duration
Visas and Passports
January
Avg. Rain: 123mm
February
Avg. Rain: 154mm
March
Avg. Rain: 167mm
April
Avg. Rain: 141mm
May
Avg. Rain: 89mm
June
Avg. Rain: 60mm
July
Avg. Rain: 40mm
August
Avg. Rain: 37mm
September
Avg. Rain: 44mm
October
Avg. Rain: 58mm
November
Avg. Rain: 52mm
December
Avg. Rain: 63mm
View Dates & Book
Can't find what you're looking for?
Call for help or regional flights on 01707 331133