Join our world of travel
Receive handpicked inspiration, insider tips and exclusive updates from Emma, Deborah and the Essential Escapes team.
Speak to us today
Where the Andes meet the Amazon, and the ocean teems with life found nowhere else, Ecuador is a country of astonishing variety in a space no larger than the UK. From colonial cities and cloud forests to volcanic islands where wildlife shows no fear, this is a journey that shifts perspective. Our Ecuador and Galápagos itineraries are designed for travellers who seek adventure with meaning, experiences that bring you closer to nature, culture, and connection.
We design every itinerary around what draws you in: the wildlife of the Galápagos experience aboard a luxury expedition boat, the colour and culture of the highlands, or the majesty of the Andes. Each journey is shaped for balance: immersion and indulgence, discovery and rest.
Whether you’re travelling as a family or couple, our expertise ensures seamless connections, the best local guides, and carefully chosen lodges and vessels.
Begin in Quito, a UNESCO-listed city perched high in the Andes. Walk its cobbled streets with a local historian, discover artisan markets, and dine in beautifully restored colonial mansions serving refined Ecuadorian cuisine.
From there, travel into the Andean highlands, where volcanoes rise above emerald valleys. Stay at a historic hacienda near Otavalo, visit local weaving communities, or ride horseback across open plains with the peaks of Cayambe or Cotopaxi in the distance.
For a change of pace, venture into the Amazon, one of the planet’s richest ecosystems. Stay in an eco-lodge reached by riverboat, join expert naturalists on jungle walks, and watch the forest come alive at dawn with the sound of macaws and monkeys.
Then, the Galápagos is a living laboratory of evolution. Cruise or stay at an island lodge, exploring by kayak, snorkel and guided hikes. Swim with sea lions, spot blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises, and watch the islands’ unique ecosystems unfold up close. Whether you choose an intimate expedition yacht or a refined eco-retreat, we’ll ensure your experience treads lightly and stays with you long after you’ve left.
Ecuador and the Galápagos are as much about people and perspective as wildlife and wilderness. Visit cacao plantations where chocolate is made by hand, share a meal with Andean hosts, or walk with conservationists protecting fragile island habitats. Every experience deepens your understanding of this land, its resilience, and its quiet beauty.
From Andean summits to ocean shallows, this is travel at its most transformative, intimate, elemental, and unforgettable.
This is a land of scale but its most meaningful experiences often feel small: a...
Few places stop you in your tracks like Antarctica. A vast, otherworldly wilderness of sculpted...
A land shaped by fire and ice, where glaciers, volcanoes, and waterfalls collide in a...
Tell us your wishlist and we'll be in touch with the ideas.