Sea lions on the beach in Espanola Island in the Galapagos

Historic Haciendas in Ecuador & Galapagos Wildlife Tour with Cruises

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Galapagos / Ecuador

Places Visited

Quito, Hacienda Rumiloma, La Compania, Ibarra...

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Suggested Duration

12 Days

Revel in the opulence of a distant era and indulge in the tradition of historic haciendas in Ecuador. From presidential weekend homes to 17th-century colonial farms, this itinerary reveals the most luxurious of Ecuador's accommodation, blending it with timeless journeys into the country's highlights. Spend eight days amidst the rural enchantment of the Andes then four days on a Galapagos wildlife tour with cruises and land explorations. Expect exclusive experiences throughout.

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Discover Ecuador's finest historical accommodation with eight nights in traditional haciendas
  • Stay at the weekend home of two former Ecuadorian presidents and enjoy the tranquility of a huge private Andean forest
  • Spend four days on a luxury cruise through the Galapagos Islands, stopping at incredible sites that inspired Darwin's Theory of Evolution
  • Explore the fabulous religious art of Quito, the most influential South American city during colonial times
  • Enjoy two days at a luxury hacienda with iconic Incan ruins spread across its vast grounds
  • Say hello to everything from sea lions to giant tortoises as you get intimate with the Galapagos' famous wildlife
  • Travel on a refurbished historic train that crosses wooden bridges as it traverses through the Andes
  • Discover Ecuador's contemporary art with a night at a hacienda that's a living art gallery

Detailed Description

Ecuador's historic accommodation immerses guests in the rhythm and opulence of a bygone era. 17th-century farmhouses stand in vast untouched forests, 400-year old buildings have been transformed into sublime five-star hotels, and Incan ruins can be surveyed from lavish dining rooms. The historic haciendas in Ecuador aren't merely places to stay. They're destinations in themselves, fabulous showcases of history that also offer a private experience with nature. On this luxury Ecuador tour, you discover the country's finest accommodation and revel in the tranquility of the experience. Spend eight days exploring Ecuador's Andean highlights, and then four days on a Galapagos wildlife tour with cruises and land excursions. You'll sleep within nature reserves accessible to only a few guests and stay in the same rooms used by visiting royalty and heads of state. Every hacienda is completely different from the last.

Start in Quito and a hotel that's part of the first ever UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lavish and restored to its 16th-century pomp, this five-star offering is arguably the finest colonial-styled hotel in the whole of the Americas. It stands on the central square of Old Quito and makes a perfect base for discovering the fascinating culture and religious art of yesteryear. Travel higher into the Andes on day three and revel in the colors of Otavalo Market before a night at a serene 17th-century hacienda. A historic train takes you into the lower valleys where the awaiting hacienda serves as both a contemporary art gallery as well as a historic accommodation.

Hacienda Zuleta was the weekend home of two Ecuadorian presidents and has only recently opened its doors to the public. Share local wine and cheese with the hacienda's owners and spend the days exploring a huge private reserve. The hacienda has been breeding horses for almost a century and the forested trails make for timeless adventures. Snow-capped volcanoes persist in the background as you complete your time on the mainland in the Cotopaxi area. Here you'll have exclusive access to the only Incan ruins in Ecuador in private hands. The hacienda also has a presidential history and there's a wonderful sense of escaping into a distant time, complete with wild llamas running past and elegant evening dining.

Ecuador's history is both cultural and natural. Fly to the Galapagos Islands to complete the trip, with four days of luxury cruising. A sumptuous 16-passenger boat offers iconic days of sailing the ocean and connecting the sites that inspired Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Enjoy intimate encounters with sea lions, sea turtles, intriguing seabirds, and more. Then return to the boat for languid hours in whale-filled waters. Each wildlife site is visited privately, so there are no other tourist groups interrupting your immersion in the endemic and evolved wildlife. 

Starting Price

$11,695 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.88 stars based on 210 reviews.

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"Our guide in Ecuador was excellent, and the crew and guide...

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"I would look no further than Zicasso in the future to book...

Reviewed By Mamta S.

Luxury Ecuador Tour Review: Galapagos, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa,...
"We received absolutely first rate service from Paul at...

Reviewed By Arindam G.

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"Every step of the way, Zicasso’s team answered our questions...

Reviewed By Melissa S.

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