While the second smallest country in South America (about the size of Colorado), Ecuador, arguably, has the most intensely varied landscape in South America making it a good first step into South America. Spanning the equator Ecuador offers contrasting topography; from the colossal Andes, to the Amazon, the Pacific beaches, and of course the naturalist's paradise of the Galapagos Islands.

We traverse along Ecuador’s central highlands, home to the famed volcanoes and Ecuador's capital city Quito, originally an Inca city, recently declared a UNESCO Patrimonial Monument and world renowned Indian Markets such as Otavalo. Next we follow in Darwin’s footsteps as you make your way to the Galapagos Islands, a place where time has stood still for millions of years, a living testament to evolution, a naturalist’s Eden. The Islands are home to an incredible variety of birds, land and marine iguanas, sea lions and the giant Galapagos tortoise.