An Unparalleled Luxury Trip
Welcome to a luxury experience in the heart of Ecuador, where natural beauty blends with opulence and personalized service. We invite you to immerse yourself in an exclusive program that combines the majesty of Quito and its surroundings with the serenity of the Galapagos Islands.






Our tour of Quito and its surroundings will welcome us with its beauty, architecture, and friendly, warm people. We will combine our stay at Pikaia Lodge, a new concept in luxury land-based eco-adventure in the Galapagos Islands, with exploring the nearby islands on the private yacht M/Y Pikaia I.
After arriving at Quito International Airport, we will transfer by private shuttle from the airport to the hotel located in the historic center of the city. Explore the Ecuadorian capital, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where colonial architecture and vibrant streets will immerse you in a unique cultural experience. It is a very special place, and visiting it at night allows you to admire its imposing illuminated architecture, including domes, bell towers, facades, and squares. At night, you can appreciate the beauty and charm of this site.
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, your guide will pick you up to begin your tour of the largest and best-preserved historic center in Latin America. The first stop will be the Basilica del Voto Nacional church, known for its neo-Gothic style and its gargoyle and Ecuadorian fauna decorations. We will continue the tour to the Plaza de la Independencia or Plaza Mayor, surrounded by the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop's Palace, the municipal building, and the emblematic Metropolitan Cathedral Church.
Our next stop will be the Church of La Compañía, whose interior is adorned and decorated with gold leaf. Then, we will visit the open square of San Francisco and its monumental church and convent, known as El Escorial de los Andes, built in the 16th century by the indigenous people of the School of San Andrés. We will continue to El Panecillo, a hill crowned by the winged Virgin of Quito, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the impressive Andean landscape. Here, passengers will enjoy a traditional lunch with a beautiful view of the city.
In the afternoon, we will continue our journey to Mitad del Mundo, located 22 km north of the city of Quito, where the equator is located. This location was determined in the 18th century by the French Geodesic Mission together with Spanish and Ecuadorian geographers. We will experience standing in both hemispheres and visit the Intiñán Museum, where we will conduct a series of dynamic experiments that confirm the location of the equator. At the end of the afternoon, we will return to the hotel.
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we will leave the city of Quito taking the Pan-American Highway south and arrive at Cotopaxi National Park after approximately two hours of travel. The Cotopaxi volcano is the second highest peak in Ecuador, with an altitude of 5,897 meters. It is an active volcano with a conical shape, snow-capped and surrounded by beautiful Andean páramo vegetation.
Our visit will begin with the registration of travelers at the southern checkpoint of the National Park. We will then move on to the interpretation center, where we can learn about the fauna, flora, and general characteristics of the volcano and the Andes mountain range. After this stop, we will take a walk of approximately one hour around the Limpiopungo lagoon, which is an ideal place to admire the majestic volcano and take beautiful photographs.
Alternatively, you can drive to the parking lot at the José Rivas mountain refuge, from where you can walk about 200 meters to reach the refuge that serves as a base for hikers climbing to the top of the volcano. The parking lot is located at an altitude of 4,600 meters.
During the tour, passengers will enjoy lunch with a view of Cotopaxi Volcano from the only hotel located within the National Park. After lunch, we will continue south to rest at our hotel.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then we will transfer from the hotel to Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito to catch our flight to the Galápagos. We will arrive at Seymour Airport on Baltra Island, where we will check in with the airline.
Our guests will be transferred to the VIP lounge at Seymour Airport (GPS), where our representatives will be on hand to assist with arrival procedures. We will then travel by private van to the Itabaca Channel, where we will enjoy a short 7-minute boat ride to Santa Cruz Island.
We will continue our journey by private transport for approximately 45 minutes until we reach Pikaia Lodge. Once we arrive, we will check in at the lodge. Check-in will be at 2:00 p.m. and check-out will be at 12:00 p.m.
During check-in, guests will receive a complimentary welcome cocktail and their printed itineraries. In addition, the reception desk will assign the most convenient time for a welcome briefing, where important information about the stay and the Galapagos Islands will be provided.
After check-in, we will enjoy lunch at the Evolution Restaurant or the Pool Terrace. Guests will have the opportunity to relax and familiarize themselves with the lodge's facilities and beautiful surroundings. We recommend taking advantage of the therapeutic treatments at the Sumaq spa, swimming in the Infinity Pool, using the gym, hiking, or biking within the 31 hectares of land located in the heart of a turtle reserve.
In the evening, we will have dinner at the Evolución Restaurant, followed by a screening of an HD documentary on the Galápagos filmed by Sir David Attenborough in the Homo Sapiens Explorers Lounge. Finally, we will stay overnight at the lodge.
The yacht cruise is a full-day program aboard the Pikaia I yacht. Private cabins are assigned according to the room reserved, and guests will have breakfast on board. Upon arrival on the island, guests can enjoy hiking or snorkeling activities until noon. During this time, you can explore the island's natural beauty and enjoy the marine life.
After the morning activities, a buffet lunch featuring traditional Ecuadorian cuisine will be served while the yacht sails to the next destination. During the voyage, guests can rest, shower, or freshen up in their private, air-conditioned cabins. They can also enjoy the jacuzzi, watch a documentary about the Galápagos, engage in conversations with the guides, sunbathe, or watch seabirds and dolphins.
Two hours before sunset, the yacht will set sail back to Pikaia Lodge, where guests can enjoy dinner and relax after a day full of activities and exploration in the Galapagos Islands.
The day will begin with breakfast in the Lodge restaurant. Guests will meet their assigned naturalist guide in the lobby before embarking on the first half of the day's adventure. After the morning activities, guests will return to the Lodge to enjoy a delicious lunch. They will then have a short break before embarking on the afternoon activities.
TIME & ACTIVITY
*Times and order of activities may vary.
The yacht cruise is a full-day program aboard the Pikaia I yacht. Private cabins are assigned according to the room reserved, and guests will have breakfast on board. Upon arrival on the island, guests can enjoy hiking or snorkeling activities until noon. During the cruise, a buffet lunch featuring traditional Ecuadorian cuisine will be served as the yacht sails to the next destination. Two hours before sunset, the yacht will set sail for Pikaia Lodge. During the voyage, guests can rest, shower, or freshen up in their private, air-conditioned cabins. They can also soak in the hot tub, watch a Galapagos documentary, engage in conversations with the guides, sunbathe, and watch seabirds or dolphins.
Departure time from the hotel according to booked flights. We will transfer to Baltra Island airport to take the flight back to Guayaquil or Quito, assisted by representatives from Pikaia Lodge.
*Exploration programs are non-transferable, non-refundable, and subject to change.
Our highly qualified team is ready to put their knowledge and passion to work to make your dreams of traveling through Ecuador come true, taking care of every detail of your itinerary to ensure that every moment is exceptional. Your perfect trip begins with us.