OK, so you'd like to see some of the top sights that Ecuador has to offer, but you'd also really like some relaxation time, right? Perhaps in a top hotel at one of Ecuador's top resorts? Maybe you'd like a gym, a sauna, a massage service and all the other little extras to make sure you're well and truly pampered?
If this sounds like the sort of Ecuador holiday you're interested in, then look no further. Our "Beauty and the Beach" holiday will show some of the most beautiful sights in Ecuador, including Cuenca, Quito and the stunning Cotopaxi National Park, before we head for the beach for that quality relaxation time.
Day One - Arrival in Quito
As your holiday in Ecuador begins, we’ll be there to pick you up and take you to your hotel, which is in the heart of Quito. You will probably be wanting some time to rest and get used to the altitude so we have left the rest of today free for you to relax. Your hotel is close to dozens of restaurants and cafes, as well as all the other facilities you'd expect from a capital city, so if you're feeling up to it then why not head on out and explore?
Day Two - City tour of Quito
After a free morning to relax and settle into things, we will pick you up after lunch and take you for a tour of Quito’s Old Town, including the plazas, Cathedral and other sites of interest before heading out of town to the “Mitad del Mundo” (Middle of the World) centre, located right on the Equator, so you can stand astride the world!
Day Three - Cotopaxi National Park
The snow-capped mountain of Cotopaxi is one of the enduring symbols of Ecuador, and no holiday in Ecuador is complete without a trip to see it. Today we will take you on a full-day tour through the Cotopaxi National Park, giving you the chance for some breathtaking photos before we head back to Quito in the evening.
Day Four - On to Cuenca
After breakfast this morning we will take you to the airport for a flight south to the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca. With its pleasant, tree-lined streets and squares, gorgeous domed churches, and some of the best food and drink in the country, it's generally reckoned to be Ecuador's most attractive city so you'll have some free time to just wander around or sit and get some postcards written!
Day Five - Tour of Cuenca
Today we will take you on a tour of this lovely city - probably the prettiest in Ecuador. We will visit the two cathedrals, two of Ecuador's best museums, and a factory where they make traditional 'Panama' hats. We will finish off by heading to a hill just outside Cuenca, from where you have some gorgeous views over the city and the countryside beyond.
Day Six - Enough Beauty: time for the beach!
This morning we'll take you to the airport in Cuenca to catch a flight to the coastal city of Guayaquil. Here we'll pick you up and drive you further along the coast to the resort town of Salinas, where it's time to hit your 5-star hotel and then hit the beach!
Days Seven and Eight - Relaxation time
These two days are all about you kicking back on the beach and enjoy all the facilities and amenities your luxury hotel has to offer. All together now: deep breath... and relax...
Day Nine - Back to Quito
After breakfast this morning, we will pick you up and take you back to Guayaquil for the short flight to Quito, where you can get ready to head out for a final full day here in Ecuador. Alternatively, we could fly from Guayaquil straight out to the Galapagos for you to continue the relaxation on a fantastic Galapagos Cruise...
Day Ten - Onward bound
Assuming you didn't go on to the Galapagos, most flights back to the UK leave in the morning, so you’ll just have time for breakfast today before it’s time to say goodbye to Ecuador as we pick you up and take you to catch your flight either home.
Because all our Ecuador holidays are tailormade, our prices are flexible and depend on the accommodation and activities you want. If you want to change the length of this holiday, or the activities you do, or the type of accommodation you use - let us know! We can send you a tailormade itinerary, including price, absolutely free!
Our standard price for this trip is £995 per person. This price is based on two people sharing a double or twin room in our standard 3-star accommodation (details available on request) except for in Salinas where you will stay in a top 5-star hotel.
And what does it include?
We know that you need to be able to see how much things are going to cost you, so everything that you read about on the previous page is included in this price. The only "biggie" that we don't include is your international flight to and from the UK. We ask you to buy these yourself, but we will do all the research for you and find you the best deal going, so you don't have expend any effort here.
Just to be absolutely clear, here is what you're getting for your money on this holiday:
- All accommodation in superior hotels we have personally checked out - including a 5-star hotel in Salinas
- All transfers
- All internal transport, including the flights from Quito-Cuenca, Cuenca-Guayaquil and Guayaquil-Quito
- All entrance fees
- Half-day tour of Quito, including the "Middle of the World"
- Full-day tour of Cotopaxi National Park
- Half-day tour of Cuenca
- Full buffet breakfast every day
- Packed lunch on your Cotopaxi tour
Easy upgrades
As we've said, we can tailormake your itinerary to your exact specifications, and you can have a look at our Ecuador Guide or some of our other Ecuador Holidays for ideas about how to add to this holiday, but we can also offer you some easy optional extras which fit into this exact itinerary:
- This price is based on our standard 3-star accommodation (except for on the beach where it's a 5-star hotel). All the hotels we would use for this trip are family-friendly with ensuite bathrooms, cable television, full buffet breakfasts, etc. but if you'd like to upgrade your hotels to something with a little more luxury then please just ask and we'll make some recommendations! Cost: Please ask
- Or take a trip into the Amazon rainforest... We have trips from 2-8 days in the jungle. Cost: from £400pp
Tailormade for you
Of course, what we want you to remember is that we're here to offer you any guidance and advice you need. We're not about trying to sell you more than you want - we want you to have the holiday that's right for you, so give us a call or send us an email and we can start to find out what sort of Ecuador holiday is right for you!