Luxury Family Travel to Ecuador

The Journey on our Galapagos Islands Luxury Tour

Please note that the following itinerary is an example, as all of our journeys are custom-made.

Quito
Upon arrival of your international flight in Quito, you will be greeted by your personal host and transferred to a colonial boutique hotel in the historical part of Quito. With your personal guide, you will discover the colonial treasures of Ecuador's capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is widely considered to be the most beautiful city in all of South America (Quito totally deserves in our opinion its nickname of "the Florence of South America"). You will enjoy a private visit to one of Quito's most picturesque churches and gourmet meals in some of Quito's finest restaurants.


The Galapagos Islands
You will then transfer to the airport at Quito where you will have use of the VIP Lounge whilst awaiting your flight to the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, you will be met by your personal host in the VIP lounge at Baltra airport and be privately transferred by vehicle and zodiac to your yacht, cruise ship, hotel or luxury villa. Each day will offer the opportunity to observe up close the amazing fauna and flora that inhabit these islands – you will walk, hike, swim, snorkel or scuba dive among giant tortoises, marine and land iguanas, sea lions, red and blue-footed boobies, turtles and penguins. Please note that Blue Parallel will be happy to organize a private aerial sightseeing tour over the Galapagos Islands at the end of your journey should you be interested in having a complementary bird’s eye perspective of the National Park.


Parties of 8-30 (Private Charter)
One of the best ways of seeing the Galapagos Islands is from your own private motor or sailing yacht, accompanied by a group of friends and an expert crew. During your 7 nights at sea, our on-board naturalist will accompany your explorations, and your suggestions will help plan the flexible itinerary. The Galapagos luxury trip is designed to cater exclusively to your interests and those of your companions. Blue Parallel will staff the yacht according to the requirements of your group and a captain, an expert naturalist guide, a dive instructor, a masseuse, a chef and a butler will assist and pamper you at all times. Take some of your closest family members, friends or business associates for the experience of a lifetime on your luxury charter boat in the Galapagos.

Parties of 2-7 (Sea Based)
If you are traveling as a couple or small group, we would recommend experiencing the Galapagos on a larger vessel (approximate capacity: 100 passengers) where you will benefit from more spacious accommodation and a wider range of amenities than those available on a smaller boat, and the choice of either a 4-night or a 7-night program. In addition, the motion caused by the sea’s swell is less noticeable on larger boats as they are usually fitted with stabilizers. Blue Parallel selects some of the best vessels in the Galapagos to ensure that your trip is as comfortable as possible. We will provide you with a personal expert naturalist guide who will accompany you on your daily explorations. In addition, a private vehicle and zodiac will be at your disposal while on your luxury cruise in the Galapagos.

Land Based Options
We understand that some travelers would prefer not to spend the night at sea and therefore we offer a land based option, allowing visitors to explore the islands at full during the day, but spend the night on dry land. For smaller parties of up to 4 people, we recommend a secluded bungalow, set in luxurious hotel grounds on the highlands of Santa Cruz. For larger parties of up to 8 people we suggest a private beach front villa, exclusively staffed to meet your needs. Each day you and your party will board your private boat, along with your expert naturalist guide and explore the incredible archipelago and its fascinating wildlife. You can hike through different islands, snorkel with sea lions, visit a penguin colony or relax on beautiful secluded beaches. In the evening, enjoy a water front barbeque; indulge in a massage or simply relax in your private pool while on our luxury tour in the Galapagos Islands.

Depending on how much time you have, you can then enjoy a private flight to Isabella Island where you would stay at a rustic lodge. Formed by five different volcanoes that came together, Isabella is one of only two inhabited islands in the archipelago. Enjoy an array of activities with your personal expert naturalist guide such as scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, horseback riding and surfing. Climb volcanoes and observe flightless cormorants, pelicans, sea lions, Galapagos penguins, giant tortoises, marine and land iguanas in their natural habitat.

Optional Extensions
If you have extra time, this luxury trip to the Galapagos Islands can be combined with a stay at an exclusive colonial hacienda surrounded by beautiful Andean scenery or at a relaxing spa resort two hours south of Quito where you will have the opportunity to visit Cotopaxi National Park and the private Antisana Reserve and experience a selection of outdoor excursions and adventures (hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding) in the land of volcanoes, pumas and condors. Alternatively, you can visit the famous handicraft market of Otavolo (the Ecuadorian textile industry supported the Spanish Kingdom for about 300 years). Further explore further some of the spectacular highlights of mainland Ecuador including a fascinating visit to Cuenca and Cajas National Park. Alternatively, it is very convenient to combine this trip with a stay in Peru where you can visit the colonial treasures of Cusco and the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu among others.

Galapagos Luxury Travel

Galapagos Islands Luxury Tour

	Luxury accommodation at the Hotel Plaza Grande, a colonial boutique hotel in Quito, and aboard a luxury chartered yacht or cruise ship in the Galapagos
	Services of a Blue Parallel host and personal guides
	Services of an expert crew on your chartered yacht (Parties of 8-30) or personal specialized naturalist guide on your cruise ship (Parties of 2-7)
	All special events, private guided tours, private excursions, private outdoor activities, spa treatments, equipment and entrance fees
	Continual monitoring of your journey by a Blue Parallel team composed of a personal travel concierge in our offices, and a personal host in each destination. In addition, a "behind the scenes" logistical expert is staffed on each trip in order to monitor every step of the journey. The team is on call 24-hours a day during a trip
	All transportation and private transfers
	Airfare between Quito and the Galapagos Islands
	Most meals
	A Blue Parallel customized travel kit that you will receive prior to departure

Galapagos Yacht Charter

The Highlights

	Quito
	Galapagos Islands
	Colonial Haciendas

	Luxury accommodation in a colonial boutique hotel in the historical part of Quito
	Motor cruiser, sailing yacht or cruise ship in the Galapagos
	Gourmet meals
	Spa treatments

	Sailing
	Hiking
	Mountain Biking
	Horseback Riding
	Whitewater Rafting
	Snorkeling
	Scuba Diving
	Swimming

	No vaccinations
	No visa for U.S. and U.K citizens
	No significant time difference with the Eastern United States

	Exclusive access to one of Quito's most picturesque colonial churches at night
	Stay in a divine private colonial Mansion outside of Quito that belongs to the family of the first Ecuadorian president
	Private aerial sightseeing tour over the Galapagos Islands
	For parties of 8-30:
	Chartering of a private yacht in the Galapagos with a private expert crew including captain, naturalist guide, diving instructor, chef, masseuse and on-board butler (Crewing of the boat will be tailored to meet the needs of your group). Organization of exclusive events in Quito and its surroundings
	For parties of 2-7:
	Personal specialized naturalist guide to accompany you on your cruise ship in the Galapagos plus private vehicle and zodiac at your disposal
	Possibility to stay in a private beach front villa exclusively staffed and enjoy gourmet meals prepared by personal chef in the evenings. Private boat and crew for daily excursions at your disposal

Reviews

For additional media reviews, please refer to
Blue Parallel In the Media

Testimonial
“Every section of our trip to mainland Ecuador , the Galapagos Islands and Peru exceeded our expectations. The hotel in Quito was wonderful and deserves a small luxury hotel listing. The cruise on the Alta, through the Galapagos Islands , was the most amazing trip of my life and the crew couldn’t have been better. The accommodation in Machu Picchu ; The Inkaterra, was the best ever, and the service was wonderful. All of our guides were great. Blue Parallel was always very responsive and developed a program well suited to our family. Thank you.”
David Morgan and Family , Australia

For additional testimonials, please refer to Blue Parallel Testimonials