Embark on a nature-focused adventure beginning in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage city, then fly to the Galápagos Islands for an immersive wildlife experience. This 12-day Islands and Highlands journey from INCA – International Nature & Cultural Adventures combines time aboard the 141-foot yacht Integrity, visits to the Darwin Research Station, and a giant tortoise viewing on Santa Cruz Island. The yacht accommodates up to 16 passengers and offers intimate wildlife encounters: albatrosses displaying their powerful beaks, nesting Blue-footed Boobies, playful sea lions and male frigatebirds performing aerial courtship displays.
The itinerary also includes a stay at Hacienda Zuleta, a 4,000-acre colonial estate dating back to the 16th century and still run by descendants of former Ecuadorian president Galo Plaza Lasso. Surrounded by cultivated gardens and working farmland, the hacienda’s 14 rooms provide a cultural and rural retreat where guests can take part in hands-on activities such as cooking and embroidery classes, horse-drawn farm tours, horseback riding, hiking and birdwatching.
Hacienda Zuleta is recognized internationally for its Andean Condor Huasi Project, which supports condor recovery and conservation. Guests may visit the government-licensed liberation site and learn about ongoing efforts to protect and rehabilitate these iconic birds. Meals at the hacienda emphasize homegrown flavors: enjoy dishes inspired by family recipes and featuring homemade butter and cheeses made on the property, along with fruits, vegetables and herbs from the estate’s organic gardens.
The Islands and Highlands package starts at $9,295 per person. The price includes yacht accommodations and hotel stays in Quito, Santa Cruz and at Hacienda Zuleta; meals, non-alcoholic beverages and draft beer while aboard the yacht; professional guides, planned activities, tours and sightseeing; use of kayaks and snorkel equipment on the yacht; round-trip airport transfers; and all services specified in the itinerary. Items not included are international airfare, airport taxes and fees, the Galápagos National Park entrance fee, a Galápagos yacht fuel surcharge, tips, wetsuits and personal expenses.
This itinerary blends wildlife viewing with cultural immersion, offering close encounters with unique Galápagos species alongside traditional Ecuadorian hospitality and conservation-focused experiences in the highlands. Travelers seeking a balanced, nature-rich journey will find the combination of small-ship cruising and historic hacienda stays especially rewarding, with opportunities for active exploration as well as relaxed, farm-to-table dining and educational conservation visits.