Tropical Andes & Colonial Quito Pre-Voyage Extension

Discover culture and nature in this six-day exploration of Quito, Ecuador’s capital at 9,350 feet above sea level, and Ecuadorian Choco, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. Beginning in an elegant mansion turned hotel in Quito’s Old Town, encounter the city’s UNESCO-recognized historic center on a guided tour through 16th and 17th-century churches, convents, monasteries and plazas that showcase the city’s colonial past and religious influences. Browse local markets for traditional handicrafts, food and textiles. In Chaco, one of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots and a designated Model Forest, one of only 28 in the world, experience the magic of the cloud forest. Here rainforests and clouds intersect to create one of the world’s most vibrant and prolific natural environments where more than 500 bird species and numerous endemic plants and animals thrive. Stay at the renowned Mashpi Lodge on a 2,600-acre reserve where you can interact with resident biologists and naturalist guides, and immerse yourself in nature through the lodge’s many hiking trails, open-air tram, observation towers and aerial bicycle. This exhilarating adventure offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience Ecuador’s natural wonders and cultural heritage before embarking on a Galapagos adventure.