Ecuador's natural gems & historic Quito

Occupying almost half of Ecuador and famous the world over for its unfathomable biodiversity, the Amazon needs no introduction. First up is the surreal journey you'll make to get to your lodge tucked deep into the forest. From there, explore on foot (day and night), fly through the canopy, or take to the water on a canoe. In the trees lurk everything from red howler monkeys and pygmy marmoset to the three-toed sloth, and in the water, there are caimans, giant otters and pink river dolphins. Ever-present is the Ecuadorian Amazon's 1,600 species of birdlife, and a real highlight is watching a colourful bunch of parrots and parakeets munching at a clay lick. Before you leave, learn a thing or two about living in the Amazon from the local communities who have done so for decades.

In Ecuador, the wilderness is never far away and its capital city is no different. Surrounded by active volcanoes and the Amazon Basin, Quito presents one fabulous view after another as you stroll through the streets - and the best? Definitely atop the famous El Panecillo Hill or over a pisco sour at a rooftop bar, depending on your persuasion! The Old Town is one of the most well-preserved Spanish cities in Latin America and it's a feast for the eyes with 200 churches, plazas and museums, including the House of Praise which holds 5,000 pre-Columbian pieces. The city also has its share of bohemian neighbourhoods where you can delve into the arts scene and get to know Quito's modern side.

Sitting at around 2,000 metres-above-sea-level and higher, Ecuador's Choco-Andean Cloud Forest is a dream. Almost entirely inaccessible to humans, the forest's reserves are home to an incredible cast of creatures including the spectacled bear, ocelot, water-skimming baselisks and incredible numbers of birdlife from toucans and hummingbirds to the brassy Cock-of-the-Rock. And we could go on... Leave your lodge for the adventure of a lifetime; fly through the tree canopy, swim in waterfalls, tube downriver, or explore the forest floor on foot or horseback. Then, if you fancy it, learn all about how Ecuador's delicious chocolate is made in a local town.