Ready for a nature-intensive quest? Begin in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Quito, then take to the skies for a trip to the Galápagos, a visit to the Darwin Research Station and a giant tortoise viewing expedition on the island of Santa Cruz. The 12-day Islands and Highlands journey from INCA – International Nature & Cultural Adventures continues aboard the 141-foot Integrity yacht, accommodating up to 16 passengers. The trip includes opportunities for up-close viewings of albatrosses battling one another with their beaks, nesting Blue-footed Boobies, cavorting sea lions and male frigate birds flirting with potential romantic partners. In addition to the yacht, accommodations include Hacienda Zuleta, a 16^th-century property owned and operated by family descendants of former Ecuadorian president Galo Plaza Lasso.

Surrounded by gardens and farmland, the 14-room, 4,000-acre colonial estate offers a cultural experience that includes cooking and embroidery classes, horse-drawn farm tours, horseback riding, hiking and bird watching. Renowned worldwide for its work supporting condors, the hacienda’s Andean Condor Huasi Project allows guests to visit its government licensed liberation site. While dining, guests can savor dishes prepared from the owners’ family recipes with homemade butter and cheeses produced on the farm, along with fruits, vegetables and herbs grown in the estate’s organic gardens. Cost for the Islands and Highlands excursion begins at $9,295 per person, and includes all yacht and hotel accommodations in Quito, Santa Cruz and at Hacienda Zuleta; meals, non-alcoholic beverages and draft beer aboard the yacht; guides, activities, tours and sightseeing arrangements; use of kayaks and snorkel equipment while on the yacht; round-trip airport transfers; and all arrangements detailed on the itinerary. Not included: airfare, airport taxes and fees; Galápagos National Park fee; Galápagos yacht fuel surcharge; tips; wetsuits; and personal items.