Ecuador is home to more than 10% of the world’s plant species. This 8-day exploratory trip hosted by Panayoti Kelaidis, Director of Outreach & Senior Curator at Denver Botanic Gardens, will showcase the country’s staggering flora. We’ll visit a variety of habitats from the Andean Highlands and Cotopaxi Volcano to lush rainforest and cloud forest reserves. There’s also time to enjoy Quito’s historic center, Quito Botanical Gardens, and a rose production facility.
A 5-day Galapagos extension with stays on Santa Cruz and Isabela Islands is also available. You can book both the mainland and Galapagos itineraries for a 14-day experience or either itinerary independently based on your interests.
About Your Denver Botanic Gardens Host, Panayoti Kelaidis: Since 1980, Panayoti has represented Denver Botanic Gardens in educational, professional and promotional endeavors as an expert in horticulture. He also acts as a liaison to botanical societies, professional horticulture organizations and green industry members. He helped create Plant Select®; designed and implemented numerous gardens; and has led tours to Asia, Europe and South Africa. He works with rock garden, perennial, native plant and succulent societies nationally and internationally, and has served on the boards of horticulture societies. Panayoti has received numerous awards, including the 2000 Arthur Hoyt Scott Medal from the Scott Arboretum and the 2003 Liberty Hyde Bailey medal of the American Horticultural Society, two of the highest honors in American horticulture.
Botanical Wonders of Ecuador with Denver Botanic Gardens
Trip Dates: January 11-19, 2024