Amazon and Galapagos tour: Ecuador highlights

Welcome to Quito, Ecuador’s high-altitude capital and the starting point of your journey. On arrival at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, your private driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Take time to settle in before heading out to explore.

Stroll through Quito’s UNESCO-listed historic center, where picturesque plazas are framed by dramatic mountain peaks. Browse vibrant market stalls, discover generations-old hat-making traditions, and encounter local healing practices.

As evening falls, enjoy the city’s refined culinary scene or relax in its lively cafés and bars at your own pace.

After breakfast, your English-speaking guide will lead you through Quito’s colonial center, a UNESCO World Heritage site rich in history and character. Explore Plaza Grande, admire the intricate La Compañía, take in the grandeur of La Basílica, and wander along La Ronda, the city’s oldest and most atmospheric street.

Continue with a hands-on cooking experience in a historic colonial house, where you prepare traditional dishes and enjoy the meal you have created.

In the afternoon, visit the Mitad del Mundo, where you can stand on the Equator line and explore a range of exhibits, from the planetarium and ethnographic displays to local art and chocolate traditions.

A short flight from Quito to Coca marks the beginning of your Amazon experience, with sweeping views of the Eastern Andes unfolding below. On arrival, you are welcomed and transferred to the river port, where the transition into the rainforest begins.

Continue to the Napo Cultural Center, set within the ancestral lands of the Kichwa Añangu community. Receive a warm welcome with a refreshing wayusa drink and an introduction to the culture and traditions of the region before settling into your rainforest view cabin.

Set out along the Playas trail, exploring river islands and forest edges in search of wildlife in one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Later, enjoy an optional kayak on the Napo River at sunset, followed by dinner and a peaceful night surrounded by jungle sounds.

Begin your day at Kuri Muyu, the “Gold Seed” intercultural center led by Mamakuna women. Gain firsthand insight into Kichwa traditions, crafts, and the sustainable use of forest resources.

After lunch at the community center, hike through primary rainforest to the Observation Tower, where panoramic canopy views reveal a vibrant world of birdlife. Look for monkeys, toucans, parrots, and, with luck, sloths moving through the treetops.

Return by paddle canoe to Napo Cultural Center and enjoy a traditional Amazonian dinner featuring local specialties such as maito and chontakuru. Later, set out on a guided night walk to discover insects, reptiles, and elusive nocturnal wildlife.

Before dawn, join your Kichwa hosts for a traditional Wayusa ritual, an intimate glimpse into Amazonian life. Wake early to share this energizing herbal tea, listen to ancestral songs, reflect on dreams, and connect with traditions that have shaped the rainforest for generations.

Later, travel by motorized canoe back to Coca, taking in your final views of the Amazon. From here, fly to Quito, where your private driver will meet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel in the city center.

Immerse yourself in local life at the famous Otavalo Market, a vibrant highlight of any Ecuador itinerary. Meet indigenous artisans, browse colorful textiles and handcrafted goods, and sample traditional street food such as salted mango and fried chicken with corn.

In the afternoon, explore the Cuicocha crater lagoon on foot as your guide shares the story of this former volcano and its unique high altitude flora and fauna. Alternatively, take a scenic boat ride around its two emerald islands before returning to Quito.

Your private driver will collect you from your hotel in Quito and transfer you to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos, marking the start of a new chapter in your journey.

On arrival at Santa Cruz, continue to Puerto Ayora and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the national park visitor center, where you gain insight into conservation efforts and see giant tortoises up close.

Explore the lively town, from its fish market and artisan shops to wildlife-rich docks where sea lions, pelicans, rays, and turtles gather. Walk through Laguna de las Ninfas, surrounded by mangroves, before heading to Tortuga Bay.

Here, unwind on white sand, swim in clear waters, or enjoy snorkeling and kayaking in one of the islands’ most beautiful settings.

Enjoy a relaxed day on Santa Cruz, one of the best places to visit in Ecuador, shaping the experience to your own rhythm. Hike the scenic trail to Tortuga Bay, where pristine sands and turquoise waters invite you to swim or simply take in the views.

Later, wander the peaceful streets of Puerto Ayora, browse local shops for Galapagos souvenirs, or pause at a quiet café. For a more active option, seek out hidden coves along the coast or rent a bike to explore the lush highlands, discovering a different side of the island.

Set out by yacht from Santa Cruz to one of the Galapagos’ uninhabited islands, with your destination chosen according to conditions and National Park regulations. Possible visits include Santa Fé, South Plazas, Bartolomé, or North Seymour, each revealing a different side of the archipelago.

Discover striking lava landscapes on Bartolomé, encounter endemic land iguanas on Santa Fé and South Plazas, or observe frigate birds and blue-footed boobies on North Seymour. Throughout the day, enjoy close-up wildlife encounters set against dramatic coastal scenery.

Return to Puerto Ayora in the evening and unwind at your own pace.

Floreana Island reveals a quieter, more remote side of Ecuador, home to just around 150 residents and the tiny settlement of Puerto Velasco Ibarra. Here, life moves at a slower pace, offering a rare glimpse into one of the least visited inhabited islands in the Galapagos.

Explore landscapes shaped by stories of pirates, early settlers, romance, and mystery, all set against striking volcanic scenery. Along the way, watch for sea lions resting by the dock, marine iguanas blending into dark lava, and seabirds gliding overhead.

This intimate setting offers a deeper, more authentic connection to the islands and their unique history.

Enjoy a relaxed morning on Santa Cruz, with time for last-minute souvenir shopping or a final stroll along the waterfront of Puerto Ayora, taking in the rhythm of island life.

At the arranged time, your driver will transfer you to the Itabaca Channel. Cross by ferry, then continue by shuttle bus to Baltra Airport for your flight to Quito.

On arrival on the mainland, a driver will greet you and transfer you to your hotel, where you can unwind or explore Quito at your own pace.

Savor your final morning in Quito as your journey comes to an end. Take in one last view of the Andean skyline, capture a few final photos, and reflect on the experiences that have shaped your time in Ecuador.

At the scheduled time, your private driver will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Mariscal Sucre International Airport, ensuring a smooth and unhurried departure.