Journeys: From the Amazon to the Galápagos

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your Expedition Leader will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Discover some amazing local art, tapestries, and textiles at Otavalo’s famous artisan market, the largest handicraft market in South America. Wander the stalls to meet local artists, and find one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Try to arrive early for the best bargains (it starts at dawn), and try your hand at haggling – it’s expected for every purchase. A good negotiator could get at least 20 per cent off the starting price.

Visit Kawsaymi Restaurant, a social initiative that is dedicated to preserving authentic culinary traditions such as Otavaleno cuisine, by using fresh, local ingredients. More than just a place to eat, Kawsaymi is an engine for local empowerment, focused on creating sustainable growth and job opportunities for youth in the community, ensuring that every meal supports its economic future. Become immersed in the authentic flavors and traditions of the Andes. Discover local products, herbs, and grains that form the foundation of Andean cuisine and learn how they are cultivated sustainably. Gain a glimpse into the past with a visit to a traditional, old style kitchen, seeing where ancestral recipes have been perfected and passed down through generations. And then sit down for a delicious, home cooked Andean lunch. Prepared with ingredients sourced directly from the garden you just explored, this farm-to-table meal is a true celebration of the local community's cultural heritage.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Visit the home and studio of the Anrango Family as they work to keep their culture’s traditions alive. For thousands of years the indigenous people of the Otavalo region have used the backstrap loom to create their woven goods, however new technologies have slowly been pushing out the tradition. Learn how the Anrango Family are working to help revive this ancient art as they demonstrates every step of the process, from cleaning the wool, to naturally dyeing it, to backstrap weaving.

Soak in the natural hot springs the area is known for and let the mineral waters, which vary in temperature, soothe your body. Make your way through the circuit with views of the Antisana volcano in the distance.

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, as you relax and soak in the natural hot springs.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Enjoy an excursion to El Quetzal Protected Forest. Set off on a guided walk with a seasoned expert naturalist through this forest focused on the protection and conservation of native species. The El Quetzal nature reserve is a true testament of the commitment, love, and dedication that this family-run establishment has for preserving Ecuador’s cloud forest. Once partially used for sugarcane cultivation, this family’s passion for conservation has transformed the land around them into a thriving ecosystem for diverse bird, insect, and plant species. Begin the experience with a welcome briefing and snacks before walking directly to the hummingbird feeders. Explanations of the surrounding land and mission of the property will be discussed as you walk between viewpoints. The sounds and colours alone of these beautiful creatures are sure to amaze you as the group wanders deeper into the forest.

Embark on a night walk with a local naturalist guide to learn about nocturnal creatures of the Amazon. A flashlight and camera are the most important tools on this excursion, which allows us to hear the nocturnal sounds of the forest and to search out bats, owls, a variety of insects, tarantulas, toads and frogs, and possibly snakes. If the sky is clear, we might have the chance to do some stargazing.

Visit a parrot clay lick (Saladero) with a naturalist guide. This unique site is where parrots and parakeets gather to eat mineral-rich clay that will help them digest the fruits or seeds they have consumed. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets will approach the treetops and later will come down to the clay bank to eat this soil rich in minerals.

Take a guided tour of amaZOOnico, a rescue and rehabilitation centre that rehabilitates, reintroduces, and cares for animals who are victims of illegal trafficking. See large cats and reptiles up close, and learn all about the important work of this sanctuary.

Enjoy a truly unforgettable cultural experience with local Ecuadorian families who’ll welcome and host us for the afternoon at their homes in the jungle. Discuss their traditions, beliefs, and history and hear about what daily life is like for them in such a unique environment. Watch and listen as they prepare local snacks and share insight about their deep connection to nature, as well as their thoughts on the encroachment of the modern world on their traditional way of life here. A marvelous afternoon you’ll talk about for years to come.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Visit the Jardin Botanico Las Orquideas, where the group will discover ethnobotany – the study of the relationship between cultures, and the plants around them. Local flora has long been, and still is, integral to the lives of Amazonian indigenous groups who use the plants for shelter, nourishment, medicine, and in spiritual practices. This Amazonian Flora Rescue Centre was founded in 1980 with the hope of protecting 7 hectares of land in this environmentally diverse region of Ecuador—the goal being to create a space for the convergence of scientific, environmental, and cultural exploration—while also being a space for people to come and enjoy the beauty of a flourishing ecosystem. Spend a few hours with a guide who will teach you about the various benefits of the nearby plants while you walk through and breathe in the fresh air.

Opt to take a walk through town and visit some shops.

Relax at leisure or opt to take part in some active pursuits.

Visit Cotopaxi National Park, home to Cotopaxi Volcano, which stands at 5,897m (19,342 ft). The beautiful cone-shaped, snow-covered volcano is Ecuador’s second highest peak and the highest active volcano in the world. Keep an eye out for park wildlife, including condors, foxes, deer, spectacled bears, and more. For those who want to hike, there are options available (weather permitting). Please ensure you have proper hiking shoes or boots, a waterproof/windproof jacket and warm hats and gloves. Hike is approximately 1.5 hours.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Including stops enroute.

Take advantage of a free day in Quito to explore, shop for souvenirs, relax at a cafe or book an optional excursion to the cloud forest at Mindo.

You may be a seasoned pro at group travel by now, but there will likely be some new travellers joining the group. Sit in on the welcome meeting to meet the newest members of your group and learn about the next leg of your tour.

Step into the dense heritage of Ecuador's capital with a morning walk through Quito's historic heart, marveling at the intricate details of La Compañía de Jesús and the colonial architecture of San Francisco Plaza. Savor the complex flavors of pure Andean cacao during a curated chocolate tasting, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.

Visit the Intiñan Museum (Intiñan Site meaning 'Pathway of the Sun') with interactive exhibits displaying the science and myths behind the equatorial line. You will have the opportunity to interact with phenomena that occur in nature which can be tested on the magnetic equatorial line. The centre also has displays highlighting the local indigenous cultures. There is also a chance to set foot on both sides of the Equator, for which the country of Ecuador is named.

Stop at the 'middle of the Earth' to set foot on both sides of the equator and see the Quitsato sundial.

Depart your hotel for the scenic drive to Mariscal Sucre International Airport, leaving the high Andean capital behind as you prepare to board your flight west to the legendary Galápagos Islands.

Fly from Ecuador's capital to Baltra Island as the Pacific Ocean unfolds beneath you.

Following a short transfer and a scenic ferry ride across the Itabaca Channel, board a private vehicle on the northern shores of Santa Cruz. Enjoy a relaxing journey across the island' taking in the striking volcanic scenery before stopping for lunch.

Delight in a locally sourced lunch at a highland organic farm, followed by an insightful walk among the native Scalesia and pineapple crops to learn about the region's unique botany and historic coffee cultivation. Contribute to the preservation of this delicate ecosystem by joining your fellow travelers to plant a native tree, then celebrate the afternoon by savoring a freshly brewed cup of the estate's exquisite coffee.

After lunch, continue driving to the southern edge of Santa Cruz Island, to the town of Puerto Ayora.

Drive north from your hotel to the Itabaca Channel where the boat awaits for today's adventure.

Cast off from the Itabaca Channel and navigate to one of the archipelago’s pristine uninhabited islands like Bartolomé, North Seymour, South Plaza, or Santa Fe. Disembark with your naturalist guide and explore on foot to observe the unique endemic wildlife and dramatic geology up close before lunch back on board the boat. Next, slip into the water for a spectacular snorkeling session among gliding rays, sea turtles, and vibrant tropical fish before cruising back to Santa Cruz. *Please note that the exact sites visited are determined by the Galapagos National Park's allotments for each day and are subject to change at their discretion.

Drive back to Puerto Ayora following a full day of exploration and adventure.

As dusk approaches, the evening is yours to enjoy. Stroll the lively waterfront of Puerto Ayora, seek out a charming local restaurant for dinner, or simply relax at your hotel after a day of discovery.

Accompanied by the songs of Darwin's finches and towering cacti, walk the forested pathway to Tortuga Bay, where plunging seabirds and sunbathing marine iguanas share an expansive stretch of magnificent white sand. Just beyond lies Playa Mansa, a serene, mangrove-fringed cove that invites you to swim through calm waters inhabited by gliding rays and passing sea turtles.

Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center a great place to observe many species of tortoises. Brought back from the brink of extinction, see the famous Galápagos tortoise up close – a corral houses adult tortoises, and a nursery cares for the young until around age three when their shells have hardened. This area also houses the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos' ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community.

Navigate the open waters to the easternmost island of the archipelago, San Cristóbal.

Trace the fascinating evolution of the islands at the Interpretation Center before following a scenic uphill path to the sweeping coastal overlooks of Tijeretas. Marvel at the frigatebirds flying above while observing marine iguanas and sea lions resting along the rugged shoreline.

Take advantage of a free afternoon to explore the town, walk along the seaside malecón, relax in a cafe or laze by the pool at the hotel.

The day is yours to explore, offering the perfect opportunity to relax in town, unwind on the beach, or arrange an optional excursion to Kicker Rock or La Lobería.

Board your return flight from San Cristóbal to mainland Ecuador, where your extraordinary Galápagos expedition comes to a close as you touch down in Quito.