15-Day Ecuador Complete Adventure: Andes, Amazon & Galapagos

At arrival at Quito airport, you will have a transfer to your hotel.

Your complete Ecuador classic tour starts today! In the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel, to start your Quito city tour. First, you will go to Panecillo Hill, with the famous Virgin of the Apocalypse statue, inspired by the original Bernardo de Legarda sculpture from the Colonial Art School of Quito. You will have an amazing view of the city. Then you will visit all the highlights: the la Basilica church, the main squares, and the San Francisco church. After a typical Ecuadorian lunch, you will go to the Middle of the World Museum called Intiñan. Here you can do experiments, to prove the effects the equator has on gravity. After this, you will also visit the Pululahua crater before going back to Quito. This tour is ideal for family travel!

At 8:00 AM, semi-private transportation will pick you up to go to your lodge in Tena, Itamandi Lodge, or similar. After a long drive (3-4 hours from Quito), you can relax in the beautiful and spacious common areas of the lodge. The lodge is built in a rustic native design, surrounded by gardens with colorful and big jungle plants and flowers. Later a delicious dinner will be served in a romantic candlelight setting at the restaurant. Afterward, you can enjoy a special welcome drink and a relaxing chat with the administrator to coordinate and discuss the next day’s activities.

After breakfast, embark on a 2.5 to 3-hour walk through the primary and secondary forests, exploring the rich biodiversity. In the afternoon, we’ll engage in a cultural activity with a local Amazonian Kichwa community. Here, you’ll gain insight into their way of life and their relationship with the jungle, going beyond what any map can show. The visit includes sharing “chicha,” a traditional fermented yucca drink integral to their daily life and festivities. You’ll participate in making this drink and sample some traditional dishes. The visit concludes with a traditional dance performed by community children, and there will be an opportunity to purchase local handicrafts, supporting the community’s livelihood.

Embark on a 40-minute canoe journey to “Anaconda Island” in the heart of the Amazon, where the sights and sounds of wildlife like the prehistoric Hoatzin bird and playful monkeys surround you. Visit a local indigenous community to learn about their sustainable practices, medicinal plants, and traditional hunting techniques. After lunch, continue to the Amazoonico, a rescue center for Amazonian wildlife, not a zoo. Here, experience the unique opportunity to see a variety of animals in environments that mimic their natural habitats. This adventure offers a blend of natural wonder and cultural immersion, making for an unforgettable Amazon experience.

Early in the morning, we’ll take a 15-minute canoe ride upriver to the Saladero de Parrots, a unique site where parrots and parakeets gather to consume essential minerals from a clay wall, aiding in the digestion of their fruit and seed diet. Watch hundreds of these birds approach from the treetops and descend to the clay for this natural ritual. Be sure to bring binoculars to fully appreciate this spectacular display of nature. Then return to Quito.

At 08:00 AM, the guide picks you up at your hotel, and you will go to Otavalo. First, you make a stop at Lago San Pablo to enjoy the delicious local Cayambe biscuits. From there, you go to the Condor Rescue Center to enjoy a flight show of the Ecuadorian Raptors. Please note that the Condor Rescue Center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. If it is closed, you will make an extra stop in Cotocachi leather town. Before lunch, you will visit the Otavalo Poncho Market (the biggest on Saturdays). You will have lunch at a local restaurant, and in the afternoon, you will visit the Peguche Waterfall, where you do a small hike of about an hour. After this activity, you go back to Quito.

Your Ecuador Classic tour will move on to the beautiful Galapagos Islands to continue on the transformative travel path. Early in the morning, you fly from Quito to the Island of Baltra. At Baltra Airport, you will meet up with the English-speaking guide, who will take you to the port of Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island), but before you get there, you will stop at one of the ranches in the highlands to visit giant tortoises in their natural habitat. You will walk around and take some pictures of these amazing animals before getting to the village.

If you choose Santa Fe, brace yourself for an encounter with the archipelago’s most endemic species. After a scenic 45-minute boat ride, you’ll arrive at Santa Fe’s pristine bay. Dive into the crystal-clear waters for a thrilling snorkeling adventure, where you might even catch a glimpse of shorebirds perched on the outer rocks. Following this, a wet landing awaits at Playa Escondida or Garrapatero on Santa Cruz Island, offering ample time to explore the mesmerizing beach. *This tour includes an activity called “Pesca Vivencial” which means that you might be able to experience a fishing demonstration, according to weather and park regulations. *Wet landing means that the boat gets close to the beac,h and from there you will disembark in the sea. It is recommended that you bring extra clothing, as you might get wet.

Alternatively, the Pinzon option unveils a mesmerizing display of marine iguanas and playful dolphins. La Fe, with its picturesque beach cradled by mangroves and rocky terrain, showcases an array of captivating marine life, from sea turtles and sea lions to small sharks and colorful fish. Prepare to be captivated by the extraordinary beauty of these enchanting destinations. *This tour includes an activity called “Pesca Vivencial” which means that you might be able to experience a fishing demonstration, according to weather and park regulations. *Wet landing means that the boat gets close to the beach, and from there you will disembark in the sea. It is recommended that you bring extra clothing, as you might get wet.

In the morning, you have time to visit Tortuga Bay by yourself. At 2 PM, you will take the public speedboat to Isabela (about 3 hours). Then you will be transferred to your hotel.

Early in the morning, after breakfast, your complete Ecuador classic tour continues with a trip to the Wetlands. Here, you will visit the Breeding Center, where you will spot small and giant tortoises in their habitat. The next activity is a visit to The Wall of Tears and the Flamingo Lagoon. Please keep in mind that the total length of the walk in the Wetlands area is approximately 3 to 4 hours. After lunch, you will have a little break and visit Tintoreras Islet. It is called this due to a large crack, in which white-tip sharks known as Tintoreras come daily to rest at the bottom. You will go to the pier of Puerto Villamil, where you will board a boat for 10 minutes to cross to the islet, which is located across the bay. It will be necessary for passengers to use walking shoes or sneakers (closed shoes) to cross the volcanic rocks. You can also observe penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas, and go snorkeling with colorful tropical fish while enjoying the beaches of Isabela.

Get both the transformative travel and family travel experience at once with today’s trip! Early in the morning, you will go on a boat ride from Puerto Villamil. The maximum group size is 10 participants per guide. You will explore the brilliant scenery in Los Tuneles, which is considered the most beautiful place to snorkel in Isabela Island. This exciting activity takes approximately 6 hours, including the boat rides and a snack before a short hike. The departure time is between 07:00 AM and 11:30 AM and depends on availability and National Park regulations. So, depending on when you go to Los Tuneles, you can choose to explore Concha Perla by yourself before or after this, since it is very close to the dock. If you would like to do the optional snorkeling there, you can get the snorkel equipment from your hotel and have the chance to spot even more animals.

Early in the morning, at 6:00 AM, you will take the public speedboat back to Puerto Ayora. Once you arrive, you will go by taxi to Baltra Airport, from where you will depart to Quito.

When you arrive at Quito Airport, you will have a transfer out directly to Papallacta.

Today you have time to enjoy the Papallacta Hot Springs. It’s recommended to take the hike in Antisana National Park or relax in the thermal pools. You will have lunch in a local restaurant and spend the night in Papallacta.

Your complete Ecuador classic tour is coming to an end. Today, you will have a transfer back from Papallacta to Quito Airport