Ecuador adventure with Galápagos island hop & dreamy Amazon stay

Embark on an Ecuadorian adventure, with a Galápagos island-hopping tour and once-in-a-lifetime Amazon stay - includes breakfast, tours, and all travel

Day 1: UK/Ireland - Quito

Begin your adventure by arriving at your departure airport, ready for your flight to Quito. Upon touch down in Ecuador’s capital, head to your hotel to refresh and rejuvenate following your long flight.

Day 2: Quito

After a hearty breakfast, you’ll catch up with a tour representative who will bring you up to speed on the days to come. Then, the day will be yours for the taking. Opt to explore Quito at your own leisure, perhaps acclimatising to the high altitude, or dive straight in with a quick trip to the centre of the world (also known as the Middle of the World Monument). On this optional excursion (fees apply), you’ll head to the location where the equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres. Take a photo with one foot firmly in each, and then embark on an interactive tour, followed by a chaguarmishqui tasting at the Museo de la Experiencia del Agave.

Day 3: Quito - San Cristobal, Galápagos Islands

This morning, you'll wave goodbye to Quito for a few days, until your return to South America's oldest capital city on days 8 and 11. But, today, you'll be embarking on the next leg of your journey with a flight to the Galápagos Islands: a world-famous treasure-trove of natural beauty and biodiversity. You'll start in San Cristóbal, an island teeming with unique wildlife and the first to be explored by Charles Darwin. After touching down, you’ll transfer to your hotel where your guide will go over the next few days of activity. Then, the day will be yours to settle into your hotel.

Day 4 & 5: San Cristobal

Following another delicious breakfast, the day will begin in the best way - with a beach trip. You’ll be first picked up by a taxi, and then hike to Loberia Beach. On the way, keep your eyes peeled for land iguanas, birds, and colourful flora, and be sure to bring your swimsuit, as you’ll be snorkelling alongside sea lions when you reach your serene destination. Then, you’ll have the option to return to your hotel and explore the island on your own, or to continue the water-based activities with an optional half-day snorkelling tour in Isla Lobos - where crystal-clear waters are teeming with marine life such as turtles and sting rays - followed by a visit to the breathtaking Ochoa Beach (fees apply).

The following day will be free for you to enjoy at your own pace. However, there are a couple of fantastic tour options should you fancy a spot of adventure. Opt to head to the magnificent Kicker Rock to marvel at the diverse species of birds that rest upon its volcanic surface, followed by a snorkelling session with the chance of witnessing marvellous marine life - think hammerheads and turtles - and a trip to white-coral sands of Manglecito Beach (fees apply).

Or, choose to head to the gorgeous highlands on a full-day excursion, featuring white-sand shores, a sea lion colony, blue-footed boobies (if you’re lucky), stunning views, and a visit to a sea lion colony. Later, you’ll head to La Galapaguera: a Galapagos Tortoise hatchery with wooden walkways so you can admire these gentle creatures up close (fees apply).

Day 6: San Cristobal to Santa Cruz, Galápagos Island

Another day brings another pinch-me destination. Today, you’ll hop aboard a speedboat to Santa Cruz Island. After checking into your hotel, you can spend the day relaxing amid your new surroundings, or you can head off on an optional half-day excursion to Santa Cruz Bahia to learn about the island alongside an expert guide (fees apply).

Please note, bad weather conditions can make this journey difficult for those who suffer from seasickness.

Day 7: Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands

The first thing on the agenda is always breakfast, and then you have the whole day to discover the beauty of Santa Cruz all by yourself. If you still have your sightseeing hat on, you can head out on an optional tour to Santa Cruz’s highlands, where you’ll visit the El Chato Reserve to admire giant turtles, as well as checking out fascinating geological formations, such as lava tunnels and volcanic craters (fees apply).

Day 8: Santa Cruz, Galápagos - Quito

Today, after a few breathtaking days in the bucket-list destination of the Galapagos, you’ll fly back to Quito from the airport in Baltra Island. After your arrival at your hotel, you’ll have the rest of the day to unwind and prepare for the next leg of your dreamy adventure.

Day 9: Quito - Tena, Amazon

A new day brings a new 10-out-of-10 adventure. On day nine, you’ll be making your way to the one and only Amazon Rainforest. But first, you’ll begin your day with a guided tour of Quito’s colonial centre, brimming with captivating cobbled streets and idyllic squares. Then, you’ll travel up to the Ecuadorian Highlands, travelling past the idyllic mountain village of Papallacta en route, nestled amid the awe-inspiring scenery of the Andes.

Then, you’ll head down into Tena - a popular gateway into the Amazon. After settling into your jungle lodge, you’ll enjoy your first jungle walk. Hopefully, you’ll complete the day with spotting a tropical insect, bioluminescent mushroom, or both.

Day 10: Tena, Amazon

Begin your day with a delicious Amazonian breakfast, and then set your sights on exploring the jungle on your doorstep. You can opt to embark on an incredible walk to a nearby waterfall, gaining an educational insight into the stunning fauna and flora that you’ll spot along the way (fees apply).

Other optional tour options include a canoe ride to Paikawe Lagoon, paired with a visit to Misahualli Monkey Village, and followed by a meeting with the Amupakin community, where you can learn about local life. There’s also an optional chocolate-making workshop for all the chocoholics who want to learn how to make their own sweet treats from scratch.

Day 11: Amazon - Papallacta - Quito

Day 11 sadly brings the final day of your South American escape. After breakfast, you’ll enjoy some more time in the jungle before waving goodbye to the tall trees and overly friendly mosquitos and heading back to Papallacta. Known for its thermal waters, Papallacta is home to a lagoon that supplies most of Quito’s drinking water. Here, you’ll be able to explore the lagoon and bathe in its hot springs (fees apply) - ideal for a post-jungle cleanse. Then you’ll return to Quito for your final night's stay under an Ecuadorian starlit sky.

Day 12: Quito - UK/Ireland

The time has come for your adventure through Ecuador to come to an end. After your final breakfast, you’ll transfer to the airport to travel back to the UK, alongside memories that'll last a lifetime.