Ecuador: Volcanoes, the Amazon & the Galápagos Islands

Day 1 : Quito: Welcome to Ecuador

Rolling mountains and snow-capped volcanoes pop into view as you descend into Quito. As you step off the plane, take in a lungful of fresh mountain air and notice it's a bit thinner than what you may be used to. Home to a spectacular variety of people, geography and biodiversity, Ecuador ignites the senses while beckoning your sense of adventure. We welcome you to Ecuador, and invite you to experience the crossroads of cultures, traditions and landscapes within its borders.

Arrive to Quito at any time and transfer to the hotel. Meet your fellow group members at the welcome meeting in the evening and get all the important information about the adventure ahead. Afterwards, head to a nearby restaurant for a delicious first dinner with new friends.

Acommodation

Hotel Hilton Colon

Day 2 : Cotopaxi: The Middle of the World

Heading out of Quito you will soon reach the imaginary line that runs around the centre of our planet, both an important geographical marker as well as the name of the country. Scan the scenic landscape and watch as towering volcanoes come in and out of view, or peek out of the clouds as you drive south. You'll be warmly welcomed at our cozy lodgings perched on the majestic Cotopaxi Volcano, surrounded by stark and incredibly picturesque scenery.

Drive to La Mitad del Mundo Equator Monument for a quick pit stop and some photo opportunities. Continue to the Intiñan Museum where you can try experimenting with gravity along the equatorial line. Lunch will be had at a cozy, local restaurant with impressive views of a volcano. Arrive in Cotopaxi in the afternoon to your OMG Stay property where you will be welcomed with a traditional canelazo before dinner. Weather permitting, enjoy a bonfire in the evening with some tasty s'mores.

Acommodation

Chilcabamba Mountain Lodge

Day 3 : Cotopaxi: Discover the National Park

Immerse yourself in the volcanic landscape of Cotopaxi National Park, home to one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. Breathe in the thin mountain air as you hike and explore this stunning area, home also to a small Inca archaeological site. Back in the warmth of the lodge, you'll savour a delicious meal and learn how to make a tasty regional treat.

Leave the hotel after breakfast for a full-day exploration of Cotopaxi National Park, including a visit to Limpiopungo Lake, a high-altitude hike, lunch, and the Pucara de Salitre ruins. End the day with a cooking class at the lodge where you’ll learn how to make a traditional Ecuadorian sweet.

Acommodation

Chilcabamba Mountain Lodge

Day 4 : Baños: Lush Landscapes

Imagine plunging waterfalls, lush forests, steep gorges and steaming thermal springs, and you’ll have conjured Baños in your mind. This incredible setting sits in the shadow of one of South America’s most active volcanoes and begins your time in an adventurer’s paradise. Follow the Rio Pastaza to the Pailon del Diablo, a powerful waterfall in the midst of the jungle landscape. From thrilling walks to a demonstration of the best handmade candy in Ecuador, this introduction to Baños will captivate your senses at every turn.

Travel to Baños and stop along the way at Pailón del Diablo, where there will be time to walk the winding steps to the top of the waterfall. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant upon arrival to Baños before an orientation walk through the city with a melcocha demonstration. The evening is at your leisure.

Acommodation

Luna Volcan Hotel

Day 5 : Baños: Your OMG Day

Baños is a hub for adventure activities, and today is all about how you want to best experience it with two great options to choose from. Set out on a cycling ride through the landscape on winding trails and roads from the La Suiza area back to the city. Or if you would rather stay on foot, join a guided trek to the Casa del Arbol and Torre Al Cielo, where you will encounter remarkable views of Baños and the Tungurahua Volcano.

Decide between biking or hiking this morning to fully immerse yourself in the landscape surrounding Baños. Sit down for lunch prepared using traditional cooking techniques and local ingredients. Choose between a range of optional activities in the area, and spend a free afternoon on your own. Dinner is at your leisure today.

Optional Activities - Day 5

Acommodation

Luna Volcan Hotel

Day 6 : The Amazon: Life in the Jungle

The Amazon has sparked the imaginations of curious travellers everywhere for centuries, conjuring up images of exotic wildlife and dense green leafy jungle. The biodiversity of plant and animal life is staggeringly varied, and the cultural traditions of those who live here are evident in the day-to-day responsibilities of life along the river, dependent on the changing land. Journey along the river by canoe and experience the true cacophony of sounds, sights, and smells in this abundantly beautiful place.

Transfer to your lodge stay in the Amazon Rainforest. Travel by private vehicle to Punta Ahuano and then board a canoe and paddle along Rio Napo to the lodge where lunch will be served. Afterwards, visit a local family where you will learn about their day-to-day experiences and how the changing environment is posing a risk to their traditional ways of life. Have dinner back at the lodge followed by free time.

Acommodation

Casa del Suizo

Day 7 : The Amazon: River Tubing and Jungle Walks

Awake to the sounds of the forest, and listen for tropical birds and animals going about their daily rituals in the canopy above. Be fully present in this wild landscape while tubing along a river. Everywhere you go, the sights, sounds, and smells of the Amazon will follow creating a true sense of place. From a jetty ride on a lagoon to fresh meals at the lodge, your mind and body will be at complete ease in the middle of the jungle.

Pass the morning tubing on the river, searching for wildlife along the way. Refuel with lunch at the lodge before a jetty ride on the Caiman Lagoon to view the unique species of alligator it's named for. Then, expand your knowledge of local food production while you collect cacao pods and learn about their importance to the nearby communities. There will be free time at the lodge before dinner.

Acommodation

Casa del Suizo

Day 8 : Quito: Papallacta Hot Springs

Sitting at an altitude of 3300m, shrouded in mist, is the town of Papallacta, renowned for its geothermal hot springs. Leave the sanctuary of the lodge behind, but find your inner peace and calm while soaking in the rejuvenating springs en route to Quito. Ease those sore muscles surrounded by nature, and close your eyes in bliss before the next leg of your journey begins.

Travel back to Quito. En route, the group will stop for a visit to the hot springs in Papallacta, and have lunch at a nearby spot serving delicious traditional Ecuadorian dishes. Arrive to the hotel in Quito in the evening and have dinner with the group at the on-site restaurant.

Acommodation

Wyndham Quito Airport

Day 9 : Isabela Island: Welcome to the Galápagos

The journey is part of the adventure today as you make your way 1000 km from Ecuador's mainland to the Galápagos Islands. Home to creatures found nowhere else in the world, the surrounding marine reserve is a showcase of evolution and a true testament to the melting pot of species found in the islands, both on shore and in the water.

Start early for a flight to Baltra from Quito. Travel ten minutes by public bus to the ferry port across Canal Itabaca then transfer by private vehicle to Puerto Ayora. Grab some lunch before taking a speed boat to Isabela, keeping an eye out for whales and dolphins along the way. Check into your OMG Stay on the island and spend some free time exploring before an included dinner of delicious local specialties with the group.

Acommodation

Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel

Day 10 : Isabela Island: Los Túneles Snorkelling

You will see firsthand today how unbelievable the wildlife is in the Galápagos Islands, both beneath the water and on land. Strap on the mask to snorkel and swim though the calm, clear and shallow water at Los Túneles—a unique geological site formed by a series of lava flows that created various arcs and tunnels above and below the water.

Transfer to the dock after breakfast where your boat awaits. Cruise along to Los Túneles for a thrilling snorkelling excursion to spot marine life under the water, then walk the coastal trail to look for blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and more. Eat lunch onboard the boat on the way back to Puerto Villamil and take the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure. Explore on your own, relax in the pool of the hotel or try out one of the many bars and restaurants in town.

Acommodation

Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel

Day 11 : Isabela Island: Your OMG Day

Today you will be able to explore more of Isabela Island on your terms with the choice of two activities. Stick to the land and hike the Sierra Negra Volcano, one of five active ones located on Isabela Island, and rising to an altitude of 1124m. If you are looking for more snorkelling, take to the water and head to Las Tintoreras, an islet to the south of Puerto Villamil that forms part of the national park of the Galápagos Islands. The area is known for the reef sharks that can be seen swimming with fish and other marine life when the tide is low.

This morning, choose between a volcano hike or snorkelling excursion. Both options include lunch at a local restaurant on the island. The remainder of the day is free for optional activities offered on Isabela Island, or for lounging by the pool at the hotel property.

Acommodation

Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel

Day 12 : Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station & Tortuga Bay

Swap islands today and travel to the second largest—Santa Cruz—located in the centre of the archipelago, where you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station responsible for many of the studies conducted on the islands about the fascinating and prehistoric land tortoises. Enjoy lunch before walking to Tortuga Bay. Here, spend time at the beach named for its black sea turtles that nest there, and bask in the sun along this inviting stretch of white sand. Travel back to town by speed boat and cap the day off with a signature cocktail-making experience during sunset.

Hop on a morning speedboat to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Transfer to the hotel, check in, then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station before lunch. Afterwards, walk to Tortuga Bay for free time to enjoy the beach and choose to rent a kayak in the calm waters. The day ends with a speedboat ride back to town just in time to catch sunset overlooking the ocean.

Acommodation

Angermeyer Waterfront Inn

Day 13 : Santa Cruz Island: Life in the Islands and Kayaking

Travel to the highlands to a private ranch to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat and visit some lava tunnels. After lunch, go to Garrapatero beach for some kayaking, tidal pool gazing or wildlife spotting in the lagoon before heading to town stop by an organic farm where you can learn about the hydroponic crops they are growing and how this technique is helping to protect the environment and reduce water usage within agriculture. This evening, it's time to say good-bye to the mighty Galapagos and there's no better way than with an optional dinner all together as a group.

Spend another day traversing Santa Cruz Island from the highlands to the coast, watching the landscape undulate under waves and hills alike. Look for wildlife like sea lions, flamingos and blue footed boobies from a kayak along the beach before visiting an organic farm to try the local coffee of the area. Arrive back to town just in time for an optional group dinner.

Acommodation

Angermeyer Waterfront Inn

Day 14 : Quito: Back to the Mainland

While it’s time to bid the islands farewell, there’s no doubt your days here will be remembered. Incredible up-close encounters with animals and immersion into ecosystems that remain largely unchanged in a pristine slice of paradise will remain etched in your memory forever.

Spend the day travelling back to Quito. Enjoy a private transfer to Canal Itabaca, board the ferry across, then take a short public bus ride to the Baltra Airport. Fly to Quito and check in to the hotel before a farewell dinner with the group in the historical centre of the city.

G Adventures strongly recommends not booking departure flights on the day the group returns to Quito. Local flight times are often subject to change and could potentially cause issues if delayed. We recommend booking flights on the last day of the tour as noted on the Full itinerary page.

Acommodation

Hotel Hilton Colon

Day 15 : Quito

Today your adventure comes to an end, and you can depart at any time.