Amazon & Island Hopping in Galapagos
Ecuador in 13 Days, 11 Nights in Destination starting from 1,699$
Trip Highlights
Amazon
Galapagos Islands
Quito
San Cristobal Island
Santa Cruz Island
Included
All flights
Accommodation
All transfers
Activities
Breakfast only
Availability
Departures available until March 2026
Available Group tours
Solo travelers from + $620
Add up to 3 nights to your stay
Categories available
charm included
superior from + $1,050
Itinerary
Explore Ecuador and all its natural wonders. Jump from the island of San Cristobal to Santa Cruz to fully immerse yourself in the treasures of the Galapagos; from rare marine wildlife to some most of the beautiful landscapes and beaches in the world. Next, uncover the secrets of the Amazon forest before treating your senses to an explosion of colors in Quito.
1st Day: US - Quito
Arrive at your US departure airport*, ready for a flight to Quito. Arrive in the capital of Ecuador, a city famed for its high vantage point in the Andean mountains and its ancient Incan history. Transfer to your hotel** and overnight stay in Quito.
*If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.
**If you want to have the hotel room available before 2:00 p.m., you can add early check-in at an additional cost. In case you are interested, you will be able to see the price and do the upsell in the next step of the purchase process.
Please note: The transfer from the airport to the hotel is a shuttle with a Spanish-speaking driver.
2nd Day: Quito
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, a local representative will relay all the information regarding the next few days of your trip to you. Afterwards, the rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure; take this time to start exploring Quito at your own pace. Alternatively, we recommend you take part in our optional Middle of the World Monument excursion*. Overnight stay in Quito.
*Optional Middle of the World Monument Excursion: Take a photo with one foot in each hemisphere against the backdrop of a mesmerizing mountain landscape. Visit the Museo Solar Intiñán, which features an interactive tour, and then enjoy a chaguarmishqui tasting at the Museo de la Experiencia del Agave to learn about the versatile and delicious plant used to make this ancient drink.
3rd Day: Quito - San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, transfer to the airport in Quito to board a flight to the Galapagos Islands. Upon arriving at San Cristobal Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. You will then meet with one of our staff members to get briefed on the next few days of your trip including a quick description of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital city of the Galapagos province.
The rest of the day is yours to spend as you see fit; take this time to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. Overnight stay in San Cristobal.
4th Day: San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, begin your adventure visiting the stunning Loberia Beach for a relaxing start to your day*. To get to the beach, you will first be picked up by a taxi and then hike to your destination where you'll encounter land iguanas, various birds and flora typical of the region. Once at the beach, you can enjoy the view, swim/snorkel among sea lions, and if you're lucky, also spot marine iguanas and turtles.
Return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure exploring the island at your own pace. Alternatively, we recommend you take part in our optional half-day tour snorkeling in Isla Lobos*. Overnight stay in San Cristobal.
*Optional Half-Day Tour with Snorkel in Isla Lobos: Board a boat to visit Isla Lobos where you will encounter blue-footed boobies, sea lions, sea turtles and rays before getting to snorkel and swim in the crystal clear waters of this island. From here, make your way to Ochoa Beach to relax, swim and take in the beauty of this stunning landscape. Lunch is included.
5th Day: San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands
Breakfast at the hotel. Free day to enjoy the beautiful island at your leisure. Alternatively, we recommend you take part in one of our two optional excursions of the day: either a visit to Kicker Rock for some snorkeling* or a visit to San Cristobal’s highlands**. Overnight stay in San Cristobal.
*Optional Excursion to Kicker Rock with Snorkeling: Early in the morning sail to the lava formation in the middle of the sea where you will walk around to observe different species of birds that use this rock as a resting place for nesting. From here, enjoy some leisurely time to snorkel and try to catch a glimpse of different shark species (including hammerheads!), turtles, rays and more.
After this, continue to Manglecito Beach, a white coral beach offering the opportunity to walk and swim in its shallow waters and take in the beauty of this stunning location. Lunch is included.
**Optional Full-Day Highlands & Giant Tortoises Excursion: Discover the wildlife-rich highlands or 'Altos' of San Cristobal island! Begin at the white-sand beach of Puerto Chino before taking a short nature hike to visit the sea lion colony and spot blue-footed boobies!
An uphill walk rewards you with excellent views of the surrounding landscapes before travelling to La Galapaguera, a Galapagos Tortoise hatchery where wooden walkways allow you to walk amongst these gentle giants.
6th Day: San Cristobal - Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands
Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning, transfer to the dock to hop on a speedboat to take you to Santa Cruz Island. The duration of the transfer is approximately 2.5 hours.
Upon arriving in Santa Cruz, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure; take this time to acclimate to your new surroundings. Alternatively, take part in our optional tour of Santa Cruz Bahia*.Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.
*Optional Half-Day Santa Cruz Bahia Tour: Discover Santa Cruz and its bays during this incredible experience. Visit some of the most beautiful and important areas of the island and learn about the importance of the archipelago. Discover the beautiful seascapes with your knowledgeable guide.
Depending on the weather, the public ferry service in the Galapagos Islands can become quite choppy at times. If you suffer from seasickness, we recommend taking precautions to alleviate your symptoms in case of rough seas.
7th Day: Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the entirety of the day at your own leisure; take this time to further explore the beauty of the island. Alternatively, we recommend you take part in our optional excursion to the Santa Cruz Highlands*. Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.
*Optional Full-Day Excursion to the Santa Cruz Highlands: This day trip includes a visit to the El Chato Reserve, where you’ll observe the renowned giant turtles in their natural habitat. Discover the Lava Tunnels formed when a flow of lava quickly goes cold as it comes into contact with the cold atmosphere thus creating these interesting tube-like formations.
Following this, gaze at the incredible view of the Twin Craters, two mind-blowing volcanic material holes formed by a long process of slow subsidence of the land, where exceptional scalesia trees, ferns, mosses and orchids can be seen. Lunch is included.
8th Day: Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands - Quito
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, transfer to the airport in Baltra Island for a flight back to Quito. Upon arrival in the city of Quito, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure.
9th Day: Quito - Tena - Amazon
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, start your guided adventure visiting the beautiful colonial center of Quito known as one of the best preserved in Latin America. Walk through its charming narrow streets, enjoy its beautiful squares (Plaza de la Independencia, Palacio de Gobierno) and taste typical Ecuadorian fruits in a local market.
After, continue to the Ecuadorian Highlands, the highest point of the road in the moors of Papallacta and down to the eastern jungle of the country, until you reach the Lodge. This drive will take approximately 5 hours (120 miles).
To end the day, explore the Amazon at night walking around the gardens where you can catch a glimpse of the many toads, grasshoppers and various species of insects. With a bit of luck, you might just come across bioluminescent mushrooms; a true feast for the eyes! Overnight stay in Tena.
10th Day: Amazon
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the entirety of the day at your leisure; take this time to further explore the Ecuadorian jungle. If you wish to use this time to relax, do so by taking advantage of the hotel facilities at your disposal.
Alternatively, we recommend taking part in our optional activities, which include; a walk along a waterfall*, a half-day Amazonian excursion** and/or a chocolate-making workshop***.
*Optional Waterfall Walk: Join this incredible walk where you will be guided to spectacular views of the Waterfall, and learn about the tropical fauna and flora along the way.
**Optional Half-Day Amazonian Excursion: Discover Paikawe Lagoon on a canoe ride, with curious large fish that you can see swimming and coming to the surface. Head to Misahualli Monkey Village, this sleepy jungle town where you can meet its most popular inhabitants, the monkeys! Finally visit the Amupakin community, to understand the traditional local way of life. Including lunch.
***Optional Chocolate-Making Workshop: A foodie experience where you can make your own chocolate. Learn the entire process through practice, all the way from the seed until creating your own chocolate sauce.
Please note: None of these activities overlap, therefore it is possible to book all of them.
11th Day: Amazon - Papallacta - Quito
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, enjoy some extra time exploring the jungle before visiting Papallacta*, en route to Quito with a 5 hour drive (approx. 120 miles). Papallacta is a town mostly known for its thermal waters said to have medicinal properties. The lagoon found in Papallacta supplies most of Quito’s drinking water with 80% of its territory belonging to the ecosystem of the moors.
You will have time to admire the lagoon and, if you choose to, bathe in one of its hot springs for an additional cost (approx. 10 USD per person). Return to your hotel and overnight stay in Quito.
*Please note: Entrance to the thermal waters is not included; you will be able to pay on site. Please also note that this activity is subject to availability.
12th Day: Quito - Night on board
Breakfast at the hotel. Sadly, it's time to bring your adventure through Ecuador and the amazing Galapagos Islands to an end. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. Night on board.
Please note: Depending on the flight departure time you may arrive back in the US today.
13th Day: US
Arrive in the US and end your trip.
