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Ecuador Family Journey: Volcanoes and the Amazon

9 days, Quito to Quito

!

Please note that the Quito international airport (UIO, Mariscal Sucre) will be closed on the following dates in 2025 for preventative maintenance on the runway: April 5 & 12; May 10, 17 & 31; June 7, 14, 21, 28; September 6, 13 & 20. between the hours of 2am and 2pm. For passengers flying in or out of Quito on these dates, please double-check flight schedules with your airline in case of changes. Internal flights within Ecuador and Galapagos will be adjusted accordingly and any changes to schedules will be communicated at the welcome briefing.

9 days

Quito to Quito

From$4799USD
Valid on Dec 19 2026
Trip Code: SEQNF

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

Is this tour for me?

Travel Style: National Geographic Family Journeys

Trips for adventure-loving families in search of a meaningful way to discover the world together.

Service Level: Upgraded

Quality accommodations and more inclusions than on other G Adventures tours, like meals, private transport, and activities.

Physical Rating: 3 - Average

Some tours may include light hiking, biking, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 20

Age requirement: 7+

All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

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Before booking, use our handy entry requirements tool so you know which documents you need to enter and travel through the countries on your trip.

View our Entry Requirements tool

9 days

Quito to Quito

From$4799USD
Valid on Dec 19 2026
Trip Code: SEQNF

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

See how your trip uplifts communities

In a number of impactful ways, your adventure directly benefits the local people and places we visit.

Trees for Days

Help us spread love around the world with Trees for Days. Together with Planeterra, we'll plant one tree in your name for every travel day.

Trees planted for this trip: 9

Map of the route for Ecuador Family Journey: Volcanoes and the Amazon

Places visited

Itinerary Notes

Please note current landslides are causing road closures. Due to this, drive times between cities may take longer than usual as there's a possibility alternate routes will need to be taken. No included activities are expected to be missed, but please be aware that delay times may change depending on a variety of factors.

Prices are based on double occupancy; all other room configurations are on request and cannot be guaranteed. We will accommodate triples/quads whenever possible. Please call for further details.

Family Journeys are designed for groups traveling with children between the ages of 7 and 17. Your group must include a child in order to book, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Itinerary

Day 1Quito

Welcome to Quito–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Welcome Moment Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

Day 2Quito

Head to the historical centre of Quito for a walking tour of some of the city’s important and historical sites like the main plaza and the beautiful church of La Compañía. Get ready for some sweet treats! Stop at a local artisanal chocolate shop for some samples and to learn about the cacao and chocolate making process. The earliest people known to have used the cacao plant are the ancient Mayo-Chinchipe people of what’s now Ecuador!

Continue to the Yaku water museum for a visit with one of the local experts, who will guide you through the interactive and playful exhibits that encourage reflection on the importance of water to life and to our planet. It’s a great way for the family to learn about environmental conservation in an entertaining and memorable way. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy the rest of the day and evening with free time to explore or to relax.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Family Journeys Moment Yaku Water Museum with a Local Expert

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 3Quito/Papallacta

After breakfast, travel north to the Middle of the World where you’ll stop for pictures at the iconic Ciudad Mitad del Mundo monument located at the equator line—a family photo opportunity that you’ll cherish forever. Continue to the Intiñan museum to learn about the significance of our planet's equator with fun experiments like seeing if you can balance an egg on a nail or walking along the equatorial line with your eyes closed. After playing scientist, have a delicious lunch overlooking the crater of Pululahua Volcano then travel to the village of Papallacta, nestled in the mountains. Take the rest of the day to soak in the hotel's restorative thermal springs. The warm, mineral-rich waters are perfect for relaxing and letting the kids splash around at the end of the day.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Hands-On Moment Mitad del Mundo Stop & Private Visit to the Intiñan museum

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 4Papallacta

Enjoy a full free day in Papallacta to take advantage of the hotel’s hot springs and pools created by the area’s high volcanic activity, and combined with the glacial meltwater, creating the perfect natural spa. The area was discovered by the Incas, and recognized for its fertile volcanic soil, high altitude and cold year-round weather. You can also enjoy other optional activities like going to the spa or hiking nearby trails where it may be possible on clear days to see the imposing Antisana Volcano. Regroup in the evening for a delicious dinner at the hotel.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 5Papallacta to The Amazon Jungle

Catch an early flight from Quito to Coca. From there, take in the magnificent sights and sounds as you travel by private vehicle and canoe to your accommodations deep in the Amazon Rainforest. Imagine the wonder on your young explorers' faces as they encounter all the fascinating sights and experiences awaiting them along the way. Fill up on lunch at the lodge before an afternoon activity in the 5,000-acre ecological reserve where you’ll walk across a bridge suspended 94 ft (36 m) high over the jungle canopy. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of flora and fauna seldom seen from the ground. You may also hear the wildlife below including the roar of the howler monkeys echoing through the trees at sunset.

*There may be activities available at the lodge that are not part of this itinerary

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 6The Amazon Jungle

Wake early and join a local guide for a morning visit to a local community and learn about a project their working to support the females who are part of the nearby village. Witness their daily lives and learn about how they survive in harmony with the harshness of the jungle. As you walk through the community, you will witness firsthand how important it is for scientists to keep protecting this magnificent ecosystem to preserve the lives of the animals, plants, and humans that call this place home.

After lunch back at the lodge, the group will visit Kapok Tower, a 135 ft (43m) observation platform built on the highest branches of a giant kapok tree. The panoramic views of the forest below are epic. Try spotting one of the 500 species of birds registered in the area including rainbow-colored toucans and parrots. Spend some free time at the lodge before dinner then set out on a night expedition to look for caimans on the lake.

*There may be activities available at the lodge that are not part of this itinerary.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 7The Amazon Jungle

Your day begins with a creek paddling excursion by dugout canoe through the streams close to the lodge. The hanging branches over the water create a sort of tunnel, bringing you into what feels like a lost world. The sound of bird calls surround you as you keep a lookout for families of monkeys that may be seen leaping from the branches above. Later, your local guide will teach you how to fish for piranha, a thrilling chance for the entire family to learn about Amazon wildlife while having some hands-on fun during a catch and release activity.

Then, head to Danta tower nestled within a swamp habitat offering a unique perspective of the rainforest’s mid-story canopy. Head up the 22-meter-high tower to experience the diverse wildlife that thrives just beneath the treetops. Afterwards, spend free time at the lodge before dinner then embark on a final night walk through the forest searching for nocturnal creatures that call the jungle home such as tarantulas, frogs, and boas.

*There may be activities available at the lodge that are not part of this itinerary.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 8The Amazon Jungle to Quito

Enjoy an early breakfast buffet at the lodge before transferring to the airport via canoe and private vehicle. Fly from Coca back to Quito and arrive at your accommodations outside the city. Enjoy a free afternoon to utilize the activities at the hotel property like, swimming or horseback riding. Tonight, sit down for a final group dinner together and share stories of your once-in-a-lifetime family journey to Ecuador and into the Amazon jungle, creating unforgettable memories for all.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 9Quito

Depart at any time.

Meals included:

Breakfast
View full itinerary

What's Included

  • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Your Family Journeys Moment: Yaku Water Museum with a Local Expert, Quito
  • Your Hands-On Moment: Mitad del Mundo Stop & Private Visit to the Intiñan museum, Quito
  • Complimentary arrival transfer
  • Historical walking tour of Quito
  • Mitad del Mundo and the Intiñan Museum visit
  • Lunch overlooking the crater of Pululahua Volcano
  • Papallacta thermal pools
  • Amazon rainforest jungle (3 nt) stay
  • Hanging bridges activity
  • Guided jungle walk focusing on resident flora and fauna
  • Local community visit and taste of regional specialties
  • Visit Kapok Tower, an observation platform in the forest
  • Creek paddle in a dugout canoe
  • Catch and release piranha activity with a local guide
  • Free time in Quito, Papallacta, & the Amazon Jungle
  • All tips included for activities and meals, except for CEO and porterage
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodations

Hotels (3 nts), jungle lodge (3 nts), hot springs resort (2 nts).

Meals

8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners
Allow USD155-205 for meals not included.

Transportation

Private van, plane, motorized canoe, walking.

Staff & experts

Two CEOs (Chief Experience Officers) throughout, local guides.

Available extras (Add these to your tour when you book)

My Own Room - From $1639.00

If you're travelling solo and would prefer to have your own private room throughout your trip, select this option during the online booking process.

Price Options

  • From$4799USD Per Adult
  • From$4599USD Per Child

Make it a private tour

Interested in a private departure with your own CEO and all the benefits of a National Geographic Family Journeys group tour? Our Private Travel team can make this happen for you. Click above to start your private journey.

Ecuador Family Journey: Volcanoes and the Amazon

| 9 days - Quito to Quito - from $4799 USD