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Ecuador: Volcanoes, the Amazon & the Galápagos Islands

15 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.

15 days

Quito to Quito

From$7549USD
Valid on Jun 20 2026
Trip Code: SEMG

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: The Geluxe Collection

With perfectly paced itineraries, one-of-a-kind accommodations, and comfort at their very core, these premium active trips are adventure at its finest.

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 16, avg 12.

Age requirement: 18+

Check Your Visa Requirements

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

15 days

Quito to Quito

From$7549USD
Valid on Jun 20 2026
Trip Code: SEMG

Need a flight? We can help.

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

Chief Experience Officers with a capital E

Call us biased but we've seen 30+ years of proof: our Chief Experience Officers are the best travel guides on the planet. And on Geluxe trips, you'll be led by the most experienced CEOs we have.

Fabi, a Chief Experience Officer on our Geluxe tours in Peru

Fabi

CEO Peru

Yinier, a Chief Experience Officer on our Geluxe tours in Costa Rica

Yinier

CEO Costa Rica

Haidy, a Chief Experience Officer on our Geluxe tours in Egypt

Haidy

CEO Egypt

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: 15

Ripple Score

Create ripples that change lives. The higher the Ripple Score percentage, the more money stays in the local communities you visit.

Ripple Score for this trip: 89

Map of the route for Ecuador: Volcanoes, the Amazon & the Galápagos Islands

Places visited

Itinerary

Day 1Quito: 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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Welcome Moment Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

Meals included:

Dinner

Day 2Cotopaxi: 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.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 3Cotopaxi: 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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Foodie Moment Cooking Class at the Lodge

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 4Baños: 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. From gorgeous scenery to a demonstration of the best handmade candy in Ecuador, this introduction to Baños will captivate your senses at every turn.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 5Baños: 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. Later, follow the Rio Verde to the Pailon del Diablo, a powerful waterfall in the midst of the jungle landscape.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your OMG Day Bike Tour From La Suiza to Baños or Hiking Between Torre al Cielo and Casa del Arbol

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 6The 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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Local Living Moment Visit a Local Family in the Amazon

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 7The 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. Your mind and body will be at complete ease in the middle of the jungle.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 8Quito: 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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Wellness Moment Papallacta Hot Springs Visit

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 9Isabela 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.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 10Isabela 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.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 11Isabela 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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your OMG Day Tintoreras Snorkeling Excursion

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

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

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 before a kayak excursion through the calm waters. Travel back to town by speed boat and cap the day off with a signature cocktail-making experience during sunset.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 13Santa Cruz Island: Life in the Islands and Beach Time

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 tidal pool gazing or wildlife spotting from the beach and around 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.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Local Living Moment Organic Farm Visit Near Garrapatero

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 14Quito: 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.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 15Quito

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

Meals included:

Breakfast
View full itinerary

Your OMG Stay

Chilcabamba Mountain Lodge

Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador

2 nights (Day 2 - 3)

With comfortable rooms and rustic-style décor, Chilcabamba Mountain Lodge is built from local materials and lies in a gentle valley surrounded by mountains. Providing guests a natural wonderland in Ecuador’s countryside, the lodge offers many opportunities to trek out into the native landscape whether by foot, horseback, or mountain bike.

Why we love this stay

  • Perfect location close to Cotopaxi National Park.
  • Gaze up at stars while staying warm next to evening bonfires.
  • A sustainably crafted mountain lodge providing authentic, community-centred experiences to travellers.

Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel

Puerto Villamil, Ecuador

3 nights (Day 9 - 11)

Iguana Crossing is a beachfront, boutique hotel on Isabela Island in the Galápagos, constructed by local artisans. In addition to comfortable modern rooms, the property offers impressive views of the water from the poolside terrace and an on-site restaurant using only locally-sourced ingredients.

Why we love this stay

  • Stay in the only eco-hotel in the Galápagos Islands, constructed using regional materials.
  • Enjoy the close proximity of native wildlife while sipping a cold drink on the hotel terrace.
  • Sit down for locally-sourced regional dishes like traditional Ecuadorian soup, sancocho at the on-site restaurant.

What's Included

  • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Your Foodie Moment: Cooking Class at the Lodge, Cotopaxi
  • Your OMG Day: Bike Tour From La Suiza to Baños or Hiking Between Torre al Cielo and Casa del Arbol, Baños
  • Your Local Living Moment: Visit a Local Family in the Amazon, Tena
  • Your Wellness Moment: Papallacta Hot Springs Visit, Papallacta
  • Your OMG Day: Tintoreras Snorkeling Excursion, Isabela Island
  • Your Local Living Moment: Organic Farm Visit Near Garrapatero, Santa Cruz Island
  • Complimentary arrival transfer
  • Welcome dinner
  • Intiñan Museum Visit
  • Full-Day exploration of Cotopaxi National Park
  • Cooking class at the Cotopaxi lodge
  • Pailon del Diablo Waterfall Visit
  • Baños Orientation Walk & Melcocha Demonstration
  • Visit with a Local Family in the Amazon
  • River Tubing in the Amazon
  • Caiman Lagoon Visit
  • Chocolate Culinary Experience
  • Snorkelling Excursion at Los Túneles
  • Tortuga Bay Walk & Kayaking
  • Charles Darwin Research Station Visit
  • Garrapatero Beach Time
  • Highlands Giant Tortoises Visit
  • Sunset cocktail-making experience
  • Free time in Baños, the Amazon, and on Isabela & Santa Cruz Islands
  • Internal flights
  • Farewell dinner
  • All tips included for activities and meals, except for CEO and porterage
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodations

Hotels (12 nts), Amazon Jungle Lodge (2 nts).

Meals

14 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 8 dinners
Allow USD210-275 for meals not included.

Transportation

Motorized Canoe, Private Vehicle, Walking, Speedboat, Ferry.

Staff & experts

CEO (Chief Experience Officer)/Naturalist Guide while in the Galápagos Islands (certified by the Galápagos National Park Authority), local guides.

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

My Own Room - From $3079.00

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.

Make it a private tour

Book this tour as a private departure, with your own CEO and all the benefits of a G Adventures group tour.

Ecuador: Volcanoes, the Amazon & the Galápagos Islands

| 15 days - Quito to Quito - from $7549 USD