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Volcanoes and Galapagos

5.0Based on
15 days
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15 daysDuration
Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants
15 peopleMaximum group size
16 - 99 yearsAge range for participants
EnglishGuide language
Easy
Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.
Select Date
Best price guaranteedNo credit card or booking fees.Carbon neutral tours.

Highlights

Indigenous Ecuador - Discover the heart of Ecuador, visiting indigenous communities in the mountainous surroundings of rural Otavalo Galapagos Islands - Spend one week getting up close to the remarkable wildlife of Darwin's paradise islands Cloud Forest - Visit the Mindo Cloud Forest Reserve, a protected area that is home to a stunning array of hummingbirds and butterflies.

Itinerary

Wildlife encounters and volcanic landscapes define the 'Volcanoes and Galapagos' tour, a 15-day guided journey from Quito to Guayaquil. Designed for experienced travelers, this trip offers a perfect mix of Ecuador’s vibrant mainland culture and the extraordinary natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands.

Start by visiting indigenous communities near Otavalo, delving into local traditions and colorful markets. Explore the lush Mindo Cloud Forest, alive with hummingbirds and butterflies, before heading to the coast for a week-long adventure across Santa Cruz, Isabela, and Santa Fe Islands. Here, you’ll get up close with the Galapagos’ unique wildlife—think playful sea lions, ancient tortoises, and a parade of rare birds.

Unlike traditional cruises, this tour lets you experience the Galapagos from land-based lodges, providing a deeper connection with the islands and their communities. Guided walks, snorkeling, and plenty of opportunities for wildlife photography round out the experience.

The unique selling point of this trip is its land-based approach to the Galapagos, offering more immersive, flexible encounters with both people and wildlife, all within a comprehensive active and outdoor tour package.

day 1Join trip in Tumbaco, near Quito

Our tour starts today in Tumbaco, a quiet rural neighbourhood of Quito located around 20 minutes from the airport and 45 minutes from the downtown city centre. Ecuador's mountain capital is the second highest in Latin America at 2,850 metres. It lies in a narrow valley at the foot of the Pichincha volcano. Arriving in the city by air is quite spectacular as you approach over snow-capped mountains and extinct volcanoes - we highly recommend booking a window seat! Due to the number of evening flights into Quito, our tour leader plans to hold a welcome meeting on the morning of day two and will leave a message in reception with details on timings and everything else that you'll need for the day. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Quito at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), approximately a 20-minute drive from our hotel. If you miss the meeting, our tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Our hotel in Tumbaco is a tranquil property. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, we recommend resting here and acclimatising to the altitude before the trip begins. It's approximately a 45-minute drive into downtown Quito, and the hotel can help to organise taxi transport for you if you'd like to head out and explore the city.

Accommodation
Ilalo Garden Hotel

day 2Travel to Otavalo via Parque Condor; visit Peguche village

day 3Walk at the Laguna Cuicocha; share in rural life at indigenous communities; visit Otavalo Market

day 4Drive to the Mindo Cloud Forest Reserve; visit a chocolate factory

day 5Explore the cloud forest on foot and by cable car; visit a hummingbird garden; drive to Quito

day 6Walking tour of Quito's UNESCO Heritage Old Town

day 7Drive the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Cotopaxi National Park; walks at the Limpiopungo Lagoon

day 8Fly to the Galapagos; view giant tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands

day 9Boat to Isabela Island, overnight in Puerto Villamil

day 10Walk up Sierra Negra Volcano; afternoon snorkel

day 11Tintoreras Islands trip; return by boat to Santa Cruz

day 12Visit Tortuga Bay; afternoon Charles Darwin Station visit

day 13Discover Seymour, Plazas, Bartolome or Santa Fe Island

day 14Fly to Quito on the mainland

day 15Tour ends in Quito

What's Included

Accommodation
Ilalo Garden Hotel (3 nights)Hostal Riviera Sucre (2 nights)Grand Hotel Mindo (1 night)Ikala Quito Hotel (2 nights)Hotel Deja Vu (4 nights)Hotel Cally (2 nights)
Meals
14 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches
Transport
Driver(s)BusBoatFlight
Guide
Boat CrewLocal Guide(s)Explore Tour Leader
Others
Naturalist(s)

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

4.8

based on 23 reviews
19
4
A
AnonymousVerified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent

Roberto was an excellent tour leader with a wealth of information about architecture, history, flora and fauna. He was a walking Google! He was enthusiastic and made the tour a lot of fun. He was also genuinely caring of each one of us (always carrying water and reminding us to hydrate and apply sun block, among other things!) The highlights of the tour include Cuicocha lake, Cotopaxi volcano, Mindo, and most definitely the Galapagos for its abundance of animals. Everyday was a new adventure during the 2 week tour. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

G
GiorgioVerified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent

À really great trip. Great itenery in good company and with a great guide and driver. A great m mix of local culture, hiking in great countryside with beautiful scenery among cloud forests and vulcanos followed by a 5 island hop in the Galapagos. Being land based gave us an opportunity to see more of the islands interiors as well as being able to see a lot of bird life, tortoises and iguanas. We also had 3 snorkeling trips and were fortunate to seeing penguins turtles and reef sharks. Our tour leader and guide Fabian was excellent, very knowledgeable, kind and looked after us very well. It was sad to say goodbye. The local food in Ecuador was excellent and the hotels that we stayed were confortable and usually close to local amenities In conclusion a great trip. Would do again

J
JoanneVerified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent

I absolutely loved this trip. Mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos are beautiful and very varied. I enjoyed every day of the itinerary. We saw so much wildlife close up on the Galapagos. Also loved Quito, Otavalo and Cotopaxi. The itinerary was varied and well organised. Our tour leader Roberto was fantastic - very knowledgeable and fun, sometimes tweaking the itinerary slightly to the group and what would work best. All of this contributed to a very fun, easygoing group.

E
EllenVerified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent

Roberto was an excellent guide, passionate about his country, knowledgeable, considerate for our needs, took weather and other conditions into account and went above and beyond what was necessary. Thank you Roberto

A
AnonymousVerified Traveler
5.0 | Excellent

A fabulous trip where you get to explore the flora, fauna and cultures of both mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos. The guides are extremely knowledgeable and balance activities around the group.

Monthly Price Comparison

Good to Know

Travel Insurance
Visa
Other Practical Information

Do you need help from our trip consultants?

If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Our travel experts are ready to help.
Jane Andersen
Sine
Rasmus Juul Olsen

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