Ecuador Tours in October 2026

Myriam in Galapagos was the most amazing tour leader. Really helpful and supportive when I ended up with food poisoning - practical but not fussing. She told us so much about the places and was so proud of her country Ecuador. It was a joy to hear her. Nilton in Peru was equally helpful when our bags went missing for the first 5 days! The trip was really full on and had so much moving but it was needed to fit everything in. Make sure you pack light! Prepare for lots of early starts and quick turn arounds. Even though it says moderate it’s as full on as some full on tours! The scenery was incredible. From the mountains in Peru and Machu Picchu to volcanoes in Ecuador. The Galapagos were stunning. Isabela is so very beautiful. Wildlife everywhere you look through the whole trip. Every day is just wow. Some hotels were a little basic. The one in Quito had no lift and arriving in the middle of the night had no one to help with bags. The stair carpet was loose and stair rail wobbly so a bit dodgy. A couple we had no hot water and one the breakfast was very basic, though they were all clean and had comfortable beds.

An excellent trip on a comfortable boat with a good crew and good food. We saw all of the expected wildlife, and snorkelling with sea lions and turtles amongst the fish was a particular highlight. The boat is not operated by Explore, so on my trip there were other nationalities who had booked through other operators, but it was a good mix. On the afternoon of the first day at the hotel I received a WhatsApp from the cruise operator providing details of the airport transfer (handled by the hotel in my case) and of their representative who met me at the airport to provide my printed boarding pass and Transit Control Card. They also helped with the additional baggage check required before bag drop. The message also includes the flight details if you want to complete the bio-security form at https://declaracion.abgalapagos.gob.ec/ before arriving at the airport. After snorkelling the crew will rinse all your gear and then hang wetsuits to dry (I think it was 80 USD to rent a wetsuit on board for the six days, but masks, snorkels and fins were free). There are lines with clothes pegs on the top deck to dry your swimwear. Remember to take USD cash for tipping the crew and guide at the end of the trip. Two envelopes were left in my cabin for this, but the amount suggested at 15 USD per day for the guide and 25 USD per day for the crew of 11 was about double that in the trip notes.

This really was a trip of a lifetime. Go with an open heart and mind. Manage your expectations of wildlife. It's in the name. It's amazing to see living creatures in their natural habitat with no fear of humans.

This was our 4th trip with Explore and it did not disappoint. It really was the trip of a lifetime and we loved every minute of it. Our guide Diego was absolutely fabulous and really made the trip very enjoyable and educational for us all. The wildlife is astounding!

This experience was totally out of this world. The wildlife was incredible in terms of variety and number and our guides very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The lodge staff were excellent, delivering very good service and attention.

The tour gave a fantastic opportunity to experience many aspects of Ecuador and the Galapagos, both its culture and its incredible biodiversity. The tour is very well organised by Explore!; we felt safe at all times and our guide, Diego, was exceptional, adding so much more to the tour than just 'guiding' us. His passion for and knowledge of his country was inspirational.