Ecuador Tours in September 2027

Wow - what an amazing holiday. Truly a holiday of a lifetime! Incredible to see the scale and beauty of Machu Picchu. We walked to the Sun Gate and hiked down instead of taking the bus which was not quite the 1 day trek but was a great way down. It only took 45 minutes or so too. Our group in Peru & Ecuador was small with only 5 of us plus one guide. Age range was between 49 and 78. You do need to be reasonably fit for this as there is some walking and climbing involved. We were then joined with some others in the Galapagos. We all gelled really well and we had a great time. The Cachalote was brilliant. It was a 16 berths boat. The cabins had a double bed and a toilet and shower room. Not huge but sufficient for our needs. There is a large dining/sitting area where we were served amazing food. Breakfast was good - both warm and cold things including yoghurt, fruit, cereals, eggs etc. Lunchtime and dinner was 2 or 3 course meal - again good variety and very tasty. Lovely crew too who will go out of their way to please. The Galapagos Islands were truly amazing. What a honour to see animals in abundance! Snorkelling with the different types of fish, sea turtles, seals, penguins and marine iguanas. Saw a white tipped shark too! On land was also very interesting. Vast amounts of Galapagos birds including pelicans, cormorants and blue-footed boobies. Overall, a superb holiday.

A stunning first trip for us to South America - Ecuador has it all. This trip took us on a journey through all the ecosystems of this beautiful Country, from the turbid Amazon with it's humid jungle to winding mountain roads overlooking houses clinging impossibly to the slopes from where a living was hewn from fields bathed in cloud. Subtle changes in the costume of indigenous residents highlighted this varied community, whilst equally subtle changes became the norm as one climbs from the rain through the cloud forests to the highlands with vegetation that appears barren until you look closely at the beauty of the tiny alpine flowers and plants.

If you want variety then look no further; this trip had it all and more. Scenery (stunning), history, wildlife and culture. Boat trips, train rides, walking, easy hiking, wildlife spotting. Volcanoes, Rain Forest, Cloud Forest, the Andes, sugar and cocoa plantations. I even learnt how to use a blowpipe. Great weather throughout the two weeks; only rained for one day (in the rain forest, so expected).

This is a most amazing trip for wildlife enthusiasts. I had never been so close to wildlife that was so indifferent to our presence. We were merely another non threatening species and as such were not to be feared or shunned, simply accepted. To see the bird and animal life living and behaving so naturally was a real privilege.

The Galapagos Islands were everything Id hoped they would be - Peaceful and unspoilt teaming with wild life which was totally unafraid of us, our guide was obviously passionate about keeping the Islands this way and had a great deal of knowledge to share with us.

An excellent itinerary, both in Machu Picchu and the Galapagos. Nilton and Fabian were great tour leaders, ensuring that the complicated travel arrangements went smoothly and that we made the most of our time in Cusco, Quito and the Galapagos. One of the best Explore trips that we have been on!