Ecuador Small Group Tours & Trips

461 Ecuador trips. Tours from 147 tour companies. 1,126 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

211 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Small Group Tour
Grand Galapagos (Grand Queen Beatriz)
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Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Darwin, Galapagos, Galapagos Islands, Guayaquil, Isla Baltra, Isla Bartolome, Isla Santa Fe, Isla Santiago, Puerto Villamil, Quito, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Santiago

Highlights

  • Jump aboard the ultimate Galapagos exploration on the most comprehensive voyage, taking in both popular destinations and lesser-known treats.
  • Encounter spectacular wildlife, both on land and underwater. You can expect to see giant tortoises, sea lions, sea turtles, plus a variety of iguanas, birds and sharks.
  • Scrambling over hardened lava, hiking through cacti forests, and snorkelling in an eroded volcanic cone – this trip is one for the explorers.
  • Discover otherworldly landscapes. From arid shrubbery decorated with technicolour iguanas to rich underwater ecosystems where turtles and sharks nest among colourful fish and crabs.
  • Enjoy the company and guidance of a passionate local naturalist during your excursions on land, gaining insight into the flora, fauna and history of the islands.
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Themes

Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Michelle Middleton is an asset to the customer care team. Easy and honest communication throughout!"

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Grand QB 3 night Itinerary A - Standard Twin
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Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

What travelers are saying

"Michelle Middleton is an asset to the customer care team. Easy and honest communication throughout!"

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Ecuador: Amazon Jungle Sacha Lodge Short Break
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Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

  • This trip takes you to the heart of Ecuador's Amazon Basin. Set in the remote rainforest, Sacha Lodge is a haven for nature lovers, birdwatchers, scientists and adventure seekers
  • Caiman, otters, sloths, hoatzin, monkeys, capybaras, anacondas... the Amazon is home to some of the most diverse wildlife on Earth
  • As well as comfortable accommodation and luxurious meals, your expert guides will enhance your experience with their unique knowledge of the Amazon
  • Explore the rainforest on various jungle treks, canopy walks and dugout canoe safaris, or relax in a hammock at the lodge. It's up to you to customise how active you'd like this trip to be

Themes

Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Michelle Middleton is an asset to the customer care team. Easy and honest communication throughout!"

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Custom Designed Trip
Lodging level
lodgingLevelName
Physical level
N/A

Highlights

  • Fully customized trip based on preferences
  • Matched with a local specialist
  • From $150 per person per day
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Galapagos Escape - Solaris (Itinerary B)
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Small Group Tour
Why we love them
With a wide range of trip styles, Exodus caters to every type of traveler out there- even those with specific interests from cycling to winter hiking.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy

Visits

Galapagos

Highlights

  • Spend four nights aboard the Solaris with a knowledgeable naturalist guide
  • Experience incredible wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities with near-tame animals
  • Enjoy a high chance of spotting waved albatrosses, blue- and red-footed boobies, giant tortoises, sea lions and marine iguanas

Themes

Nature & Wildlife, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"The booking process for my forthcoming trip to Peru on the Salkantay trek in November went very smoothly"

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Generous cancellation

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Classic Galapagos: Southern Islands (Grand Queen Beatriz)
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Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Darwin, Galapagos, Galapagos Islands, Isla Santa Fe, Puerto Villamil, Quito, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz

Highlights

  • Board your vessel, M/Y Grand Queen Beatriz, and sail through the southern islands of the archipelago, encountering secluded natural beauty at its finest.
  • Explore the islands on deck, on foot and in the water, keeping your eyes wide open for your next memorable bird or water mammal sighting.
  • Encounter Galapagos’s wildlife, including giant Galapagos tortoises, blue-footed and Nazca boobies, pelicans and frigate birds, as well as iguanas, sea lions, fur seals and sea turtles.
  • Spend time land side on the islands, with expeditions through mangroves and misty forests, passing unique flora, such as opuntia cacti and miconia bushes, and gazing across the coastline from scenic lookouts.
  • Swim through a colourful underwater ecosystem when snorkelling in one of the many coves – a playful sea lion might get in your way!
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Themes

Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Michelle Middleton is an asset to the customer care team. Easy and honest communication throughout!"

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Galapagos Family Holiday
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Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Galapagos, Quito, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz

Highlights

  • Swimming beside sea lions is an incredible and surreal experience, and there are few better places to do so than Isla Lobos: home of the world's second largest sea lion colony.
  • You'll get to know the locals by staying in small hotels on the Galapagos islands, as well as exploring the islands and coves by boat.
  • Be surrounded by birds like blue-footed boobies and frigates, who land so close, and often have not even the slightest interest you're there!
  • Incredible photo opportunities await around every corner – not least of Kicker Rock, the marvellous twin volcanic peaks seen sitting in the ocean from the top of Cerro Tijeratas.
  • With spare time in Quito and Isla Santa Cruz, you can spend quality time with the family – perhaps with further hiking or visiting the colourful local markets.

Themes

Nature & Wildlife, Family Friendly, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"Michelle Middleton is an asset to the customer care team. Easy and honest communication throughout!"

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Galapagos & Inca Trail Adventure
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Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Aguas Calientes, Cotopaxi, Cusco, Galapagos, Galapagos Islands, Guayaquil, Inca Trail, Lima, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Otavalo, Quito, Ronda, Sacred Valley, San Cristobal, Urubamba

Highlights

  • This trip gives both trekkers and non-trekkers the chance to visit Machu Picchu with Inca Trail*, Quarry Trail and train options.
  • Admire the ingenuity of Inca engineering in Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) and contemplate how stone was excavated to build the structures still standing there.
  • Explore Cusco, South America's oldest continuously inhabited city. The city has ancient foundations, an interesting blend of Incan and international influences, and seemingly endless things to do and see.
  • Snorkel the incredible marine life-filled waters of Kicker Rock, also known as Leon Dormido, one of the best snorkelling spots in the Galapagos and an absolute highlight for many travellers.
  • Encounter the wildlife wonders of the Galapagos Islands up close. Giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas and more await.
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Themes

Nature & Wildlife, Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"Michelle Middleton is an asset to the customer care team. Easy and honest communication throughout!"

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Galapagos In Focus (Grand Queen Bea)
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Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Visits

Charles Darwin Research Station, Darwin, Galapagos, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Santiago

Highlights

  • Get a true taste of the Galapagos, sailing through its central and eastern islands, discovering untouched wilderness and unique wildlife.
  • Enjoy a room with a new view each day, getting to each island in the comfort of the mighty M/Y Grand Queen Beatriz.
  • Encounter giant Galapagos tortoises, blue-footed and masked boobies, pelicans and frigate birds, as well as land and marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals and perhaps dolphins, whales and sea turtles.
  • Live on island time, with the opportunity to explore coves, craters and inlets off the beaten track – one of the many benefits of a small group sail.
  • Experience the contrasting landscapes of a selection of islands. From the sandy Espumilla beach to the volcanic formation of Pinnacle Rock, you’ll see the diversity of the Galapagos.
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Themes

Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Michelle Middleton is an asset to the customer care team. Easy and honest communication throughout!"

Trip dates & details
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211 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Ecuador Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
1,126  Reviews
See all Ecuador tour reviews
Excellent
213
Great
45
Average
1
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
J

Jessica

Oct 2015

Written on

Very good experience. Well organized and great

Very good experience. Well organized and great tour leaders.

M

Margaret

Oct 2015

Written on

Personal knowledge and experience of our guide

Personal knowledge and experience of our guide Juan Martín Aguirre who ...

D

Dan

Sep 2015

Written on

This is our second trip with Intrepid

This is our second trip with Intrepid and also our second amazing experience. The itinerary and of course our guide, Juan Martin, were excellent. We saw almost every...

E

Elizabeth

Sep 2015

Written on

I was completely satisfied with my experience.

I was completely satisfied with my experience. It met all my expectations, and then some.

p

patricia

Sep 2015

Written on

Everything went smoothly, well organized.

Everything went smoothly, well organized.

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Ecuador Tour Selection Trips

  • Ecuador is so rich in biodiversity and tourist attractions – the Galapagos, the Andes, the Amazon, the colonial cities, the Pacific coast -- that you may need several visits to do the country justice. 
  • Taking a week-long Galapagos cruise allows you to see more of the islands and their diverse wildlife than simply staying on one of the two populated islands.
  • Many visitors combine Galapagos tours with tours to Machu Picchu in Peru, and many tour operators offer such combinations.
  • If your tour takes you to the Amazon basin, look to stay at least three days if possible in a jungle lodge. This not only allows you to get a good taste of the region, but it will increase your chances of seeing certain species, and more animals. 
  • Even though Ecuador is on the Equator, pack a jacket if your tour includes high-elevation cities like Quito and Cuenca. In these mountain towns, the temperatures can drop pretty significantly at night.  You might also consider bringing high-altitude medication if you’re really bothered by the rarefied air, but discuss possible side effects with your doctor.

Additional details

Tours in Ecuador are great for active travelers. If you love being outdoors, many Ecuador tours focus on activities like hiking, horseback riding, rafting, and bike riding.

Food in Ecuador is heavily rice and seafood based. Vegetarians won’t have too much difficulty finding delicious meals, though many dishes involve cheese so vegans may encounter more trouble. You’ve probably heard of “Cuy” which is guinea pig, and is a delicacy throughout the country.

4 Different Kinds of Escorted Trips in Ecuador 

1. Culture: Ecuador’s Indigenous People and Their Crafts

One of the most unique features of Ecuador is the strength of its indigenous population. In many Latin American countries, indigenous populations were stifled and dwindled under colonialism for a variety of reasons. In Ecuador, however, these numbers remain strong -- 25% of the entire  country has completely indigenous heritage, and 70% has mixed indigenous and European heritage. Ecuador is quite proud of its heritage this way, and as a result the country maintains specific crafts, fashions, and styles of living that are entirely their own. 

Silver Making and Chordeleg
When you visit Otavalo, and Ecuador’s largest market, you are sure to see some of the classic craft attributable to Ecuador: alpaca-wool ponchos and rugs, tagua nut jewellery, chess seats, embroidered bags, etc. What is less well known, however, is that each region of Ecuador produces its own unique crafts which may be harder to get.

For example, people living in the Cotopaxi region are known for their native paintings and ceremonial masks. The Pastaza region produces various plates and bags made of crossed palm fibers, as well as ceramic goods. Some off-the-beaten path locations are surrounded around their crafts, which you may want to visit. 

The town of Chordeleg, for example, is renowned for its silverworking. The entire town still lives by the “guild system” established during colonial times, and focuses on its handmade jewellery produced with locally mined silver. One interesting fact about this picturesque town is that has become increasingly popular for spot American retirees to settle down.

The Bowler Hat
Another cultural feature of Ecuador you will notice immediately on your escorted trip, especially in more rural areas, is the style of dress. Ecuador is unique in that a large portion of the population continues to dress in traditional clothing, or wear bits and pieces of traditional outfits.You may notice that some men wear large blue ponchos, a fedora, and have a single, long braid for their hairstyle.

This braid is called the shimba, and is so significant that men are not required to cut it in order to join the military. For women, you may notice (particularly amongst the older generation) that they choose to wear multiple layers of long skirts and ponchos, as well as bowler hats. To learn more about why these traditions remain so strong, consider taking a cultural tour of Ecuador

2. Ecuador Birding Tours

Ecuador is a very popular destination for birdwatching. The country boasts more than 1600 avian species over several kinds of habitat, and, as a result, its hard for birders to resist trying to see everything at once. If you have the time, you should definitely take a birding tour 2 weeks or longer -- however, if this simply isn’t an option, we recommend visiting the Northwest of the country. This part of Ecuador has better infrastructure (making good birding spots more accessible) and a large population of endemic species.

3. Wildlife and Outdoor Adventure Tours

One draw to Ecuador are its many national parks. Home of the Galapagos, Ecuador is a country that fully appreciates the power of ecotourism, and as a result 20% of its land has some kind of protected status. 

Some popular places to trek outside of the Galapagos include El Cajas National Park, Machalilla National Park, Cayambe National, and Yasuni National Park -- just to name a few. In these parks you have the opportunity to go on a horseback riding excursion, or be escorted on a hike to some of the most beautiful natural features of Ecuador.

Another popular activity in Ecuador is to hike its many active and extinct volcanoes. One popular volcano to hike is Cotopaxi, a massive snow-capped peak high in the Ecuadorian Andes. For those looking for an extreme and adventurous hike, here is your challenge: try summiting Cotopaxi. One thing to note is that any peak in Ecuador over 5,000 meters high cannot be climbed without a guide, so make sure to book your mountaineering guided tour.

Once you’ve exhausted yourself on a hike of the volcano, treat yourself to a dip in some of the thermal pools. One great place to warm up in the hot springs water is in the jungle town of Bãnos, where you can visit the public bath houses for relatively cheap and soak up some of the healthy minerals.

4. Luxury Tours in Ecuador

Although Ecuador is known for being a rugged and outdoors-oriented travel locale, this doesn’t mean that you can’t travel it in style. The booming tourism industry surrounding the Galapagos island has pushed the majority of accomodation options to adopt modern amenities, and there are some particularly nice lodgings today. 

For example, on a luxury trip to Ecuadoryou are likely to stay in a hacienda. A hacienda is the estate attached to what was usually a ranch, but also could have been a mine or a factory. These were typically owned by Spaniards, and are known for their beautiful architecture and large size. Many have been converted into hotels.

Another option might be touring Ecuador from the decks of a luxury cruise ship. Both small cruise ship tours, large cruise ship tours, and river cruises travel through Ecuador, so no matter your interests, there is a cruise option for you.

The Weather in Ecuador

Ecuador’s weather is famously varied depending on where you are and the time of year. Because the landscape of Ecuador covers many elevations and environments you can expect to see a lot of different temperatures and weather patterns. It rains throughout the year, most heavily between October and April.

Tours visit Ecuador year round, but one of the top times to visit is the High Season between June and September on the mainland; January through May in the Galapagos.

If you are visiting the Galapagos, consider that the seas will be very rough in the Low Season, June through September.

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