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
Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru & Ecuador in 30 days - Capitals, Natural Wonders & Galapagos - Charm
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Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Amazon
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Guayaquil
  • Middle of the World Monument
  • Quito
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Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"Very well organised, excellent guide and information. Superb coach driver."

Trip dates & details
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Peru & Ecuador in 20 days - Sacred Incas & Tropical Galapagos  - Charm
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Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cusco, Guayaquil, Lima, Otavalo, Puno, Quilotoa, Quito, Santa Cruz, Santo Domingo, Urubamba

Highlights

  • Galapagos Islands
  • Guayaquil
  • Quito
  • Cuzco
  • Lima
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Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"Very well organised, excellent guide and information. Superb coach driver."

Trip dates & details
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Ecuador in 9 days - Galapagos Discovery - Charm
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Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Galapagos Islands
  • Guayaquil
  • Quito

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"Very well organised, excellent guide and information. Superb coach driver."

Trip dates & details
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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
Chile, Peru & Ecuador in 25 days - Atacama, Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands - Charm
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Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Baños
  • Cotopaxi National Park
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Guayaquil
  • Quito
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Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"Very well organised, excellent guide and information. Superb coach driver."

Trip dates & details
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13 Day Galapagos, Ecuador, Andes & Amazon
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Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • In the lush tropical lowlands of Ecuador visit a working Cocoa (Cacao) Plantation Visit Guayaquil's Seminario Park, a favorite place of bird watchers and home to arboreal Iguanas Embark on a journey to the beginning of time in the Galapagos Archipelago of volcanic islands Explore stunning Tintoreras Islet with its sea lions, turtles, iguanas and whitetip reef sharks Stand before the historic ‘Wall of Tears,’ monument to prisoners who constructed the barrier Hike to Sierra Negra, one of the most active volcanoes on the Galapagos Islands At the Los Humedales complex, see all four species of mangroves found in the archipelago Visit the Turtle Breeding Center - hear about programs to save the iconic Galapagos Tortoises Visit the "Middle of the World" monument at the Equator that marks latitude 0º Enjoy the wonders of nature and the hot steamy thermal springs at Papallacta in the Andes Journey deep into the Amazon, a living jewel with rare beauty and astonishing natural wonders From atop the canopy walkway pause to view amazing panoramas and vibrant colored birds Meet with women at an Interpretation Center to learn more about the Kichwa lifestyle A native guide shows you how to fish for the infamous razor-toothed Piranha - a real challenge! Listen to the symphony of frogs and birds on a nocturnal jungle walk by flashlight Discover Quito's historic colonial quarter, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site Tour a rose plantation and learn about Ecuador's major rose cultivation industry †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus

What travelers are saying

"Onze reis naar Zuid-Afrika met Swiss via Zwitserland werd geannuleerd. We stonden met onze 6 kinderen in Brussel en hoorden dat het vliegtuig niet zou vertrekken. We proberen nu al vanaf september een claim in te dienen bij Swiss, maar krijgen van Gate1 niet het originele boekingsbewijs van Swiss. Iets wat Swiss wel eist voor we kunnen claimen. We worden van het kastje naar de muur gestuurd. Ook is Gate1 al maanden telefonisch niet bereikbaar. Dus mijn advies: niet boeken via Gate1."

Trip dates & details
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13 Day Galapagos, Ecuador, Andes & Amazon
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • In the lush tropical lowlands of Ecuador visit a working Cocoa (Cacao) Plantation Visit Guayaquil's Seminario Park, a favorite place of bird watchers and home to arboreal Iguanas Embark on a journey to the beginning of time in the Galapagos Archipelago of volcanic islands Explore stunning Tintoreras Islet with its sea lions, turtles, iguanas and whitetip reef sharks Stand before the historic ‘Wall of Tears,’ monument to prisoners who constructed the barrier Hike to Sierra Negra, one of the most active volcanoes on the Galapagos Islands At the Los Humedales complex, see all four species of mangroves found in the archipelago Visit the Turtle Breeding Center - hear about programs to save the iconic Galapagos Tortoises Visit the "Middle of the World" monument at the Equator that marks latitude 0º Enjoy the wonders of nature and the hot steamy thermal springs at Papallacta in the Andes Journey deep into the Amazon, a living jewel with rare beauty and astonishing natural wonders From atop the canopy walkway pause to view amazing panoramas and vibrant colored birds Meet with women at an Interpretation Center to learn more about the Kichwa lifestyle A native guide shows you how to fish for the infamous razor-toothed Piranha - a real challenge! Listen to the symphony of frogs and birds on a nocturnal jungle walk by flashlight Discover Quito's historic colonial quarter, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site Tour a rose plantation and learn about Ecuador's major rose cultivation industry †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

Themes

Cultural, 50 Plus

What travelers are saying

"Onze reis naar Zuid-Afrika met Swiss via Zwitserland werd geannuleerd. We stonden met onze 6 kinderen in Brussel en hoorden dat het vliegtuig niet zou vertrekken. We proberen nu al vanaf september een claim in te dienen bij Swiss, maar krijgen van Gate1 niet het originele boekingsbewijs van Swiss. Iets wat Swiss wel eist voor we kunnen claimen. We worden van het kastje naar de muur gestuurd. Ook is Gate1 al maanden telefonisch niet bereikbaar. Dus mijn advies: niet boeken via Gate1."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
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Cuenca & Valencia to Barcelona - 6 days
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Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cuenca, Madrid, Valencia

Highlights

  • Cuenca - Enjoy a guided walking tour, visit the Cathedral and gaze at the hanging houses of this medieval city
  • La Serrania National Park - Admire strange mushroom-shaped rock formations and look out for vultures and eagles in the sky
  • Segobriga - Admire the well-preserved amphitheatre and public baths in this important Roman city
  • Requena - Savour the regional wine that has been produced here since the 7th century BC with an included tasting
  • Valencia - Spend three nights in this charming coastal city, enjoy a short guided tour and visit Albufera Natural Park, birthplace of Paella
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Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Over all fantastic Excellent service, great prices, superb tours, brilliant customer service, highly recommended"

Trip dates & details
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Ecuador in 16 days - Andes, Amazon and Galapagos Adventure - Charm
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Amazon
  • Baños
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Guayaquil
  • Quilotoa
Show more

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife, 50 Plus, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks

What travelers are saying

"Very well organised, excellent guide and information. Superb coach driver."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
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211 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Small Group Tour
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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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