Amazon to the Galápagos: The Complete Ecuador Experience

17 days
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4.3/5 Great
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Small Group Tour
With a variety of indigenous groups, smoldering volcanoes, rainforest and a collection of islands knowns as nature’s laboratory, no place in the world can match the wonders of Ecuador.
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$8,504
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Surrounded by breathtaking volcanoes in the highland town of Otavalo, experience its famed textile market
    • Deep in the Amazon, view brightly colored parrots as they make their morning pilgrimage to the clay lick at Yasuni National Park
    • Encounter the exotic animals that made the Galápagos famous including Blue-footed Boobies, Darwin finches and marine iguanas

What's this trip about?

    With a variety of indigenous groups, smoldering volcanoes, rainforest and a collection of islands knowns as nature’s laboratory, no place in the world can match the wonders of Ecuador.

Compare to similar trips

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityGuayaquil
End CityGuayaquil

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking
  • Education / Learning

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • Educational/ Learning
  • Hiking
  • History

Trip includes

    • 16 nights of accommodations
    • 5 expert-led lectures
    • 21 expert-led field trips
    • 4 flights during the program
    • 2 hands-on experiences
    • 1 performance
    • An experienced Group Leader
    • Customary gratuities throughout the program
    • Road Scholar Assurance Plan
    • Taxes

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1

In Transit to Program, Arrive Guayaquil, Hotel Check-in

Guayaquil  Hotel Oro Verde

Activity note: Depart North America on flights to Guayaquil, Ecuador. Refer to your personal air itinerary for specific flight information. Hotel check in as of 3 p.m.

...
Day 2

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Santa Lucia Hotel Cuenca

Malecon & Las Peñas, Coastal Hacienda, Transfer to Cuenca

Activity note: The drive from Guayaquil to Cuenca is about 122 miles, approximately 4 hours. Cuenca is at an elevation...

Day 3

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Santa Lucia Hotel Cuenca

Cuenca UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ingapirca Ruins

Activity note: Elevation at Ingapirca is approximately 10,500 feet. Bus travel and walking on city sidewalks, cobbled stones and ...

Day 4

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Hacienda Abraspungo

Devil's Nose Rail Ride

Activity note: Elevation at Riobamba is approximately 9,200 feet. The drive from Cuenca to the rail station is about 98 miles, approximately 3 hours...

Day 5

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: El Monasterio de Cusin

Avenue of the Volcanoes, Otavalo, Haciendas of Ecuador

Activity note: The drive from Riobamba to La Compañia is about 114 miles, approximately 3.5 to 4 hours; from La Compañi...

Day 6

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: El Monasterio de Cusin

Textile Market, Interacting with Indigenous Community

Activity note: City walking on flat, paved surfaces, among market stands and in potentially crowded areas. Ask permissio...

Day 7

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Sacha Lodge

Boat Transfer on Napo River, Introduction to Amazonia

Activity note: The drive from Otavalo to Quito is about 57 miles, approximately 1.5 - 2 hours. The flight from Quito to Coca is abo...

Day 8

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Sacha Lodge

Yasuni Parrot Lick, Interpretation Center, Rainforest Walk

Breakfast: At the lodge, we'll enjoy a buffet meal with coffee, water, juice.

Morning: We’ll depart on a field trip to ...

Day 9

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Sacha Lodge

Lagartococha Lake & Trail, Piranha Fishing, Canopy Tower

Breakfast: At the lodge.

Morning: We’ll start the day with a nature hike on the Lagartococha Trail. Our naturalist wi...

Day 10

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel

Boat Transfer to Coca, Flight to Quito

Activity note: To minimize your chances of experiencing altitude sickness while in Quito (9,300 ft), please remember to get plenty of rest, stay ...

Day 11

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel

Exploring Quito UNESCO World Heritage Site

Activity note: City walking on mostly flat terrain, some cobbled stone sections.

Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant.

Morning: B...

Day 12

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Scalesia Galapagos Lodge

Flight to Galapagos, Santa Cruz Highlands, Boat to Isabela

Activity note: Please note there is a 50 lb weight limit for checked luggage on the flights to the islands. City ...

Day 13

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Scalesia Galapagos Lodge

Isabela Island, Volcan Chico & Sierra Negra

Activity note: Bus ride from lodge to the trail head is approximately 20 minutes. Sierra Negra hike is about 11 miles round-...

Day 14

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Scalesia Galapagos Lodge

Tintoreras, Los Humedales, Tortoise Breeding Center

Activity note: Bus ride from the lodge to Puerto Villamil is approximately 20 minutes. Islote Tintoreras is about a 1/2 ...

Day 15

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Scalesia Galapagos Lodge

Wall of Tears, Concha de Perla

Activity note: Hike to Wall of Tears is about 6 miles on mostly flat unpaved trails. Hat, sunscreen, walking shoes and water bottle are sugge...

Day 16

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Oro Verde

Flight from Galápagos to Guayaquil

Activity note: The boat ride from Isabela to Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz takes approximately 2.5 hours. The bus and ferry transfer from Puerto Ayora ...

Day 17

Meals: Breakfast

Program Concludes, In Transit from Program

Activity note: Hotel check out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At hotel restaurant (dependent on flight times).

Morning: Early transfer to the airport in pr...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,449
Price per day$379
Single supplement (single occupancy)$1,580
Last Updated: 11/16/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel Oro Verde

2 nights  Guayaquil

Oro Verde Hotel Guayaquil is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World in Ecuador. Strategically located in the downtown commercial and banking heart of the city and only eight minutes from the José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport.

Santa Lucia Hotel Cuenca

2 nights  Cuenca

One of Cuenca Ecuador's most historic antique buildings, is located in the Old Town district of Cuenca, which is a living museum itself. The house where the Santa Lucia hotel is located was built by the first governor of Azuay province, Don Manuel Vega Davila, in 1859. The house remained in the Vega family for over a hundred years, being a peaceful witness of important episodes of the history of southern Ecuador.

Hotel Hacienda Abraspungo

1 night  Riobamba

The Hotel Hacienda Abraspungo is a charming highland hacienda located in Riobamba.

El Monasterio de Cusin

2 nights  San Pablo del Lago, Otavalo

This charming hotel is housed in a restored 17th century Andean estate. The equatorial line and snowcapped Cayambe Mountains are only 30 minutes away. Winding cobblestone pathways, fountain courtyards, and perennial gardens offer inviting spaces where guests can relax and enjoy the fresh mountain air.

Sacha Lodge

3 nights  Coca

Sacha Lodge is located in the heart of the Amazon and is strategically situated beside a tranquil oxbow lake, Pilchicocha. The lodge was carefully designed to be comfortable for travelers while preserving the flavor of the jungle.

Sheraton Quito Hotel

2 nights  Quito

The Sheraton Quito Hotel is located in the capital's financial and commercial zone and also nearby the Colonial Old Town, a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site. Enjoy the on site restaurants featuring fusion foods and live piano music in the lounge. Relax your soul, mind, and body or workout in the fitness center located on the 11th floor with breathtaking views of the modern Quito.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

16 Breakfasts, 15 Lunches and 11 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian, Low Salt, Low Fat, Gluten Free

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
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Trip ID
roadscholar-929

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