13-DAY AMAZON RAINFOREST AND GALAPAGOS
13-DAY AMAZON RAINFOREST AND GALAPAGOS
13 DAYS
Trip type
Activity Level
Service Level
Small Group Departure
TRIP OVERVIEW
Discover the magic of Ecuador by getting into the compelling natural world of the Amazon, one of the true wonders of the planet. You barely have to leave the hotel to enjoy the incredible biodiversity of the River Napo. On your journey learn all about the different local tribes and their cultures. The Ecuador & Galapagos Wonders is the perfect combination of wildlife spotting, adventure activities and natural wonders that make Ecuador one of the most highly diverse countries on the planet.
Experience the Galapagos Islands from the comfort of a land-based expedition! The islands offer endless opportunities to witness a unique abundance of wildlife in a setting unlike any other on the planet. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such close and intimate contact with the wildlife. The Galapagos form a natural sanctuary that preserves species, this allowed them to evolve their unique features for countless millennia. This vacation also provides flexible time to spend on your own and explore the sand beaches, trails in the Galapagos forest, and the lots of wildlife. The tour also provides many benefits to local communities and is socially and environmentally responsible.
Unique Experiences:
- Visit a native local family in the middle of the Amazon jungle and look for monkeys.
- Snorkel with sea turtles, sea horses and rays and sea lions.
TRIP ACTIVITIES



Discover the magic of Ecuador by getting into the compelling natural world of the Amazon, one of the true wonders of the planet. You barely have to leave the hotel to enjoy the incredible biodiversity of the River Napo. On your journey learn all about the different local tribes and their cultures. The Ecuador & Galapagos Wonders is the perfect combination of wildlife spotting, adventure activities and natural wonders that make Ecuador one of the most highly diverse countries on the planet.
Experience the Galapagos Islands from the comfort of a land-based expedition! The islands offer endless opportunities to witness a unique abundance of wildlife in a setting unlike any other on the planet. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such close and intimate contact with the wildlife. The Galapagos form a natural sanctuary that preserves species, this allowed them to evolve their unique features for countless millennia. This vacation also provides flexible time to spend on your own and explore the sand beaches, trails in the Galapagos forest, and the lots of wildlife. The tour also provides many benefits to local communities and is socially and environmentally responsible.
Unique Experiences:
- Visit a native local family in the middle of the Amazon jungle and look for monkeys.
- Snorkel with sea turtles, sea horses and rays and sea lions.



Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city of America – declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano.
Depending on your arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00 hours. At this time, we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.
Meals included: none.
This morning, after breakfast, we will take our way to the South to reach the amazing Baños de Agua Santa town, on the way we will have the opportunity to admire the volcanoes avenue and the stunning landscape of the Andes.
The incredible Baños town, located right on the foothills of the Tungurahua volcano, which has been active since 1999. Here we will visit the second highest waterfall in Ecuador, the Pailon Del Diablo, where pounding water cascades on the rocks and mesmerizes you as you watch from a suspension bridge. You may also take an optional hike behind the falls. After another quick drive, we will arrive at another incredible waterfall called El Manto de la Novia, where we will ride in a cable car traversing the canyon of the Pastaza River.
In the afternoon we will have some time to explore the town and also go to The Swing of the End of the World, where the winner of the 2014 National Geographic photo contest took his photo. You can also visit a spa or another place to enjoy the hot springs of the area.
Meals included: Breakfast.
18:30(night walk)
A flashlight and camera are the most important tools on this night excursion, which allows guests to listen to and capture the nocturnal sounds of fishermen bats, owls, some insects, tarantulas, toads, frogs and possibly Snakes. If the sky is clear, we might have the opportunity to observe a lot of stars.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
On this day it is time to enjoy a cultural activity. An Amazonian Kichwa community will receive us and learn about their way of life and the interaction they have with the Forest. This meeting will show that part of the Amazon that is not in the maps: the Amazonian peoples in their daily lives. Part of our visit to the community is to share the famous “chicha”, a fermented cassava beverage that has become part of their holiday and daily Consumption. We will participate in the preparation of this drink and try some of the traditional dishes. We will finish the visit with a traditional dance made by the children of the community and also have time to buy some handicrafts made by the natives of the Area. This small business is very helpful in supporting the daily life of the indigenous people of the AREA.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
We will take the canoe for about 40 minutes to visit “Anaconda island”. We can observe the prehistoric bird “Hoatzin”, the woolly monkeys, squirrel monkeys, just to mention a few. We also visit a family in one of the indigenous communities to know their cultivation habits, medicinal plants, as well as the ancestral form of hunting with blowguns and handmade traps in the Forest.
A delicious box lunch is provided on this trip.
After lunch we will head to the Amazoonico, which is protecting a number of different animals, some in danger of Extinction. Amazonian is not a zoo, but a rescue center of Amazon Animals in Ecuador.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
After breakfast, we will reach Guango Lodge, located near the paramo and hot springs of Papallacta, a paradise for hummingbird lovers. Seeing 14 species of hummingbirds within an hour is not uncommon, and the Sword-billed hummingbird with its unique, long bill is sure to amaze you. This scenic vista and variety of trails will offer us great opportunities to hike in a beautiful setting surrounded by forest-covered mountains.
In the afternoon we will go back to Quito to relax and enjoy the city.
Meals included: Breakfast.
On this day you will have time to explore this charming city on your own.
Optional day tours (upon request): Quito city tour, Mindo Cloud Forest, Otavalo Indigenous Market.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Island of Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. On arrival you will be picked up and transferred to Santa Cruz, a nearby island, crossing the narrow Itabaca channel by ferry. From here we will continue by car to our first stop in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The highlands are home to the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Here you will visit a private ranch where you will enjoy lunch before heading out for a walk in search of the giant tortoises. During this visit, you will also visit some lava tubes, which are formed when the surface of a lava stream solidifies. After this tour, you will continue by private vehicle to your hotel. Here you will have a meet and greet with your local guide who will explain the following day’s itinerary to you. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to relax and introduce yourself to this beautiful Island.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Today after breakfast you will enjoy a half-day tour of Academy Bay. Be sure to pack everything you need for this trip. Optional snorkel equipment will be provided free of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. During the tour, you will take a boat to the Bay where you can swim and snorkel with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, as well as the famous sea lions; they are very curious animals and like to swim next to you underwater. Here you can also see the sought-after blue-footed boobies. Afterwards, climb to a nearby viewpoint, and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below.
Afterwards, take a walk along the Playa de los Perros, where many sea iguanas are found basking in the sun. The enormous cacti, the deep, red color of the rocks and the turquoise, sparkling ocean make for great photo opportunities.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
In the morning, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. We will then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to Learn more about many of the endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands.
In the afternoon, you will travel by speedboat to San Cristobal Island. Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Today after breakfast you will be met and transferred to a dock where you will take a quick boat ride to the nearby Isla Lobos. During this boat trip, observe many marine animals before even setting foot on the island. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour where you will have the chance to observe frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, manta, sea lions and sometimes sharks that all inhabit the island and its surrounding waters. The white coral beaches of San Cristóbal are great to walk around, relax and swim at before you return back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Enjoy some more free time this morning before transferring to the airport of San Cristóbal. From here, you will take a flight back to Ecuador’s mainland. Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for one more evening of leisure before saying goodbye.
Meals included: Breakfast.
What’s Included?
- Transportation: Domestic flights Quito – Galapagos – Quito, comfortable land and sea transportation, motorized canoe, sea transportation Santa Cruz – San Cristobal, airport transfers (national & international flights).
- Accommodation based in double occupancy: 5* hotel in Quito, 3+ star hotel in Baños, Amazon Basin Eco-lodge, 3+ star hotels in Galapagos.
- Meals: 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners.
- Activities: Easy hike to the waterfalls, encounter with indigenous people, trekking and wildlife observation in the Amazon, AmazOOnico Animal Rescue Center, chocolate making with indigenous people, hiking in Santa Cruz highlands, snorkeling, Isla lobos, Bay day tour.
- Gear: Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest.
- Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure leader and local guides.
What is not included?
- International flights.
- Single supplement: USD $934.
- Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee USD 100 per person.
- INGALA Transit control card USD 20 per person.
- AmazOOnico Rescue Center Entrance Fee USD $5 per person.
- Lobito bus USD 10 per person (Santa Cruz Dock).
- Travel insurance (mandatory).
- Meals not described in the itinerary.
- Tips for guides and drivers.
ITINERARY
Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city of America – declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano.
Depending on your arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00 hours. At this time, we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.
Meals included: none.
This morning, after breakfast, we will take our way to the South to reach the amazing Baños de Agua Santa town, on the way we will have the opportunity to admire the volcanoes avenue and the stunning landscape of the Andes.
The incredible Baños town, located right on the foothills of the Tungurahua volcano, which has been active since 1999. Here we will visit the second highest waterfall in Ecuador, the Pailon Del Diablo, where pounding water cascades on the rocks and mesmerizes you as you watch from a suspension bridge. You may also take an optional hike behind the falls. After another quick drive, we will arrive at another incredible waterfall called El Manto de la Novia, where we will ride in a cable car traversing the canyon of the Pastaza River.
In the afternoon we will have some time to explore the town and also go to The Swing of the End of the World, where the winner of the 2014 National Geographic photo contest took his photo. You can also visit a spa or another place to enjoy the hot springs of the area.
Meals included: Breakfast.
18:30(night walk)
A flashlight and camera are the most important tools on this night excursion, which allows guests to listen to and capture the nocturnal sounds of fishermen bats, owls, some insects, tarantulas, toads, frogs and possibly Snakes. If the sky is clear, we might have the opportunity to observe a lot of stars.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
On this day it is time to enjoy a cultural activity. An Amazonian Kichwa community will receive us and learn about their way of life and the interaction they have with the Forest. This meeting will show that part of the Amazon that is not in the maps: the Amazonian peoples in their daily lives. Part of our visit to the community is to share the famous “chicha”, a fermented cassava beverage that has become part of their holiday and daily Consumption. We will participate in the preparation of this drink and try some of the traditional dishes. We will finish the visit with a traditional dance made by the children of the community and also have time to buy some handicrafts made by the natives of the Area. This small business is very helpful in supporting the daily life of the indigenous people of the AREA.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
We will take the canoe for about 40 minutes to visit “Anaconda island”. We can observe the prehistoric bird “Hoatzin”, the woolly monkeys, squirrel monkeys, just to mention a few. We also visit a family in one of the indigenous communities to know their cultivation habits, medicinal plants, as well as the ancestral form of hunting with blowguns and handmade traps in the Forest.
A delicious box lunch is provided on this trip.
After lunch we will head to the Amazoonico, which is protecting a number of different animals, some in danger of Extinction. Amazonian is not a zoo, but a rescue center of Amazon Animals in Ecuador.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
After breakfast, we will reach Guango Lodge, located near the paramo and hot springs of Papallacta, a paradise for hummingbird lovers. Seeing 14 species of hummingbirds within an hour is not uncommon, and the Sword-billed hummingbird with its unique, long bill is sure to amaze you. This scenic vista and variety of trails will offer us great opportunities to hike in a beautiful setting surrounded by forest-covered mountains.
In the afternoon we will go back to Quito to relax and enjoy the city.
Meals included: Breakfast.
On this day you will have time to explore this charming city on your own.
Optional day tours (upon request): Quito city tour, Mindo Cloud Forest, Otavalo Indigenous Market.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Island of Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. On arrival you will be picked up and transferred to Santa Cruz, a nearby island, crossing the narrow Itabaca channel by ferry. From here we will continue by car to our first stop in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The highlands are home to the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Here you will visit a private ranch where you will enjoy lunch before heading out for a walk in search of the giant tortoises. During this visit, you will also visit some lava tubes, which are formed when the surface of a lava stream solidifies. After this tour, you will continue by private vehicle to your hotel. Here you will have a meet and greet with your local guide who will explain the following day’s itinerary to you. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to relax and introduce yourself to this beautiful Island.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Today after breakfast you will enjoy a half-day tour of Academy Bay. Be sure to pack everything you need for this trip. Optional snorkel equipment will be provided free of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. During the tour, you will take a boat to the Bay where you can swim and snorkel with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, as well as the famous sea lions; they are very curious animals and like to swim next to you underwater. Here you can also see the sought-after blue-footed boobies. Afterwards, climb to a nearby viewpoint, and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below.
Afterwards, take a walk along the Playa de los Perros, where many sea iguanas are found basking in the sun. The enormous cacti, the deep, red color of the rocks and the turquoise, sparkling ocean make for great photo opportunities.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
In the morning, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. We will then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to Learn more about many of the endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands.
In the afternoon, you will travel by speedboat to San Cristobal Island. Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Today after breakfast you will be met and transferred to a dock where you will take a quick boat ride to the nearby Isla Lobos. During this boat trip, observe many marine animals before even setting foot on the island. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour where you will have the chance to observe frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, manta, sea lions and sometimes sharks that all inhabit the island and its surrounding waters. The white coral beaches of San Cristóbal are great to walk around, relax and swim at before you return back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Enjoy some more free time this morning before transferring to the airport of San Cristóbal. From here, you will take a flight back to Ecuador’s mainland. Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for one more evening of leisure before saying goodbye.
Meals included: Breakfast.
What’s Included?
- Transportation: Domestic flights Quito – Galapagos – Quito, comfortable land and sea transportation, motorized canoe, sea transportation Santa Cruz – San Cristobal, airport transfers (national & international flights).
- Accommodation based in double occupancy: 5* hotel in Quito, 3+ star hotel in Baños, Amazon Basin Eco-lodge, 3+ star hotels in Galapagos.
- Meals: 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners.
- Activities: Easy hike to the waterfalls, encounter with indigenous people, trekking and wildlife observation in the Amazon, AmazOOnico Animal Rescue Center, chocolate making with indigenous people, hiking in Santa Cruz highlands, snorkeling, Isla lobos, Bay day tour.
- Gear: Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest.
- Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure leader and local guides.
What is not included?
- International flights.
- Single supplement: USD $934.
- Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee USD 100 per person.
- INGALA Transit control card USD 20 per person.
- AmazOOnico Rescue Center Entrance Fee USD $5 per person.
- Lobito bus USD 10 per person (Santa Cruz Dock).
- Travel insurance (mandatory).
- Meals not described in the itinerary.
- Tips for guides and drivers.