Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Ecuador and the Galapagos: Quito, Cotopaxi, Banos and three islands
14 days from Quito: the Old Town and the equator, Otavalo and Cuicocha, a lagoon walk under Cotopaxi, Banos, then Santa Cruz, three nights on Isabela with day boats and snorkelling, and San Cristobal.
14 days · Quito to San Cristobal · up to 12 guests
A blue-footed booby on the lava shore of Santa Cruz Photo: Ndecam from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sula_nebouxii_-Santa_Cruz,_Galapagos_Islands,_Ecuador-8_(1).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 14 days, 13 nights
- Start and end
- Quito to San Cristobal
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Easy to moderate walking at altitude on the mainland: town walks of 2 to 3 km in Quito and Otavalo at 2,500 to 2,850 m, a short rim walk at Cuicocha at about 3,070 m, a flat 3 km lagoon loop at about 3,800 m under Cotopaxi and a stepped path of 20 to 30 minutes each way to the Pailon del Diablo. On the islands, walks of 2 to 5 km on paths and sand, snorkelling most days in calm water and speedboat crossings of about 2 hours that can be bumpy. The one long walk is Sierra Negra, about 16 km on rocky ground, with a short rim walk instead. You can sit out any walk or snorkel.
- Meals included
- 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 3 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,345 (estimated price)
- Season
- All year; June to September and December to January for the clearest volcano views, December to May for warmer water and calmer seas
Highlights
Why this trip
- Quito's Old Town plazas early while they are quiet, then the gold-leaf nave of La Compania and the equator at the Mitad del Mundo
- The Plaza de los Ponchos market in Otavalo, then the rim of the Cuicocha crater lake
- An easy 3 km walk round Limpiopungo lagoon under Cotopaxi at about 3,800 m, at park opening
- The Pailon del Diablo waterfall early, before the crowds
- Tortuga Bay at the 6 am trail opening, and a full day by boat to an uninhabited island
- Three nights on Isabela: whitetip reef sharks at Las Tintoreras, the Sierra Negra caldera and turtles in the lava channels of Los Tuneles
- Sea lions on the Malecon and frigatebirds over Cerro Tijeretas on San Cristobal
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,345 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Quito
Mariscal Sucre International Airport to your hotel by Quito's Old Town
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Quito
- Drive about 1 h
Fly into Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) at Tababela, about an hour east of the city, where a driver meets you in arrivals and takes you to your hotel in or beside the Old Town.
Evening
Quito sits at about 2,850 m in a long Andean valley under the Pichincha volcano, so the first day is gentle on purpose: walk slowly, drink plenty of water and go easy on alcohol tonight. If you land early, the Plaza Grande is a few minutes' walk from the hotel and a good place to sit in the sun while shoe-shiners and office workers cross the square. At about 7 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing on the two weeks ahead, from how the altitude feels in the Andes to the biosecurity rules for the Galapagos flight. Then we walk to a welcome dinner of Ecuadorian dishes such as locro de papa, a potato and cheese soup served with avocado. If your flight lands after about 5 pm, your guide catches up with you at breakfast.
Included
- Pick-up at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner in the Old Town
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Activity: Quito is at about 2,850 m. Rest, drink water and keep the first evening light.
Quito's Old Town and the equator
Quito's Old Town on foot, then north to the Mitad del Mundo and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Quito
- Drive about 1.5 h
We start in the Old Town at 8:30 am, while the streets are still quiet and the light is soft on the facades. Quito's historic centre was among the first places on the UNESCO list, in 1978, and it is still a lived-in city of churches, convents and balconied streets. Your guide walks you across the Plaza Grande, past the Presidential Palace and the cathedral, to the broad plaza of San Francisco. Once the churches open, from about 9:30 (we confirm entry times for your date), we go into La Compania de Jesus, whose nave is covered in gold leaf, and climb the towers of the Basilica del Voto Nacional for the view over red roofs to El Panecillo.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal in the Old Town. In the afternoon we drive about 45 minutes north to the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, where a 30 m monument marks the equator line measured by the French Geodesic Mission in the 1730s, a couple of hundred metres from where GPS puts it today. A short walk away, the private Intinan museum demonstrates the equator experiments.
Evening
We are back at the hotel by about 5 pm, and the evening is yours.
Included
- Quito Old Town walk with your guide: Plaza Grande, the cathedral and the plaza of San Francisco
- La Compania de Jesus, inside
- The towers of the Basilica del Voto Nacional
- Sit-down lunch in the Old Town
- Ciudad Mitad del Mundo equator monument
- Intinan museum
Easier option: Skip the Basilica tower climb and wait in the plaza below, or rest at the hotel instead of the equator visit.
Free time: Evening free in Quito
Activity: About 2 to 3 km on foot in the Old Town, with hills and steep steps inside the Basilica towers.
Otavalo market, Cotacachi and Cuicocha
Quito north to Otavalo, then Cotacachi and the Cuicocha crater lake
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Otavalo
- Drive about 3 h
Morning
We leave at 8 am and drive about two hours north on the Pan-American Highway, past the flower farms around Cayambe and, on a clear morning, the snow cap of Cayambe volcano. In Otavalo, at about 2,550 m, we walk the Plaza de los Ponchos, the craft market that runs every day and spreads into the surrounding streets on Saturdays: woven ponchos and blankets, alpaca wool, embroidered blouses and tagua-nut carvings. Your guide explains how bargaining works here, then leaves you an hour to browse.
Afternoon
After a sit-down lunch we drive 20 minutes to Cotacachi, a small town whose main street is lined with leather workshops, then up to Laguna Cuicocha, a crater lake at about 3,070 m in the Cotacachi-Cayapas reserve, with two wooded islands in the middle. A short walk along the rim trail gives the classic view across the water to Cotacachi volcano.
Evening
We settle into a country hotel in the Otavalo valley by late afternoon, with time to rest before dinner at the hotel.
Included
- Plaza de los Ponchos craft market in Otavalo, with time to browse
- Sit-down lunch in the Otavalo valley
- Cotacachi and its leather street
- Laguna Cuicocha crater lake and a rim walk
- Dinner at the hotel
Easier option: Stay at the Cuicocha viewpoint by the visitor centre instead of walking the rim path.
More active option: Walk a longer section of the Cuicocha rim trail, up to about two hours, while the group waits in Cotacachi; the full loop is about 14 km and takes most of a day, so it is not on this trip.
Free time: Late afternoon free at the hotel
Activity: Cuicocha is at about 3,070 m, higher than Quito; walk slowly on the rim.
Peguche waterfall, then south to Cotopaxi
Otavalo to the Peguche waterfall, then south via Cayambe and the Machachi valley to a country hotel near Cotopaxi National Park
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Cotopaxi
- Drive about 4 h
We start at 8 am with a short walk through eucalyptus to the Peguche waterfall, a sacred site for the Kichwa communities of the valley, while it is still quiet. Then comes the longest drive of the mainland week, about four hours in all, kept to our cap by using the highway that skirts east of Quito rather than crossing the city.
Afternoon
We break it after an hour in Cayambe, a market town known for its bizcochos, crisp butter biscuits baked in wood ovens and eaten with fresh cheese, and again for a sit-down lunch on the way south. The road then turns onto what the explorer Alexander von Humboldt is said to have called the Avenue of the Volcanoes, with Rumiñahui, the Illinizas and, if the cloud lifts, Cotopaxi itself ahead. We reach a country hotel near the park in the mid-afternoon, chosen for heating or a fireplace and a height at or below about 3,500 m.
Evening
The rest of the afternoon is free to rest, walk the grounds or sit by the fire, and dinner is at the hotel.
Included
- Peguche waterfall walk
- Bizcocho stop in Cayambe
- Sit-down lunch on the way south
- Dinner at the country hotel near Cotopaxi
Easier option: Skip the Peguche walk and have a slow breakfast at the hotel.
Free time: Late afternoon free at the hotel
Activity: About four hours of driving, broken by Cayambe and lunch. Tonight you sleep higher than Quito, so keep drinking water.
Cotopaxi at opening, then down to Banos
Cotopaxi National Park and Limpiopungo lagoon, then south via Latacunga and Ambato to Banos
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Banos
- Drive about 3.5 h
Morning
After an early breakfast we enter Cotopaxi National Park as it opens, when the cone is most often clear of cloud. Cotopaxi rises to 5,897 m and is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, with eruptive phases as recently as 2015 and 2022 to 2023. Our walk is the easy loop around Limpiopungo lagoon at about 3,800 m on the open paramo: about 3 km, flat and slow, with the glaciers above and a good chance of wild horses, Andean gulls and lapwings, and with luck a white-tailed deer or a condor. Your guide sets the pace and watches how everyone is breathing. Those who want more can drive up to the car park at about 4,600 m and climb to the Jose Rivas refuge at 4,864 m, about an hour of steep zigzags on volcanic sand, when the park has that route open.
Afternoon
We meet for lunch near the park, then drive about two and a half hours south through Latacunga and Ambato, dropping some 2,000 m to Banos, a spa town in a green gorge under Tungurahua volcano.
Evening
The evening is free.
Included
- Cotopaxi National Park at opening with your guide
- Limpiopungo lagoon walk, about 3 km
- Sit-down lunch near the park
Easier option: Walk part of the lagoon loop, or stay with the vehicle at the viewpoints and the park's small interpretation centre.
More active option: Climb from the car park at about 4,600 m to the Jose Rivas refuge at 4,864 m, about an hour up, when the park has the route open.
Free time: Evening free in Banos
Activity: The highest day of the trip, at about 3,800 m on the lagoon walk. If the park closes because of volcanic activity, your guide leads a paramo walk nearby instead.
The Pailon del Diablo, then back to Quito
Banos down the Pastaza gorge to the Pailon del Diablo at Rio Verde, then north via Ambato and Latacunga to Quito
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Quito
- Drive about 4.5 h
We leave Banos at about 7:30 am to reach the Pailon del Diablo at Rio Verde, 18 km down the Pastaza gorge, before the day's visitors. A path of about 20 to 30 minutes, with steps, leads down through the forest to the falls, around 80 m high, where the river crashes into a rock bowl; ledges and a suspension bridge put you close enough to get wet, so bring a rain jacket. On the way back we stop above the Manto de la Novia falls, where small cable cars cross the gorge.
Afternoon
After an early sit-down lunch in Banos we drive north to Quito, about three and a half hours.
Evening
That makes this the one mainland day over our four-hour cap, by about half an hour, because the flight to the Galapagos leaves from Quito in the morning and a second night in Banos would mean a pre-dawn drive to the airport. A coffee stop in the highlands breaks the drive, and we reach the hotel in the late afternoon with the evening free to repack: one soft bag for the islands.
Included
- Pailon del Diablo waterfall at Rio Verde, early
- Manto de la Novia viewpoint
- Sit-down lunch in Banos
Easier option: See the falls from the viewpoint at the top of the path instead of walking down the steps.
Free time: Evening free in Quito
Activity: About four and a half hours of driving in two legs, either side of lunch. The path to the Pailon has steps both ways and is wet near the falls; wear shoes with grip.
Fly to the Galapagos, tortoises in the highlands
Quito to Baltra by air, across the Itabaca Channel and through the Santa Cruz highlands to Puerto Ayora
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Puerto Ayora
- Drive about 2 h
An early transfer to the airport, where we pay the Transit Control Card and check bags through the biosecurity scan, then the flight to Baltra, about two and a half hours, sometimes with a stop in Guayaquil. On landing you pay the national park fee and meet your park naturalist guide, who joins your See Sight Tours guide on every island visit. A short bus ride and a ferry across the Itabaca Channel bring us onto Santa Cruz. We break the drive south in the highlands, where giant tortoises roam free in the grassland and mud pools of a private reserve, and you can walk through a lava tunnel.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal in the highlands. We reach Puerto Ayora in the afternoon and check in for three nights.
Evening
Before dinner, walk down to the fish market on the waterfront, where pelicans and a sea lion or two wait beside the fishermen's tables.
Included
- Flight from Quito to Baltra (GPS)
- Baltra bus and Itabaca Channel crossing
- Giant tortoises in the wild at a highland reserve, with a lava tunnel
- Sit-down lunch in the Santa Cruz highlands
Free time: Evening free in Puerto Ayora
Activity: Flight times are set by the airline; the start may be before 7 am. Bring US cash for the transit card and the park fee paid at Baltra.
Tortuga Bay at opening, the Darwin Station
Puerto Ayora to Tortuga Bay on foot, then the Charles Darwin Research Station
- Breakfast
- Stay in Puerto Ayora
For those who want it, we are at the start of the Tortuga Bay trail when it opens, around 6 am, and walk the 2.5 km stone path through a forest of giant prickly-pear cactus while it is still cool. The trail ends at Playa Brava, a long white beach where the surf is too strong to swim but marine iguanas cross the sand in the early light. Walk to its far end and the calm lagoon of Playa Mansa opens up, sheltered by mangroves, where you can swim or snorkel with small reef sharks, rays and turtles in the shallows.
Morning
Breakfast is packed for the beach so we do not lose the quiet hours.
Afternoon
We walk back before midday, and the afternoon is free for a nap, a cafe on the waterfront or the shops along Avenida Charles Darwin. In the late afternoon we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Fausto Llerena tortoise centre, where young tortoises are reared for release, and see the preserved body of Lonesome George.
Included
- Tortuga Bay walk at opening, with time to swim and snorkel at Playa Mansa
- Charles Darwin Research Station and the Fausto Llerena tortoise centre
- Snorkel gear and a wetsuit for the island days
Easier option: Skip the 6 am start: breakfast at the hotel and join the group for the afternoon and the Darwin Station, or take the water taxi back from Playa Mansa instead of walking, when it runs.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free in Puerto Ayora
Activity: About 5 km of walking in total, on a stone path and soft sand. Swim only at Playa Mansa; Playa Brava has strong currents.
A day boat to an uninhabited island
Puerto Ayora to the Itabaca Channel, then by boat to North Seymour, South Plaza, Santa Fe or Bartolome
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Puerto Ayora
- Drive about 1.5 h
Today is a full day at sea with a park naturalist guide, aboard a licensed day-tour boat. The national park sets which island each boat may visit on each date, so we confirm yours when your departure is booked: North Seymour, with its nesting frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies; South Plaza, with land iguanas under the cactus and a sea lion colony on the cliffs; Santa Fe, with its tall opuntia forest and clear water; or Bartolome, with the climb to the view over Pinnacle Rock. Each visit is a guided walk on the island trail, with a snorkel from the boat where the site allows.
Afternoon
The crossing is about an hour or two each way, often with dolphins or seabirds alongside, and lunch is served on board.
Evening
We are back in Puerto Ayora in the late afternoon, with the evening free in town for a last dinner of your choice on Santa Cruz.
Included
- Full-day boat to one uninhabited island (North Seymour, South Plaza, Santa Fe or Bartolome, set by the park for your date) with a park naturalist guide
- Guided island walk, and a snorkel from the boat where the site allows
- Lunch on board
Easier option: Stay on the boat during the snorkel; the island walk is on a marked trail of 1 to 3 km.
Free time: Evening free in Puerto Ayora
Activity: The day boat may carry other travellers as well as our group. Crossings can be bumpy; take seasickness tablets before you board if you need them.
Speedboat to Isabela, Las Tintoreras
Puerto Ayora to Puerto Villamil by speedboat, then Las Tintoreras and the flamingo lagoon
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Puerto Villamil
- By ferry
Morning
The morning speedboat to Isabela takes about two to two and a half hours, past the southern coast of Santa Cruz and out across open water to Puerto Villamil, a sand-street village behind a long beach.
Afternoon
We check in for three nights, pay the small municipal fee at the dock and sit down to lunch. In the early afternoon a short boat ride takes us to Las Tintoreras, a cluster of lava islets across the bay. A trail over black lava leads past marine iguana nests to a narrow channel where whitetip reef sharks rest on the sandy bottom; Galapagos penguins and blue-footed boobies often sit on the rocks nearby. Then we snorkel in the sheltered water with turtles and sea lions.
Evening
Late in the afternoon we walk the boardwalk past the flamingo lagoon to the Arnaldo Tupiza tortoise breeding centre, and finish on the beach for sunset, with the evening free in the village.
Included
- Speedboat from Santa Cruz to Isabela
- Sit-down lunch in Puerto Villamil
- Las Tintoreras boat trip, lava walk and snorkel
- Flamingo lagoon and the Arnaldo Tupiza tortoise breeding centre
Easier option: Skip the snorkel at Las Tintoreras and watch from the boat.
Free time: Evening free in Puerto Villamil
Activity: The speedboat is a shared public boat of about two hours that can be bumpy. The boardwalk to the breeding centre is about 1.5 km each way on flat ground.
Sierra Negra and the Volcan Chico lava fields
Puerto Villamil to the Sierra Negra trailhead and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Puerto Villamil
- Drive about 1.5 h
Afternoon
We leave early for the drive of about 40 minutes each way, up through farmland and misty highland forest to the Sierra Negra trailhead, so we walk before the midday heat. The trail climbs gently, often in cloud at first, to the rim of the caldera, one of the largest in the archipelago at about 10 km across, its floor black with lava from recent eruptions. Mockingbirds and finches follow walkers along the path. From the rim the trail continues around the edge and down onto the lava fields of Volcan Chico, a landscape of red and black cinder cones, spatter vents and lava spires, with views on a clear day across to Fernandina and the other volcanoes of Isabela. Your naturalist guide explains how this young island is still building. We are back in the village for a sit-down lunch in the early afternoon, and the rest of the day is yours: rest, swim or walk to Concha de Perla for a snorkel.
Included
- Sierra Negra caldera rim and the Volcan Chico lava fields with your guides
- Sit-down lunch in Puerto Villamil
Easier option: Walk only to the caldera rim viewpoint and back, a much shorter walk, then wait at the trailhead shelter or return with the vehicle.
More active option: The full hike to Volcan Chico, about 16 km round trip on rocky volcanic ground, 5 to 6 hours.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free in Puerto Villamil
Activity: About 1.5 hours and 40 km of driving in total, there and back. Bring walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and at least 2 litres of water. The trail is exposed once out of the cloud.
Los Tuneles by boat, a free afternoon
Puerto Villamil by boat along the south coast of Isabela to Los Tuneles at Cabo Rosa, then back to the village
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Puerto Villamil
- By boat
Afternoon
Today mixes a morning at sea with an afternoon on land at your own pace. A licensed day-tour boat with a park naturalist takes us west along the south coast, about 45 minutes each way, to Los Tuneles at Cabo Rosa, where old lava flows have collapsed into arches and tunnels over clear, shallow channels. We walk over the lava where blue-footed boobies often nest, then snorkel the channels with sea turtles, whitetip reef sharks resting in the caves and, with luck, seahorses or a passing manta ray. Entering the channels depends on the swell at the reef mouth; if the park or the captain judges it unsafe, we snorkel a sheltered site instead and tell you on the day. We are back in Puerto Villamil for a sit-down lunch. The afternoon is free: rent a bike and ride the flat track of about 6 km to the Wall of Tears, a penal-colony wall from the 1940s and 1950s, or rest on the beach.
Included
- Los Tuneles boat trip with a park naturalist: lava walk and snorkel
- Sit-down lunch in Puerto Villamil
Optional experiences
- Bike hire for the Wall of Tears track, paid locally
Easier option: Stay on the boat while the group snorkels, or skip the boat and spend the morning at Concha de Perla in the village.
More active option: Cycle to the Wall of Tears in the afternoon, about 12 km there and back on a flat gravel track, with side trails to viewpoints and lagoons.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free in Puerto Villamil
Activity: The boat ride is about 45 minutes each way and can be rough over the swell; take seasickness tablets if you need them. Wetsuits are provided.
Two boats to San Cristobal, Las Grietas between
Puerto Villamil to Puerto Ayora by speedboat, then on to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
- By ferry
There is no regular direct boat between Isabela and San Cristobal, so today we cross by way of Santa Cruz, and it starts early.
Morning
The Isabela speedboat usually leaves around 6 am, so breakfast is packed, and it reaches Puerto Ayora in about two hours. We then have the middle of the day in Puerto Ayora: take the water taxi across Academy Bay with your guide and a short walk over lava and cactus to Las Grietas, a deep, clear fissure of fresh and salt water between rock walls, for a swim, or rest at a cafe on the waterfront.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal in Puerto Ayora, then the afternoon speedboat, usually around 3 pm, takes about two hours more to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the islands. We arrive in time to walk the Malecon, where sea lions sleep on benches and on the beach, and catch the last light from Playa Mann.
Evening
The last evening is a farewell dinner with the group on the waterfront. Departure times are set by the boat operators and confirmed with your final itinerary.
Included
- Speedboats from Isabela to Santa Cruz and from Santa Cruz to San Cristobal
- Las Grietas swim, with the water taxi
- Sit-down lunch in Puerto Ayora
- Sea lions on the Malecon and sunset at Playa Mann
- Farewell dinner
Easier option: Skip Las Grietas and spend the middle of the day at a cafe on the Puerto Ayora waterfront. In rough-sea seasons we can swap the two boats for the short Isabela to San Cristobal flight, at extra cost, confirmed at booking.
Free time: A few hours free in Puerto Ayora between boats
Activity: An early start and about four hours on boats in two crossings. Boat times are set by the operators and can change.
Frigatebird Hill and the flight home
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to Cerro Tijeretas, then San Cristobal airport to Quito or Guayaquil
- Breakfast
- By plane
A last early walk while the air is cool: along the bay past the statue of Darwin to the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, which tells the story of the islands from volcanic birth to whalers, settlers and the conservation work of today, then up the trail to Cerro Tijeretas, Frigatebird Hill. From the lookout you see the bay where Darwin first landed in 1835, and frigatebirds hang in the wind overhead. Below the hill is a small cove where you can snorkel one more time with sea lions and turtles if the flight allows. We walk back to town for your bags; the airport is a few minutes' drive from the centre.
Afternoon
Our flight to Quito or Guayaquil, included in the price, usually leaves around midday or early afternoon, and your guide sees you through check-in.
Evening
Book your flight home from the mainland for the evening or the next day, or ask us to arrange a night in Quito or Guayaquil.
Included
- San Cristobal Interpretation Center
- Cerro Tijeretas lookout and cove
- Flight from San Cristobal (SCY) to Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE)
Easier option: Skip the climb to the lookout and wait in the Interpretation Center garden.
Free time: Free until the airport transfer
Activity: Book a homeward flight from Quito or Guayaquil leaving after about 8 pm, or stay a night on the mainland.
- Quito2 nights
- Otavalo1 night
- Cotopaxi1 night
- Banos1 night
- Quito1 night
- Puerto Ayora3 nights
- Puerto Villamil3 nights
- Puerto Baquerizo Moreno1 night
- San Cristobalend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: The highlands are drier roughly June to September, with the clearest views of Cotopaxi but cold wind on the paramo; October to May brings more afternoon cloud. In the Galapagos, December to May has warmer water, calmer seas and short tropical showers; June to November brings the cool Humboldt current, mist, choppier crossings and colder water (wetsuits are included), with more active marine life and seabird courtship.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want the Andes and the Galapagos in one trip with one guide and one group
- A first visit to Ecuador, with the islands done by land rather than by cruise
- Walkers and snorkellers who like moderate days with an easier and a harder choice
- Solo travellers and couples who want a small group and free afternoons
Not for you if you want
- Anyone wanting the far western and northern islands that only overnight cruises reach
- Travellers looking for the Amazon; see our mainland Ecuador trip for that
- Travellers with heart or lung conditions that altitude makes worse, without a doctor's advice
- Anyone who gets badly seasick: there are three speedboat crossings of about two hours, plus day boats
- Step-free access: steps, cobbles, lava and wet boat landings throughout
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
13 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Quito2 nights
- Otavalo1 night
- Cotopaxi1 night
- Banos1 night
- Quito1 night
- Puerto Ayora3 nights
- Puerto Villamil3 nights
- Puerto Baquerizo Moreno1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 13 nights: 2 in Quito, 1 in the Otavalo valley, 1 at a country hotel near Cotopaxi National Park, 1 in Banos, 1 more in Quito, 3 in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, 3 in Puerto Villamil on Isabela and 1 in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal
- Central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard, with country hotels near Otavalo and Cotopaxi; we name each one when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) on day 1
- Our own vehicle and driver on the mainland from day 1 to day 7
- Flights from Quito to Baltra and from San Cristobal to Quito or Guayaquil
- The Baltra bus, the Itabaca Channel crossing and transfers on the islands
- Public speedboats from Santa Cruz to Isabela, Isabela to Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz to San Cristobal
- The day boat to an uninhabited island, the Las Tintoreras and Los Tuneles boats and the Las Grietas water taxi
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from day 1 to day 14, including on the flights and boats
- Galapagos National Park naturalist guides on every island visit, as park rules require
Activities
- Quito: Old Town walk with La Compania de Jesus, San Francisco and the Basilica del Voto Nacional towers
- Quito: the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo monument and the Intinan museum
- Otavalo valley: the Plaza de los Ponchos market, Cotacachi, Laguna Cuicocha and the Peguche waterfall
- Cotopaxi National Park: the Limpiopungo lagoon walk, or the Jose Rivas refuge climb when open
- Banos: the Pailon del Diablo waterfall and the Manto de la Novia viewpoint
- Santa Cruz: giant tortoises in the highlands, Tortuga Bay, the Charles Darwin Research Station and Las Grietas
- A full-day boat to North Seymour, South Plaza, Santa Fe or Bartolome, set by the park for your date
- Isabela: Las Tintoreras with snorkelling, the flamingo lagoon and tortoise breeding centre, the Sierra Negra hike and the Los Tuneles boat and snorkel
- San Cristobal: the Interpretation Center and Cerro Tijeretas
- Snorkel gear and a wetsuit for the island days
Meals
- 13 breakfasts
- 11 lunches, including lunch on the day boat
- 4 dinners: a welcome dinner in Quito, dinners at the country hotels near Otavalo and Cotopaxi, and a farewell dinner on San Cristobal
Not included
- International flights to Quito and home from Quito or Guayaquil
- Galapagos National Park entrance fee (USD 200 for foreign adults at the time of writing), paid on arrival at Baltra
- Transit Control Card (USD 20), paid at Quito airport
- Isabela municipal arrival fee
- Visa, where your nationality needs one
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed above
- Drinks
- Tips for guides, drivers and boat crews
- Optional activities in your free time, such as bike hire on Isabela or the thermal pools in Banos
- Personal expenses
Local fees
- Galapagos National Park entrance fee (USD 200 for foreign adults at the time of writing), Transit Control Card (USD 20) and the Isabela arrival fee, paid by you on the way.
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,345 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
Prices in these answers apply from Jan 1, 2027. Black Friday offer: 15% off the small-group price for requests received by Dec 1, 2026. From CAD 6,710 per person. Dec 2 to Dec 31: from CAD 7,265. From Jan 1, 2027: from CAD 7,895.
What does the Ecuador and Galapagos trip price include?
Thirteen nights in hotels and country hotels, 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 4 dinners, our own vehicle and driver on the mainland, both domestic flights, every inter-island boat, the uninhabited-island day boat, Los Tuneles, snorkel gear and wetsuits, your See Sight Tours guide and park naturalists, and every visit in the day plan. The park fee and transit card are not included.
How much are the Galapagos park fee and transit card?
At the time of writing the Galapagos National Park entrance fee is USD 200 for foreign adults, paid on landing at Baltra, and the Transit Control Card is USD 20, paid at Quito airport before the flight. Isabela also charges a small fee at the dock. Bring US cash for all three; we confirm the amounts when you book.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, so everyone fits in one vehicle and one small boat and hears the guide on the trails. Comparable trips run with up to 16. The public speedboats between islands and the day boats may also carry other travellers.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the same group from the airport on day 1 to check-in on San Cristobal, including on the flights and boats. Park rules require a licensed Galapagos National Park naturalist guide for visits inside the park, so one joins us on every island visit.
Is this a cruise?
No. You sleep in hotels on Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal and travel between them by speedboat in daylight, with day boats to an uninhabited island and to Los Tuneles. You get towns, restaurants and free evenings ashore, but not the far islands that only overnight cruises reach.
How fit do I need to be, and will the altitude affect me?
Moderate. Most walks are 2 to 5 km, the Cotopaxi walk is a flat 3 km at about 3,800 m, and Sierra Negra is about 16 km with a short rim walk instead. Altitude can affect anyone; two nights in Quito come first, the pace is slow, and you can sit out any walk or snorkel.
I am travelling solo. What is the single supplement?
A room of your own is from CAD 1,345 more, shown before you book with no surprises later. If you would rather share, ask us when you book and we will try to match you with another solo traveller, and tell you before you pay whether a supplement applies if no match is found.
When is the best time to visit Ecuador and the Galapagos?
The trip runs all year. June to September is the driest time in the highlands, with the clearest views of Cotopaxi, but it is the cool season in the Galapagos, with misty days, colder water and choppier crossings. December to May brings warmer water and calmer seas on the islands and more cloud in the Andes.
How does booking work?
Pick a start date and request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours and nothing is charged until then. Prices are per person sharing a room, with taxes, from CAD 7,895 for the small group.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The private trip runs for your party only on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle on the mainland. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section for a quote using the same hotels, boats and local guides.
Do I need a visa for Ecuador?
Canadian, US, UK and EU passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist stay of this length. Your passport should be valid for six months from arrival. Other nationalities should check with us when booking, and we confirm entry rules for your passport when you book.
Why no Amazon on this trip?
Adding the Amazon would cost three more days and two long drives, and the route already has two of the most varied regions in Ecuador. If you want the rainforest, our nine-day mainland Ecuador trip includes nights at an Amazon lodge near Tena.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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- Toll Free1-888-961-6584
- Local1-289-271-9767
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