Ecuador and Galapagos Explorer Adventure Tour

If you're short on time but still want to experience the awe-inspiring majesty of hot springs and volcanos and the natural wonders of the Galapagos, then this is the adventure for you. Jaunt through the Amazon jungle, soak in soothing hot springs, and observe unparalleled wildlife in the Galapagos. Throw in unique accommodations at a historic hacienda and luxury catamaran, and you'll have made a month's worth of memories in two glorious weeks.

Highlights

Traverse the Amazon jungle with a local naturalist guide, be surrounded by towering volcanoes, learn about traditional handicrafts and folk art from local artisans, meet the locals on San Cristobal Island, explore the Galápagos National Park aboard the Queen of Galápagos

What's Included

Your Wellness Moment: Papallacta Hot Springs Visit, Papallacta Your Discover Moment: Baños. Arrival transfer. Visit the community of San Clemente and enjoy a local lunch. Overnight in an historic hacienda. Explore the Otavalo handicraft market. Relax at Papallacta hot springs. Two nights at an Amazon lodge with jungle walks and canoe excursions. Flights to and from the Galápagos Islands. Certified Galápagos National Park Service guide and all landings, excursions, and transportation. Snorkelling equipment. Visit to a wildlife interpretation centre. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Accommodation

Comfort hotels (7 nts), historic hacienda (1 nts), luxury jungle lodge (2 nts), hot springs resort (1 nt), aboard the Queen of Galápagos motorized catamaran in twin
share or double cabins or suite (3 nts).

Meals Included

14 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners

Transport

Private van, boat, flight, walking.

Group Leader Description

All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders, also known as a CEO (Chief Experience Officer). The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting
we think it's the best of both worlds.

Emergency Fund

Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!

Solo Travellers

We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi
share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Spending Money

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

What to Take

Most people automatically assume that the weather is hot in South America, but because of the higher altitude in the Andes, the temperature can feel quite cold, especially at night. We recommend the use of a medium sized soft suitcase, duffel bag or backpack, whichever is easiest for you to carry. A good size daypack is also essential. We recommend the use of a duffel bag or backpack (whichever you find easiest to carry). A good size daypack is also essential. If you don't wish to take all of your luggage with you to Galapagos, please ensure you have an extra bag you can leave behind at hotel storage and pickup on your return. Please note that Galapagos is a protected National Park so your luggage will be checked before arrival and departure to and from the islands. Don't bring any food, seeds or other organic material that could affect the delicate ecosystem of the islands. Porters are not often available, so be prepared to carry your own bags. Please remember that you can leave unnecessary articles in your joining hotel storage room. On arrival day, our customer support will provide you with a special bag of the correct size that you are allowed to bring to the Galapagos. Please do not bring any alcoholic beverages aboard, as your boat has a bar offering a variety of alcoholic drinks and prices are reasonable. LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE ON THE BOAT: Please note that the amount of luggage you can bring on the boat is LIMITED due to small cabin size. We recommend travellers use soft sided duffel bags of 40
50 litres in capacity. We will accept luggage types onboard, however if you are a single traveller sharing with another traveller, it´s especially important to keep in mind that cabins are small in size and it´s best to pack light. Luggage storage facilities are available at the start hotel for anything you don´t need while you are exploring the Galapagos. Please note that the electric outlets on this boat are 110v and will have either 2 flat prongs or two pin
like prongs. If necessary please bring an adaptor with you for your electric devices, ie, battery chargers.