Discover the Amazon and Galapagos on a 12-day family-friendly multisport tour
The guided 12-day Galapagos and Amazon Family Adventure is the perfect tour for any bold, nature-loving family! Visiting both the Galapagos Islands and the Amazon Rainforest means you’ll have the chance to hike, bike and kayak in two of the planet’s most exceptional ecosystems.
Keeping the kids engaged means trying tons of different activities, right? You’ll kayak, snorkel, hike, bike, visit conservation centers, and have plenty of time to look for all the amazing creatures who call the Galapagos and Amazon home. After your family has had its fill of sea lions and blue-footed boobies (good luck with explaining that one to the kids), you’ll head to the jungle to look for monkeys, parrots, caiman, and more! Lose yourself in nature during your camping night, giving the kids the experience of sleeping out in the wild. This family-friendly tour of the Galapagos and Amazon is one you’ll be talking about for years to come!
Highlights of the Galapagos and Amazon Family Adventure
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Galapagos and Amazon Family Adventure Itinerary
Day 1 Welcome Meeting in Quito
Feel free to explore the beautiful city of Quito today prior to your evening welcome meeting. At 6 pm you’ll meet in the hotel lobby, where you’ll have the chance to chat with your guide and learn about the exciting adventure to come.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Quito
Meals: None
Day 2 Travel to Isabela Island in the Galapagos
This morning you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Baltra, followed by transportation by water to Isabela Island.
This island is mostly uninhabited except for its wildlife citizens. Watch the sunset over the water during your first night, enjoying the serenity.
Overnight Location: Hotel on Isabela Island
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Tortoise Breeding Center and Biking Adventure
Today you’ll be exploring Isabela Island by bicycle during a 5-hour ride. You’ll be travelling the back roads of the island to discover short walking trails that lead to beautiful scenic lookout points.
You’ll then ride to Playa del Amor, which is the home of the largest iguana population on the island. After watching these amazing lizards, you’ll continue your journey to the Tortoise Breeding Center. Here you’ll learn about the conservation efforts being made to help the tortoise population.
Ride past the flamingo lagoon and back into town for a relaxing evening by the water.
Overnight Location: Hotel on Isabela Island
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Snorkeling at the Lava Tunnels
Your adventure for today is a boat ride to the lava tunnels, or “Los Tunneles.” These amazing volcanic arch-like formations are home to many amazing species, including the famous blue-footed boobies. Explore from the boat and then grab your snorkel to look for white-tip reef sharks and golden or eagle rays.
While you’re eating lunch on the boat, see if you can spot some of the penguins that live in the area.
Overnight Location: Hotel on Isabela Island
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 5 Kayak and Snorkel at Tintoreras
Enjoy a relaxing morning on the gorgeous island before your afternoon kayaking excursion. You’ll be paddling to Tintoreras, a volcanic rock formation with underwater canyons perfect for your family to explore.
Look for blue-footed boobies and penguins while you paddle, and then jump in the water and go snorkelling with the fish, turtles, and sea lions.
Overnight Location: Hotel on Isabela Island
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and Giant Tortoise Reserve
Start the day with an early morning boat ride to the island of Santa Cruz. When you arrive you’ll pay a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about conservation and the special efforts being made to grow the tortoise population. After you’ve learned all about the tortoises, you’ll pay them a visit to their natural habitat at the “El Chato” reserve.
Return to town and the rest of the day is free to explore Puerto Ayora. Check out the boat docks at night and you might catch the sharks and rays playing in the underwater lights.
Overnight Location: Hotel on Santa Cruz Island
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Return to the Mainland
Today will be a travel day as you return to Baltra for your flights to Quito. Upon arrival, you’ll check into your hotel and enjoy the city for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Quito
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Kayaking and Camping
This morning you’ll drive to the Amazon Basin. Expect to be amazed as you watch the landscape slowly change into the lush leafy vegetation of the rainforest.
Everyone will load into their kayaks for a three-hour paddle up the Punin River. You’ll stop and set up camp near a local Kichwa community, where some of its members will join the group in the evening to share stories from their lives.
Overnight Location: Camping near Kichwa in the Amazon
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 Kayak on Arajuno River
Wake up early for a canoe ride to visit the colourful parrots as they hang out at the clay lick in the jungle. You can continue watching for rainforest birds such as toucans, kingfishers, oropendolas, and hawks as you take your kayaks up the Arajuno River.
Lunch will be a waterside picnic before you continue to paddle to the jungle lodge where you’ll be spending the night.
Overnight Location: Wilderness Lodge in the Amazon
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10 Visit Wildlife Reserve and Anaconda Island
Today your family will be visiting the AmaZoonico Wildlife Reserve, where you’ll learn about their important work returning animals to their natural habitat. Then you’ll take a jungle hike to see if you can spot some of the monkeys or other animals they’ve rescued in the past. While you’re there, you’ll also learn about the medicinal uses of some of the plants and some fun jungle survival skills.
In the afternoon you’ll visit Anaconda Island to meet the family that lives there and learn about their life in the jungle. There may even be a chance to feed the local caiman!
Overnight Location: Wilderness Lodge in the Amazon
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11 Relax at the Hot Springs
After a busy trip exploring, today is about relaxation! On your way back to Quito you’ll stop at the Papallacta Hot Springs. Indulge yourself while you soak in the healing waters of these natural volcanic hot springs, and try out the pools at all different temperatures.
Feeling pruny and relaxed, return to Quito for your last evening in the city.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Quito
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 Departure
Your tour officially ends after breakfast and check-out. Now it’s time to begin your trip home or continue on with your travels!
Overnight Location: None
Meals: Breakfast
This guided tour is run as a mixed group on a scheduled departure. Private departures are available on request.
Prices below are per person:
* Single Supplement may apply
Accommodation on Galapagos and Amazon Family Adventure
This tour is based in 3 and 4-star hotels, a wilderness ecolodge, and one campsite. The hotels offer comfortable rooms with great locations. During your time in the Amazon, the accommodations will be more basic, but the experience of sleeping in the rainforest will likely be one of your family's favourites.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
You can pay a supplement of 990 USD to have a private room in a hotel. Rooms are double occupancy and single travellers will pay a supplement.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotel Dann Carlton in Quito ★★★★
This Quito hotel has lovely welcoming rooms, but you’ll want to spend all your time at the indoor pool, fully equipped gym, or the charming garden.
Cormorant Hotel on Isabela Island ★★★★
This is the perfect place to watch the sunset across the water after a busy day. You'll love staying right on a gorgeous stretch of white sandy beach.
Galapagos Inn Hotel in Santa Cruz ★★★
This family-run hotel was originally for researchers who came to the island, but now it welcomes all travellers with clean rooms and a swimming pool.
Hotel Dann Carlton in Quito ★★★★
This Quito hotel has lovely welcoming rooms, but you’ll want to spend all your time at the indoor pool, fully equipped gym, or the charming garden.
Camping in the Amazon Rainforest
Discover the secrets of the rainforest and learn from the people who call it home during your night camping with the Kichwa community.
Liana Lodge in Tena
Fall asleep to the sounds of the rainforest at this thatched-roofed ecolodge. Immerse yourself in nature with the jungle right outside the front door.
Hotel Dann Carlton in Quito ★★★★
This Quito hotel has lovely welcoming rooms, but you’ll want to spend all your time at the indoor pool, fully equipped gym, or the charming garden.
What’s Included in Galapagos and Amazon Family Adventure?
Meals
11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, water, and snacks are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 11 nights are included. Accommodations before and after the tour in Quito are not included.
Transportation during the Tour
Transport for you and your luggage is included throughout the tour. Transportation to and from the airport in Quito before and after the tour is not included, as well as any domestic or international flights. The prices of domestic return flight between Quito and Galapagos Islands might vary anywhere between 400 USD to 650 USD per person depending on the availability.
Also Included
- Experienced certified English-speaking guide
- Private land transportation
- Shared water transportation
- Bike rental, including a hybrid bike, certified helmet, and gloves
- Paddling equipment, including a sit-on-top double kayak and paddles
- Snorkelling equipment, including masks and fins
- Hiking equipment
- Rubber boots in the Amazon
- Certain fees for reserves and museums
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Any domestic and international flights
- Galapagos transit control card
- Galapagos National Park fee
- Isabela Island fee
- Lunches and dinners or drinks and snacks not previously mentioned
- Tourist taxes if applicable
- Visas if required
- Personal equipment
- Fees not mentioned as included
- Tour guide, driver, server, or hotel staff gratuities
- Optional activities
Optional Extras
- Day tours in Quito (prices and availability on request)
- Spa treatments during the visit to the Papallacta Hot Springs (prices and availability on request)
- Additional nights in Quito before or after the tour
Frequently Asked Questions about Galapagos and Amazon Family Adventure
The creation of Activexpedition is to inspire adventure travelers to explore our world from a different perspective. At Activexpedition they prioritize eco-friendly activities in every destination they go, as well as support local people and traditions through sustainability efforts.
Activexpedition's mission is to deliver educational experiences of a lifetime with stellar service and provide human powered holidays that go beyond typical adventure travel.
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Q&A
Q: What is the best part of guiding tourists in your country?
A: Very difficult question, but Mountain Biking along the Andes is my favourite part of my country.
Q: What are guests most surprised about when visiting Ecuador?
A: The people, how friendly we are, the biodiversity that Ecuador has. Here you can have breakfast on the coast then have lunch in the mountains and finally have dinner in the Amazon basin.
Q: What is one experience anybody visiting your country should do?
Galapagos is the main highlight, but all of the visitors have to do the mainland multisport because this is an active tour where we mix with local gastronomy and the most important thing we share with local people.
Q: What is your most unforgettable moment when guiding?
A: When your guests don’t tell you anything, but you can see how excited they are in their faces.
Q: What is one local dish or drink that tourists must try on a visit to your country and why?
A: I love our local food, well the first dish fritada with tortillas that is fried pork with potato patties then empanadas.
Q: Where would you want to go on holiday?
A: Utah to ride the Whole Enchilada!
Q: What is the most challenging adventure you’ve ever done?
A: When I finished high school, I took my bike and rode it through Ecuador for 1 year, and I climbed almost all of our snowcap mountains along the way.
Q: What do your guests say is best about the trips you lead?
A: The diversity of our country and how the people are. They say also that the activities that we have are the best option to learn about our country.