Ecuador & Galápagos Islands

From Andes Mountain Tops to the Heart of the Amazon, Ecuador is a Country of Contrasts

Ecuador may be small, but it’s packed with vivid contrasts from snow-capped volcanoes to misty cloud forests, highland haciendas to jungle rivers and the shores of the Galápagos Islands. You can start the day in the Andes and end it in the Amazon or fly a few hours offshore to walk among the giant tortoises of the Galapagos. Cities like Quito and Cuenca blend colonial architecture with indigenous traditions, while colorful markets and warm, welcoming locals keep you grounded in the moment. It’s an easy country to explore, and one that rewards curiosity at every turn—especially for those who care about conservation, culture, great food and a good adventure.

Map of Ecuador & the Galápagos Island Highlights

1. Cuenca & Indigenous History

2. The Andean Highlands & Hacienda Zuleta

3. The Cloud Forest & Mashpi Lodge

4. Amazon Rainforest

5. The Galápagos Islands

1. Cuenca & Indigenous History

Cuenca’s cobblestone streets, old churches, and riverside cafés invite slow exploration. Here art, history, and indigenous culture blend seamlessly. Wander the local markets, admire the colonial architecture, or sit along the Tomebamba River and let the pace of life reset your clock. Cuenca is elegant, soulful, and full of stories.
2. The Andean Highlands & Hacienda Zuleta

The highlands are pure charm, green valleys, snow-capped peaks, and colorful markets where traditions run deep. Hacienda Zuleta is a standout: part historic estate, part working farm, and part family home. Days are filled with horseback rides, visits to Inca ruins, cheese tasting, and chats with local artisans. It’s as warm and welcoming as it is beautiful. Built by the first Spanish Governor of Ecuador, the history is deep and the horses spectacular!
3. The Cloud Forest & Mashpi Lodge

Up in the Andrean cloud forest, everything feels a bit dreamlike, misty trails, hanging orchids, birds you’ve never seen before flitting through the canopy and at night, insects and geckos that glow with internal iridescence. From Mashpi Lodge, you can literally do aerial biking through the treetops, hike to waterfalls, or visit a working research station. Evenings are for frog spotting, and mornings begin with coffee, birdsong and counting hummingbird species, there are over 130 species!
4. Amazon Rainforest

Just a short flight from Quito drops you into one of the world’s wildest corners. In Yasuni National Park, it’s jungle and winding rivers support immense wildlife populations with over 600 species of birds, 165 species of mammals, 10 species of monkeys and 1,130 species of trees. The jungle is alive with the calls of monkeys, birds and insects. Pink river dolphins breach nearby, otters dart and play between riverbanks. The air is vibrant with life, colorful, noisy, and constantly in motion.
5. Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos is even more extraordinary than you expect. One moment you’re snorkeling with sea lions and penguins, the next you’re hiking a lava trail past giant tortoises or watching blue-footed boobies flap their feathers as they dance their strange little courtship ritual. Every island has its own personality, and getting there, whether by yacht or flying island to island, feels like stepping into a kaleidoscopic biology class straight out of Disney come to life.

A Few of Our Favorite Experiences

Walk with Darwin

Follow in Darwin’s footsteps in the Galápagos Islands, swimming, hiking, and observing wildlife that exists nowhere else on Earth.
Explore the Amazon

Spend a few days deep in the rainforest, spotting wildlife, meeting local guides, and moving through one of Earth’s richest ecosystems.
Adventure in Baños

Raft whitewater rapids, hike to waterfalls, or swing out over the cloud forest in Baños, a little mountain town big on adrenaline.
Climb a Volcano

Challenge yourself with a trek up a volcano in the Andes Mountains and take in views you won’t forget.
Experience Hacienda Life

Turn back time at Hacienda Zuleta to learn abut Andean life up close, wandering colorful markets and riding horses into the High Andes.