Ecuador Transformative Tours & Trip Packages

Ecuador Transformative Tours & Trips

492 Ecuador trips. Tours from 147 tour companies. 1,197 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

27 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Transformative
Ecuador Quest
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Otavalo, Quito

Highlights

  • Get your adrenaline pumping in adventurous baños
  • Feel like a local at an amazon homestay
  • Soak in the hot springs at papallacta
  • Explore colonial quito

Themes

Cultural, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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Highlands of Ecuador
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cotopaxi, Cotopaxi National Park, Cuenca, Otavalo, Quito

Highlights

  • Wander quito and colonial cities
  • Marvel at an active volcano
  • Shop at the otavalo market

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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Inland & Amazon
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cotopaxi, Cotopaxi National Park, Cuenca, Otavalo, Quito

Highlights

  • Wander quito and colonial cities
  • Get adventurous in baños
  • Feel like a local and stay right in the amazon jungle
  • Soak in an andean hot spring
  • Shop at the otavalo market

Themes

Cultural, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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Galápagos Island Hopping
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Darwin, Isabela Island, Quito, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Island

Highlights

  • Hike up sierra negra volcano
  • Observe flamingos at an isolated lagoon
  • Marvel at the unique wildlife of the galápagos
  • Stay at a g adventures-supported community guesthouse in floreana

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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Local Living Ecuador—Amazon Jungle
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Amazon Rainforest, Quito

Highlights

  • Live like a local in the amazon rainforest
  • Learn quichua traditions by interacting with your local hosts
  • Visit an animal rescue centre and hone your blowgun skills

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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Galápagos Island Hopping Land-Only
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Isabela Island, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Island

Highlights

  • Hike up sierra negra volcano – the second-largest volcanic crater in the world – and walk on the lava fields
  • Observe flamingos at an isolated lagoon
  • Be amazed at the unique wildlife of the galápagos
  • Enjoy a g adventures-supported community guesthouse on floreana

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
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Amazon Rainforest Adventure
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5/5 Excellent
81 reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve been recognized by major travel publications for their pioneering adventure travel expertise that spans back to their founding in 1979.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Amazon Rainforest, Andes Mountains, Quito

Highlights

  • Cruise along the Napo River. Seated comfortably in your covered motorboat,
  • Visit to the Quito community for a lesson on local culture, After that, another short hike will put us at our second clay lick of the day for another round of unique viewing
  • You'll discover how the community has evolved over the years for the better, developing leaps and bounds in areas such as health care and education
  • As we canoe away from this awesome area, otters, monkeys and rare bids will be around to bid us farewell.

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"I have travelled with ROW numerous times, including four trips on the Rogue River. Every trip has been wonderful and every person associated with ROW has been nice, knowledgeable, professional and fun. The Rogue is a great river and the trip is an excellent one for two people or a large group—and I have done both. I’ve taken both of my kids, one time each, and have organized groups of colleagues twice; most recently in 2019 when 14 of us gathered. The guides at ROW are great and help to make the trip very enjoyable. The scenery, lodging and the wonderful outdoors including warm air and refreshing water, make for a wonderful escape from the everyday routine. The fact that this trip offers beds and indoor plumbing is a nice benefit and allows those who have an aversion to camping a chance to see the wilderness. I have recommended ROW and the Rogue trip more times than I can count and my group has already reserved our trip for 2021. What are you waiting for?"

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Amazon SUP Adventure
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Amazon Rainforest, Quito

Highlights

  • Explore Quito
  • Experience the Amazon from the water with this stand up paddle board expedition
  • Visit the Siona community, a local indigenous village
  • Enjoy one last Amazonian sunrise

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"Everything was spot on perfect. The tour guides were wonderful. Accommodations were great. All of the handouts were perfect. It was just a great trip."

Trip dates & details
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Ecuador Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
1,197  Reviews
See all Ecuador tour reviews
Excellent
213
Great
45
Average
1
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
D

Devon

May 2022

A must for anyone...

A Culture Trip curated trip is a must for anyone burnt out planning their own trips or going to a remote or unfamiliar area. Having a local insider was the highlight...

M

Margaret

Oct 2015

Written on

Personal knowledge and experience of our guide

Personal knowledge and experience of our guide Juan Martín Aguirre who ...

J

Jessica

Oct 2015

Written on

Very good experience. Well organized and great

Very good experience. Well organized and great tour leaders.

D

Dan

Sep 2015

Written on

This is our second trip with Intrepid

This is our second trip with Intrepid and also our second amazing experience. The itinerary and of course our guide, Juan Martin, were excellent. We saw almost every...

E

Elizabeth

Sep 2015

Written on

I was completely satisfied with my experience.

I was completely satisfied with my experience. It met all my expectations, and then some.

Write a Review

Ecuador Tour Selection Trips

  • Ecuador is so rich in biodiversity and tourist attractions – the Galapagos, the Andes, the Amazon, the colonial cities, the Pacific coast -- that you may need several visits to do the country justice. 
  • Taking a week-long Galapagos cruise allows you to see more of the islands and their diverse wildlife than simply staying on one of the two populated islands.
  • Many visitors combine Galapagos tours with tours to Machu Picchu in Peru, and many tour operators offer such combinations.
  • If your tour takes you to the Amazon basin, look to stay at least three days if possible in a jungle lodge. This not only allows you to get a good taste of the region, but it will increase your chances of seeing certain species, and more animals. 
  • Even though Ecuador is on the Equator, pack a jacket if your tour includes high-elevation cities like Quito and Cuenca. In these mountain towns, the temperatures can drop pretty significantly at night.  You might also consider bringing high-altitude medication if you’re really bothered by the rarefied air, but discuss possible side effects with your doctor.

Additional details

Tours in Ecuador are great for active travelers. If you love being outdoors, many Ecuador tours focus on activities like hiking, horseback riding, rafting, and bike riding.

Food in Ecuador is heavily rice and seafood based. Vegetarians won’t have too much difficulty finding delicious meals, though many dishes involve cheese so vegans may encounter more trouble. You’ve probably heard of “Cuy” which is guinea pig, and is a delicacy throughout the country.

4 Different Kinds of Escorted Trips in Ecuador 

1. Culture: Ecuador’s Indigenous People and Their Crafts

One of the most unique features of Ecuador is the strength of its indigenous population. In many Latin American countries, indigenous populations were stifled and dwindled under colonialism for a variety of reasons. In Ecuador, however, these numbers remain strong -- 25% of the entire  country has completely indigenous heritage, and 70% has mixed indigenous and European heritage. Ecuador is quite proud of its heritage this way, and as a result the country maintains specific crafts, fashions, and styles of living that are entirely their own. 

Silver Making and Chordeleg
When you visit Otavalo, and Ecuador’s largest market, you are sure to see some of the classic craft attributable to Ecuador: alpaca-wool ponchos and rugs, tagua nut jewellery, chess seats, embroidered bags, etc. What is less well known, however, is that each region of Ecuador produces its own unique crafts which may be harder to get.

For example, people living in the Cotopaxi region are known for their native paintings and ceremonial masks. The Pastaza region produces various plates and bags made of crossed palm fibers, as well as ceramic goods. Some off-the-beaten path locations are surrounded around their crafts, which you may want to visit. 

The town of Chordeleg, for example, is renowned for its silverworking. The entire town still lives by the “guild system” established during colonial times, and focuses on its handmade jewellery produced with locally mined silver. One interesting fact about this picturesque town is that has become increasingly popular for spot American retirees to settle down.

The Bowler Hat
Another cultural feature of Ecuador you will notice immediately on your escorted trip, especially in more rural areas, is the style of dress. Ecuador is unique in that a large portion of the population continues to dress in traditional clothing, or wear bits and pieces of traditional outfits.You may notice that some men wear large blue ponchos, a fedora, and have a single, long braid for their hairstyle.

This braid is called the shimba, and is so significant that men are not required to cut it in order to join the military. For women, you may notice (particularly amongst the older generation) that they choose to wear multiple layers of long skirts and ponchos, as well as bowler hats. To learn more about why these traditions remain so strong, consider taking a cultural tour of Ecuador

2. Ecuador Birding Tours

Ecuador is a very popular destination for birdwatching. The country boasts more than 1600 avian species over several kinds of habitat, and, as a result, its hard for birders to resist trying to see everything at once. If you have the time, you should definitely take a birding tour 2 weeks or longer -- however, if this simply isn’t an option, we recommend visiting the Northwest of the country. This part of Ecuador has better infrastructure (making good birding spots more accessible) and a large population of endemic species.

3. Wildlife and Outdoor Adventure Tours

One draw to Ecuador are its many national parks. Home of the Galapagos, Ecuador is a country that fully appreciates the power of ecotourism, and as a result 20% of its land has some kind of protected status. 

Some popular places to trek outside of the Galapagos include El Cajas National Park, Machalilla National Park, Cayambe National, and Yasuni National Park -- just to name a few. In these parks you have the opportunity to go on a horseback riding excursion, or be escorted on a hike to some of the most beautiful natural features of Ecuador.

Another popular activity in Ecuador is to hike its many active and extinct volcanoes. One popular volcano to hike is Cotopaxi, a massive snow-capped peak high in the Ecuadorian Andes. For those looking for an extreme and adventurous hike, here is your challenge: try summiting Cotopaxi. One thing to note is that any peak in Ecuador over 5,000 meters high cannot be climbed without a guide, so make sure to book your mountaineering guided tour.

Once you’ve exhausted yourself on a hike of the volcano, treat yourself to a dip in some of the thermal pools. One great place to warm up in the hot springs water is in the jungle town of Bãnos, where you can visit the public bath houses for relatively cheap and soak up some of the healthy minerals.

4. Luxury Tours in Ecuador

Although Ecuador is known for being a rugged and outdoors-oriented travel locale, this doesn’t mean that you can’t travel it in style. The booming tourism industry surrounding the Galapagos island has pushed the majority of accomodation options to adopt modern amenities, and there are some particularly nice lodgings today. 

For example, on a luxury trip to Ecuadoryou are likely to stay in a hacienda. A hacienda is the estate attached to what was usually a ranch, but also could have been a mine or a factory. These were typically owned by Spaniards, and are known for their beautiful architecture and large size. Many have been converted into hotels.

Another option might be touring Ecuador from the decks of a luxury cruise ship. Both small cruise ship tours, large cruise ship tours, and river cruises travel through Ecuador, so no matter your interests, there is a cruise option for you.

The Weather in Ecuador

Ecuador’s weather is famously varied depending on where you are and the time of year. Because the landscape of Ecuador covers many elevations and environments you can expect to see a lot of different temperatures and weather patterns. It rains throughout the year, most heavily between October and April.

Tours visit Ecuador year round, but one of the top times to visit is the High Season between June and September on the mainland; January through May in the Galapagos.

If you are visiting the Galapagos, consider that the seas will be very rough in the Low Season, June through September.

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