Quito Small Ship Cruise Tours &amp; Trips

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Strenuous

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Aguas Calientes, Cusco, Galapagos, Guayaquil, Isabela Island, Isla Bartolome, Isla Floreana, Isla Santiago, Lima, Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Pisa, Quito, Sacred Valley, Santa Cruz Island

Highlights

Learn about the incredible wildlife of the Galápagos Islands with the most knowledgeable, experienced naturalists
Use high-tech onboard tools like video microscopes, hydrophones and splash cams to discover the marine environment around you
Marvel at the mysterious beauty of Machu Picchu, the iconic mountain sanctuary left behind by the great Inca Empire

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, High Adventure, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Our family of four, including two adult children, took the Bicycling: Day Trips to Paradise in Canada. This trip is entirely outsourced to the owners of the inn, there are no Road Scholar employees involved in the trip. Two of us have taken bicycle trips all over the world and the bicycling component of this trip was disorganized, haphazard and almost unsafe. We all filled out forms giving details regarding our bicycle fitting months before the trip. On the first day, the leader Stephen, went around the room and asked the same questions and said everyone would get fitted in the morning before we began the first ride. The morning brought a rack of bikes, all different types in various levels of readiness. There were road bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. The rides were all on paved surfaces and the mountain bikes were heavy and the additional suspension added weight. The bike I received had rust on the chain and rear sprocket. When I asked about it, was told they were waiting for another van to show up with tools and equipment. Once it arrived, they gave me the lubricant to spray on the rust. My wife’s bike would not shift into the high gear on the front sprocket. Instead of adjusting the derailleur, they suggested spraying it with lubricant. Our one son is over six feet and needed a larger frame bike, even though he detailed it in the bike form months ago, there was no bike to fit him. One of the guides, then went home and brought a larger bike that was a full suspension mountain bike for him. The bike was very heavy, hard to control on the road and he felt unsafe. After two days, one of the guides convinced Stephen that they could adjust a hybrid bike to fit him. Clearly there was no work done to prepare the bikes for the trip. Many of the bikes needed adjusting and all needed lubricant to function easily. For every day, there was a tray of snacks placed out for us to take along the ride. None of the bikes had any baskets or attached bags, so if you didn’t bring a small day pack, there was no way to carry the snacks. For lunch on the rides, they brought exactly one sandwich for each rider. Since most of us get hungry while doing a day of exercise, it would have been helpful to have a few extras. On one day, they ran out of sandwiches and one of the leaders that were riding with us did not get lunch. Do NOT take this trip if you are expecting it to be a bicycling trip. We have used VBT and Discovery Bicycle Tours many times over the past 25 years and they are excellent bike tour companies. Lastly, after sharing these details with Road Scholar after the trip, their response was weak at best. After doing the full reviews and having to call them, their response was to give us $200 credit after spending $8000 on this trip. Not only was that insulting, they assumed that I would take another trip with their organization."

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17 days From$10,299

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Peru and the Galapagos Islands 2025

none

4.2/5 Great

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Visits

Cusco, Guayaquil, Lima, Machu Picchu, Quito, Urubamba

Highlights

Where the timeless natural world of the Galápagos Islands combines with exploration of the ancient empire of the Incas...Unravel the mysteries of the centuries on a visit to Machu Picchu
the spectacular 'Lost City of the Incas' – one of the must-see destinations on any world-traveler's list. Enjoy a six-night cruise aboard one of the finest expeditionary-style yachts in the Galápagos
the Isabela II – where you'll be accompanied by naturalists who inform and inspire with insights into the amazing wildlife including the giant Galápagos tortoises
blue-footed boobies
sea lions

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done on the cheap by Tauck, yet cost me thousands of dollars extra as a solo traveler on a special small-group tour.   5-star hotels switched to 3 and 4 (without any compensation or explanation)… many more meals “on your own”… lots of “self-guided” tours of museums and chateaux and castles we knew nothing about… airline quality “rubber chicken” dinners, not in hotel restaurants, but in sad and isolated business convention spaces… poorly-trained newer Tour Directors (like the one on this tour) with limited experience traveling outside her tiny Canadian village or dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. She even confessed that this was a second gig job that took her away from her own business back home! You get what Tauck pays for, but unfortunately, not what YOU pay for.   Speaking to a “Guest Relations” agent was comically pointless. She tried to make everything my fault, which I now understand is par for the course with the “new” post-Covid Tauck. Please reconsider spending huge amounts of your hard-earned money on a tour company that has lost its way and no longer delivers."

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15 days From$13,590

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Peru and the Galapagos Islands 2024

none

4.2/5 Great

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Visits

Cusco, Guayaquil, Lima, Machu Picchu, Quito

Highlights

Where the timeless natural world of the Galápagos Islands combines with exploration of the ancient empire of the Incas...Unravel the mysteries of the centuries on a visit to Machu Picchu
the spectacular 'Lost City of the Incas' – one of the must-see destinations on any world-traveler's list. Enjoy a six-night cruise aboard one of the finest expeditionary-style yachts in the Galápagos
the Isabela II – where you'll be accompanied by naturalists who inform and inspire with insights into the amazing wildlife including the giant Galápagos tortoises
blue-footed boobies
sea lions

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

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15 days From$13,590

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Peru and the Galapagos Islands 2023

none

4.2/5 Great

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Visits

Cusco, Guayaquil, Lima, Machu Picchu, Quito

Highlights

Where the timeless natural world of the Galápagos Islands combines with exploration of the ancient empire of the Incas...Unravel the mysteries of the centuries on a visit to Machu Picchu
the spectacular 'Lost City of the Incas' – one of the must-see destinations on any world-traveler's list. Enjoy a six-night cruise aboard one of the finest expeditionary-style yachts in the Galápagos
the Isabela II – where you'll be accompanied by naturalists who inform and inspire with insights into the amazing wildlife including the giant Galápagos tortoises
blue-footed boobies
sea lions

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

Save this trip to your favorites or other list

15 days From$13,190

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Peru and the Galapagos Islands 2022

none

4.2/5 Great

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Premium - 4 star

Physical level

Moderate

Visits

Cusco, Guayaquil, Lima, Machu Picchu, Quito

Highlights

Where the timeless natural world of the Galápagos Islands combines with exploration of the ancient empire of the Incas...Unravel the mysteries of the centuries on a visit to Machu Picchu
the spectacular 'Lost City of the Incas' – one of the must-see destinations on any world-traveler's list. Enjoy a six-night cruise aboard one of the finest expeditionary-style yachts in the Galápagos
the Isabela II – where you'll be accompanied by naturalists who inform and inspire with insights into the amazing wildlife including the giant Galápagos tortoises
blue-footed boobies
sea lions

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

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15 days From$11,590

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Highlights of Quito & Galapagos Cruise

By Indus Travels

preferred

4.6/5 Excellent

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Galapagos, Quito

Highlights

Sail around the volcanic Galapagos islands on a luxury cruise
See the beautiful birdlife on the stunning beaches of Floreana Island in the Galapagos
Relax on the white sandy beach of Española Island
Get up close and personal with resident sea lions
Join an expert local guide for a tour of Quito, Ecuador’s exciting capital city

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"BUYER BEWARE!!! This company has a policy that if THEY cancel your trip…THEY get to keep your money and you get a credit the company. They cancelled my first trip..found out the hard way about their policy. Booked a trip…then had left over money so booked another…which they cancelled…again. Surprisingly…this time they offered a refund, but only gave me back the money I had put down…not what was left of “my credit”. So now I am forced to do business with a company I no longer wish to, that picks and chooses when to follow their own policy!! There are plenty of other travel agencies with similar tours…don’t give these guys your hard earned money for them to keep."

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7 days From$3,099

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Best of Ecuador & Galapagos Cruise

By Indus Travels

preferred

4.6/5 Excellent

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Standard - 3 star

Physical level

Moderate

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Galapagos, Guayaquil, Otavalo, Quito

Highlights

Explore Ecuador’s capital city, Quito, with an expert local guide
Unwind in the High Andes in the magical Papallacta Hot Springs
See the incredible flora and fauna of the Amazon rainforest with a naturalist guide
Sail around the Galapagos islands for an unparalleled view of these spectacular islands
Get your camera ready for the incredible wildlife viewing opportunities on the Galapagos

Themes

Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

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12 days From$3,999

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Galapagos Luxury Travel Origin Of Species

By Inca

none

Small Ship Cruise

Lodging level

Luxury - 5 star

Physical level

Easy

Trip pace

Flexible schedule

Visits

Galapagos, Quito, Santa Cruz Island

Highlights

Explore Santa Cruz highlands to view endemic Galapagos plant species
Visit lava tubes and sinkholes
Explore Quito and Puerto Ayora
Discover Galapagos Islands and Santa Cruz Island
Cruise through your luxury yacht for a week, spending as much time ashore as the Park rules permit.

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

Best Quito Standard Tours

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11 days From$6,995

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Quito Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5 Excellent

1,143 Reviews

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Excellent

185

Great

Average

Disappointing

Terrible

Pam

Oct 2015

Written on

I have now had 5 Intrepid experiences

I have now had 5 Intrepid experiences and have found the tou...

Jerry

Oct 2015

Written on

I thought the trip was good, but

I thought the trip was good, but there were a few things that kept ...

Matthew

Sep 2015

Written on

Excellent local guide, amazing location, ethically sensitive

Excellent local guide, amazing location, ethically sensitive and w...

Alizah

Sep 2015

Written on

Amazing trip. Amazing guide. Great itinerary. Fell

Amazing trip. Amazing guide. Great itinerary. Fell in love with the Galápagos Islands.

david

Sep 2015

Written on

nemo111 was very good- helpful crew nice

nemo111 was very good- helpful crew nice food, naturalist jairo gusqui lopez was excellent- good knowledge looked after his group. got to see many animals up close ...