Ecuador & Galapagos
Family Tour of Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands, ideal multi-generational
Ecuador & Galapagos Family Tour - 13 Night Itinerary
Explore Ecuador's natural wonders including a 7-night Galapagos cruise with close encounters with tame wildlife that will inspire youngsters to develop an appreciation of the natural world. Doing so with your family will build special memories for life.
Select your Preferred Departure Date OR Default to Today's Date
Travel Highlights
- Visit the colourful Indian market in the Andean town of Otavalo
- Explore the colonial centre of the Ecuadorian capital
- Spend a day in the unique Bellavista Cloud Forest
- Take a trip to the Equatorial Monument
- Hike in the foothills of Cotopaxi Volcano and visit a local Indian Market
- Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime seven night Galapagos Islands cruise
- Choose a yacht or expedition ship with many facilities for multi-generational family groups
- Get up close to the friendly nature in the company of a child-friendly naturalist guide
- Snorkel with the friendly sea lions
- Enjoy sociable 'al fresco' lunches with like-minded travellers
Tour Route
- Quito, Otavalo Market, Cloud Forest, the Equator and Cotopaxi Volcano - 6 Nights
- Galapagos Cruise - 7 Nights
This itinerary can be tailored to your preferences by our specialist advisors, who can provide a guaranteed price based on your choice of departure date, route, duration, flights, cabin, hotels, transport and excursions.
Request Quotation
Tour Itinerary
Quito, Otavalo Market, Cloud Forest, the Equator and Cotopaxi Volcano
6 NightsDay 1 - Fly to Quito
Day 2 - Guided tour of Quito
Day 3 - Full day excursion to Bellaviate Cloud Forest
Day 4 - Otavalo Market & Andean Landscapes
Day 5 - The Equatorial Monument
Day 6 - Cotopaxi National Park & Indian Market
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Fly to Quito
Depart the UK on your flight to Quito, arriving the same evening. Our friendly guide will meet your family and take you to your hotel for a 4-night stay including breakfast. Your guide will also provide a briefing and introductory walk of the area around your hotel, so you are well prepared for your activities ahead. Our guides are very experienced working with families of all ages and will ensure each excursion or guided tour is adapted to your family's individual requirements.
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Guided tour of Quito
Today enjoy a guided tour of Quito, completely adaptable to your family's interests, including the magnificent old colonial centre, the Gold Museum, the cathedral and main square with the impressive Presidential Palace.
Thursday, 25 June 2026
Full day excursion to Bellavista
Today enjoy a full day excursion the Bellavista Cloud Forest. Here, observe hummingbirds on a guided hike with a naturalist guide into the forest.
You will also see many species of plants and birds, as well as stunning views and the remarkable ever-changing light. Lunch is included today.
Friday, 26 June 2026
Otavalo market & Andean Landscapes
Today, enjoy an included visit to nearby Andean towns, villages and famous Otavalo Market. Strolling around Otavalo on market observing local people selling textiles, jewellery, hats, native art and woollen jumpers, as well as all kinds of exotic fruit and vegetables.
A chance to try your haggling skills with the merchants. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.
Saturday, 27 June 2026
The Equatorial Monument
Enjoy a half-day excursion to the Equator Monument, which stands as a tribute to the French scientists who in the 1700s made history by determining the shape of the earth. We also visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the Monument, where the colourful way of life of the different ethnic groups of Ecuador are displayed.
Sunday, 28 June 2026
Cotopaxi National Park & Indian Market
Today, we travel to the Avenue of the Volcanoes and Machachi local market, where there are many unique local arts, crafts and textiles on offer. Continue to the magnificent, Cotopaxi Volcano. At 5.897 metres above sea level, the volcano is considered the highest active volcano in the world!
You will have an opportunity to take short hikes and learn about the flora and fauna of the Paramo. Depending on weather conditions, visit a "refuge" located at 4.800 meters. An invigorating day.
Gina Castillo
Ikala Hotel
The Ikala Quito Hotel is a combination of 3 historic houses in the upmarket residential neighbourhood of La Mariscal, a short taxi journey to the colonial centre of Quito.
There are 17 themed suites, 10 spacious and modern junior suites and 17 comfortable standard rooms. All are air-conditioned with private bathroom, TV, free Wi-Fi, safe and hair…
Casona de La Ronda
This delightful 22 room hotel has been converted from an original Colonial townhouse, and is located on the pedestrian La Ronda street, close to many bars and restaurants. The rooms are comfortable and traditionally styled, decorated with fabricsand patterns from local communities. The hotel alos has a small lounge and fireplace, and serves local cuisine…
Casa Gangotena
Situated in a newly-restored historic mansion overlooking Plaza San Francisco in the heart of the Old Town, the three-story Casa Gangotena has 31 luxury rooms: a showcase of eye catching style, contemporary design, antiques, furnishings, fine dining, modern technologies and quintessential comforts. Beautifully and eclectically appointed, the hotel invites its guests to explore and to…
Galapagos Cruise
7 NightsDay 7 - Fly to Galapagos - Charles Darwin Research Station
Day 8 - Santa Fe and South Plaza Islands
Day 9 - San Cristobal Island and Galapaguera
Day 10 - Espanola Island and Punta Suarez
Day 11 - Floreana Island and Punta Cormorant
Day 12 - Santa Cruz and Santiago Island
Day 13 - Genovesa Island and Prince Philip's Steps
Day 14 - Turtle Cove and fly back to the UK
Day 15 - Arrive in the UK
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Fly to the Galapagos - Charles Darwin Research Station
Fly to the Galapagos Islands and transfer to your chosen cruise yacht or ship for a 7 night cruise on a full board basis including guided excursions every morning and afternoon. We recommend the tourist class Cachalote Explorer, superior first class Beluga or the larger newly refurbished Galapagos Legend - all if which tailor the experience, lectures and entertainment to the ages of the children and teenagers that join the cruise.
In the afternoon, visit the highlands of Santa Cruz where Galapagos giant tortoises can be seen in the wild in the highlands of Santa Cruz. Continue to the Charles Darwin Research Station, a research facility and National Park Information centre. The Charles Darwin Station has a giant tortoise and land iguana breeding program and interpretation centre.
Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Santa Fe and South Plaza Islands
This morning visit Santa Fé Island. Highlights include Santa Fe land iguanas, a pelican nesting site, a sea lion colony, mockingbirds and Palo Santo trees.
After lunch on board, visit South Plaza Island. The highlights include tall Opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas, a rocky cliff that looks out towards open ocean which is also a nesting site for red-billed tropic birds and gulls and a bachelor seal lion bachelor.
Wednesday, 01 July 2026
San Cristobal Island and Galapaguera
This morning, visit San Cristóbal Island, the easternmost island of Galapagos. Explore Cerro Brujo and its white sandy beach with sally lightfoot crabs, marine iguanas, sea lions, chatham mockingbird and lava lizards.
PM: Galapaguera & El Junco - The lagoon is the only fresh water reservoir in Galapagos and has great views from its altitude of 700m in the highlands of San Cristóbal. Rainwater has collected in the caldera for hundreds of years and formed this lagoon. Galapaguera is a good area to see tortoises in their natural environment
Thursday, 02 July 2026
Espanola Island and Punta Suarez
This morning we wake up in Española Island (Hood), the southernmost in the archipelago. Because of its remote location a unique range of endemic species evolved here. Visit Gardner Bay, a long and beautiful white sandy beach inhabited by sea lion colonies. Visit Islote Gardner and Islote Osborn where we snorkel sites amongst abundance of tropical fish, reef sharks and turtles.
In the afternoon, we visit the cliffs at Punta Suarez, home to the waved albatross (April-Dec) that are only found here, galapagos hawks, blue-footed boobies, nasca boobies and española lava lizards.
Friday, 03 July 2026
Floreana Island and Punta Cormorant
Explore Floreana Island (Charles) today, best known for its colourful history of buccaneers, whalers, convicts, and early colonists.
After lunch, visit Punta Cormorant and a large inland lagoon where pink flamingoes can be seen. We continue to Devils Crown, a snorkelling site located just off Punta Cormorant. The site is a completely submerged volcano that has eroded to create the appearance of a jagged crown. And finally today, we visit Post office Bay, where you can send a postcard in a wooden mail barrel.
Saturday, 04 July 2026
Santa Cruz and Santiago Island
Today we visit Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island with its small lagoons with flamingos, Palo Santo trees and Opuntia cactus. Continue to Santiago Island (James) offering a wide variety of seabirds, marine iguanas and fur seals.
In the afternoon, visit Sullivan Bay and its 100 hundred year old lava flow field, pahoehoe formations and lava bubbles.
Sunday, 05 July 2026
Genovesa Island and Prince Philip's Steps
After breakfast, we visit Genovesa Island (Tower) an eroded flat volcanic island, with a natural harbour. The steep cliffs of this area dominate the island. This area is home to thousands of frigate birds, red-footed boobies, noddy terns, lava gulls, tropicbirds, doves, storm petrels and Darwin's finches.
After lunch, enjoy a dinghy ride to Prince Philip's Steps and observe the interesting lives of the birds here. There is a good possibility of seeing the unique "Short eared owl" at this site. During the dinghy rides along the cliffs fur seals and several species of seabirds can be spotted.
Monday, 06 July 2026
Turtle Cove and fly back to the UK
Disembark after breakfast and visit Turtle Cove, a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and a perfect example of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat. Then transfer to Baltra for your return flight to the mainland and onward overnight flight back to the UK.
Tuesday, 07 July 2026
Arrive in the UK
Arrive back in the UK in the morning.
Cachalote Explorer
Enjoy the small ship experience of cruising from island to island, getting close to the shore, feel the breeze and listening to the sea. After the morning and afternoon landings ashore, you can enjoy the spacious sundeck areas, sunbathe and admire the sea lions playing around you.
The Cachalote Explorer accommodates up to 16 passengers in 8…
Beluga
The M/Y Beluga is a spacious and comfortable superior first class motor yacht accommodating up to 16 passengers in 8 double cabins. One of these has an additional berth which becomes a triple room which is ideal for families.
Beluga is fully air-conditioned, has spacious social areas with all the comforts and facilities of a…
Galapagos Legend
The Galapagos Legend is a spacious ship that can take up to 100 passengers, and has a large outdoor area with sun deck, bar and swimming pool. 5 expert Naturalist Guides take you ashore on daily excursions, morning and afternoon, in small groups of up to 16 guests. The cabins are comfortable and modern, located…
Price Guidelines
| Season | Low Season | High Season | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Dates | 6 January - 30 June & 1 September - 14 December | July - Augaut & 15 December - 5 January | ||
| Room Arrangement | Tourist | First | Tourist | First |
| Multiple Travellers - Twin Rooms | £6,148 | £7,388 | £6,666 | £7,896 |
Prices are a guideline per person, for travel within the next year and booking early and are subject to availability. Please see below what is included and request a detailed quotation with a guaranteed price for your specific departure date and for Special Events, Summer, Christmas, New Year's Eve & Easter.
What's Included
- 15 Days / 13 Nights
- International flights (1 overnight)
- Internal flights
- Accommodation as shown on the itinerary
- 13 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 7 dinners
- 7-night Galapagos Cruise including all meals and daily excursions
- Transfers to and from airports
- Transport throughout the itinerary
- Excursions listed, all with expert, English-speaking guides
- Children 7-11 years have reduction of 20% when sharing a room/cabin.
Complete a form or call our specialist advisors to start planning your trip. Please provide as much information as possible, and we will aim to respond to your enquiry the same or next working day.
Specialist Knowledge
Since 1999, we have crafted unique itineraries using our technology and extensine first-hand travel experience and local inspections
Your Perfect Tour
Your holiday is tailored by our specialist advisors to match your preferences, interests and budget using our kowledge of each destination
The Best Local Guides
Our local guides are specialy selected as your hosts providing an authentic insight into local life, culture, activities and visits
Travel Confidence
Our organisation provides local tour services and guides so you travel with confidence, reliability and 24-hour support
HIGHLIGHTS - 20 June 2026
BEACH RESORTS - Superb: Idyllic Setting, Remote Islands
PERU - Machu Picchu, Andean Landscapes, Historic Heritage
GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR - Friendly Wildlife on the Islands
BRAZIL NATURE - NEW Atlantic Forest Birdwatching Trails
BRAZIL IMPERIAL - NEW Brazil Royal Family Heritage
HONEYMOONS & CELEBRATIONS - "en Tete-a-Tete"
TRAVEL INSURANCE essential comprehensive cover