Experience the wonders of mainland Ecuador as an extension to your Galapagos Islands wildlife adventure cruise, tour and vacation. Choose to explore the lush Ecuadorian Highlands, the Mindo Cloud Forest, or the Ecuadorian Amazon—staying at elegant haciendas and stunning jungle retreats. Options range from 3 to 5 days and you can even combine the Galapagos with a journey to enigmatic Machu Picchu in Peru!
Experience More From Your Galapagos Islands Adventure Tour
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2 or 3 days
Easy to Moderate
Hacienda Zuleta, Otavalo Market & the Highlands of Ecuador
Add to your Galapagos adventure tour with an exploration of Andean villages in the Ecuadorian Highlands and a visit to Otavalo Market, the largest in all of South America. Rest your head at the historic Hacienda Zuleta, a delightful country inn rated by Outside magazine as one of the world’s “Top Ten Finds”! Here you’ll have options to hike, ride horseback, mountain bike, visit a condor rehabilitation project, and be treated to excellent local cuisine at a working ranch in the Otavalo area.
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4 to 5 days
Easy to Moderate
Sacha Lodge & the Ecuadorian Amazon
If evolution’s laboratory of the Galapagos Islands got you revved up for even more great wildlife experience, you won’t want to miss the chance to visit one of our favorite jungle lodges—Sacha Lodge! Here you’ll explore the Upper Amazon with an expert naturalist guide, navigating meandering backwater streams and hiking an extensive network of jungle trails in search of the region’s plentiful and spectacular wildlife, including sloths, macaws, and monkeys. Plus you’ll enjoy a stunning toucan’s-eye view of the rainforest from high atop Sacha’s canopy tower, and from its 900-foot-long canopy walkway. Talk about ending your trip on a high note!
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2 or 3 days
Easy to Moderate
Discover Mindo Cloud Forest
Birdwatchers and nature lovers will enjoy an overnight trip to the breathtaking cloud forests of Mindo. This is the realm of hummingbirds and the best place in the tropics to see them—both in quantity and diversity (between 10 and 15 species can be spotted)! Also look out for the Andean cock-of-the-rock, manakins, tanagers, small toucans, quetzals, trogons, wrens, antbirds and hawks. Start each day with a jungle hike among orchids and other endemic flora, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and visit two or three reserves during the day (depending on time).
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5 days
Easy to Moderate
Explore Machu Picchu & Cusco
Combine your Galapagos Islands adventure with a trip to Peru. Experience the magic of Machu Picchu, the mysterious Inca citadel, and explore UNESCO-listed Cusco—one of the most beautiful Spanish colonial cities in the Americas—on this legendary trip. Let local experts guide you through the mystical Inca ruins, high in the Sacred Valley; wander the fine stonework plazas of Cusco; and follow scenic trails to beautiful hilltop villages. MT Sobek has been leading trips to Machu Picchu for over 40 years!
Go Private
From family celebrations to group reunions, there are many great reasons to design your own private Galapagos adventure. Contact our custom travel experts to learn about chartering your own private yacht or catamaran.