Galápagos & Andes Family Multi-Adventure Tour
8 days
7 nights
Activity Levels 1-2
We rate our trips based on a range of activity levels from 1-5.
See this trip's Activity Options & Terrain for more details.
Premiere Hotels*
Galápagos & Andes Family Multi-Adventure Tour
8 days
7 nights
Activity Levels 1-2
We rate our trips based on a range of activity levels from 1-5.
See this trip's Activity Options & Terrain for more details.
Premiere Hotels*
2026: Jul, Dec 2027: Jun-Aug, Dec 2028: May-Aug
Ecuador's Magical Wildlife, Islands & Peaks
Delve into pre-Inca history. Rub shoulders with modern Indigenous people. Commune with condors, hike a volcano’s rim and snorkel with sea lions. There are so many ways for your family to connect with amazing Ecuador.
Highlights
- Walk along a caldera rim in the Andes with spectacular views of mighty volcanoes and deep blue lakes
- Whiz past giant tortoises crossing the road as you bike in the Galápagos—a way few people see the islands!
- Explore highland villages with centuries-old traditions
- Experience close encounters with extraordinary Galápagos wildlife alongside an expert local guide
- Kayak and snorkel amid tropical fish, sea lions, whitetip reef sharks, sea turtles and blue-footed boobies
Start/End Quito
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-3
Hike in the breathtaking Andean landscape and trace the orchid-lined caldera rim around azure Laguna de Cuicocha • Visit with master weavers and see their age-old techniques as you stroll through their studio • The family of a former Ecuadorian president welcomes us at luxurious Hacienda Zuleta • Check out Condor Huasi, a condor conservation center • Hike along steep-sided valleys to a pre-Inca archaeological site • Browse Zuleta’s embroidery shop—local women are renowned for their fine needlework.
Nights 1-3
Luxuriate at this idyllic 17th-century hotel, 4,000-acre working farm and living museum owned by a former Ecuadorian president and his family. (spa)
Days 4-5
Fly to the Galápagos Islands for incredible up-close wildlife viewing • With an expert local guide, we venture into a secluded private reserve where many of the island’s most notable residents—giant tortoises—hang out • Pedal through the highlands and rural villages • Visit a local coffee and sugarcane farm • Explore a 1,000-foot-long lava tunnel and learn how lava tunnels are formed on these volcanic islands • Spend the afternoon at Tortuga Bay, with a chance to see sea turtles, whitetip reef sharks and marine iguanas.
Nights 4-5
Designed to complement its lush highland surroundings, this serene hotel features a natural lava tube on its grounds. (pool)
Days 6-8
Boat from island to island, stopping to paddle, hike and swim • Spot blue-footed boobies, Darwin’s finches, magnificent frigate birds and lava lizards • Grab a snorkel and marvel at a vivid undersea world teeming with fish • Wave hello to the famed sea lion colonies of San Cristóbal Island from a kayak • Late afternoons, kick back at our lodge or stroll in laid-back port towns.
Nights 6-7
A chic, modern and breezy home base, its many balconies of glass and exposed wood overlook the seafront promenade of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno town. (pool)
This trip has an activity level range of 1-2
Our Galápagos walking routes are generally easygoing on beach or dirt paths with mostly flat to rolling topography. However, they do include some sections on uneven terrain with challenging footing, such as lava rock. If it rains, the trails can become muddy. Biking in the Galápagos is mainly along paved roads with some bike lanes and some short stretches of dirt road.
We take multiple boat rides during this trip including a two to three-hour ocean crossing between the two main islands. We also spend a good amount of time doing water-related activities such as snorkeling and kayaking in the open ocean. Many of our guests find it convenient to use sandals or water shoes for these activities as well as for wet landings (times when we go ashore without a dock). If you bring these, consider a style with toe protection so that they can double as walking shoes (as some of our hiking terrain includes sharp lava rocks and prickly underbrush). If you are prone to seasickness, we recommend you bring non-drowsy motion sickness medication such as Dramamine (especially in the summer months when water can be a bit rougher).
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- Activity Level
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- Elevation
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
There’s an ample amount of travel time on this trip, and we may have earlier mornings than you’re used to on Backroads trips—including as early as 4 a.m.—due to our flights between the Ecuadorian mainland and the Galápagos Islands. We’ll be flying on commercial flights with Avianca or LATAM Airlines aboard twin-jet planes. Please note that flight schedules can change with little advance warning, which may require us to adjust our activities on a travel day. Once in the Galápagos, the main form of travel is by boat, so be prepared for occasional wet, windy conditions and bring seasickness medication if you think you’ll need it. Also, in summer months the waters can be a bit rougher.
The Galápagos Islands are subject to strict national park regulations. Mid-trip itinerary changes are common as we adapt to ever-changing area openings and closures based on the ecological effects of visitor traffic. In addition, while hiking in Galápagos National Park you'll need to be accompanied by our local naturalist and hike in designated areas at all times.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates to see pricing, hotel or itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy, in USD.
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