Amazon and Galapagos vacation, Ecuador

Planet

This itinerary has been carefully planned to show you two of South America's most biodiverse areas, with local partners, local suppliers and local guides throughout.

In the Amazon, you'll stay at Napo Wildlife Center, which is owned and run by the Anangu Kichwa community, inside Yasuni National Park. You'll explore on foot or by dugout canoe with local guides, traveling quietly through the forest and along the waterways.

In the Galapagos, you'll travel between islands with trained naturalist guides and follow the national park's visitor rules at every site: staying on marked trails, keeping at least two metres from wildlife, never touching or feeding animals and taking nothing away. Activities such as kayaking, hiking and snorkelling let you explore under your own steam.

People

This itinerary has been designed with people at its heart. At Napo Wildlife Center, led by the Kichwa Anangu community, the money from your stay goes to the community that runs it. Community members share their knowledge of daily life in the Amazon and their ancestral practices.

In Quito, you'll explore with local guides and stay in a boutique hotel in the heart of the old town.

The Galapagos island-hopping section was inspired by the families of Floreana Island. You'll meet residents such as the Cruz family, visit local farms, explore the pirate caves and learn about the island's history. Former fishermen, who now work in tourism, share their knowledge of the marine life around the islands.