Self-Launched Galapagos & Amazon Quest: 10 Days in Ecuador

Land at Mariscal Sucre International Airport and take an airport bus or a registered taxi/Uber into the centre (~£5-8). Base yourself in a guesthouse in La Mariscal or the historic centre. Spend the afternoon wandering the UNESCO-listed Old Town: Plaza Grande, the golden Basílica del Voto Nacional (tower climb ~£2), and La Ronda street for dinner. Quito sits at 2,850m, so take it easy today — drink water, skip the heavy drinking, and get an early night. Book your Galapagos flights and any day tours tonight if you haven't already.

🚌Airport bus (Aeroservicios) ~£1.80 or taxi ~£6 to city centre

🛏Guesthouse/hostel private or dorm room, Quito centre (~£12-18 pp)

• →Old Town walking loop (Plaza Grande, Compañía de Jesús, La Ronda)
• →Basílica del Voto Nacional tower climb
• →Sort Galapagos flights and Ahuano/Amazon lodge booking

Early flight Quito to Baltra (Seymour) — book LATAM or Avianca direct, roughly £180-260 return depending on how far ahead you book. At arrival, pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee (US$200, ~£160) and the Transit Control Card (INGALA, US$20, ~£16) — these are mandatory and paid in cash USD, so bring it. Take the free airline shuttle to the Itabaca Channel, cross by ferry (~£1), then a bus or shared taxi to Puerto Ayora (~£2-4). From the Puerto Ayora dock take the public inter-island speedboat to Isabela (US$30-35, ~£26, 2 hours, twice daily; buy at the kiosk a day or two before if possible). Settle into Puerto Villamil and catch sunset on the beach with marine iguanas and sea lions.

🚌Return flight Quito–Baltra (~£200), ferry ~£1, shared bus/taxi to Puerto Ayora ~£3, public speedboat to Isabela ~£26

🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Villamil, Isabela (~£14-20 pp)

• →LATAM/Avianca flight to Baltra
• →Galapagos National Park fee & INGALA card
• →Itabaca Channel ferry crossing
• →Public speedboat Puerto Ayora to Isabela
• →Sunset on Puerto Villamil beach

Take a locally operated boat tour to Los Túneles, a lava-tube channel network on Isabela's south coast known for sea turtles, rays and (in season) seahorses. Book through your guesthouse or a Puerto Villamil agency the day before — expect US$110-130 (~£90-105) including wetsuit, mask, lunch and guide. Boats leave around 8am and return mid-afternoon. Back in town, walk to Concha de Perla, a free, calm snorkelling lagoon just outside Puerto Villamil — brilliant for turtles and sea lions. Evening: cheap set-menu dinner (encebollado or grilled fish, ~£6).

🚌Walking / short taxi to the pier; boat included in tour

🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Villamil, Isabela (~£14-20 pp)

• →Los Túneles snorkel day tour with local operator
• →Free snorkel at Concha de Perla
• →Beach walk and sea lion spotting

Hike Sierra Negra, one of the world's largest active calderas (10km wide) — the trail runs ~16km return to the rim and on to Volcán Chico's fumaroles. You can do this with a licensed local guide from Puerto Villamil (~US$45-60, ~£40-50, includes park entry) or on the organised tour meeting point at the trailhead; guides are required. Full morning and early afternoon. Late afternoon, rent a kayak in Puerto Villamil bay (~£10-15/hour) and paddle with sea lions and penguins. Optional: bike to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center (free entry) and the Wall of Tears trail.

🚌Shared pickup truck/taxi to trailhead (~£10 return) or included in guide price

🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Villamil, Isabela (~£14-20 pp)

• →Guided Sierra Negra crater hike to Volcán Chico viewpoint
• →Kayaking in Puerto Villamil bay
• →Giant Tortoise Breeding Center (optional, free)
• →Wall of Tears bike ride (optional)

Morning speedboat back to Puerto Ayora (~£26, book the 6-7am departure). Check in to a hostel or guesthouse near the waterfront. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station (free/donation entry) to see the giant tortoise breeding programme and learn about Lonesome George. In the afternoon take a local bus or shared taxi to the Santa Cruz highlands (~£5-8 each way) and walk the Primicias/El Chato tortoise reserve trails where giant tortoises roam wild through the grass (~£5 entry). Finish at a lava tube (free) and grab dinner on Avenida Charles Darwin.

🚌Public speedboat Isabela–Santa Cruz ~£26, local bus/shared taxi to highlands ~£8

🛏Hostel/guesthouse Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz (~£15-22 pp)

• →Charles Darwin Research Station
• →Highlands tortoise reserve (Primicias/El Chato)
• →Lava tube walk
• →Walk to Tortuga Bay (optional sunset add)

Morning swim or coffee at Tortuga Bay (20-minute walk from town, free) before taking the bus/ferry back to Baltra for your return flight to Quito (~£100-130, included in the return ticket). Land in Quito late afternoon, settle into your guesthouse, and sort out your Amazon logistics — if you're doing the Amazon independently, confirm your bus and lodge pickup. Pre-book a bus ticket (Quito to Tena) or ask the lodge to arrange a shared shuttle.

🚌Bus/ferry to Baltra ~£4, return flight Baltra–Quito (included in ~£200 return total)

🛏Guesthouse/hostel, Quito (~£12-18 pp)

• →Tortuga Bay morning walk
• →Return flight to Quito
• →Confirm Amazon bus/lodge logistics

Take a morning bus or shared shuttle from Quito to Tena/Ahuano (public bus ~£6-9, 5-6 hours, leaving from Quitumbe terminal; lodge shuttles cost more). Check into an independently bookable Amazon lodge near the Arajuno River (basic cabins with meals included run £30-45 pp per night including all food and guide activities). Afternoon motorised canoe up the Arajuno River with a local Quichua guide, spotting birds and monkeys. Evening: optional short night walk to see insects, frogs and maybe a tarantula.

🚌Public bus Quito–Tena ~£8; lodge pickup or taxi to river landing ~£5

🛏Amazon lodge, Ahuano area (~£35-45 pp incl. meals and activities)

• →Bus to Ecuadorian Amazon
• →Motorised canoe on the Arajuno River
• →Guided night walk

Full-day guided rainforest walk with a Quichua naturalist — primary forest trails, medicinal plants, ceiba trees, and plenty of birdlife (macaws, toucans, tanagers). Most local lodges include this in their package or charge ~£15-20 for the day. Afternoon visit to a Kichwa community: learn about chicha, blowgun use, and artisan crafts. Note this is a genuine community visit, not a show — treat people with respect and buy crafts if you want to support directly. Lunch and dinner at the lodge.

🚌Canoe and trail transfer with lodge guide (included)

🛏Amazon lodge, Ahuano area (~£35-45 pp incl. meals and activities)

• →Guided primary rainforest hike
• →Kichwa community visit
• →Birdwatching and wildlife spotting

Early breakfast and river transfer out of the lodge, then bus/shuttle back toward Quito. Break the journey at Papallacta (~£5 local bus from the main road) for a soak in the natural thermal pools of Termas Papallacta (day pass ~£10-15; spa treatments extra). The water sits at 3,300m so don't stay in too long if you're feeling the altitude. Afternoon bus onward to Quito (~£4-6), and an evening in La Mariscal.

🚌Lodge transfer plus local buses ~£18 total

🛏Guesthouse/hostel, Quito (~£12-18 pp)

• →Papallacta thermal pools day pass
• →Optional spa treatment
• →Return to Quito, evening in La Mariscal

Morning for the Museo Casa del Alabado or the Mercado Central for last Ecuadorian eats (llapingachos, fresh juice) before heading out to the airport. Buy any last souvenirs on Amazonas or at the artisan market in La Mariscal. Airport bus or taxi (~£1.80-8). Depart with a camera full of sea lion photos.

🚌Taxi or airport bus ~£6

🛏— (departure day)

• →Museum or market visit
• →Souvenir shopping
• →Airport transfer