Andes, Amazon & island wildlife
Small-ship Galápagos cruises, land-based tours, and Andes adventures, bundled into one tailor-made trip.
Why we love Ecuador & the Galápagos
Small but mighty, Ecuador packs four worlds into one compact country – the Andes, the Amazon, the Pacific coast, and the legendary Galápagos Islands. Then there are the Galápagos, where the wildlife hasn't gotten the memo about being shy. Snorkel with playful sea lions, watch blue-footed boobies strut their stuff, and walk among giant tortoises and marine iguanas. Go where the wild things are. Trust us, they're waiting.
Prehistoric islands
Rainforest wildlife
Volcanoes, haciendas, and Indigenous culture
A starting point for your perfect escape
We're good company, and we give great advice
Galápagos vessels range from intimate yachts to 100-passenger ships, and the guiding varies as much as the cabins. We know the difference.
We'll tell you which suits you best, even when it's the less expensive option.
The Andes, the Amazon, the coast and the islands. We fit the mainland around the Galápagos at a pace that works.
An absolutely unreal experience. Attention to detail was exceptional. Every activity was planned to perfection, transportation was arranged, and we didn't have to worry about a thing. I do not have enough good things to say about this trip. The service [Osaviva] provides is worth every penny and more.
Logistics taken care of
Adrienne and team were so easy to work with, and truly took the detailed logistical stress off of planning AND getting through our vacation. They worked to finalize the perfect itinerary and answered lots of questions and have the scoop on the best tours and best places to stay!
Two wonderful trips
We have travelled twice on trips organised by [Osaviva] and we have loved them both. Everything was planned exceptionally well, the hotels were beautiful and we had an amazing time! We look forward to our next adventure with [Osaviva]!
Quick replies
I have nothing but good comments with regards to what I experienced throughout the process. Adrienne was always quick on her replies and everything went flawless. I highly recommend [Osaviva].
Our top picks
Quito
Casa Gangotena occupies a restored mansion facing Plaza San Francisco in Quito’s historic center. Its 31 rooms, rooftop terrace, garden, and Ecuadorian restaurant place guests directly inside the architecture and daily life of the old city.
Ecuador & Galápagos
Quito
Illa Experience Hotel contains only 10 rooms in Quito’s quiet San Marcos neighborhood. Colonial, Republican, and contemporary design layers are joined by daily artisan experiences, a private spa, and an ambitious restaurant.
Ecuador & Galápagos
Cuenca
Hotel Cruz del Vado places 26 rooms inside a restored heritage house above the Tomebamba River in Cuenca’s oldest neighborhood. A pink-marble façade, rooftop restaurant, city views, and Ecuadorian art connect the hotel closely with the UNESCO-listed center.
Ecuador & Galápagos
Guayaquil
Hotel del Parque places 44 rooms inside a restored 19th-century building surrounded by the botanical gardens of Parque Histórico Guayaquil. Courtyards, a former chapel, riverfront dining, and tropical grounds create a calm alternative to a conventional airport or business hotel.
Ecuador & Galápagos
Mashpi Reserve
Mashpi Lodge places 20 Wayra Rooms and three Yaku Suites behind floor-to-ceiling glass in a private Ecuadorian cloud-forest reserve. Guided expeditions, waterfalls, research, observation platforms, and the Dragonfly canopy gondola are included in the lodge experience.
Ecuador & Galápagos
Northern Andes
Hacienda Zuleta is a 21-room working estate and former presidential family home in Ecuador’s northern Andes. Four thousand acres support horses, dairy, cheese making, gardens, embroidery, archaeological sites, and an Andean condor conservation program.
Ecuador & Galápagos
When we plan a trip
Cloud forest wildlife
Walk through misty forest filled with orchids, moss-covered trees, and hummingbirds. Expert guides help locate toucans, tanagers, and the Andean cock-of-the-rock, with canopy walks and observation platforms bringing you closer to life above the forest floor.
Andean landscapes
Follow the Andes between snow-capped peaks, crater lakes, farmland, and historic haciendas. Hike beneath Cotopaxi, visit highland communities, or continue south through valleys framed by some of Ecuador’s most recognizable volcanoes.
Galápagos wildlife
Join a naturalist guide on volcanic trails where giant tortoises, marine iguanas, sea lions, and blue-footed boobies can often be observed at close range. Each island has its own habitats, species, and visitor sites.
Underwater Galápagos
Enter clear Pacific water above lava formations and rocky reefs. Depending on the island and season, snorkelers may encounter sea turtles, rays, reef fish, penguins, marine iguanas, and playful sea lions.
Into the jungle
Travel along forest rivers with naturalist and local guides, watching for monkeys, macaws, toucans, and river wildlife. Canoe excursions, night walks, clay licks, and canopy towers reveal different parts of the rainforest throughout the day.
Andean culture
Meet weavers, farmers, and artisans in the Andean highlands, where regional textiles, food, and agricultural traditions remain part of daily life. Visit the Otavalo area, spend time in small workshops, or stay on a working hacienda beneath the mountains.
The things travelers ask us most about Ecuador, from choosing a Galápagos cruise to adding a few days in the Andes. Have a question we haven't covered? Send it to
Any time of year! December to May brings warmer water, calmer seas and greener islands. June to November is cooler and choppier, with more marine life and active seabird colonies.
Foreign adults pay a $200 national park entrance fee on arrival, plus a $20 transit control card bought before the flight.
Four to eight days is typical. Boats carry up to 100 passengers, and many carry 16 or fewer.
Some people do, especially from June to November. Bring medication, and choose a larger vessel or a land-based trip if you're prone to it.
Fly from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra or San Cristóbal, about two hours from Guayaquil.
Quito sits at about 2,850 m, so plan an easy first day. Ecuador uses the US dollar.
