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Discover Ecuador: Ecosystems & Islands

11 days in Quito, Santa Cruz Island, Isabela Island, Tena

Cactuses and ocean in Ecuador.
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OverviewWhat you'll doReviewsWhat's includedPriceFAQs
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OVERVIEW

From the Andes to the Galápagos Islands, explore nature's ultimate classroom

Few places on Earth tell the story of life like the Galápagos Islands. Here, students trace Darwin's footsteps as they hike volcanic terrain, snorkel among sea lions and marine iguanas, and walk beside giant tortoises in their natural habitat. At the Charles Darwin Research Station, they learn how scientists preserve endangered species and study evolution in real time. Then back on the mainland, rafting through the Amazon and meeting Kichwa community members reveal how ecosystems and cultures adapt side by side. From highland forests to island shores, this journey brings science off the page and into motion, helping students see why protecting the world's most biodiverse regions matters for us all.

What makes this tour special?

Download a tour overview
Visit an Indigenous Kichwa community to learn about their history and traditions

Visit an Indigenous Kichwa community to learn about their history and traditions

Walk among wild giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and learn about this incredible species at the Charles Darwin Research Station

Walk among wild giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and learn about this incredible species at the Charles Darwin Research Station

Embark on a whitewater rafting adventure through the Amazon Rainforest

Embark on a whitewater rafting adventure through the Amazon Rainforest

Discover Ecuador: Ecosystems & Islands route map

What you’ll do

Explore a sample itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Ecuador

Board your international flight to Quito

Meet your Tour Director at the destination airport

Day 2: Quito • Mindo Cloud Forest

Take a day trip to the Mindo Cloud Forest. Enjoy a hike through the Cloud Forest

Visit a butterfly garden

Travel to Quito

Day 3: Quito • Baltra Island • Santa Cruz Island

Fly to Baltra Island

Visit the Twin Craters and the Lava Tunnels

Visit the Santa Cruz highlands to see wild tortoises

Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station

Day 4: Santa Cruz Island • Isabela Island

Travel by boat to Isabela Island

Hike along Los Humedales trail

Visit a tortoise breeding center

Visit a pink flamingo habitat

Take a boat excursion to the Tintoreras Lava Islet and go snorkeling

Day 5: Isabela Island • Santa Cruz Island

Travel by boat to Santa Cruz Island

Hike to Tortuga Bay and enjoy some relaxation time on Playa Mansa

Visit the Playa de los Alemanes Beach

Go swimming at Las Grietas canyon

Day 6: Santa Cruz Island • Baltra Island • Quito

Enjoy free time in the morning on Santa Cruz Island

Fly to Quito

Day 7: Quito • Cotopaxi National Park

Visit Cotopaxi National Park

Travel to Quito

Day 8: Quito • Tena

Travel to Tena

Hike in the Amazon rainforest

Day 9: Tena

Enjoy a whitewater rafting excursion

Day 10: Tena • Quito • Depart for home

Visit an indigenous Kichwa community

Travel to Quito

Board your flight home from Quito

Day 11: Arrive home

All of our tours are powered by our proven EF Method

Learn more

Your experience includes

Airfare & transportation
Hotels
Regional-style meals
Guided sightseeing
Entrances
Full-time Tour Director
Expert Local Guides
Personalized Learning Support
Continuous Support
Worldwide Presence

Travelers save when you lead this tour before October 1, 2027

See 2027 pricing

Unlock your lowest price

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Payment plan options

Pay over time interest-free or pay all at once

Fundraising

Every traveler receives a no-fee donation page

Global Citizen Scholarship

Every year EF awards $100,000 to student travelers

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Frequently asked questions

Let’s unpack that

We’ll connect you with your personal Tour Consultant—someone who works with other teachers in your area and specializes in planning EF tours. They’ll walk you through this itinerary (along with other tours in our portfolio that match your curriculum or catch your eye), explain student pricing, and show you just how easy it is to partner with EF.

Once you decide to lead a tour, your Tour Consultant will help you get school administrators on board, students excited, and families ready to enroll. You’ll host an informational meeting to kick off the enrollment period, and we’ll provide everything you need—from a digital presentation to printed handouts, parent resources, and more.

You’ll have a dedicated Tour Director who will guide your group from the moment you land in your first destination until your final goodbye. They:

  • Take all the same transportation and stay in the same hotels as your group

  • Speak the local language (but lead the tour in English!)

  • Support you 24/7 as your right hand

  • Offer deep cultural context to help students feel connected to their destination

  • Handle all the logistics, so you don’t have to

  • Are the secret ingredient that makes your tour truly shine

Yes! You earn a free spot on tour as soon as six paying travelers enroll. For every additional six paying travelers, you earn another free spot for an adult chaperone of your choosing. For example, if 30 students sign up, that’s four free chaperone spots in addition to yours.

All travelers on international EF tours must have a valid passport. When it comes to documentation, every traveler and destination is different, so once your group starts enrolling, we’ll help direct you and your families to relevant resources.
 
Passports should have at least three blank pages and be valid for at least six months after your return date.

EF has set the standard for travel-based learning for over 60 years. Not only do our educational tours amplify the lessons you’re already exploring in your classroom, but they also help build more empathy, open-mindedness, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding.
 
Our educational philosophy, the EF Method, is built into every itinerary, so your students are immersed in a continuous journey of engaging, hands-on learning in real-world situations from the moment they step off the plane.

Yes! Plan to explore each destination primarily on foot, so be sure to pack your comfiest sneakers. You’ll have time to rest on the bus while traveling between cities and activities. If any travelers need accommodations, just let your EF Travel Team know in advance.

Every hotel your group stays in is required to meet EF’s rigorous standards for quality, safety, and cleanliness. (We have an entire team dedicated to ensuring that!) However, it’s important to remember that international hotels designed for student travel may feel a little different from what students are familiar with. For example, some hotels may not have an elevator. Rooms will have multiple single beds or shared double beds, and every room will have a private bathroom.

You’ll receive more detailed meal information closer to your tour, but here’s an overview of what to expect:

  • Daily breakfast is served continental-style at your hotel.

  • Most tours include daily group dinners, which take place at local restaurants (or your hotel) and feature a mix of familiar favorites and local dishes from a set menu.

  • Lunches are usually not included, but this varies by itinerary. If lunch isn’t included, this is the perfect opportunity for students to explore local markets and discover their new favorite food.

Travelers will share allergy or dietary information with EF after signing up, and we’ll help make the necessary accommodations.

We’re here to help! Start a live one-on-one chat with a team member.

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Where learning meets life