Top Ecuador Nature and Wildlife Tours - page 2

Tick off two of Ecuador’s top attractions in one day during a full-day tour of Pululahua crater and the Middle of the World Monument (Mitad del Mundo) from Quito. Ascend to a lookout point above Pululahua crater, one of only two inhabited craters in the world, and spend the day exploring the Middle of the World Monument (Mitad del Mundo) complex, where the North and South Hemispheres collide. Your tour also includes access to the planetarium and the Equatorial Museum.

Paz de las Aves is your destination for the day, a bird refuge in the Mindo cloud forest. A private guide accompanies you from Quito while a specialist points out bird species such as the antpitta, toucan barbet, blue-winged tanager, and the cock-of-the-rock plus dozens of hummingbirds at the Alambi Cloud Forest Reserve. This personalized service include breakfast, private hotel transport, and admission fees.

See the incredible and unique birdlife of Ecuador with this birding excursion with an experienced guide. Departing in the early morning from Quito City or Mindo town, travel to private reserves and sanctuaries to discover species in their natural habitat. Potential spots include the Schistes geoffroyi, Andigena laminirostris and the Tangara heinei. The necessary equipment including a spotting scope, binoculars and tuned bird calls are included.

With so much to do in Santa Cruz, it can be overwhelming to organize everything on your own. Make one of your adventures completely stress-free with a 3-hour afternoon tour to three of the island's top sights. Along with your naturalist guide, visit the Los Gremelos volcanic formations, hike the Scalesia Cloud forest, and get cozy with local wildlife at the Giant Tortoise Wildlife Reserve. Finally, have your camera ready for a jaunt through a lava tube.

Highly trained staff Certified guide. Transportation in excellent condition. Varied menu. Menu for vegetarians and vegans.

Swim with playful sea lions and other Galapagos marine life on a small-group snorkeling and fishing tour to Santa Fe Island. A short boat ride from Puerto Ayora takes you to a peaceful bay with crystalline waters. Using provided snorkel gear, get up close to sea turtles, eagle rays, sharks, and a kaleidoscope of tropical fish. Later, take a wildlife tour of the island and have the chance to fish during the return journey.

Ecuador’s Cotopaxi National Park is a unique area with a diverse ecosystem of fauna and flora. Join this full-day tour from Quito to explore the area around the active volcano and learn about the natural history of the region. You also visit the Limpiopungo Lagoon where you enjoy beautiful views of the volcano and surrounding areas.

This 3-day tour covers plenty of ground—from the Ecuadorian Andes to the Amazon—with a private guide and vehicle. Leave itinerary planning to experts who know the challenging terrain in Ecuador. Learn about rainforest biodiversity, the customs of indigenous communities, and hike up snow-capped Cotopaxi. Your guide will be with you to assist with any language barriers.

Go where cars can’t on a horseback riding experience in Baños. Rather than sticking to the beaten path, you’ll go off-road into the countryside and see parts of the area that most first-time visitors miss. Plus, a small group limited to only 10 other travelers ensures you enjoy personalized attention.

This day tour takes you snorkeling at two of the most spectacular locations in Galapagos where you can see a variety of species, including sharks, sea turtles, rays, sea lions and marine iguanas. You'll also get the chance to disembark the boat at La Fé Bay or Las Palmitas Bay for a discovery walk through mangroves and past prickly pair cactus and candelabra cactus to see Darwin finches, mockingbirds, pelicans, lava herons and blue-footed boobies.

Take a hike up the Sierra Negra Volcano on this 4-hour walking tour. The Sierra Negra is the oldest volcano on Isabela Island and experienced its last eruption in 2005. Walk along the rim of the crater and observe the local plant and animal life that has flourished in this rugged terrain. Learn about the geology of the area and the volcanic processes from your informative guide.

Visit the village of Papallacta and spend the enjoying a number of customizable activities at one of the most beautiful thermal hot springs Resort and Spa in this area. Take in the beautiful scenery of the Andes Mountains on a hike and enjoy a relaxing time at the thermal water that have been certified for its medicinal properties that guarantee health benefits.

Gain insight into an indigenous community that you likely wouldn’t be able to access alone during a full-day jungle excursion from Baños. Immerse yourself in the culture, something few travelers get to experience, by sampling a typical drink, watching a traditional dance, and more. Plus, learn more about traditional jungle plants from your bilingual guide than you could alone.

Enjoy this full-day tour of Otavalo Marketplace, the largest Indigenous market in Latin America. Departing Quito, you’ll travel to Otavalo Marketplace, to browse stalls for colorful, artisan souvenirs and delicious flavors. See, too, the famous equator monument and stop in Peguche to visit a waterfall and a local family to learn about local music.

Explore the rugged surroundings and stunning scenery of Cotopaxi National Park and Cotopaxi Volcano during this full-day trip. Enjoy a short hike into the Limpiopungo Valley before driving ever-higher into this sky-high region, stopping at the 15,800-foot (4830-meter) Padre Rivas Refuge. If you’re feeling up for it, you’ll continue to the 16,500-foot (5,050-meter) Cotopaxi Glacier. This Cotopaxi day trip also includes national park fees, a guide, bottled water, round-trip hotel transport and an optional trip upgrade with lunch.

Don’t let limited time in Ecuador stop you visiting the majestic Quilotoa Lagoon, an emerald crater lake surrounded by mountain landscapes. Reach the natural wonder the easy way on this full-day tour from Quito, ideal for nature lovers. Stop at a traditional craft market before arriving in Quilotoa National Park and opting to hike or ride a mule (own expense) to the rim of the dormant volcano. Lunch and transfers are included.

Discover the best of Cajas National Park without the overwhelming tourist crowds on a private hiking tour from Cuenca. Starting from the park's highest elevation, you'll follow your guide on a leisurely downhill trek through three ecological zones, each offering unique flora and fauna. With very few people on the backcountry trail, you'll enjoy unobstructed views of mountains, rivers, grasslands, and more.

This shuttle transfer service is a comfortable and efficient way to travel between Cuenca and Guayaquil. Simply choose the time, date, and location that works for you, and enjoy a convenient door-to-door service. No need to share the ride with other passengers—this is a private service just for your party.

Spend the day exploring the Cabo Rosa tunnels on Isabela Island to learn about the volcanoes that created these lava tunnels and bridges. Join a small group and a naturalist guide to observe the wildlife that call these lava platforms home. Don your snorkel gear and see marine life like manta rays, seahorses, penguins, sea turtles, and blue-footed boobies.

Skip crowded boat tours for a small-group experience that takes you to San Cristobal's best spots—with personal attention guaranteed. Visit locations such as Cerro Brujo, Sardina Bay, and Punta Pitt, and snorkel at three top hotspots for marine life: Rosa Blanca, Sardina Bay, and Kicker Rock. Swim amongst tropical fish, sea turtles, and rays, with all snorkeling equipment provided for ease.

Cajas National Park, with its 200 glacial lakes and numerous hiking trails, is easily one of the most beautiful places in Ecuador. With this tour, travelers with limited time in Cuenca can still spend a few hours exploring the Andean highlands with two guided hikes through two different forest ecosystems.

Cajas National Park protects a huge swath of lake-dotted Andean grasslands—one of the most biologically diverse in the Andes range—just west of Cuenca. During this full-day tour, save time waiting in line at the national park visitors center, and go on a hike through highlands, wetlands, and a Polylepis forest, home to the highest altitude trees in the world. This leaves time for lunch at a local restaurant specializing in fresh trout.

Shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs at an indigenous market and enjoy gorgeous scenery during this 8-hour trip to Otavalo Market from Quito. This fascinating market features a wealth of hand-made creations produced by local Andean communities, including textiles, leather goods and more. Enjoy sublime views of the Andes Mountains and San Pablo Lake during your drive to the site before hunting for souvenirs. On your way home, you can choose to visit Cotacachi, an artisan town famous for its leather goods, or Cuicocha Lake. Your shopping and scenery trip includes a guide, entrance fees, a snack, round-trip hotel transport and an upgrade with lunch.

Experience the serene nature of the forest as you look out for birdlife in this guided birding experience. Keep an eye out for exotic locals such as sword billed hummingbirds, scarlet bellied mountain tanagers, and tiny rufous antpitta. Learn the local bird calls from your guide to help you summon nearby birds.