Ecuador Beyond the Galapagos: From the Amazon to the Andes [+Itinerary Template!]
Have you ever gone on a FAM (familiarization trip) and wondered why the destination wasn’t on your bucket list to begin with?
My FAM Ecuador through Adventure Travel & Trade Association’s (ATTA) Adventure Elevate - Latin America was one of those trips for me. After two days of setting foot in Quito (my springboard for an adventure into the Amazon and Andes), I was already beginning to dream about my next trip there.
And it’s no wonder why.
Ecuador is one of the smallest of only 17 megadiverse countries in the world. With that distinction, there is so much more to experience in Ecuador beyond the Galapagos. From the Cloud Forest to the Ecuadorian Amazon, to the Andes mountains, to the oceanside, you can cover many different ecosystems and trip experiences in a relatively short amount of time and geographical distance.
The itinerary that I was privileged to experience would be a perfect 4-8 day add-on trip if you have clients who are going to the Galapagos and want to maximize time there! (View my Ecuador Itinerary Template here!)
Napo Cultural & Wildlife Center in Yasuní National Park
Hands down, exploring Yasuní National Park rainforest in Ecuador is a bucket list destination situation. I already blabbed on and on about the Ecuador is one of very few megadiverse countries in the world. But okay, so what does that mean? It means you get to see the kind of wildlife you find in National Geographic magazine. Here's a look:
The Creature Comforts
Imagine staying in the heart of the Amazon surrounded (safely, more on caimans and anacondas later, LOL) by all the flora and fauna this Amazonian sliver of Ecuador’s megadiverse destination has to offer. Now, imagine this with the creature comforts of a soft landing.
No details are spared despite being in the middle of a jungle. When you arrive, you’re greeted with a cold Guayusa tea or fresh juice. Meals centered around Ecuadorian fare offered some of the best bites I had during my entire trip. (Fresh-baked pan de Yuca has ruined me for all other bread).
Continental breakfast is provided alongside tableside service with eggs customized however you want them. Lunch and dinner are sit-down three-course affairs. Tamales, cassava bread, yuca, plantains with house-made sauces, and hot sauces make appearances in many meals.
With the luxuries of delicious foods and comfortable lodging with a hammock strung across your outside porch for optimal Amazon siesta time (much of the programming adapts to when wildlife is most active, early to late morning and later evening).
Turn-down service happens every night while you have dinner. There’s a full-service bar available (alcohol and some special beverages are the only expenses not included). Dietary accommodations are a reality here (for example, the local cuisine naturally lends itself to gluten limitations)
No details are spared.
The Creatures
The diversity of wildlife in Yasuni National Park is second to none. The reason for this is that hunting is prohibited among the local Kichwa community and has been for decades. In short, the animals don’t perceive humans as predators, so they’re not too shy to come out and give you a big old show.
I began keeping track of a “bragging list” of animal sightings for my friends and fellow twitchers, but plumb lost track after two species of sloths, 6 species of monkeys, countless species of tropical birds, creepy crawlies (tarantulas, tree frogs, parades of leaf cutter ants, bullet ants), scary swampies (anaconda, caiman), and incredible mammals like joyful otters and peaceful sloths but I plumb just lost count.
Would I have found (let alone identified) any of these Amazon inhabitants without the fantastic guides and naturalists who are immersed in the knowledge of the area? Um, no. Heck no.
A note on accessibility:
We’d embark on early-morning walks or late-night treks to get our animal sightings in, and we didn’t have to go far.
While I had initially imagined hours upon hours of hiking, the watch tower we hiked to was about 20 to 30 min. leisurely walk. This comes with the caveat that the walk, though brief, cannot easily accommodate mobility issues. If a traveler needs more frequent breaks, there’s no place to really sit and rest until you get to the tower, and the path is impassible if you have a wheelchair or mobility device.
Can you take it slow? Yes. But make sure you qualify for the trip to make sure it’s a win for everyone in your group!
It can be a great multi-generational destination option, so long as you know your travelers! I wouldn't personally recommend it for kids under 9 because visitors are discouraged from touching anything in the rainforest (um, bullet ants, anyone?).
The Community
The Napo Cultural Center & Wildlife ecolodges are the epitome of community-based tourism. Established 25 years ago by the Kichwa Añangu community. The indigenous community is made up of 34 families and resides in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Community members own, run, and profit from travel there. As far as tourism leakage (money spent in a destination that doesn’t profit its immediate community), it’s about as airtight as it gets.
In addition to five-star service and Amazon experience, the Napo lodges offer:
- Alternative to industrial agriculture & oil industries
- Closer to family
- Sustainable travel that leads to sustaining livelihoods. With resource preservation & conservation,
- The only lodges in Yasuni National Park
Tierra Del Volcan’s Hacienda Porvenir:
The second stop of my ATTA Elevate Latin America’s Day of adventure brought me into the mountains. Cotopaxi was a bit shy the day I visited Hacienda El Porvenir, but this is all the more reason to make sure you spend more time in the Andes when you visit ;). Here's a look!
Adrenaline-Fueled Conservation
Co-founders Maria José Andrade and Jorge Pérez greeted ATTA visitors to Hacienda El Porvenir, a family-run mountain lodge nestled in the northern region of Cotopaxi.
As travelers began to settle in with some cheese empanadas and booze-optional canelazos (a spiced beverages to help ease altitude sickness) by the fire, Pérez and Andrade shared the vision of the lodge as an experience of “adrenaline-fueled” conservation.
“One of the social problems,” said Pérez, “ is the possibility of making conservation profitable.” But Andrade and Pérez were up for the challenge when the lodge opened in ‘97. Perez listed some of conservation initiatives for the lodge:
- 95% of staff is local.
- 80% of their land (of the 1,000 hectares/ 500 acres of property) is dedicated to conservation.Pérez and Andrade have planted more than 700,000 trees.
- 50% percent of the electricity comes from solar panels.
- There is a “zero-mile” food policy and most food is organic.
- They have a Seed Library initiative to improve school facilities by creating readings corners, and donating around 500 books in efforts to educate kids on the importance of environmental and cultural preservation.
Do you want to start a talk out with a traveler with a powerpoint of conservation facts? Maybe not.
But when travelers down over canelazo and empanadas by a fire with a panoramic view of Cotopaxi, they can see for themselves how unparalleled preservation efforts translate to unparalleled travel experiences.
The Accommodations at Hacienda EL Porvenir
This too, is going to be an “adrenaline fuelded” look at the Lodge because I (*sniff* *sniff*) only got to spend a few hours there.
Very sadly, I didn’t get to stay at Hacienda El Porvenir. One thing I appreciated about the lodge however was that it provides options at different budget levels, from hostel-type stays for backpackers to honeymoons and family suites with towering views of Cotopaxi.
The Activities at Hacienda El Porvenir
Again, there was not enough time to explore all the activities during my hasty site visit (let alone the lodge-to-lodge trek that originates at Hacienda El Porvenir that was lauded in The Smithsonian).
But going on a horseback ride into the mountains was a no-brianer for me, personally. And I say this as a horse-rider novice. In fact, novice might be a generous word for someone who had going horseback riding one other time of flat terrain.
But that was one of the cool things about the Hacienda El Porvenir. They can tailor their outings to total noobs like me who thinks trotting is speed-of-light riding business, to seasons horseback riders galloping up the mountain ahead of me as though they were born tethered to a saddle.
My horse, No Me Olvides (which translates to English as “Don’t Forget Me”) kept it pretty chill for this gringa chagras.
And wow. Those views. Cotopaxi was, as Jose put it, “a little shy,” hiding among some cloud cover, but it was stunning nonetheless.
Travel To Ecuador: A Few Logistics
Why is traveling to Ecuador for US citizens so easy? Well, there’s a few reasons:
- Central Time Zone means it’s likely easy-ish for inbound travelers from continental North America to adapt to time change (for me, this was zippo time change, which helped me transition with ease).
- Ecuador uses the USD. The Sucre crashed in 1999, and since Ecuador has adopted the US Dollar as its currency. Pretty convenient for US travelers!
- No Visa or Vaccination is required to enter for a vacay. Visa requirements don't kick in unless you plan to stay for 90+ days in a one-year period (warning: you’ll want to).
- Altitude is real: At 9,350 ft. (2,850m), Quito is the second-highest capital in the world. If you venture into scenic Andean destinations nearby (don’t miss Pinchincha’s Volcano Row), these elevation numbers only increase.
- If you’re sensitive to altitude (or unsure if you are), you will want to give yourself some time to adjust. Chat with your physician to get altitude sickness medication just in case a few weeks before you go. When you land, get your hands on a warm mug of Canelazo (spiked or NA), which is delicious whether you need it to curb altitude sickness or not.
Elephant in the Room: Is Ecuador Safe Travelers?
The short answer is, Yes. Ecuador is safe for tourists!
At the time of publication, the State Dept. listed Ecuador as level 2 for travelers (“Exercise Increased Caution”). For perspective, this is the same advisory level as Spain, France, Mexico, and many many more popular travel destinations.
While the US State Department lists the cantons of Ecuador’s northern border with Columbia and specific areas of Guayaquil that are best avoided, knowledgeable tour operators and DMCs can and will adapt itineraries at the turn of a dime if any issues arise. If you’re partnering with a tour operator, supplier, or DMC, you are in good hands! (Not sure who to partner with for your FIT? Start with the fabo operators listed in this blog and itinerary template :).
Personally, on the ground in Quito, I didn’t witness any military presence during my brief visit to Pichincha. While you may see private security wear flak jackets for increased precautions after January 2024’s state of emergency, my interactions with security members during my short time of solo travel involved helping me with directions to get around Old Town in Quito. Everyone's comfort levels differ. As with all travel planning, just ensure you've qualified your client so you plan a trip that meets (or as in the case of my trip to Ecuador, exceeds) their expectations!
Want to Book this Trip Like a Travel Agent?
FITs are becoming more popular for travelers, but it takes a LOT of legwork to plan custom trips like this one to Ecuador. Thankfully, working with a travel advisor makes it easy.
Are you someone who LOVES to do the deep-dive research and obsess over every travel detail? Are you the one your friends and family go to to organize trips? Is planning trips a passion you'd like to pursue? Check out HAR's 7 Day Setup Accelerator Course. It will help you get up and running with the support you need to get it done right the first time! Check it out!
