Ecuador Travel Guide

When planning your budget for your Galapagos vacation, make sure you factor in all of the fees and documents that accompany a trip to this unique and wonderful destination.

As the Boy Scouts will tell you, one of the most important rules of visiting and exploring a natural environment is to “leave no trace.” That basically means that after you leave, there should be no evidence that you were ever there. In the Galapagos Islands, this is more important than ever now that tourism has made this a top destination for over 200,000 people annually.

With three different zones on the mainland within a day’s drive and the Galapagos Islands just a two-hour flight away, Ecuador is a traveler’s paradise. Those lucky enough to visit this small South American country can travel through the Andes, Amazon, Coastal lowlands, and Galapagos in the vacation of a lifetime.

No Galapagos vacation is complete without some quality time spent snorkeling in one of the world’s most vibrant marine sanctuaries. On par with the other magnificent turquoise snorkeling destinations of the world, the Galapagos promises travelers an underwater world of discovery – from elaborate coral structures to curious fish to fascinating submarine geology and even plenty of sharks and rays!

Planning your vacation to the Galapagos Islands or Ecuador is preparing for a trip to Paradise, there’s still a lot to think about and prepare for to make it the ideal island retreat, jungle adventure or Andean experience; so consider some of these tips before traveling, and you’re sure to have a great time

The only flights to the Galapagos Islands depart from either Guayaquil or Quito, so you might as well spend some time getting to know Ecuador’s mainland with a few days in Guayaquil! With a population even larger than Ecuador’s capital city of Quito and an ever-expanding suburban landscape, the coastal town of Guayaquil is the country’s main port city.

Extend your Galapagos journey with any of these five destinations in Ecuador. The Galapagos Islands are a fantastic standalone destination for cruises, but if you are hoping to experience even more of Ecuador on your trip, then consider adding on a few days in one of these top Ecuadorian destinations.

In 2008, when Ecuador overhauled its constitution, it became the first country in the world to give inalienable rights to nature. This dedication to the environment is largely reflected in the country’s national attitude towards conservation of its rich natural habitats, from the depths of the Amazon rainforest all the way to the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean.