Ecuador Round Trip

Name: Ecuador Round Trip
Rating: 4.9

Travelling in paradise

Navigating through Ecuador and to the Galapagos Islands 10 years ago used to be complicated and strenuous. However, in recent years Ecuador has taken measures to drastically improve and renew its infrastructure. For example, Quito has a new airport which is said to be South America’s longest runway. While Guayaquil, the biggest city in Ecuador, has a newly built terminal at its existing airport. The highways are in excellent conditions, and most cars have an inbuilt navigation system. Many locations are also easily accessible by train.

As the tourist and transport infrastructures continue to improve in the last 10 years, many charming and luxurious hotels have sprung up in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Many areas are bustling with cafes and restaurants serving up creative and delicious local dishes. Visitors can also explore the Amazon on a river cruise or from a rainforest lodge. There are plenty of environmentally friendly yet luxurious accommodations to choose from. The Amazon lowlands are easily reachable by bus or on a flight. Travel time from Quito To Tena is around 4 hours. The famous avenue of Volcano in the Andes is also accessible by train, bus or individually by car.

Modern Mode of Transport

Ecuador currently has three airlines, Aerogal (the daughter company of Colombian Airline Avianca), LAN Ecuador (the daughter company of LATAM) and TAME, the Ecuadorian national airline. The airlines, including the ones with flights to Galapagos Islands, are all flying with newest aircrafts such as the Airbus and the Embraer. The intercity buses are also very comfortable, and taxis remains affordable and safe.

Discover and experience Ecuador on a road trip!

The improved transport infrastructure means that you can easily discover new places in Ecuador by car. The great thing is that you will get to do it at your very own pace and long drives are never boring with the amazing landscapes in Ecuador. Driving through Ecuador is especially fun for small families and experienced travellers. It is crucial to have a preplanned route and to save you a great deal of hassle, and we have created a special combination road trip tour for you.

We strongly advise you to rent your car ahead of your trip due to a general shortage of cars for rental in Ecuador. We have staff on site to make sure that you get your car as planned.

Please note that car rental is not available on the Galapagos Islands. Other modes of transportation on the Galapagos Islands include taxis, public buses, hotel ships, speedboats, and cruises.

Train rides in Ecuador

There are very few train lines in Ecuador and they are a tourist attraction in itself. The bus is the main mode of transport for Ecuadorians as there are only 5 train lines operating throughout Ecuador.

Train to the Devil’s nose – to/from Alausí
Train to the Clouds – to/from Quito
The Liberty Train (Tren de la Libertad) – to/from Otavalo or Ibarra
The Ice Train (Tren del Hielo I) – to/from Riobamba or Ambato
The Train of sweetness (Banana, sugar cane and cacao) – to/from Guayaquil

and one multi-day train tour:

Tren Crucero – A nostalgic train ride beginning from Quito – 4 days along the avenue of Volcanoes

It is recommended that train tickets be reserved in advance. The train stops at several places of attraction along the way and lunch is included in the price for full day tours. More information on train tours is available below:

Purchase your train tickets

Wanderbus

A great and safe way to travel through Ecuador is with the new Wanderbus. It is a bus for tourists which travels from Quito along the avenue of volcanoes to Guayaquil or to Montañita, the party town at the coast. The bus stops at all the highlights along the way in order for you to explore these places. Alternatively, you can choose to alight the Wanderbus and stay at your preferred location for a few days before hopping back on the next bus. The Wanderbus is an alternative to having a tour guide/driver on a rental car tour. Our travel recommendation for the Wanderbus can be found below:

Round trip with driver/nature guide

A relaxing way to embark on a round trip through Ecuador is to travel with a driver or a nature guide. We have excellent experts who are eager to show you the beauty of Ecuador. Our team can help design the perfect length and routes for your rental car tour.

Environmental Protection at the Galapagos Islands

Tourists infrastructures on the Galapagos Islands are all developed according to the National Park regulations. The Baltra airport also has an energy neutral airport. All requirements for environmental protection are strictly monitored.

You can visit different parts of San Cristóbal Island, Santa Cruz Island and Floreana Island with a speedboat (Lanchas). Alternatively, the EMETEBE airline offers trips to the Galapagos Islands, which takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Please take note of the flight schedule 1 – 2 days before your intended excursion and inform the reception of your hotel in Galapagos of your plans.

Be aware that the departure time varies daily as the national park closely monitors the current environmental conditions. All cruise companies and Galapagos PRO always strive to find the best alternative for you should any unexpected event arise. We want to ensure that you have the best possible holiday experience.

Ecuador Tours

Gruppenreise Ecuador und Galapagosinselhopping

Duration: 14 - 14 days
Highlights:

Erkunden Sie Ecuador und die Galapagosinseln mit deutschsprachiger Reiseleitung und Naturführer

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Price per pax