Plan Your Ecuador Trip

As a rule, the further in advance you can plan, the more options you will have. For the best selection, plan at least 6 to 9 months in advance, more for peak times when many people prefer to travel like school breaks and April through July, and a year or more for trips between December 18 – January 4.

It depends on what regions you want to visit. For strictly mainland Ecuador tours that exclude Galápagos, we recommend 9-10 days. If you wish to add on the Amazon or cover all major regions of Ecuador, including Galápagos, it could be 2-3 weeks depending on your time and budget.

Ecuador is a year-round destination and there isn’t a bad time to go. Weather varies from region to region and there is no severe weather season to avoid. You can find a wider selection of trip options by planning in advance and avoiding in-demand travel dates.

Focus on factors like level of luxury, budget, and type of activities you want to do. Also, consider your travel style. Do you want an active multisport or hiking tour? Do you want soft adventure with a focus on culture and scenery? With so many options, we encourage you to contact our destination specialists who can make personal recommendations for you.

Yes! We are happy to modify any tour to meet your needs and also add pre and post-tour extensions. Nearly every Ecuador trip we arrange has some element of customization!

We primarily work with 4-star hotels in Ecuador and the occasional 3-star property, provided they meet our standards. We also work with amazing 5-star properties. All of our hotels are clean, comfortable, well-located, offer en suite bathrooms and have been personally vetted by a Southern Explorations staff member.

Due to fairly stable seasonal weather conditions in Ecuador, travelers can enjoy year-round travel to the country. Some areas have better weather at certain times of the year, but it is always a good time to travel to Ecuador. Ecuador has a surprising variety of climates. The weather can be very localized and tends to change quickly because of the country’s unique geography. Located on the Equator, Ecuador is divided into four main regions: the Andes, the Amazon, the Coast, and the Galápagos Islands. Within these four regions of this small country, roughly the size of Nevada, elements of all four seasons can occur in a single day.

Generally, if you can walk a couple of miles at a leisurely pace and comfortably navigate uneven terrain, you will enjoy most of our tours. Some of our more adventurous tours include activities like kayaking and longer hikes of up to 8 miles. Traveling in Quito and the Andes region means high altitude, and while altitude adjustment is not necessarily related to physical fitness, it can make physical activity more challenging and you should expect to perform activities at a slower pace than normal.

The guides on all of our tours are experienced, fluent in English and hold a degree in a related field. The guides are experienced in the outdoors and trained in basic first aid. We tend to use the same guides as they are accustomed to the trips we offer and understand the Southern Explorations commitment to quality. All guides on Galápagos & Amazon cruises and lodges are freelance and hired directly by the vessels or lodge and meet our standard of quality.

Our mainland Ecuador tours are privately guided trips. Cruises and specialty lodges may be in small groups with other guests.

Travelers are responsible for their own international airfare. Internal flights, including Galápagos & Amazon flights, are quoted separately from tour package costs but are included in your trip quote.

Review the policies section on this page for more details, but please note that each cruise has its own cancellation policy in addition to our own. This will be detailed in your specific itinerary.

Breakfast is included every day and is served at your hotel. Lunch is included on full day excursions and some dinners are also included, depending on the itinerary you choose. You’ll receive recommended restaurants for each city so that if your trip includes some dinners on your own, you’ll know where to go.

Our trips include most expenses. We do not include tips (guides, drivers, cruise/hotel staff), travel insurance, international flights, or other trip incidentals and personal equipment. There are occasional entrance fees that cannot be prepaid, but most are included in your trip costs and any exceptions will be clearly detailed.
 
The number of meals included vary by trip; you can tell which meals are included by looking for a B, L, or D at the end of each day’s description. This will indicate if (B)reakfast, (L)unch, and/or (D)inner is included.
 
Every trip is different, and each itinerary we send you, from initial trip proposals to your final confirmed itinerary, contains a detailed list of inclusions and exclusions. We also provide detailed tipping guides for all our confirmed travelers.

Ecuador is safe for travel. However, travelers should take the same precautions that they would while traveling elsewhere, particularly in large cities like Quito and Guayaquil, to protect themselves from petty theft. Listen to the advice of your guide and hotel reception staff and take common sense precautions such as not going into unfamiliar areas alone, especially at night. Use the safety deposit box at your hotel for your passport and extra money (carry only as much as you might spend) and leave jewelry and expensive watches at home. 

Check your email for your payment confirmation and a link to access our online trip portal. Final payment due date is in your confirmation email, and we’ll send you a reminder later. Now is a good time to check into travel insurance!

Yes, travel insurance is highly recommended. There are a plethora of insurance providers but we recommend contacting Travelex Insurance Services or Travel Guard or using SquareMouth to compare other travel insurance websites.

If your plans are set and flights are available to purchase, then go ahead and book them! Some people like to watch fare trends before purchasing. Airlines post flight schedules about 10-12 months in advance, so for travelers booking trips over a year in advance, you’ll have to wait. It is relatively easy to find flights to our Latin American destinations, so unless you are traveling over the holidays or very last minute, don’t stress about finding flights!

After booking you will receive a link to our online trip portal, which includes all of the need-to-know information specific to your itinerary. This includes packing lists, restaurant recommendations, tipping guides, FAQs, electrical plugs and voltage, vaccine recommendations and money matters. Your Travel planner will also be a great resource for any other information you may need.

 Yes! We are happy to modify any tour to meet your needs and also add pre and post-excursion extensions. Galápagos cruises and some land tours have strict policies, so be sure your plans are set before you commit. Please bear in mind, we can’t change the cruise schedule but everything else is open to discussion.

Yes! Many people don’t book their international flights until after they confirm their trip. If your international flight schedule affords you some extra days, we are happy to arrange extra hotel nights or extension tours.

You can find more information about packing in the online trip portal. We have packing lists, footwear details, and things to consider. Review your final trip details that we send a couple of weeks prior to departure for luggage limitations and restrictions specific for your trip.

Typically flights have a 50 pound weight limit for checked bags and you can travel with one carry on plus one personal item. If your trip includes an interisland flight in the Galápagos, you are limited to 25 lbs total for all luggage.

Yes! Please notify us in advance if you are celiac, gluten free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, keep kosher, or have other dietary needs. If you have picky eaters in your group, the more information you provide us the better we can accommodate them. In the online trip portal, you will see a place to indicate allergies and dietary needs.

Check the online trip portal for the most up to date information regarding traveler health and immunization recommendations.

About two weeks before you depart, we will email your final trip details that will have all of the pertinent information you need for your trip. Generally, our trips do not require any physical vouchers or documents. Some trips may have informational documents which we will include in your final trip details.

Upon arrival in Ecuador you will meet your guide just outside of customs for the transfer to your hotel. Specific instructions will be included in your final itinerary.

Please refer to your final trip details and your welcome letter that you receive in country at the start of your trip. When in doubt, ask your guide.

Most people are fine traveling in the Ecuadorian Andes. Quito is located around 10,000 feet above sea level. You’ll feel the effects of the altitude, but most people just feel a little tired or out of breath. The best remedy is staying hydrated, as this helps with acclimatization. Our guides are familiar with the signs of altitude sickness and they will assist you should you need it.

Review the money section in the online trip portal for details on local currency, ATMs, tipping guides, and local expenses and incidentals. When in doubt, ask your guide.

To ensure the safety of our travelers, our guides are linked with outside services 24 hours a day in all locations to provide assistance when necessary. Cruise vessels have emergency satellite phones. Our guides are experienced and well trained in dealing with emergencies. Because of the remote locations included on our itineraries, we recommend obtaining medical or travel insurance that includes emergency evacuation and medical coverage. A few weeks prior to departure we will provide you with our 24-hour emergency line number.

You can expect Wi-Fi access at most hotels. When in remote areas, Wi-Fi may be unreliable or unavailable. Cell phone service depends on your cellular provider and coverage plan. Many, but not all, cruises have Wi-Fi, but expect low bandwidth when available. We recommend that our travelers be ready to disconnect when heading to remote destinations. You are, after all, on vacation!

Most mainland Ecuador hotels offer laundry service for an additional charge, some Galápagos accommodations offer it but most do not. If you spend more than one night in a town or city, you can do laundry at a local lavanderia which will charge by the kilo. Galápagos cruise vessels do not offer laundry service. The quick dry clothing needed for Galápagos tours is easily hand washed in your room or cabin.

Ecuador is a small, mountainous country, and some longer travel days of 2-3 hours can be expected. Most drives offer pleasant scenery. Most day trips outside of Quito are 90 minutes to two hours driving one way.

All of our confirmed travelers will receive a list of emergency contact numbers before departure, including a 24-hour emergency line. If your international flight is delayed please call this number so we can make the necessary arrangements and keep your trip running smoothly. Once on your trip and in contact with your local guide, please refer to them first for any issue you may have then contact the head office if you need additional assistance.