The Flora and Fauna of Ecuador
Join us April 26-May 6, 2025
This 11-day trip will highlight the spectacular gardens and diverse ecosystems of mainland Ecuador and includes a luxurious 5-day cruise around Darwin’s Galapagos Islands, which are full of fascinating endemic species and beautiful volcanic landscapes. Join Executive Director of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Andrew Gapinski, along with excellent local and naturalist guides on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Have unique cultural interactions, explore the cloud forest’s plants, orchids and over 132 hummingbird species, stand amongst giant tortoises, colonies of iguanas, blue-footed boobies and much more!
Trip Highlights
- Cruise the Galapagos Islands aboard a luxury-class boat with fewer than 100 passengers.
- Enjoy expert naturalist-led excursions to discover a myriad of endemic species, spectacular wildlife with no fear of humans and unique landscapes.
- Walk through Palo Santo forests full of iguanas; explore the world’s biggest breeding site of the endangered Waved albatrosses at Española; walk amongst giant Galapagos tortoises; swim, snorkel or enjoy a glass bottom boat in one of the best sites for marine wildlife in the archipelago.
- See the sites and gardens of Quito; Ecuador’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site for colonial architecture.
- Visit the Quito Botanical Garden, to discover more about Ecuador’s native habitats, including Quito’s high-altitude Andean grasslands.
- Stay in a private reserve in the Mindo Cloud Forest, home to 400 bird species and countless endemic butterfly species.
- Learn about the production of cacao as you visit a chocolate factory and see (and taste!) every step of the chocolate-making process.
- This adventure highlights carefully selected accommodations in spectacular and varied settings, from the seas of the Galapagos to a cloud forest lodge and a historic colonial home turned boutique hotel in Quito.
- Travel in a small group of no more than 22 travelers.
- Enjoy the specialized knowledge of your trip escort, Executive Director Andrew Gapinski.
- $300 tax-deductible donation to the Arboretum included. Your donation helps less fortunate public gardens around the world in their conservation efforts.
Cost Information
Cost Details
- $8,530* Land cost per traveler, double occupancy (Round trip Galapagos flight costs, as well as required $200 Galapagos National Park permit & $20 Migratory Card will be booked by the cruise & are already included in your trip cost)
- $3,080** Single supplement
- $900 TO $1,200*** Estimated international airfare costs
*Note: As currency exchanges and fluctuations vary, this is an approximate cost, which Knowmad Adventures reserves the right to adjust. This land-cost price is based on a minimum of 16 travelers. Knowmad reserves the right to adjust this price in order to accommodate fewer registrants should there be less than 16. Trip size is capped at 22.
**Note: This trip has a limit of 4 single cabins available for guests paying a single supplement. Reserve early to guarantee a single cabin. Once those 4 cabins are reserved, Knowmad Adventures will do its best to try and find a roommate for those still interested in joining.
***Airfare Information
Knowmad Adventures will assist in arranging your international airfare to and from Ecuador, but is not responsible if available flights exceed the price estimate. Once the trip is confirmed with the minimum number of travelers, and once international flights have been published by the airlines, Knowmad will be in touch with flight details along with instructions on purchasing your international flights via expert flight consolidator, Exito Travel. We suggest waiting until that time to purchase flights. You may also purchase international airfare independently, but please contact Knowmad Adventures prior to purchasing to ensure that the flight arrival and departure schedule work well with the itinerary. Note, if you choose to purchase your flights independently, please purchase the same flights that are recommended to the group. These flights will have group transfers arranged in accordance to those flights. If you choose to purchase flights that have you arriving in Quito on a different flight than that recommended to the group, we will have to put in place an additional transfer for you at an extra cost (approximately $50-70 per person depending on the number of travelers sharing that transfer). Regional flights will be purchased by the cruise and are already included in your trip cost.
NOT INCLUDED: International airfare (see estimate for airfare cost guidance); visa, passport, and departure/arrival fees; airline fees for luggage; trip insurance (trip insurance including cancellation coverage strongly recommended); meals not indicated in the itinerary; optional tips to local guides and drivers; personal items; alcoholic beverages; wetsuit & kayak rental on board cruise ($25 per person for wetsuits, $40 per person for kayak, available for rent on board); internet plan on Galapagos cruise.
- Due upon reservation per traveler: $2,559 deposit (double basis)/$3,484 deposit (single basis)
- 100 days prior to departure: Remaining balance
Trip Itinerary
April 26: USA-Quito
Fly to Quito, where you’ll transfer with your Knowmad guide to your accommodations.
April 27: Quito
April 28: Quito-Mashpi
April 29: Mashpi
April 30: Mashpi-Quito
May 1: Quito-San Cristobal Island
Transfer with your Knowmad guide to the airport. Meet a cruise representative at the ticket counter to check in and receive your ticket and INGALA card (INGALA card & Galapagos National Park fee are pre-paid). To ensure that no plants/animals are brought to the islands, your luggage will be inspected. The plane will stop in Guayaquil before continuing to the Galapagos (stay onboard). In the Galapagos, pass through inspection to stamp your Transit Control Card (keep with passport, needed when leaving Galapagos). Meet your Galapagos guide to board your cruise.
PM: Visit the Interpretation Center, which offers an extensive history of the Galapagos, viewing the giant tortoises that roam here. Make the 1 hour high-intensity walk up Frigatebird Hill to enjoy a magnificent view at the foot of a frigate bird nesting colony.
May 2: Espanola Island
AM: Disembark on the white sandy beach of Gardner Bay, home to a large colony of sea lions and incredibly blue and turquoise waters. Observe three different finches as well as the Española mockingbird. Snorkel in the bay to witness the incredible marine life.
PM: Admire Suarez Point and many of Española Island’s endemic animal species. Hike past the only Waved Albatross breeding site in all of the Galapagos. Spot other species such as marine iguanas, Galapagos doves, Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, and Darwin finches.
May 3: Floreana Island
AM: Learn about Floreana Island’s Post Office Bay. Leave a letter in the barrel used by pirates and sailors. While you're there, see if there are any other postcards you can take home with you to send for fellow travelers who have already left their messages!
PM: Continue your exploration of Floreana at Cormorant Point. Visit two beaches and a brackish lagoon with flamingos. Continue walking along powdery white sand, made from fine, pulverized coral. Watch your feet in the water, as stingrays also love to hang out here.
Devil’s Crown boasts one of the finest snorkeling opportunities. Below the surface are amazing volcanic structures that have submerged over time. Hundreds of colorful fish species can be seen along the reef, along with sharks, sea turtles, sea lions and rays. It’s a beautiful underwater spectacle that cannot be missed!
May 4: Santa Cruz Island
AM: Visit Dragon Hill, located in the north-western part of Santa Cruz island, named for the large population of Galapagos land
iguanas that have made their home here. Walk through the forest of cacti and palo santo trees while possibly observing land
iguanas, flamingos, pintail ducks and other endemic birds.
PM: Explore the hidden waters at Punta Bowditch. Hike beside salt pools and dried white corals, snorkel in turquoise water, or
just relax on the powdery beach.
May 5: Santa Cruz Island-Baltra-Quito-USA
May 6: USA
Arrive back home.