2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort with Ecuador's Amazon (ISQ2)

12-Day Package from Quito to Guayaquil

2026 Tour Details View 2025 Tour Details »

How deep is your love of adventure? Is it deep enough to follow the course of Charles Darwin to discover your own love affair with the wildlife paradise of the Galápagos Islands? If so, this Globus Independent tour in Ecuador is pointing you in the right direction. Ignite your independent spirit on a canoe trip downriver from Coca to the comfort of your lodge the Amazon rainforest, where you’re in good hands with a Naturalist guide to explore the jungle from its rainforest canopy to the forest floor. Be awestruck by the wealth of wildlife that thrives in this tropical wilderness.

Explore the historic heart of Quito and depart for parts unknown where blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, and diving iguanas of the Galápagos Islands give new meaning to mind-blowing discoveries. You’ll stay at the award-winning Finch Bay Eco Hotel on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos, offering a private, seaside location to kayak, snorkel, bike, and take boat excursions to the various Galápagos Islands with expert Naturalists. Sail upon pristine waters to discover the perfectly evolved creatures who thrive on this volcanic archipelago. Stroll the sand where sea lions bask and albatross brace against the updrafts above the cliffs. Sail, snorkel, and simply stay in a state of astonishment through the sanctuaries of spectacular species on North Seymour, South Plaza Island, and Santa Cruz Islands. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station where conservationists work to protect the gentle giants for which the islands are named. You’ll also find the I-time you deserve to fall in love with adventure again!

Your Globus Independent tour gives you the freedom to explore with the I-time you crave–with all the perks you'd expect from Globus. We take care of the details with included accommodations, daily breakfasts, select guided sightseeing, transportation and transfers between each city on your tour, and a Local Host in each city to assist you when needed. We’ll also handle flight arrangements and airport transfers at the beginning and end of your tour, if you wish.

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort with Ecuador's Amazon map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Buffet breakfast daily; 7 lunches; 7 three-course dinners


Notes:

Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and includes private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Galápagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon are included. Local Guide service is provided in Quito. A Naturalist in the Galápagos & the Amazon are also provided.

For the Amazon adventure, guests should be prepared for eco-lodging due to their remote nature in the rainforest. Further, guests should be prepared for sustained walking, possibly muddy conditions, and have the ability to jump in/out of small watercrafts such as canoes and small fishing boats. Terrain is rocky and uneven.

On the Galapagos Islands, we use a small vessel (20 guests) that has 3 crew members, emergency washrooms and a snack bar. The excursions are day cruises with landings on the islands, some of which are wet landings. Departure times vary depending on what islands we visit. At times we may visit one island, but we land on different parts of it. These sailings are subject to change and weather related depending on what island we are visiting. ay sailings are approximately 5 to 6 hours per day, which includes the landings and sightseeing.

Maximum elevation on tour is 9,350 ft.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN QUITO, ECUADOR

Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.

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Day 2 QUITO–COCA–AMAZON LODGE


• Fly to Coca where you will be met by your Naturalist.
• Travel by motorboat down the Napo River with opportunities to spot birds like herons, kingfishers, and others.
• Next, transfer to a canoe and float through narrow channels looking for monkeys as well as large birds like toucans, parrots, or even macaws.
• Arrive at your Amazon lodge located on Añangu Lake surrounded by pristine rainforest.
• Tonight, enjoy a welcome drink, briefing, and dinner.



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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 3 AMAZON LODGE


• After an early breakfast, journey to a parrot clay lick where 11 different species of parrots, parakeets, and macaws can be seen on a daily basis.
• Later, walk to a local community where you are invited to join families of the Anangu indigenous community on their daily activities, such as harvesting bananas, coco, and manioc.
• Take a Naturalist-guided walk through the jungle in search of interesting plants and vibrant or well-camouflaged insects.



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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 4 AMAZON LODGE


• This morning, ascend a canopy tower over 100 feet above the forest floor at the top of a Ceiba tree. From here, you can view spider monkeys, aracaris, toucans, blue and gold macaws, numerous species of tanagers, and the red-rumped cacique.
• After lunch at the lodge, explore lakes and creeks on a dugout canoe in search of river otters, potoos, kingfishers, hoatzins, jacamars, hawks, and monkeys.



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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 5 AMAZON LODGE–COCA–QUITO


• Depart your Amazon lodge and fly from Coca to Quito today.
• The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure.



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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 QUITO


• Your included private city tour showcases the rich legacy left by the Incas and the Spaniards. See Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows.



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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 QUITO–BALTRA–NORTH SEYMOUR–SANTA CRUZ


• Fly to Baltra in the Galápagos.
• Upon arrival, board a yacht bound for North Seymour, an island teeming with life. You might have to give way to a passing sea lion, marine iguana, or blue-footed boobies that nest here. As you walk along the shore, see large flocks of pelicans in a dive-bomb feeding-frenzy, and one of the Galápagos’ largest nesting sites of the magnificent frigatebird. In the bushes you can see the males up close with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacs.
• Return to the yacht and continue to the Finch Bay Hotel.



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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 8 SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO THE HIGHLANDS


• Transfer to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz to a farming area called El Manzanillo on the edge of the Giant Tortoise Reserve. Here, tortoises can be seen grazing year-round, along with woodpecker finches, mockingbirds, and flycatchers.
• After lunch, visit a local farm, where coffee, sugar cane, and cocoa beans are grown, harvested, and prepared.
• Return to the hotel and perhaps spend time on the private beach.



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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 9 SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO PUNTA CARRION & SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND


• This morning, travel to Punta Carrion on Santa Cruz Island for some time to snorkel. The shallow reefs and mangroves make this an ideal site to snorkel with plenty of reef fish as well as occasional sea lions and sharks.
• Next, sail to South Plaza Island, a small island full of fascinating wildlife, both along its shore and along its dramatic, wind-swept cliffs. Here you will see large, yellow land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, masked and blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and much more during your guided walk.
• Return to the hotel this afternoon.



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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 10 SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO DIVINE BAY


• Today’s adventure takes you to wildlife-rich Divine Bay on Santa Cruz Island. Marine iguanas, herons, noddy terns, blue-footed boobies, and tropicbirds are commonly seen here. You may explore by boat or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can take to the sea by kayak. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays, and reef sharks as you cruise the tranquil waters.
• Return to the hotel for lunch, followed by an afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, established to help conserve the Galápagos’ natural habitats and protect the area’s famous giant tortoises.



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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 11 SANTA CRUZ–BALTRA–GUAYAQUIL


• Depart the hotel this morning for the airport in Baltra. Then, fly to Guayaquil on Ecuador’s Pacific coast and transfer to the hotel for your final night in Ecuador.



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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 12 GUAYAQUIL


Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.



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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

ANA CECILIA CARDENAS

Escorting tours for more than 10 years

“I always liked to travel and that is why after finishing high school, I decided to study tourism administration. While I was studying at the University, I started to work as a tour guide and found it very interesting. Being a tour guide allows me to meet people from many different places and it took me to incredible places. For a period of time I moved to Argentina where I taught Spanish and English but I missed my family and country, so I decided to come back to Ecuador. When I came back to Quito, I worked as a Key Account Executive for a tour operator, which was a great experience for my career, but after a time, I decided to be a tour guide again. I realized I enjoy being with people outside in the nature more than working in an office, and I am able to have more time for other activities I like, such as painting and working with the children of my church.”

Tour Director - ANA CECILIA CARDENAS

 Accommodations

Quito
Coca
Santa Cruz Island
Guayaquil

Quito

Hilton Colon Quito - MET
Hilton Colon Quito - METHilton Colon Quito - METHilton Colon Quito - METHilton Colon Quito - METHilton Colon Quito - METHilton Colon Quito - METHilton Colon Quito - METHilton Colon Quito - METHilton Colon Quito - METHilton Colon Quito - MET
Hilton Colon Quito - MET

Hilton Colon Quito - MET

Superior First-Class

Hilton Colon Quito - MET Ave Amazonas N 1914 Y Patria Avenida 1, Quito, Ecuador

Ave Amazonas N 1914 Y Patria Avenida 1
Quito, Ecuador

The Hilton Colon Quito hotel is 10 minute walk from the colonial Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This modern hotel enjoys spectacular views of the city. Amenities include a fitness center, spa, outdoor heated pool, 5 restaurants/lounges, laundry service, concierge, florist, barber shop, and gift shop.

Hotel Amenities

  • Fitness Room
  • Elevator
  • Currency Exchange
  • Spa Services
  • Beauty Salon
  • Restaurant On-Site
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry Available
  • Gift Shop
  • Pool
  • Business Center
  • Parking/Valet
  • Concierge desk
  • Luggage Storage

Room Amenities

  • Alarm Clock
  • Wake-Up Calls
  • Cable/Satellite
  • Desk
  • Complimentary Toiletries
  • Mini-bar
  • Internet Access
  • Phone
  • Coffee Maker
  • Voicemail
  • Room Service
  • Air Conditioning
  • Television
  • Daily Housekeeping
  • Iron/Ironing Board
  • Smoking Rooms
  • In-Room Safe
  • Climate Control
  • Hair Dryer


The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.