Galápagos & Andes Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Ecuador's Magical Wildlife, Islands & Peaks
Hike with your family in volcano-studded highlands. Discover traditional crafts, village music and ancient ruins. Then venture to the beautifully biodiverse Galápagos Islands and get ready for close encounters with colorful wildlife.
We rate our trips based on a range of activity levels from 1-5.
See this trip's Activity Options & Terrain for more details.
From $8,799 - $10,349/person
Includes up to $800 internal air
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Snapshots from the Trip
Trip at a Glance
Highlights
- Visit the Zuleta Interpretation Center, built with Backroads support, for a firsthand look at efforts to protect endangered Andean condors
- Explore indigenous highland villages where centuries-old traditions thrive
- Bike winding Galapagueño roads and taste island-grown coffee and sugarcane straight from the farm—not many people get to see the Galápagos the Backroads way
- Snorkel and kayak with tropical fish, sea lions and whitetip reef sharks
- It’s a blast for our youngest travelers to meet the islands’ oldest residents: giant tortoises who can live 100 years or more!
Sample itinerary. Trip details may vary by departure.
Start Quito Airport & Travel Details
- Hike in the breathtaking Andean landscape with your family and trace the orchid-lined caldera rim around azure Laguna de Cuicocha
- Visit Ecuador’s foremost master weavers—kids get a chance to learn the ancient craft firsthand
- Experience daily life with the locals in the community of Angla
- The family of a former Ecuadorian president welcomes us to our home for three nights, the luxurious Hacienda Zuleta, set amid volcano vistas and pre-Inca ruins
- Exclusive opportunities invite kids to milk cows and see how local cheese is made
- Both adults and kids can marvel at the Backroads-supported conservation efforts underway at Condor Huasi, a research center dedicated to these gigantic birds
- Hike along steep-sided valleys to a pre-Inca archaeological site.
Nights 1-3
Luxury Hotel
Luxuriate at this idyllic 17th-century hotel, 4,000-acre working farm and living museum owned by a former Ecuadorian president and his family. (spa)
Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.
- Fly to the Galápagos Islands, an isolated sanctuary for a stunning array of unique plants and animals, and get set for incredible up-close wildlife viewing
- With an expert local guide, head to a secluded private reserve where many of the island’s most notable residents—giant tortoises—hang out
- Bike through the highlands and rural villages
- Taste island products at a local coffee and sugarcane farm
- Explore a 1,000-foot-long lava tunnel and learn how lava tunnels are formed on these volcanic islands
- Spend the day at Tortuga Bay, with a chance to see sea turtles, whitetip reef sharks and marine iguanas.
Nights 4-5
Deluxe Hotel
Designed to complement its lush highland surroundings, this serene hotel features a natural lava tube on its grounds. (pool)
Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.
- Boat from island to island, stopping to snorkel, paddle, hike and swim
- Meet blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, sea lions and lava lizards
- Grab a snorkel and marvel at a vivid undersea world teeming with fluorescent fish and rays
- Wave hello to the famed sea lion colonies of San Cristóbal Island from a kayak
- Kick back at our comfortable island lodge or venture out to hike, play at the beach and discover quaint port towns.
Nights 6-7
Luxury Hotel
A chic, modern and breezy home base, its many balconies of glass and exposed wood overlook the seafront promenade of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno town. (pool)
Hotels may vary on select departures. Click View Dates and choose a departure to see any variations.
End Quito Airport & Travel Details
This trip has an activity level range of 1-2
Our Galápagos walking routes feature very different terrain. Some trails are easygoing and follow sand or dirt paths, while others involve more technical walking on loose and uneven lava rocks. If it rains in the island highlands, the trails can become muddy. Biking in the Galápagos is mainly along paved roads and bike lanes with some short stretches of dirt road. Routes are designed to be kid-friendly, with limited challenging sections and extra support. For our bike ride, some sections are downhill with traffic and occasional debris, so kids should be comfortable controlling speed, navigating hazards and riding with cars.
We take multiple boat rides during this trip, including a two- to three-hour ocean crossing between the two main islands. We also spend a good amount of time on water-related activities, such as snorkeling and kayaking, in the open ocean. Many of our guests find it convenient to wear sandals or water shoes for these activities and for wet landings, when we go ashore without a dock. If you bring these, consider a style with toe protection so that they can double as walking shoes(as some of our hiking terrain includes sharp lava rocks and prickly underbrush).
All breakfasts, 8 lunches, 6 dinners
All accommodations on your Backroads trip
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Expertise and services of Backroads Trip Leaders
Kids' bikes, trailer bikes, carriers and kid-sized helmets
Bike fitting and equipment support throughout your trip
Lightweight carbon hiking poles
Backroads On Trip App with route maps, elevation profiles, daily snapshots and more
Additional local guides and experts, plus equipment for included activities as detailed in your itinerary
Exclusive activities, tours and cultural experiences, as detailed in your itinerary
All luggage transfers and porterage during your trip
Snacks and beverages between meals
Private cocktail and wine receptions on the first and last nights of your trip
Choice of Backroads cycling jersey, t-shirt or hat, plus water bottle and luggage tag
Detailed Travel Planner with destination tips and pre-trip information
