Ecuador Galápagos Expedition

Nature-lovers will be in their element in beautiful Ecuador. Discover the breath-taking Galápagos Islands, get up close and personal with some incredible wildlife and learn about how to protect our important natural environment.

  • Location Ecuador, South America
  • Duration 4 weeks
  • Expedition Type Galapagos

This incredible expedition will take you on a journey through the beautiful and strikingly diverse regions of Ecuador. Spend time working on environmental projects in the spectacular Amazon rainforest and head off to the Galápagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to experience the natural wonderland that inspired Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience some of the world’s most amazing bucket-list destinations and leave a lasting positive impact for the people and places you visit.

South America map showing Ecuador in green.

A fully supported expedition, from start to finish

Your expedition cost is comprehensive and covers the incredible activities you’ll be taking part in, as well as the extensive support you’ll receive in the lead up to, and during, your expedition.

Don’t forget you’ll also need your vaccinations, visas, kit and some spending money. You can find guidance on all of these on your personal Traveller Gateway once you sign up.

  • Ongoing pre-expedition support
  • Flights and in-country transfers
  • Travel insurance
  • Food and accommodation
  • Adventure challenge
  • Project costs
  • Leader and staff costs
  • Camps t-shirt
  • Orientation and language lessons
  • 24 hour emergency support
  • Reserve location

This sample itinerary will give you an insight into what you’ll be getting up to. Please note, the exact projects, activities and camps may change closer to the time of your expedition.

Day Activities More details
Day 1 Leave for Ecuador This morning you will make your way to your designated meeting point ready to embark on your journey to Ecuador.
Day 2 Arrive in Quito On arrival to Quito airport you will be met by a member of our friendly Camps crew. We’ll transfer you to your accommodation in the city where you’ll spend your first night.
Day 3 Head to first camp We will hit the road in the morning and head to your first camp where you will receive an arrival briefing and camp orientation from our Camp Manager, before settling into your new home.
Day 4 – 8 Community project work Over the next few days you will get stuck into community development project work. In Ecuador, young people are moving to the city to find employment opportunities, leaving rural communities fragmented and isolated with a labour and skills shortage. The projects that you will be working on aim to improve basic health and welfare, increase food and water security and improve education facilities for local communities. In the evenings you will get a taste of the local Ecuadorian culture through language lessons and cultural dances performed by local people.
Day 9 Travel to the Galápagos Islands Today, you’ll embark on a 2.5-hour flight from Quito to one of the world’s most unique destinations, the Galápagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon landing on San Cristobal Island, you’ll check into our accommodation, enjoy lunch (depending on arrival time), and start exploring the town. Our first introduction to the local wildlife includes encounters with pelicans, blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, Galápagos sea lions and marine iguanas. We’ll test out our snorkelling gear and wrap up the day relaxing at Playa Mann to catch a beautiful sunset.
Day 10 – 13 Explore the incredible Galápagos Islands Over the next few days, you’ll dive deeper into the wonders of the Galápagos. At the Tortoise Rescue Centre, we’ll get up close with giant tortoises and learn about their conservation. A trip to Punta Pitt will bring us face-to-face with the rare red-footed booby, and we’ll snorkel in waters filled with turtles, marine iguanas, playful sea lions, and possibly even sharks and rays. We’ll also journey to the highlands of San Cristobal to visit Junco Lake and spend an afternoon at a local farm, immersing ourselves in a coffee experience. To cap off our adventure, we’ll join forces with the Galápagos National Park team for a beach cleanup. As we collect plastic of all sizes, from large pieces to micro and nano-plastics, we’ll engage in a discussion about how our choices impact marine life and what we can do to protect these fragile ecosystems.
Day 14 Into the Amazon Today you will take the journey to our Amazon camp, your home for the next part of your expedition. You’ll be living right in the heart of the world’s largest tropical rainforest, a unique opportunity to get back to nature and immerse yourself in this incredible part of the world.
Day 15 – 19 Environmental protection in the rainforest For the next few days you will be getting stuck into some environmental project work. This could include planting food trees for bears and getting involved in initiatives to minimise wildlife poaching.
Day 20 Experience the vibrant Otavalo market Today you will spend the day in Otavalo – home to Latin America’s largest artisanal market and the world-famous population of the indigenous Otavalos. Try your hand at bartering in the markets and purchase some unique gifts and souvenirs to remember your time on expedition.
Day 21 – 26 Rural community development It’s back to project work for the next few days at your next camp, located on the outskirts of a small rural community. Here you will be working alongside the locals, getting your hands dirty with some low-level construction, painting, plastering and bricklaying. You will also get to learn some traditional arts and crafts, taught to you by the local community.
Day 27 Back to the city Today we will head back up towards the airport. Your final night will be spent in a quiet suburb of the city, near the airport, and offers a last chance to see the real Ecuador and prepare for the flight home.
Day 28 Chao Ecuador Time to say your goodbyes to the Camps crew before we head back to the airport in time for your flight home.

How you’ll make a difference

You’ll work on a range of projects throughout your expedition, each aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and designed to make a significant and lasting impact on the region’s most critical issues.

Amazon Rainforest Regeneration

Ecuador – Amazon rainforest regeneration

As the communities in the Amazon develop, deforestation of this important rainforest is increasing at an alarming rate. You’ll work alongside local people to understand the complex relationship between the environment and community development and you’ll assist with important environmental projects, collecting saplings and replanting trees in the jungle.

There are also some community infrastructure projects building toilets and sanitation for local houses in the village and a community centre as well as keeping up the maintenance of the local school.

UN Sustainable Development Goals
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Quality education

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

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Gender equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

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Clean water and sanitation

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

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Climate action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

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Life on land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Camp Kuri Kucho community road

Ecuador – Food security

In the rural highlands of Ecuador, food security is a key focus. One of the biggest sources of income for the community at Kuri Kucho is the sale of milk from their cows. During the dry season, the milk truck can get around collecting produce with ease, but in the rainy season some of the dirt roads become impassable and many people can’t sell their milk as a result. You’ll get involved in projects such as improving road infrastructure to connect communities, creating organic gardens to increase local food production and constructing wood ovens for the community.

UN Sustainable Development Goals
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No poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

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Zero hunger

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

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Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Experience the local way of life in our authentic camps

Our camps are the heart of our expeditions. Built and staffed by locals in the traditional style, and located within the heart of communities, they are the perfect place to relax after a day of project work. You’ll get to stay in a number of camps during your expedition, which could include those featured below.

Camp Chilli Urku

Camp Chilli Urku

Experience true off-grid lifestyle in Camp Chilli Urku. Situated in a remote area of the rainforest, surrounded by endless green, you will truly feel at one with nature as you fall asleep in your hammock listening to the sounds of the rainforest.

  • Location: In the Arajuno area of the Pastaza province
  • Accommodation style: Hammocks under grassed roofed open sided buildings
  • Bed type: Hammock
  • Toilets: Flushing
  • Showers: Cold bucket
  • Power: There is no power in the camp but we have solar lights charging every morning
  • Social area: Big dining room and open space to enjoy incredible views of the rainforest
  • Signature dish: Maito de tilapia or Maito de pollo – Fish or chicken cooked inside a banana leaf with palmito (roots of a type of palm) and yuca (root veg) and rice.
Camp Kuri Kucho Outside

Camp Kuri Kuchu

Kuri Kucho is our highest altitude camp in Ecuador, sitting 3,300 metres above sea level. Its elevated hillside position offers you the most jaw-dropping views of the dramatic highland surroundings. The views across the valley to the glaciated Cayambe (5,790m) are not to be missed and on a clear day you may also catch a glimpse of Antisa.

The camp itself is situated in the heart of this widespread community and it’s not uncommon to see children passing by the camp on horseback on the way to school. Accommodation is made out of ecological materials where possible, making this a very unique and environmentally friendly camp full of rustic charm.

You are also only 40 minutes drive from Otavalo, Ecuador’s most famous indigenous market where you can grab all sorts of handicraft bargains.

  • Location: 75 km (2 hours drive) from Quito International Airport
  • Accommodation style: Eco houses
  • Bed type: comfy mattresses & sheets
  • Toilets: Flushing toilets
  • Showers: Hot water bucket showers & sinks
  • Power: Mains electricity only in social area. US standard plug
  • Social area: Camp fire, volleyball pitch, Otavalo visit
  • Signature dish: Cuy – guinea pig

My daughter has had an amazing experience with Camps International in Ecuador. She was one of the youngest on the trip at age 15 but this did not hold her back. She thoroughly enjoyed and learned so much from living in the community. From construction and conservation work to the incredible environment, it has been a life transforming trip for her.

Claire, Camp Ecuador 2023

Our local camp legends

Our camps are staffed by members of the community who will make you feel like a local in no time. These legends will make your expedition spectacular and will show you the very best of their home country.

Marisol Piloso

Ecuador is a country of spectacular natural diversity, from stunning coastlines to magnificent mountain ranges offering everyone who visits us a varied experience. In our village, we are very proud to work with Camps International and to have volunteers from all over the world work with us to make a difference in our community.

Interested in this expedition?

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