7 Best Places to Visit in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

Quito is a top Ecuador destination, an alluring city set high in the Andes, with a combination of high peaks, greenery, modernity, and classic historical architecture. Ecuadorian culture shines with marketplaces and hints of shamanic healers, traditional hatmakers, and cobbled lanes. Quito is a fantastic destination, with charm, beauty, and the cultural heritage of Ecuador, while giving you excellent access to the Galapagos for a blend of the splendor of inspiring nature and contemporary life.

Highlights: Ciudad Mitad del Mundo • Old Town • El Panecillo • Teleferico • Plaza Grande

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 days

Beautiful Santa Cruz Island has a different environment from the surrounding Galapagos archipelago. Hosting the largest town and the most diverse vegetation, it is also the gateway to the island group. The immense amount of wildlife that will plunge you into the surroundings includes giant tortoises, iguanas, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. With massive lava carters, scenic white sands, and crystal-clear waters, you will find the island's active life and immersive beauty a warm welcome.

Highlights: Lava Tunnels •  Rancho Primicias Wildlife Reserve • Tortuga Bay • Cerro Croker • Puerto Ayora Fish Market

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 days

Where to go in Ecuador can take you to San Cristobal, the most easterly of the Galapagos Islands and a fresh indoctrination to island life. Expect views of jutting rocks towering above the sea and islands covered with lazing sea lions and the world’s only home to the Chatham mockingbird. Marine life, from sharks to reef fish, brings fantastic scuba diving, or opt for an adventure along the shores in search of Nazca and blue-footed boobies. While more developed than other islands, San Cristobal feels separate from the world as you plunge deeper into the delicate ecosystem.

Highlights: Cerro Tijeretas • Charles Darwin Cove • Playa Carola • Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado • Laguna el Junco

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 days

The cultural history of Floreana is as fascinating as the natural history. Floreana is a love letter to beauty and charm that traces how others have interacted with the island in the past, while giving way to bright pink flamingos reflected in a lagoon set against a backdrop of greenery. With penguins, blue-footed boobies, and green sea turtles, life on the island feels graceful on land and sea.

Highlights: Post Office Bay • Cormorant Point • Baroness Viewpoint • Champion Islet • Asilo de la Paz

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 days

Wildlife dominates the scenery on Isabela Island, as nature takes center stage. Isabela is the largest island of the archipelago and was shaped by five volcanoes that brought much diversity. From immense lava fields to little vegetation, red mangroves to dense foliage, there is beauty all around. Tortoises, iguanas, penguins, and white-tipped reef sharks enhance the brilliance of the crystal-clear waters, known for hiding seahorses, and the arches of lava tunnels smoothed by the water and time.

Highlights: Las Tintoreras Islet • Concha de Perla • Muro de las Lágrimasf • Elizabeth Bay • Flamingo Lake • Wall of Tears

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 days

With a history of pirates and tortoises, Santiago Island is one of the best experiences you can have in the Galapagos. A long shoreline decorated with lava rocks hosts excitable birds, as rock pools give way to an array of exciting wildlife. Dolphins, sharks, flamingos, and fur seals only scratch the surface of the island experience. There are so many captivating activities to immerse you in the pristine wilderness, including sea turtle nesting grounds and Galapagos hawk sightings.

Highlights: Espumilla Beach • Puerto Egas • Sullivan Bay • Buccaneer Cove • James Bay • Albany Islet

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 days

Unparalleled is one of the only ways to describe the biodiversity of Ecuador’s Amazon, an authentic experience into untouched corners of the rainforest. Remarkable biodiversity, incredible birdwatching, untouched tribes, and thousands of plant species offer an unforgettable perspective of the natural world that contrasts and complements the Galapagos Islands' ecosystems. A paradise for adventurers, this immersive place invites you to sit back and experience the beauty of the natural world.

Highlights: Coca • Yasuni National Park and Biosphere Reserve • Napo Wildlife Center • Cuyabeno National Park • Sani Community

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-4 days

The Galapagos provides endless things to do, with different perspectives of the islands, nature, and greater Ecuador. From birdwatching to viewing nesting turtles, snorkeling to visiting the Amazon, our Galapagos Islands and Ecuador travel guide has more tips and helpful hints on how you can create your perfect trip.

Whether looking for the best time to visit the Galapagos or eager to explore new possibilities during your Ecuador and Galapagos tour, Zicasso can help when you are ready to plan your adventure.