Ever since I first learned about Charles Darwin and evolution as a child, visiting the Galapagos Islands has been a dream of mine. Back then, it felt like an impossibly faraway land, and it was. I didn’t even realize the Galapagos was part of Ecuador until much later. I was captivated by the thought of seeing giant tortoises, blue footed boobies, marine iguanas, and Darwin finches in their natural habitat.
In 2024, I finally made that dream a reality, spending 18 unforgettable days in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
The trip began with a week in the Amazon rainforest, where I stayed with an Indigenous Quichua family. Their home became a gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon. We explored medicinal plants, hiked up and down waterfalls (yes, through the water!), took a boat to a wild animal sanctuary, and biked to a neighboring village. Between adventures, we enjoyed incredible homemade local food, applied refreshing mud masks, and stayed in rustic cabins, falling asleep each night to the soothing sounds of the river and jungle wildlife.
From the rainforest, I traveled to Quito, Ecuador’s capital. I was smitten. The city’s perfect weather, busy parks, friendly people, and countless dogs in sweaters were quite charming. Despite Quito’s impressive altitude (the second-highest capital city in the world), I managed a 10-kilometer hike up the hills without much trouble. The city was safe, modern, and affordable. For just $2.75, I could enjoy a sit-down meal of fresh juice, soup, and an entrée. It was easy to imagine myself living there.
The Galapagos was everything I had hoped for and more. Protected by strict conservation efforts, the animals here live mostly unafraid of humans. It was an absolute privilege to be trusted by such extraordinary creatures. I hadn’t known that penguins lived in the Galapagos, but there they were, the third-smallest penguins in the world!
Over a week, I visited three islands: Santa Cruz (population 30,000), Floreana (population 150), and Isabela (population 2,000). After flying from mainland Ecuador to Santa Cruz, we traveled between islands by speedboat. Those boat rides, which took hours, were an adventure in themselves, especially when the engine of one boat stalled mid-journey, and we ran out of gas. We bobbed in the choppy ocean until another boat came to our rescue. Stepping from one rocky boat to another was nerve wracking, but it’s an experience I’ll never forget.
On Isabela Island, I hiked to the world’s largest active volcanic caldera, a surreal and humbling sight. But the true highlight came in the water. I can barely swim and initially sat out while the rest of my group snorkeled. However, our guide was determined that I experience the ocean. With his encouragement, a floaty ring, and a quick snorkeling lesson, I joined in. Within minutes, I was gliding alongside giant green sea turtles. It was magic. The second time I snorkeled, we were surrounded by playful penguins. These curious little creatures swam right up to my floaty ring, coming within six inches of my face! I couldn’t believe it.
Once again, I utilized points and miles for flights and hotels in Ecuador.
Flights:
*Atlanta – Quito: Delta Airlines (Economy class). 20,000 points from Chase transferred to Virgin Atlantic and booked a Delta flight on the Virgin Atlantic website. Paid $5.60 in taxes.
*Quito – Atlanta: Delta Airlines (Business class). 76,000 SkyMiles. Paid $86 in taxes.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Quito Express, 3 nights. 36,000 IHG points (from both personal and business IHG credit card Sign Up Bonus points).
I used G-Adventures for both the Amazon rainforest and the Galapagos islands visits.
