PHOTO OF THE MONTH:

Photo gallery of pictures from our ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND adventure vacation
Iguana Jan 2010
Travelling on two wheels is a great way to meet the locals and slow down to smell the coffee.

MEET OUR GUIDES:

ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND adventure travel guide
Yohn Grajeda
"Very knowledgeable and could spot problems 'before' they happened."
Karen Kirk (PA, United States) March 2006 Jaguar
News Clips and Reviews
Swimming with sea lions
by Bernie Lovejoy

GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS, Ecuador — Would you like to swim with sea lions? Sounds interesting. But what if I added, 'And the sea lions will swim with you!' This was exactly our experience when my wife, Francoise, and I tried an adventure (not a vacation) in the Galápagos Islands. It began with sea lion babies checking us out while teething on the mooring lines of our boat and went on to lengthy water ballets with playful 'teenagers' joining divers and snorkelers in dives, twists and pirouettes in crystal-clear water. After a week full of challenges and thrills, we still had no trouble choosing this as the high point of our trip. Read more...

swimming with seals in the Galapagos Islands
"My ASA trip was amazing. The activities exceeded my expectations and I feel like I was exposed to a side of Peru that most tourists do not get to see. I've taken other guided trips and ASA was far superior. Thank you for an amazing trip!"

Emily Loraas (California, USA) April 2007 Jaguar

Ecuador and Galapagos Tours and Travel Information

From diving with sea lions to rafting the Napo River, you'll be amazed at what Ecuador and Galapagos travel has to offer.

Once you start learning about Ecuador and Galapagos Islands travel, you'd be forgiven for thinking this country has everything a traveller could want. Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in South America but it offers up many diverse experiences, from the World Heritage listed old city in Quito, to snow-capped volcanoes, impenetrable jungle, historical markets, and distinctive wildlife.

The activities are as diverse as the landscape, with Galapagos Islands diving making the top of many peoples' travel lists, not to mention the hiking in Ecuador as well as rafting, biking and caving. Add to all this, incredibly welcoming, friendly locals and a mild spring-like climate, and you begin to see why Ecuador and Galapagos travel is so appealing.

Read more in our latest brochure.
Ecuador Galapagos Adventure Tour

Our Ecuador and Galapagos Islands Trips:

Meet giant tortoises and iguanas · Swim with manta rays at Kicker Rock · Snorkel with reef sharks at Floreana and Santa Fe Islands · Cycle down San Cristobal Island ·Explore Sierra Negra volcano and Santa Cruz Island on foot · Explore lava tunnels · Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station
Year Round 10 days US$2999
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The Tortuga is a fantastic way to discover the Galapagos Islands. In typical ACTIVE style, you’ll snorkel, dive, hike and cycle the Galapagos, cruising between the multitude of stunning islands in our boat ‘Christine’. We start with a short flight to San Cristobal Island to snorkel with seals and tame reef sharks in crystal clear water, snorkel through beautiful ocean channels and hike up an island volcano with the second largest crater in the world. We get up close to some of the most intriguing and fearless wildlife on the planet, with visits to tortoise breeding grounds and sea lion colonies, and share our beach time with friendly iguanas. We explore amazing lava tunnels, cycle to the local townships and visit the fascinating Charles Darwin Research Station.
Tortuga Galapagos Adventure Trip: Quito to Quito
Wed: Arrive Quito
Thu: Cycle San Cristobal highlands
Fri: Snorkel or dive with seals and manta rays at Kicker Rock
Sat: Snorkel Floreana Island, visit pink flamingos
Sun: Hike Sierra Negra Volcano
Mon: Giant tortoise breeding centre, coastal hike, visit sea life
Tue: Hike Santa Cruz highlands and Tortuga Bay, visit giant tortoises
Wed: Visit Charles Darwin Research Station, snorkel Santa Fe Island
Thu: Optional hike and return to Quito
Fri: Quito, depart for home
Bike down Cotopaxi volcano · Explore the Amazon jungle · Go reverse canyoning, caving and river tubing · Hike Bellavista Cloud Forest · Whitewater raft Rio Napo · Visit Otavalo market · Hike Lake Cuicocha ·
Visit a traditional Hacienda · Soak in hot springs · Bike Rio Pastaza canyon · Hike Pailon del Diablo waterfall
Year Round 12 days US$2999
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The Tucan is an extraordinary way to see Ecuador. It’s packed with exciting and varied activites, wonderful scenery, and the chance to meet the local people. You’ll hike through virgin Amazon jungle, the mystical Bellavista cloud forest and the fertile highlands surrounded by ‘The Valley of Volcanoes’. You’ll paddle down the stunning Río Napo and climb up waterfalls that feed this mighty river in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon basin. You’ll cycle down Cotopaxi, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes and through the lush, green Pastaza river canyon flowing down to the jungle. You’ll visit a local rainforest community, and have the chance to try out a wealth of optional adrenalin activities in Baños – a beautiful little town at the foot of the immense Tungurahua Volcano – and visit one of the most culturally significant markets in South America. It’s all here!
Tucan Ecuador Adventure Trip: Quito to Quito
Sat: Arrive Quito
Sun: Hike Bellavista Cloud Forest
Mon: Hike Peguche Waterfall, visit Otavalo markets
Tue: Hike Lake Cuicocha, explore Ecuadorian ranch
Wed: Cycle Cotopaxi Volcano
Thu: Free day in Baños
Fri: Cycle Rio Pastaza Valley, hike Pailon del Diablo waterfall
Sat: Caving, river tubing and hiking on the upper Napo River
Sun: Jungle hike and reverse canyoning
Mon: Hike to local Amazon community
Tue: Raft Rio Napo
Wed: Return to Quito, depart for home
Got Questions? Want to talk to a human?
Give Phil or Adrian (the good lookin' folks on the right!) a quick call. Even if you're not looking at taking one of our trips - they're always happy to give advice to fellow travellers. They get out occasionally to do cool stuff like kayak and run, but they're usually around, so call anytime!
Contact us or Request your FREE brochure
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