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Trip reviews of ACTIVE SA

Average: 4.44 Average consumer review of ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA is 4.44 stars
(2,393 trip reviews since 2004)
Awesome, the trip of a lifetime!
 (1,284)
Good, really enjoyed it
 (905)
OK, a few improvements needed
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Disappointing
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Awful
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Latest trip review on Feb 3 '12
read it here

PHOTO OF THE MONTH:

Photo gallery of pictures from our ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND adventure vacation
Jaguar Mar 2011
Pot of gold around the next corner...

MEET OUR GUIDES:

ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND adventure travel guide
Sebastian Hansen
"Sebastian was amazing. He is so dedicated to making the South America experience a fantastic one, and is so obviously proud of his country and his heritage. "
Catriona Hellicar (New South Wales, Australia) Feb 2010 Condor
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
"This trip was the best adventure I have ever had. Every day was enjoyable, we could hardly wipe the smiles off our faces. This trip has changed us for the better. I don't thing we will see things quite the same."

Jennifer Croxford (Kentucky, USA) Oct 2 2005 Tucan
Read more quotes...

Ecuador and Galapagos Tours and Travel Information

From diving with sea lions to biking down the Cotopaxi Volcano, 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.

IGTOA

Ecuador Galapagos Adventure Tour

ACTIVE SOUTH AMERICA is a member of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA) and supports a variety of their wildlife conservation projects in the Galapagos Islands

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$3399
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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
Fri: Arrive Quito
Sat: Cycle San Cristobal highlands
Sun: Snorkel or dive with seals and manta rays at Kicker Rock
Mon: Snorkel Floreana Island, visit pink flamingos
Tue: Hike Sierra Negra Volcano
Wed: Giant tortoise breeding centre, coastal hike, visit sea life
Thu: Hike Santa Cruz highlands and Tortuga Bay, visit giant tortoises
Fri: Visit Charles Darwin Research Station, snorkel Santa Fe Island
Sat: Optional hike and return to Quito
Sun: Quito, depart for home
Bike down Cotopaxi volcano · Explore the Amazon jungle · Go reverse canyoning and caving · Hike Antisana Highlands · Visit a local Amazon community · Free time in Baños · Visit a traditional hacienda · Soak in hot springs · Explore Quito
Year Round 7 days US$1799
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The Tapir 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, around high volcanic plateaus and the fertile highlands surrounded by ‘The Valley of Volcanoes’. You’ll cycle down Cotopaxi, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes, visit a local rainforest community, and soak in hot springs in an incredible Ecuadorian highland setting. You’ll go reverse canyoning and caving in the Amazon jungle, and explore Quito – Ecuador’s cosmopolitan and colonial highland capital city – it’s all here!

Tapir Ecuador Adventure Trip: Quito to Quito
Sun: Arrive Quito, explore Ecuadorian ranch
Mon: Cycle Cotopaxi volcano, Baños
Tue: Free time in Baños
Wed: Amazon Jungle, hike to a local community, caving
Thu: Jungle hike and reverse canyoning, soak in hot springs
Fri: Hike Santa Lucia Highlands, Quito
Sat: Quito, depart for home
If you’re only going to be in this part of the world once in your lifetime, then it’s well worth experiencing both mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos.
The Tapir-Tortuga combination trip is an extraordinary way to see the best of both in just 2 weeks.
Year Round 15 days US$4499
(save $699!)

Printable Complete Itinerary (PDF)

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Tapir-Tortuga 15-day Ecuador Adventure Trip: Quito to Quito
Sun: (Tapir) Arrive Quito, explore Ecuadorian ranch
Mon: Cycle Cotopaxi volcano, Baños
Tue: Free time in Baños
Wed: Amazon Jungle, hike to a local community, caving
Thu: Jungle hike and reverse canyoning, soak in hot springs
Fri: Hike Santa Lucia Highlands, Quito (join Tortuga)
Sat: Fly to the Galapagos, cycle San Cristobal highlands
Sun: Snorkel with seals and manta rays at Kicker Rock, sea kayaking near San Cristobal
Mon: Snorkel and hike Floreana Island
Tue: Journey to Isabela, visit pink flamingos, coastal hike
Wed: Hike Sierra Negra volcano
Thu: Giant tortoise breeding centre, snorkel Concha Perla & Tintoreras
Fri: Hike Santa Cruz highlands and Tortuga Bay, visit giant tortoises
Sat: Optional hike, return to Quito
Sun: Quito, depart for home
Got Questions? Want to talk to a human?
Give Darren (the good lookin' fella on the right!) a quick call. Even if you're not looking at taking one of our trips - he's always happy to give advice to fellow travellers. He gets out occasionally to do cool stuff like mountain-biking, running, and playing soccer, but he's usually around, so call anytime!
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