Ecuador, a biodiverse gem in South America, is known for its stunning Andean landscapes and intriguing Cloud Forest, rich Indigenous cultures, and the world-famous Galápagos Islands (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The currency Ecuador uses is the US dollar, making transactions seamless for American travelers.

Mainland Ecuador: When to Visit

  • From, December to May, the wet season will reward you with a lush Cloud Forest and stunning, full waterfalls. April is typically particularly rainy. Note: The wet season can bring heavy rainfall and mudslides, which may make some trails and roads inaccessible.
  • From June to November, the dry season is wonderful, particularly for visiting the Andean region and the Cloud Forest. Expect sunshine and warmth - ideal conditions for enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and wildlife spotting.

Galápagos Islands: When to Visit

  • From January to May, the wet season has frequent yet short showers and higher humidity. It's still warm, though, with temperatures in the low 70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit, and the sun still shines brightly! This season is great for warmer ocean water and very active underwater life.
  • From June to December, the dry season offers cooler, drier weather with less rain and more sunshine. The sea is calmer, making navigation between the islands easier and providing pleasant conditions for snorkeling and diving. Our whale shark citizen science scuba dive trips only occur between July and September each year.

Our Eco-Friendly Ecuador & Galápagos Packages

Our Ecuador travel packages offer a variety of sustainable experiences designed to immerse travelers in the country’s extraordinary nature and culture. We work with a locally-owned, woman-owned Ecuadorian company that specializes in responsible land-based trips, providing authentic cultural encounters and nature-focused adventures. For those drawn to the ocean, we offer sustainable scuba diving experiences through two partners. One is a citizen science organization dedicated to whale shark research and conservation, offering ethical liveaboard dive trips. The other specializes in casual dive-and-stay packages that blend incredible underwater experiences with the nature and culture of the Galápagos on land.

How to Reach the Galápagos Islands

Reaching the Galápagos Islands is easy, with daily flights from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra or San Cristóbal. For any of our Galápagos packages, you'll be met at the airport and taken to your boat, 5-star scuba dive resort, or boutique accommodations.

Customize your Trip

Our partners are happy to help customize mainland Ecuador tours as well as tailor dive-and-stay packages in the Galápagos. Contact us to design your ideal, immersive, and eco-friendly Ecuador trip!

Reviews

For the Dive & Stay scuba certification package, an underwater shot at the Galapagos Islands is shown with a rocky ocean bottom and a large school of small fish, with blue water above.

Carli F.

Sep 15, 2025

Ease your conscience about traveling

What a wonderful idea and company! The mission of Yugen really helps ease my conscience about traveling whilst also keeping sustainability in focus. We had a wonderful time on our 9-day Galapagos dive and stay trip. I'm genuinely surprised by how little coordination was required of us, we just showed up at the given places and given times, and there was 0 confusion or extra communication needed on our end. Thanks to Hilary and her team, I'm hoping more people will be inspired to travel more sustainably.

An indigienous Ecuadorian woman stands tall, in black shoes, a black skirt with colorful embroidery along the bottom, a long sleeve white shirt and a bright red shawl embroidered along the bottom, matching the skirt. Her dark hair is braided and she is walking and smiling.

Dale A.

Sep 4, 2025

Exceptional experience in ecotourism!

Exceptional experience in ecotourism! You know your money is going to support the local economy. The local partner in Ecuador was fantastic - couldn't have been better!

For the Dive & Stay scuba certification package, an underwater shot at the Galapagos Islands is shown with a rocky ocean bottom and a large school of small fish, with blue water above.

Evan A.

Sep 3, 2025

Wouldn't have changed a thing!

It was the perfect mix of scheduled time and free time. We felt all the planning from the transport, to the accommodations, to the activities went as smooth as it could have. I don't think we would have changed a thing! We are very grateful for all the help!

For the Dive & Stay scuba certification package, an underwater shot at the Galapagos Islands is shown with a rocky ocean bottom and a large school of small fish, with blue water above.

Caity Z.

Sep 9, 2024

Amazing experience...and sustainable!

We had an amazing experience working with Yugen Earthside! From start to finish, we were supported in organizing our trip and answering any and all questions that came our way. We had an incredible experience in the Galapagos and fell in love with the local staff and the unique landscape! Very happy to know that such an amazing trip was also a sustainable choice!