Galapagos / Ecuador Luxury Vacation Review: Cuisine, Wildlife, Culture, Cruise, Snorkeling, 12 Nights

Each of the areas we visited in Ecuador was unique. In the Galapagos, we visited the smaller islands as we were interested in snorkeling in these areas. We met a wonderful group of people on our eight-room catamaran, all of whom loved to snorkel, so we were able to be in the water several times a day. We saw sharks, penguins, turtles, sea lions, and many fish. It was truly a magnificent experience. The crew on the boat went above and beyond to meet our every need, making the five-day cruise an exceptional experience.

In the Amazon, we stayed at a lodge built by indigenous peoples. It was magical to be carried by canoe for two hours into the jungle to this location and to see what the Kichwa tribe has achieved. They are working to preserve culture and the forest, and it is truly a beautiful and touching experience, psychologically and experientially.

In the cloud forest, we stayed in a beautiful glass and steel building set on 3,000 acres in the middle of the forest. We walked to waterfalls, saw beautiful butterflies and hummingbirds, and rode a cabled bicycle over the top of the forest. It was an elegant and remarkable experience that was worth the splurge!