Popular Destinations

About

Travelling Safely

Our Content

When to Go

Best time to visit

Our People

Our Team

Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
Our Tour Experts

We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
Heroes and Heroines

the people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education

Ecuadorian Amazon

In stark contrast to the cool snowcapped Andes mountains are the humid lowlands known as El Oriente. This is an area of tropical rainforest to the east of the majestic Andes mountain range.

A little more about the Ecuadorian Amazon

Within this vast green wilderness are numerous national parks and forest reserves sparsely populated with indigenous communities where you can experience the rainforest, its people, and myriad of wildlife. River dolphin, tapir, capybara, caiman, monkeys plus countless species of birds are just a few of the magical animals that hide in these forests.

Mostly unexplored and more biologically diverse than the enchanting Galapagos Islands, the opportunity to stay in one of Ecuador’s world-renowned jungle lodges, lost deep in the rainforest, is a life-enriching experience.

Experiences

Tell us what you love doing and we’ll curate a journey that’s perfect for you.

Cruise the Amazon

Sail on the world’s mightiest river during an authentic Amazon cruise that navigates far off the beaten track.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Search for Pink River Dolphins

Head out to try and find the elusive and magnificent pink river dolphins, which only live in the fresh waters of the Amazon Rainforest.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Amazonian Country-Hopping

Consider exploring the Amazon in more than one country, moving between Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Colombia or Bolivia to experience the remotest corners of the Amazon Basin.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Swing in a Hammock

After a morning of adventure, head back to your cabin to swing in a hammock to read a good book (or simply for a siesta).

Suggested Holiday Idea

Canoe the Amazonian Rivers

Weave through the rivers of the Amazon Rainforest in a guide-steered canoe, looking out for hundreds of species of birds as well as giant river otters and lurking caiman.

Meet Indigenous Communities

Visit one of the local Amazon communities, learning about the preparation of food and children’s education programmes.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Climb a Canopy Tower

Trudge to the top of a tall canopy tower for up close encounters with magnificent birdlife, listening for approaching monkeys.

Become a Junior Naturalist

Children can learn bird calls and take lessons in paddling a canoe when partaking in a Junior Naturalist Programme.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Discover more experiences

Idea

Ecuador

Sail the Ecuadorian Amazon

This unique journey, which combines a remarkable sailing voyage through the Amazon Rainforest with a road journey through the volcanic mainland of Ecuador, is ideally suited to those seeking an exploratory (yet luxurious) wildlife adventure.

12 days from £4,850pp

View Cruise

Idea

Ecuador

Amazon, Cloud Forest & Avenue of Volcanoes

The ultimate medley of mainland Ecuador’s most iconic destinations, from the Amazon Rainforest to the Avenue of the Volcanoes, this journey by road, by plane and by canoe has a truly exploratory feeling due to its remarkable wildlife-spotting and interaction with indigenous…

12 days from £3,510pp

Local, Cotopaxi, Avenue of Volcanoes, Ecuador

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Galapagos Islands

Sail the Galapagos Islands

A transformative sailing voyage around the world’s most treasured archipelago, staying aboard anything from a whimsical sailboat to a state-of-the-art catamaran, an exploration of the Galapagos Islands is the quintessential adventure for wildlife-loving wayfarers.

9 days from £4,300pp

View Cruise

Idea

Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Islands by Land

This island-hopping, land-based adventure through the Galapagos Islands is ideally suited to wandering wildlife-lovers that prefer to keep their feet on solid ground staying at a selection of unique island properties with irresistible features. While sailing is the most traditional way to experience…

9 days from £5,520pp

Family, South Plaza Island, Galapagos Islands

View Holiday Idea

Need Inspiration?
Browse our Ecuador holiday ideas.

Our Ecuador experts have created and curated these holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something to spark ideas for a unique adventure.

Idea

Ecuador

Sail the Ecuadorian Amazon

12 days from £4,850pp

View Cruise

Idea

Ecuador

Amazon, Cloud Forest & Avenue of Volcanoes

12 days from £3,510pp

View Holiday Idea

Idea

Galapagos Islands

Sail the Galapagos Islands

9 days from £4,300pp

View Cruise

Idea

Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Islands by Land

9 days from £5,520pp

View Holiday Idea

View all holiday ideas View all cruises

Where to stay

Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.

La Selva Jungle Lodge £££££

Ecuador
Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Perched on the edge of Lake Garzacocha within the Amazon Rainforest, hours removed from the nearest town, La Selva Jungle Lodge offers a unique experience within an extraordinary habitat. Made up of 19 spacious suites, each with private porches or balconies and some with rainforest showers and lake views, the accommodations at La Selva Jungle Lodge are set within traditionally constructed cabins. Large gauze-covered windows provide a steady flow of fresh air in the absence of air-conditioners, and the rooms are pierced with memorable sounds of the jungle.

View Property

Napo Wildlife Centre £££££

Ecuador
Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Burrowed in the very core of the Ecuadorean Amazon, Napo Wildlife Centre is a lodge owned and run by the local Kichwa Anangu community. The accommodations are spread between 20 rustic cabins, most of which are set slightly inland from the lake, built and decorated in a traditional style. Do not expect air conditioning, locking doors or glass windows at Napo Wildlife Centre – visitors will receive a truly authentic Amazon experience where luxury lies in the exquisite location, world-class guiding and an unimaginable abundance of raucous wildlife. Eight of the cabins are suites, each built on stilts over the lagoon and complete with private jacuzzis and an enviable lakefront location.

View Property

Sacha Lodge £££££

Ecuador
Safari and Wildlife Lodge

Offering a rainforest lodge experience on the banks of Pilchicocha Lake, Sacha Lodge is nestled deep within a private 5000-acre reserve. An elevated boardwalk leads to 26 individual thatched cabins, each with a shady terrace and personal hammocks, which are decorated in a bright and spacious style with sustainable wood furnishings. An incredible base for explorations of the jungle and swims in the lake pool, guests can join birds and monkeys on the delightful canopy walkway.

View Property

More luxury accommodation

Meet our experts

A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.

View Profile

Paul Bird

From quaint Andean villages and colourful markets to staggering volcanic landscapes and the Amazon Rainforest, Paul has explored the length and breadth of Ecuador.

Talk with our experts

01285 880 980

View Profile

John Faithfull

John rode the railways of Ecuador on the carriage roof before it was outlawed, but still recommends a jaunt along the Devil’s Nose – an engineering marvel that can still be enjoyed from inside a carriage.

Talk with our experts

01285 880 980

View Profile

Roxy Dukes

I love to squeeze as much out of my day as possible. An outdoors fanatic, I love to delve into harsh environments having summited numerous mountains and trail running into the unknown whenever I get the chance – whether at home or overseas. Funnily enough, it didn’t start like that. It took a few years for the burning fire of adventure to truly take light with my eyes opened by the adventures travel could afford.

Talk with our experts

01285 880 980

Start planning your trip

01285 880 980

Send us an enquiry

Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.

Enquire

As usual all aspects of this trip went like clockwork, even thought we were in South America where timings can be different to other parts of the world! This we put down to the work done by Paul and his knowledge of the country.

Destination: Ecuador
Travel Expert: Paul

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?

More about Steppes

Featured in the press

Your Wishlist Account

Sign up and take advantage of our Wishlist if you would like to create your own holiday boards. You can click on the heart across our website and curate destinations, holidays, properties and experiences that you would like us to build your future holidays around.

Your Wishlist Account

Account Created

All you need to do now is activate this account by clicking on the link we’ve just sent you via email to the address you’ve just provided or log in below.

Reset your password

Enter your email below.

We've sent you an email to reset your password

you will receive an email from us in the next few minutes. Click in the link in the email to change your password.

if you can't see an email from us in your inbox, please check your junk mail folder as it may have been mistakenly categorised as spam or try a different email address.

Ecuadorian Amazon

A little more about the Ecuadorian Amazon