Head to Ecuador for a wonderful and incredibly family-friendly holiday which in a relatively small area offers a whole diversity of experiences from rainforest to riding among volcanoes, kayaking into mangroves, and snorkelling with sea lions.
Ecuador’s temperate highlands make the perfect starting point for your family adventure as you can reach some truly spectacular rural locations in the shadow of beautiful volcanic peaks within an hour or so from the airport to get your holiday off to a relaxing beginning, even when travelling with smaller children. You can arrange a bespoke itinerary that combines some fantastic horse-riding for all levels, whether for several days or just for a few hours, from a gorgeous family-run traditional working farm or hacienda with a whole host of other activities from colourful Indian markets, walks, cycling, and checking out what’s going on at the farm.
The perennial fascination of exotic creatures big and small from insects to snakes and monkeys does not fail to engage children of all ages, whether you head to the cooler cloud forest with your little ones only a short drive from Quito or whether you venture with your teenagers deeper into Amazon basin rainforest to spend a few incredible and illuminating days with local tribes in the heart of their ancestral home. Family-friendly riverside jungle lodges can offer specially designed forest walks with great guides as well as lots of fun activities from making animal models and pictures to learning the essential skills on how to become a forest naturalist, such as recognising animal calls and spotting minute insects! Swim in waterfalls, go fishing for piranha, and get face-painting with natural dye, known as achiote!
When you are ready for some time to relax by the coast after all that exploration and active adventure, then why not try the less-developed villages and towns around Machalilla National Park. Kayak along the coast looking out for dolphins, check out the Panama hat weavers at Montecristi or try your hand at making jewellery and local handicrafts. June to November sees a migration of humpback whales offshore for some amazing close encounters en-route to a ‘mini-Galapagos’ at Isla de la Plata, the only other place in the world where you can see waved albatross and also blue-footed boobies, sealions, and frigate birds. This coast is wonderful for even younger children reached by an easy road journey from Guayaquil via a chocolate factory or a short scenic flight to Manta.
Alternatively of course, you can combine the beautiful highlands and rainforest with the stunning Galapagos Islands on a fabulous experience of a lifetime aboard a beautiful cruise vessel. If you have a larger family or want to take the grandparents too, then talk to us about private yacht charter. If your children love making new friends, then we can recommend some wonderful cruises with special family departures, designed to keep all ages happy on-board and onshore!
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