Adventure Level

Adventure level: This is an easy trip for anyone in reasonable health - although heat and humidity can be high. Minimum age: 5 years.

Climate

Temperature on the equator is related to altitude. Quito (2850m) is generally pleasantly warm (daytime temperatures average around 20°C, dropping to 7°C at night). In the rainy season (Oct-May), afternoon showers are common.
GALAPAGOS (sea level): daytime temperatures average around 30°C year round, moderated by sea breezes, falling to around 20°C at night. The garua season from Jul-Dec (named after the sea mist that occasionally forms) is somewhat cooler and drier, and the sea can be choppy. In the warm/wet season (Jan-Jun) it can be very hot and showers are common, but the sea tends to be calmer. Between the seasons weather can be unpredictable, and the seasons may shift by as much as a couple of months in any year. For worldwide climate information go to www.weatherbase.com

Domestic Flights

between Quito and Baltra with Tame or Aerogal. Tickets obtained from your Group Leader. Flight schedules and preferred airlines can change.

Local Payment

In response to your feedback we want our pricing structure to be as transparent as possible; therefore for departures after 01 January 2008 we have incorporated Local Payments into Family Adventures trip prices. However, on our Ecuador & Galapagos trip this payment is still charged as it covers Park Fees payable by the Group Leader during the trip. Please pay US$100 (approx. £50) per person to your Group Leader upon arrival in Quito. The Local Payment must be paid in the specified currency when requested by the Group Leader or local agent, or you will not be permitted to join the trip.

GALAPAGOS TRANSIT CONTROL CARD: As of February 2008, the department in charge of controlling traffic to the Galapagos has introduced a Galapagos Transit Control Card. The cost of the card is $10.00 per person. The application for this card will be automatically processed for you, but the card has to be collected in person on tour and the payment of $10.00 per person will have to be made locally as an additional cost.

Responsible Travel

For every person travelling on this trip, The Adventure Company will donate £2 to a carbon offset programme. More details can be found on our website.

On this trip you also have the opportunity to visit a local Amazon village – you usually have the chance to visit a local house and school and learn about the life of the indigenous people.

While staying at Yacuma Lodge, you also have the possibility of visiting the Centro de Rescate Amazonico - this is a centre for jungle animals which have been rescued, usually from people trying to sell them.

Since the increase in popularity of bottled water, many countries are experiencing a problem of litter especially where adequate recycling is not available. Please could you try, where possible, to use purification tablets or filters for water or buy bigger bottles of water between group members and decant into your individual water bottles.