Ecuador: Extraordinary & Elemental

Your adventure begins in the heart of Ecuador's vibrant capital, Quito. After checking into your accommodation, you'll have time to settle in, unwind after your journey and meet the incredible group of solo travellers you'll soon be calling family.

As the evening unfolds, you'll gather for our traditional Becoming Solo Welcome. Together, you'll set intentions for the journey ahead, reflect through guided journalling, pull angel cards and create space to connect. It's a beautiful opportunity to arrive with purpose and begin your adventure with an open heart. You'll then come together for family dinner, where you'll get to know your fellow Becoming Solo'ers.

Wake up to your first morning in Ecuador and enjoy a slow start to the day with a relaxed breakfast before heading out to discover the fascinating streets of Quito. One of the highest capital cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Quito is a captivating blend of colonial architecture, vibrant plazas and centuries of history. Led by a knowledgeable local guide, you'll wander through the city's charming historic centre, uncover hidden gems and gain an authentic insight into Ecuadorian culture, traditions and everyday life.

After returning from the walking tour, you'll have a few hours to relax, enjoy lunch, explore at your own pace or simply recharge before the next chapter of your adventure begins. As evening falls, you'll board the overnight bus and journey east towards one of the most extraordinary places on Earth... the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest, where the adventure truly begins.

Today you'll leave the modern world behind as you journey deep into the Ecuadorian Amazon by traditional motorised canoe, travelling through winding waterways into one of the most extraordinary ecosystems on Earth. As the rainforest closes in around you, keep your eyes peeled for playful monkeys, colourful macaws and countless other species that call this incredible wilderness home.

After arriving at your jungle lodge and settling into your new surroundings, you'll head out to explore the surrounding waterways before reaching a secluded Amazon lagoon. As the sun begins to set, you'll have the unforgettable opportunity to swim in its warm, peaceful waters, surrounded by towering rainforest and the sounds of nature echoing all around you. It's one of those rare moments that feels almost impossible to put into words.

As darkness falls, the adventure continues with a night canoe expedition in search of elusive caimans and nocturnal wildlife. Beneath a sky bursting with stars and far away from the distractions of modern life, you'll experience just how alive the Amazon truly becomes after dark before returning to the lodge for dinner and your first night in the world's greatest rainforest.

Wake to the sounds of the rainforest as the Amazon comes alive around you. After breakfast, you'll venture deep beneath the emerald canopy on a guided jungle trek, where your expert naturalist will reveal the hidden wonders of this extraordinary ecosystem. Discover ancient medicinal plants used for generations by Indigenous communities, learn how wildlife survives in one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, and keep watch for colourful frogs, monkeys, exotic birds and countless other fascinating species hidden amongst the trees.

Returning to the lodge for lunch, you'll then experience some of the Amazon's most treasured flavours, tasting locally grown coffee, rich chocolate and traditional drinks produced by the communities that call this rainforest home. As the afternoon unfolds, you'll head back onto the river in search of one of the Amazon's most magical residents, the legendary pink river dolphin. If you're lucky enough to spot one emerging from the water, it's a moment you'll never forget. As night falls, the rainforest transforms once again, and you'll set off on a guided night walk, discovering a hidden world of insects, frogs, spiders and nocturnal wildlife that only emerges after sunset.

Today offers a rare opportunity to step beyond tourism and experience the Amazon through the eyes of the people who have protected it for generations. You'll be welcomed into an Indigenous community, where local families will share their traditions, customs and way of life, offering a genuine insight into one of the world's oldest living cultures.

Together, you'll prepare a traditional Amazonian lunch using fresh local ingredients before meeting the community's shaman, who will introduce you to ancestral healing practices and the remarkable medicinal plants found throughout the rainforest. Passed down through countless generations, this ancient knowledge continues to play an important role in everyday life and offers a fascinating glimpse into a culture that remains deeply connected to nature. As you return to the lodge, you'll leave with far more than photographs, carrying stories and perspectives that will stay with you long after your journey has ended.

Before returning to the lodge, you’ll also have the chance to create something deeply personal to take home with you. Using natural materials from the Amazon, you’ll craft your own bracelet inspired by what you’re calling into your life, whether that’s courage, love, abundance, connection or new beginnings. Once complete, your bracelet will be blessed by a rainforest shaman, creating a meaningful keepsake and personal reminder of the intentions you set during your time in the jungle.

Your final morning in the Amazon begins before sunrise as you venture onto the river one last time. Wrapped in a blanket of mist, the rainforest slowly awakens around you as birds fill the canopy with song and the first golden light dances across the water. It's a peaceful and unforgettable way to say goodbye to one of the most extraordinary places on Earth.

After breakfast, you'll begin your journey back along the river, taking in every final glimpse of this remarkable wilderness before returning to civilisation. Although your time in the Amazon comes to an end today, the memories of hidden lagoons, towering rainforest, incredible wildlife and ancient cultures will remain with you forever. Some places leave an impression. The Amazon leaves a part of itself with you.

After an unforgettable adventure through the Amazon, today offers the perfect opportunity to slow down and recharge. Enjoy a relaxed morning at your own pace, whether that's savouring a leisurely breakfast, exploring Quito's charming cafés, picking up a few souvenirs or simply soaking in the atmosphere of Ecuador's captivating capital before the next chapter of your journey begins.

Later this afternoon, you'll visit one of Ecuador's most iconic landmarks, the Middle of the World, where you'll stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. Marking the location where the Equator slices across the planet, this fascinating site celebrates the imaginary line that gives Ecuador its very name. Wander through the monument, learn about the history and science behind the Equator, and capture the ultimate photo as you stand at the centre of the world.

This evening, enjoy one final night in Quito as anticipation builds for tomorrow's adventure. With your bags packed and excitement in the air, you'll prepare to leave the mainland behind and set off for one of the most extraordinary destinations on Earth... the legendary Galápagos Islands.

This morning, you'll bid farewell to mainland Ecuador as you board your flight from Quito to the legendary Galápagos Islands, one of the most extraordinary wildlife destinations on Earth. As you descend towards the archipelago, emerald volcanic islands scattered across the endless Pacific begin to appear beneath you, offering your very first glimpse of this remarkable natural paradise.

After boarding your boutique catamaran, your expedition begins at the world-renowned Charles Darwin Research Station, where you'll discover the fascinating conservation story that has helped protect one of the planet's most unique ecosystems. As the afternoon melts into evening, settle into life aboard your floating home, watching volcanic coastlines drift by as the sun disappears beneath the Pacific horizon. With five unforgettable days ahead, this is only the beginning of your Galápagos adventure.

Wake up surrounded by islands unlike anywhere else on Earth, where ancient lava fields meet impossibly blue waters and every shoreline tells a story millions of years in the making. Today you'll venture deep into the wild western reaches of the archipelago, exploring landscapes forged by volcanic fire and shaped by evolution itself.

Throughout the day you'll experience the islands both on land and beneath the surface of the ocean, with opportunities to snorkel amongst vibrant marine life, paddle through peaceful bays and walk across dramatic volcanic terrain alongside your expert Galápagos Naturalist Guide. Every landing brings the possibility of extraordinary wildlife encounters, reminding you that here, nature has always been wonderfully in charge.

Today takes you even deeper into one of the most remote and untouched corners of the Galápagos. Towering volcanic cliffs, hidden coves and crystal-clear waters create the backdrop for another unforgettable day of exploration, where every island feels like its own lost world.

You'll spend the day discovering spectacular coastlines by foot, kayak and snorkel, immersing yourself in landscapes found nowhere else on Earth. Keep your eyes open as your guide helps uncover the incredible stories of the wildlife and geology surrounding you. Whether you're drifting silently across the water or standing on ancient lava formations overlooking the Pacific, today captures the raw, untamed beauty that makes the Galápagos so extraordinary.

Another sunrise brings another island waiting to be explored. Today you'll discover secluded beaches, volcanic landscapes and peaceful bays where the rhythm of nature continues much as it has for thousands of years. With opportunities to snorkel, kayak, paddleboard and explore on foot, every moment invites you to experience the islands from a different perspective.

✉️ Darwin’s Letter: A Letter to Your Future Self

During your time in the Galápagos, you’ll take some time to reflect on where you are in life, what you’ve experienced so far, and what you want for the year ahead. You’ll write a personal letter to your future self, capturing your thoughts, goals, intentions and anything you want to remember from this moment in your life.

Once your letter is written, you’ll seal it and leave it with us. Exactly one year later, Becoming Solo will remind you to open your letter and see what has changed, what you’ve achieved, and who you’ve become since your time in the Galápagos.

Wake to your final Galápagos sunrise as your catamaran makes its way towards Santa Cruz. Before your expedition comes to an end, you'll venture into the island's lush highlands, a striking contrast to the volcanic coastlines you've explored throughout the week. Here, giant tortoises roam freely through the misty forests, offering one final reminder of the extraordinary world you've been privileged to experience.

As you say goodbye to your crew and fellow Becoming Solowers, we hope you leave with far more than incredible photographs. We hope you leave with a renewed sense of wonder, lifelong friendships and memories of a place that continues to inspire scientists, explorers and travellers from every corner of the world.

We've intentionally designed our Ecuador expedition to finish here, giving you the freedom to fly home, extend your stay in the Galápagos or continue exploring South America at your own pace. However your journey continues, the Galápagos has a remarkable way of staying with you long after you've left its shores.