It’s no coincidence that Charles Darwin, Alexander Humboldt & Alfred Russel Wallace first began to understand evolution while exploring the rich tangle of life found in the tropics.

Explore the rainforest with an intimate and small group of like minded nature and science enthusiasts who just want to learn about Ecuador's ecosystems and peoples. 

We'll get in the thick of it; surrounded by incredible wildlife, expansive ecosystems, and enthusiastic locals.

You will meet hundreds of species including birds, mammals, insects and fish. You will witness as they play out their lives the spectacular drama that Darwin called "The Struggle for Existence."

Each year the EvoTour has a different theme with different subject matter. Jon covers evolutionary theory and Nancy covers how that theory can be seen within insects and generalized rainforest ecology. 

This year's EvoTour theme is the struggle for existence. 

From camouflage to parasites; from hunting strategies to interspecies cooperation ... anything that gives an organism a slight edge is game for our exploration both on and off the trails as we dive into this evolutionary theory. 

"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." ~Charles Darwin

 We’ll start with a couple days in Ecuador’s capital city Quito riding gondolas up the neighboring mountains, getting a sneak peek of our destinations at the botanical gardens, and meeting some of the amphibians that call Ecuador home. 

Then we’re off to the Amazon! As we cruise up the Aguarico river and into the Cuyabeno River we’ll be greeted by pink river dolphins, toucans, monkeys, and shimmering butterflies. After our time acquainting ourselves with the winding forest trails, medicinal plants, and evolutionary theory, it’s back up to the hills for our final day in the cloud forest where tourmaline hummingbirds and opalescent weevils are waiting to greet you. 

Earlybird Registration Opens June 2025

Regular Registration Opens July 2025

Registration closes Aug 1. 

First come first serve! 

Those on our waitlist / mailing list will have access to early bird pricing! 

Spots are limited to 10 participants! 

Trip Dates:

December 27, 2025 - Jan 3, 2026

2,850 USD per person All-inclusive tour package!

(Payment plan available)

Upgrades to single accommodations are available 

AMAZON RAINFOREST: Waita Lodge / Cuyabeno Reserve

The Cuyabeno reserve, the part of the Amazon Rainforest located near the Colombian border, is home to playful dolphins, chattering macaws, pocket sized monkeys and floating forests! It’s the second largest reserve of the national parks in Ecuador, protecting ~6,000 kilometers of pristine Amazon tributaries. 

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We'll be visiting Waita Lodge and it is truly in the heart of the Amazon. Located three hours upriver by boat, you’ll be greeted by dolphins, toucans, turtles, and dragonflies as you make your way up the narrowing Amazon rivers. The tranquil lodge has a balanced mix of water activities including paddle boating and canoe rides, and land based activities. Learn about medicinal plants, follow leaf cutter ant trails, and learn about the people and cultures that live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

CLOUD FOREST: Guango Lodge 

The Cloud forest sits between 4,000 & 8,000ft above sea level and is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world! Hummingbirds that can only be found here flit through the trees and glittering insects wander around the elephant-sized leaves. Oh - and don't forget to look for the orchids. The cloud forest is protected thanks to a patchwork of community efforts. 

VOLCANIC PARAMO: Quito

Quito, Ecuador's capital, is surrounded by nature and shrouded in history. The high altitude Paramo ecosystem is where you land when first arriving in Ecuador. Several towering volcanos rise from the outskirts of the city, deserts cover the expansive wastes of the north, while cobblestone roads and golden churches litter the central streets. Above the city skyline is the volcano Pichincha - a beautiful natural refuge housing dozens of unique plant and bird species. And that's just in Quito! Ecuador is covered in volcanoes which you'll see almost at every vantage point we'll be visiting in Ecuador.  

 We will be a small group of travelers. The group will be capped at 12 people to ensure an intimate experience with the instructors, local guides, and nature. Learning will happen on and off the trails, both formally and informally from your instructors, guides, and most likely each other! 

Think of this trip like summer camp but with way better food! The cabins are simple but comfortable and the hot water for the shower is solar heated.

You'll probably get wet! It is the *RAIN*forest after all. You can decide your preferred method of staying dry ... or accepting your fate. By that token, it can also be sunny and hot, so make sure to bring a lot of water and comfortable clothes. 

Trail conditions can be muddy and slippery depending on the amount of rain we get during our stay. We'll also be in the hills and at altitude. We recommend you being physically fit enough to do short walks over difficult terrain and up to 2 mile (3 km) walks on flat terrain.

We will have two long travel days. The first will be entering the Amazon where we'll leave Quito in the early morning and fly to Coca. We'll then have a 2 hour bus ride to to the pickup point and then a 3 hour canoe ride to the lodge. We'll leave Quito around 7:30am and get to the lodge around 5pm. When we leave the lodge, we'll overnight in Coca. After lunch we'll have our 3hr canoe ride to the pickup point and the 2 hour bus ride to Coca. If you get carsick please anticipate these long bus rides and take the necessary precautions to ensure you have a pleasant voyage. I know it's a trek - but if you want to see amazing animals, you have to go to where they live!  

For more information about the trip, download our brochure! 

Most of all - you can expect we'll have fun!!!

Today you'll arrive in to Quito! 

We'll be there with a trusted driver to pick you up at the Quito airport and bring you to our hotel. 

Need something to do today? Check on our  Quito historic district add-on tour! (coming soon)

Today we'll get sneak peeks of all the places we'll be visiting on our whirlwind adventure. We'll check out the Quito botanical gardens to see some of the likely plants we're bound to encounter on our adventure. Then it's off to the Natural History Museum. We'll finish the day off visiting Wikiri - the frog breeding center to learn about one of Ecuador's conservation projects. 

We'll start off the day going to the Rumipamba museum where this ecological and archeological park give us a glimpse of cultures past and how these people used different plants in their everyday lives. This little sanctuary gives you an idea of what the Quito ecosystem would have looked like hundreds of years ago. 

Then we're headed up into the clouds  to get a bird's eye view of Quito and get up close and personal to volcanic paramo ecosystems atop the volcano Pichincha which neighbors Quito. 

 Leaving Quito, we'll fly to the small town of Coca where we'll try some palm weevil larvae as a snack at the local market! Then it's a boxed lunch and we make our way up the Aguarico and Cuyabeno rivers to our home away from home deep in the heart of the Amazon. 

The Cuyabeno Reserve is bursting with flora and bustling with fauna. Dolphins dance around the canoe, monkeys howl from their perches, parrots lick clay from the river, frogs call the rains, caimans watch the lagoons, and insects rule the night. 

Activities will be conducted depending on the current day's weather. As it tends to rain in the Amazon at least once a day we will schedule the outdoor activities around the rain and around the times the animals tend to be most active. 

Scheduled Activities

-Evolution Classes

- Nature hikes

- Night hikes

- Canoe safaris

- Paddle canoe safaris

- Observation tower

- Traditional New Year’s Celebrations

Free Time Activities

- Paddle boarding

- Piraña Fishing

- Cooking classes

General Schedule

6:00 am: Birding canoe safari

8:00 am: Breakfast

10:00 am: Waita's scheduled activities

1:30 pm: Lunch

2:30 pm: Free time

6:00 pm:  Evolution Classes

7:00 pm: Scheduled Waita's activities

8:00 pm: Dinner

9:00 pm: Night walk

Our last day in the Amazon before we have to say goodbye! We'll start off with one final morning activity before making our way to Coca where we'll spend the night at Auca hotel. Auca has a beautiful garden and frequently rescues wildlife. Look out for the tortoises and agutis hanging out on the grounds.  

Our day of farewells will start with a flight back to Quito. Then we’re off down the mountain to the cloud forest for our last jungle hurrah. Here dwell glass frogs, opalescent beetles, and tourmaline hummingbirds.  

After eating dinner we'll travel to the Quito airport and bid our farewells

 Please note this a generalized itinerary and it is subject to change due to availability or weather. In case of changes, similar accommodations and activities will be substituted. 

Add-on tours will be made available.