In the Galapagos, travelers trade traffic and screen time for playful swims with sea lions and up-close encounters with penguins, tortoises, dolphins, and iguanas. But pair that with an Amazon River expedition, and you’ve got something even more extraordinary: the closest thing to an African wildlife safari in the Western Hemisphere. From lava fields to flooded forests, and blue-footed boobies to pink river dolphins, this is the wild side of South America—twice over.
One of our Quasar specialists, Victor, had the chance to embark on an Amazon River Cruise as a convenient trip extension to a Galapagos Yacht Safari. His journey brought to life the contrast between two of Earth’s most extraordinary ecosystems.
The Galapagos and the Amazon are two distinct worlds, each brimming with life. Together, they offer a rare kind of adventure: snorkeling with sea lions one day, listening to howler monkeys echo through the jungle the next. For travelers who seek both discovery and depth, this journey brings Ecuador’s wildest places into focus, leaving a lasting imprint long after you’ve returned home.
Read on for Victor’s take on the ultimate South American safari experience.
In the footsteps of Francisco de Orellana
Buddy Levy’s book River of Darkness recounts one of the most daring and brutal expeditions in history - Francisco de Orellana’s exploration of the Amazon from Quito in the 16th century. Driven by the pursuit of the fabled city of El Dorado, his journey into the unknown mirrors the sense of discovery and adventure that still defines the region today.
Exploring Ecuador’s Amazon is like stepping into the pages of Orellana’s odyssey, but with one key difference:
You don’t have to endure the same hardships to witness its grandeur.
The towering kapok trees, the labyrinth of waterways, and the overwhelming symphony of wildlife that Orellana and his men encountered remain just as wild, just as untamed. But now, with world-class jungle cruises and eco-lodges like those found on the Quasar trip extensions, you can experience the Amazon in comfort—without the starvation, relentless mosquitoes, or constant threat of ambush.
A fascination with the natural world
At 11 years old, I was the kid who was obsessed with insects and animals and dreamed of being a biologist. Sports never interested me—I preferred venturing into the forest, catching bugs, and watching them for hours in glass tanks, fascinated by their behavior.
After primary school, my classmates’ parents organized a trip to the Amazon aboard a riverboat that followed the same route as the Manatee. That trip was the most mesmerizing of my life.
Walking through flooded forests with towering ancient trees, watching giant ants march like armies, and spotting monkeys, frogs, parrots, and caimans at night—it felt like another planet. I never imagined my own country’s Amazon was so full of life.
Decades later, now as Quasar’s Product Manager, I returned to the Manatee and felt that same wonder. My childhood biologist’s eye was still sharp: I could even spot insects in the dark, impressing my guide. As we explored the lagoons, cottonwood seeds floated through the air like Pandora’s glowing spores in Avatar. Then, pink river dolphins appeared, playfully leaping ahead. It was just three of us: our expert native Guide, my naturalist Guide, and me. An unforgettable afternoon.
The best way to experience the Amazon Jungle
After exploring some of the world’s most extraordinary places, I remain convinced—the best way to experience this unique realm is by Amazon jungle cruise, navigating the vast rivers born in Ecuador and Peru that merge into the mighty Amazon in Brazil. Aboard the Manatee, luxurious air-conditioned suites deliver you directly to the next jungle adventure.
Drifting through blackwater lakes, watching troops of monkeys leap through the canopy, or witnessing thousands of parrots swirling around a clay lick, you can’t help but feel the same awe that those first European explorers must have felt. The Amazon still holds its mysteries—scientists continue to discover new species every year, and indigenous communities maintain traditions that date back long before Orellana set foot in these lands.
A few years after Spain seized the Inca Empire, Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisco de Orellana set out from Quito with 170 soldiers and 3,000 Indigenous slaves in search of El Dorado. But the expedition soon turned into a struggle for survival. Most Indigenous slaves perished in the freezing moorlands, while soldiers fell to disease, poison, attacks, and starvation. Lost in the Amazon’s tributaries, Orellana had no choice but to continue east, eventually reaching the Atlantic and encountering thriving civilizations along the way.
While River of Darkness tells the story of survival against impossible odds, today’s journey into the Amazon is about connection—both to nature and to the people who have called this jungle home for centuries. The spirit of adventure is still alive here. The river still runs wild. And paradise, as Orellana once glimpsed it, is still very much at hand.
The jungle, it turns out, has always been more than just wilderness. Hidden beneath the canopy lies a history as rich and untamed as the river itself.
Experience the Amazon Alongside the Galapagos
While you’ve already come all this way to Ecuador, why not stay a while and experience its full spectrum of wildlife experiences? It’s easy to add an Amazon River Cruise to your Galapagos Yacht Safari, giving you the best of both worlds: ocean and jungle.
From paddling along the Pañayacu River to watching a kaleidoscope of parrots descend on a mineral-rich clay lick, the Amazon delivers moments that rival the Galapagos in wonder and intimacy. Comfortable jungle lodges and expedition riverboats serve as your base camp for discovery, while the colonial streets of Quito add a cultural dimension to your journey.
This is the ultimate South American safari—the Quasar way. All the wildlife. Much less jet lag. No need to cross an ocean to experience a safari that stirs the soul.