My mom and I have always loved hummingbirds. It’s “our thing.”
Watching them at the feeder was a favorite shared activity with my late grandmother—especially in her dementia years, when collecting “yard doo-dads” and birdwatching became the most exciting and accessible thing we could all do together. We’d sit behind her lace curtains, eating popcorn, ooo-ing and ahh-ing at birds visiting the feeder like it was an epic blockbuster.
When my grandma passed, we chose the hummingbird as our symbol for her—a way we stay connected to her sweet spirit. A little flighty, a little sassy, and just as vibrant as a hummingbird in motion.
Writing in the travel industry, I’ve always heard a distant hum about a place alive with these beautiful birds… BIG ones. Brave ones. Hummingbirds with no fear of humans.
No need to go searching: It’s the Mindo Cloud Forest, where Quasar visits on Mainland Ecuador Trip Extensions.
There’s a particularly special sanctuary there—technically a hotel, but it feels more like a retreat. At Mashpi Lodge, with Quasar’s wildlife specialists and thoughtful sustainable practices, nature doesn’t shy away. It shows off.
Hummingbirds flock here because the air is rich with nectar and peace. It’s a place where you can sit still, and the wild still comes to you.
With leaves the size of patio umbrellas and over 22 species of hummingbirds, the Mindo Cloud Forest feels like another planet. Or maybe the original one.
Ecuador is home to over 132 of the world’s 366 hummingbird species—more than one-third of the planet’s total diversity. And with so many right outside, there’s no need for feeders. Your hands will do just fine.
I have to take my mom there.
We visited a nature reserve outside of Quito before our Galapagos Yacht Safari with Quasar back in 2020. I still remember us sitting in porch rockers, sipping fresh naranjilla juice, marveling at how massive the Ecuadorian hummingbirds were compared to the ones back in Idaho. They felt ancient—like something preserved from pre-history. Supercharged in size. The Goliaths of the hummingbird world.
And the hummingbird frenzy was just one of many wildlife moments we shared on that trip, from the high Andes around Quito to Galapagos. Age difference didn’t matter. We could enjoy the same things at the same time: sipping Ecuadorian coffee while giant tortoises wandered past… taking iPhone videos from a panga just inches from a hoard of Sally Lightfoot crabs… doing yoga on the beach next to baby sea lions. Practicing extended savasana on the deck of the Quasar Evolution Yacht.
We got to weave everything we love doing together into one unforgettable adventure. We felt like the stars of our own nature documentary, where every day centered on our whims and the natural world was an unscripted world of wonder, unfolding just for us.
It’s the Quasar Way that makes it feel like that, and why the next trip I’m planning with my mom is the Mindo Cloud Forest, no question. (Grandma will be there, too—in every hummmm. Turn the sound on for this reel — you’ll see what I mean.)
The Secret to a Flawless Multi-Generational Trip: Ecuador’s Wilds
Quasar’s lineage and experience in Ecuador makes it the perfect extension to a Galapagos Yacht Safari. As a family-founded Ecuador tour and travel company, Quasar has the authentic, insider angle that allows them to reveal the hidden gems of their homeland. Whether you complement your multigenerational Galapagos luxury cruise with a seamless Ecuador tour or plan a personalized mainland-only family expedition, your multigenerational wildlife adventure promises long-overdue moments of connection.
Start with a Yacht Safari for Every Age & Stage
When you're planning a trip with grandparents, parents, and children, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the goal of pleasing everyone. Quasar gets it. Instead of creating a vacation for any family, their small-group Galapagos Yacht Safaris are tailored to your family, with trip extensions planned around your passions.
Quasar’s multi-generational wilderness tours are specifically designed to be intimate, comfortable, and accessible—the perfect home base for families to explore the Galapagos and Ecuador together. Every detail is handled, allowing you to focus on the shared wonder of seeing a blue-footed booby perform its comical mating dance or snorkeling alongside playful sea lions.
Don’t have the answer to your grandchild’s endless questions about marine iguanas? Quasar’s expert Natural Guides are more than happy to engage until every curious kiddo (and adult!) is satisfied. The pace is flexible, with activities for all energy and mobility levels, ensuring everyone, from the youngest explorer to the wisest elder, feels included.
This unique environment forges powerful bonds. Just ask Travel + Leisure's Editor-in-Chief, who brought her son, husband, and mother on a Quasar safari. She described it as an experience that connected three generations through the shared awe of nature, creating “a new set of memories to last a lifetime.” Get inspired by Jacqui Gifford’s family journey.
Finding Connection & Calm in the Andes Highlands
After the active discovery and awe-inspiring moments of the Galapagos, who wants to head home? Instead, treat the family to a wildlife vacation that continues with the surreal beauty of Ecuador. You’ll find space to breathe and activities for all in the Quasar family’s homeland before returning to real life (and planning when you’ll be back!).
Slower Paces and Shared Activities
The Andes Highlands always provide a welcome change of pace, and the chance to stay at the historic Hacienda Zuleta, high in the mountains. Within this 17th-century working farm, your family can continue to slow down and savor time together.
Imagine waking to the sight of the sun painting the rolling green hills, then embarking on a gentle horseback ride through the picturesque landscape. Here, the days unfold at a more relaxed rhythm.
Revel in quiet moments of connection—a mother-daughter chat over morning coffee, grandparents teaching a grandchild a new card game by the fire, or the whole family sharing stories from the day over a traditional Ecuadorian dinner (that you may even have helped prepare as you learned the secrets of local cuisine).
Explore ancient trails on the backs of the hacienda’s own Zuleteño horses, suitable for all skill levels. Take a charming carriage ride, a way for everyone to enjoy the scenery, regardless of mobility. Bike or hike through tranquil valleys. Visit the Condor Huasi Project on the property to learn about efforts to protect the majestic Andean Condor.
It’s a place for your family’s self-care, a time to reflect on where you’ve been together and what adventures lie ahead.
Awaken Your Adventurous Spirit in the Amazon Jungle
Feel like your own family is a bit of a jungle some days? Carpools, sports, homework, and cries of “What’s for dinner?” Take them all to the Ecuadorian Amazon for a true jungle immersion and find that yours is pretty tame, after all.
Just thinking of the world’s largest rainforest can feel overwhelming, but it’s one of Quasar’s favorite places to introduce families of all ages to incredible biodiversity and thrilling discoveries, and inspire a profound respect for nature.
And, the Amazon multigenerational experience is surprisingly adaptable. Quasar’s partner lodges and expert Guides specialize in creating intentional adventures that blend high-energy and low-impact activities.
Explore jungle trails with expert Naturalist Guides, who can point out camouflaged insects, medicinal plants, and hidden creatures. Glide silently along blackwater rivers and lagoons, spotting monkeys, toucans, and maybe even a sloth resting in the canopy. Visit a local Kichwa community to learn about their ancestral traditions, from creating handicrafts to using a blowgun. And, ascend above the treetops for a bird's-eye view of the jungle, offering a breathtaking perspective without a strenuous hike.
Share the thrill of spotting a pink river dolphin, listening to the nocturnal symphony of the jungle from the comfort of your lodge, and learning from the ancient wisdom of the forest’s inhabitants. You’ll return home more connected to each other and to the planet we all share.
Plan Your Family’s Next Great Story
From the serene highlands of the Andes and the lush depths of the Amazon, Ecuador offers the perfect add-on to your family’s Galapagos Yacht Safari. It’s a destination that caters to every generation, with experiences designed by a family whose own generations have long called it home.
Let Quasar’s destination specialists plan a journey around your passions, your spirit animals, your family’s rhythm. From mom-daughter yacht adventures to my epic Amazon honeymoon, they’ve gone above and beyond every single time for me.
You’re the kind of adventurer they’re waiting to hear from.
