โ๏ธ ๐ฌ ๐ Ecuador & The Galapagos 2027 is LIVE + Launch offer save $500!
Published about 1 month agoย โขย 10 min read
โ
Hi Reader,
It is really hard to continue talking about traveling when a war is ongoing in the Gulf region, a place I lived in for 5 years and where I still have a lot of friends. And it's not just the Gulf; there are so many other conflicts that aren't even talked about anymore.
People are dying, and promoting anything fun, feels callous.
When I open my phone or laptop, or even my email, every morning, the bad news pour in, and I feel like when COVID started and I needed to take a break from all the negativity and the inability to do much about it, because it was starting to affect my mental health. Meg and I feel same right now.
But, I am not an expert in geopolitics and cannot add much to that conversation, other than my personal opinion.
Where I can really add, is to the world of travel, and if there is something I learned during COVID is that life continues no matter what, because it is finite; tomorrow isn't guaranteed and the perfect time for something may never come.
The collateral damage of cutting off the Middle East connectivity hub is already heavily felt in countries in Southeast Asia which are increasingly hard to reach from Europe. Business is down, income is down, opportunities are less.
I was in Cambodia when the conflict started, and all guides told me that the tourists they expected cancelled out of fear and options to make it there, since the Middle East is a major hub for them.
Meg just re-routed her flight from Australia to Egypt to join our tour at the end of the month and the price to avoid the region was high and the options very limited. Not to mention destinations like Cambodia that have limited long haul west-bound connectivity than Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi.
I was thinking about their lives while countless others are at even higher risk in Iran, the UAE, Qatar and beyond, because the effects of this war are also felt on the millions of people who depend on tourism to survive and thrive.
1.5 billion people traveled in 2025, generating $1,8 billion. In some countries, tourism is the main driver of economic progress. It represents more than 10% of the GDP in Vietnam and 30% in Cambodia. The pandemic showed what a stop in travel does to economies that rely on it.
They may not die from a missile hitting them, but for a family whose entire income depends on international arrivals, the drop in tourism is devastating in other ways. They may have to return to subsistence farming and take kids out of school.
So, we will continue to provide travel updates, tools and tips to navigate this uncertain time, while carrying on in our efforts and mission to support women in tourism around the world, because their lives and businesses depend on travelers traveling.
Doing so is a very personal decision right now. I just flew back from Cambodia over Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to reach Istanbul. I am going to Japan in 10 days and will be in Ecuador most of May. I am monitoring the situation on a daily basis.
With all that said, if you need to take a break from our updates and cannot think about traveling right now, please do skips my emails. I will be here when you are ready to dream and talk about travel again.
๐ฉ On this week's email:
After the 2026 trip to Ecuador and The Galapagos was one of the fastest trips to sell out, we are releasing the 2027 trip this week, with an Launch offer for the first ones to book. This is an itinerary that visits two of the most incredible parts of the world for anyone who loves wildlife: the Amazon Rainforest and The Galapagos, and we will do so with care. No detail has been spared to make this, truly, a trip you won't forget.โ
Our podcast is about to launch at the beginning of April, don't forget to submit your most embarrassing travel stories hereโ
Our Ecuador & Galapagos trip is live + Limited Launch offer
This is a trip that will visit some of the most fragile eco-systems on the planet by the hand of caring and committed local companies and lodges.
Note: This trip WILL sell out. We announced it to those who were on the waitlist last week, and many spots are already filled. If you are interested, don't wait up, we are only offering this trip once a year.
Got questions? We have answers!
Reply to this email or book a time to speak to us live here.
Trip highlights
โ
Ecuador
โ
The Galapagos
This 13-day itinerary is practically all inclusive with just a couple of dinners left open for you to relax.
We will spend 7 days on the Ecuador mainland and 6 in the Galapagos, in premium and intimate accommodation that is local and female owned, carbon-neutral and environmentally focused. In such fragile environments, being eco-conscious is not an option for us.
We will spend time in the middle of the rainforest at a beautiful bamboo lodge, waking up to the sunrise sounds of the howler monkeys, and in the remote Galapagos islands, with just a handful of us around sea lions, penguins, dolphins and more.
This trip is almost 100% local and female powered and all but one night will be spent at accommodations owned by Ecuadorian women.
I have thought every aspect of this trip to be nothing short of spectacular and I am so excited to share it with you!
Inclusions: 12 nights in luxury accommodation, all daily meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) but 3, 4 domestic flights (Quito - El Coca in the Amazon - Quito / Quito - Baltra in The Galapagos - Quito), alcoholic drinks at welcome & farewell dinner and daily onboard, WiFi throughout, expert naturalist guide in The Galapagos & indigenous tracker in the Amazon, and all conservation fees.
Premium accommodation, local & female owned
3 nights in Quito at a new eco-friendly 5* hotel
1 night in Otavalo at a new 4* hotel (family-owned)
3 nights at a 5* Eco-lodge & Spa in the Amazon
4 nights onboard a luxury catamaran in The Galapagos
1 night at a 4* hotel in Santa Cruz island.
All hotels but the one in Otavalo are owned by Ecuadorian women.
Visit some of the most remote and incredible parts of this Earth in the most magical way. Travel with a small group, away from crowds.
We will explore the Galapagos without other ships around, having the islands and spots all to ourselves, at the optimal time to be at each spot: In the early morning or late evening for our walks and before lunch for snorkeling.
Our group will have a maximum of 14 guests, though it may be even smaller, and give us the flexibility to jump in the water to swim with a pod of dolphins, play with penguins or snorkel with sea lions when we spot them.
2. Premium trip
โ
We will stay at 5* accommodation throughout the trip except for 2 nights, and we will be taken care of by a fantastic team of indigenous guides, naturalists and crew, ready to spoil us.
They'll help take our wet suits off, offer a warm drink and some snacks when back from our excursions, prepare rubber boots and ponchos when it rains, and paddle the canoes through the Amazon backwaters.
Most people only visit the Amazon and the Galapagos once, and we have decided to make this an unforgettable one.
3. 100% female and local exchanges
โ
We support local and female owned businesses and that is what makes our trips truly special.
We are proud that this trip will spend 11 of the 12 nights at hotels, lodges and catamarans owned by Ecuadorian women.
Our activities will be led by women from the various communities, from the indigenous people of the Amazon to the Kichwa, giving us the chance to meet and spend time with a range of Ecuadorian women from all walks of life and learn about the rich tapestry Ecuador is made of and its indigenous traditions.
We will be hosted by a female Ecuadorian naturalist guide who will team up with indigenous trackers in the Amazon, experts in Otavalo and a naturalist guide from The Galapagos.
This is a trip that will touch your soul.
4. Environmentally focused itinerary and partners
โ
We care about the preservation of nature and wildlife and about showing respect for the indigenous people.
The Amazon lodge we will stay at is the only certified carbon-neutral accommodation in the Ecuadorian rainforest
Several additional measures have been implemented to make this trip mindful of the fragile eco-systems it visits:
For every guest, a tree will be planted in the Amazon to help with carbon footprint and environmental impact
In the Amazon, fans and an open plan design replace air conditioning units that require fuel and generators and disturb wildlife. We will move around in silent paddle canoes
Food is sourced locally wherever possible, supporting local communities and minimizing transportation footprint
Wildlife sightings are done safely, for us and for the animals. Although it is common for the curious Galapagos animals to come right up to you, we will keep our distance
We will have wildlife experts with us at all times, to make sure we don't do anything that could harm wildlife or people
Wildlife in both the Amazon and the Galapagos is endemic, so it can be observed year-round, but the weather can play a major role in how comfortable and easy those sightings are.
The Amazon and The Galapagos have completely different weather patterns so our trip will take place strategically where it's optimal to visit both based on the weather, water temp, visibility, sea conditions and rainfall.
We will make the most of the minimal light pollution to stargaze and see the Milky Way at night, enjoy balmy sunsets & sunrises, snorkel with good visibility, chill by the cleanest beaches and hopefully enjoy some dry days in the Amazon though this is the rainforest so downpours are expected.
6. Incredible wildlife sightings
โ
Although we can never guarantee a sighting, our expert naturalists and trackers know how to read and spot wildlife and will help us get up and close to the most commonly seen species.
I saw all the below during my trip:
Dozens of sea lions on land and at sea, happy to swim with you
Penguins, who swim with you or chill on the rocks
Hammerhead & white tip sharks
Mantas following our zodiacs and sting rays swimming around
Large schools of tropical fish everywhere
Pods of dolphins following our zodiacs and staying to swim with us
Sea turtles and giant tortoises who live everywhere in Santa Cruz
Thousands of birds many of whom will seek respite from the sun on our shadow or let us get really close: toucans, parrots, macaws, hoatzin, cormorant, herons, Greater Ani, anhinga, owls, Frigatebird, Swallow-tailed gull, Nazca, blue-footed and red-footed boobies, pelicans, finches, albatros, hawks and the queen of the rainforest - the harpy eagle!
Monkeys: Black mantled tamarin monkey, red howler monkeys as our morning alarm clock, squirrel monkeys, dusky titi monkey, spider monkeys, capuchin monkeys and more
Sloths, though typically they are far and great at camouflaging
Piranhas, which we can fish for, and caymans
Tapir and otters
Marine and land iguanas
The best part, I was concerned there would be many bugs around at meal times or in my room but that was not the case thanks to the natural repellent of the lakes around the Amazon lodge.
Yes, there were some mosquitoes (but the beds have netting), and the occasional bug, but nothing which deterred me - and I don't like bugs at all.
This is a TRUE trip of a lifetime for all those who love to get truly off the beaten path, away from civilisation and in the middle of nature. I hope we can share with you.
Launch offer
We are launching this trip with an offer of $500 OFF for the first few guests who book. Offer packages are marked as such in the Book now section of the itinerary page and will be available until stock lasts.
Remember: This trip sold out in 3 weeks when we announced it last year and we expect a similar level of popularity. If you are interested, don't wait up.
Got questions? We have answers!
Reply to this email or book a time to speak to us live here.
Our podcast will be live in a month!
Meg ready to record one of the interviews
Anastasia is editing the first few episodes of our podcast which will launch really soon.
We want to end each episode with one of your most embarrassing travel stories, to remind us all that sh*t happens to the best of us. We'd love for you to submit your stories, which can be read anonymously, on one of the episodes.
With rising oil pries, fuel surcharges airlines add to a ticket price are already increasing. Air New Zealand has announced increases of NZD90 per person for long haul flights and cancellations of dozens of flights, Cathay Pacific is about to double its fuel surcharge tomorrow, Thai Airways has already done so, and other airlines are going to follow suit. See here fro Air New Zealand, here for Thai Airways and here for Cathay Pacific. If you are traveling this year, better not to wait to book your flights and other travel, fuel affects more aspect of a trip than you think (electricity, transportation, etc.) so all could go up. Lock in your price now.
Have you heard of the Japan effect? You tag something as Tokyo and it instantly transforms into a cinematic location. This and other reflections of the West's obsession with Japan. I will be in the country in a week for our first tour, you can follow our itinerary in Instagram stories or join us in June or October.
All major US airlines, Delta, United and American, are expanding their summer services to Spain, maybe this is your sign to visit? Our Barcelona and beyond tour shows you my land and I have especially curated the itinerary, plus I will be there to meet you at the welcome and farewell dinners :) This will be the 5th year and the 10th time we run it so it has been perfected. Read the news here.
Keen and ready to travel? You can see our complete list of tours here. Whe a tour is confirmed, that means you can get your flights already.
I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week and are safe wherever you are.
โ
CO-FOUNDERS, SOLO FEMALE TRAVELERS
Solo Female Travelersโ C/ Europa 18 5-2, Sitges, 08870
โ