Learn about our other Ecotours here.
Join SAVE THE FROGS! in the Ecuadorian Amazon for the adventure of a lifetime! We will be exploring the deep Amazon in search of frogs and other wildlife in one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. If you have questions please email us at contact@savethefrogs.com or call (415) 878-6525.
We are pleased to announce that a brand new SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour will take place July 1st to 7th, 2018! We will explore the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and stay at the La Selva Amazon Ecolodge, a spectacular destination near the border of Yasuni National Park. We will have an abundance of opportunities to find and photograph amphibians and an array of other wildlife.
The final day to express interest in the July 2018 SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour is March 2nd, 2018!
- Trip Cost
- Sign Up
- Photos from our 2016 Ecuador Ecotour
- Photos from our 2017 Ecuador Ecotour
- Are you ready to sign up? Please fill out the Expression of Interest Form and we will be in touch with you soon!
- We hope to see you in Ecuador!
“We never would have imagined the powerful connections we made with both the group and the amazing country of Ecuador and it’s beautiful people. We are forever grateful for your friendship. We are forever changed by our experiences. We will see both you and Ecuador again.”
— Kelly Geer, Participant of the 2016 SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour
Photo from la Selva Amazon Ecolodge courtesy Ruth Van Sciver. Read Ruth’s La Selva story here.
“I can honestly say it was the best trip of my life (and I’ve travelled a lot!)”
– Melissa Steele-Ogus, 2017 SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour Participant
Destinations
Arrival in Quito
The SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour officially begins at 7pm on July 1st, 2018 at Villa Da Fiore, a quaint Italian hacienda just outside Quito. Having housed SAVE THE FROGS! during our 2016 and 2017 Ecuador Ecotours, the family owned business knows exactly how to make our group feel comfortable upon arrival into the country. We will spend one night here to have dinner, meet the group, and go over expectations and logistics for our tour. The stunning property is conveniently close to the airport and looks over the agricultural valley of Tumbaco.
“The Save The Frogs Ecotour was a life changing experience for me. It’s one of the most magical things that I’ve ever experienced.“
— Stephanie Steelman, 2017 SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour Participant
Our 2017 group in front of Villa da Fiore, just prior to descending to the Amazon.
La Selva Amazon Ecolodge
The La Selva Amazon Ecolodge will provide you with an amazing experience in the Ecuadorian Amazon. La Selva (meaning “the jungle”) is widely regarded as the Amazon Basin’s premier ecolodge. The lodge is located in northeastern Ecuador along the Napo River, a major tributary of the mighty Amazon. La Selva is in the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve (home to at least 155 amphibian species!), near the border of Yasuni National Park, world famous as one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. To arrive at the lodge we will take a short flight from Quito to Coca and then board a boat for a two hour journey downriver. There are no roads near La Selva, which is one reason the wildlife is so abundant.
“We stayed at La Selva Jungle Lodge for seven nights in January 2010 and had a wonderful, educational, and entertaining visit. Our nine person group consisted of two families with four boys, ages 6, 8, 9 and 14 plus my 77 year old mother. We all had a GREAT time and can’t wait to go back!”
— SAVE THE FROGS! Supporter Ruth Van Sciver, whose memories of her time at La Selva inspired the creation of this ecotour.
Photo courtesy Ruth Van Sciver. Read Ruth’s La Selva story here.
La Selva sits in the middle of the lush green forests, wild jungle, and flowing rivers. We will stay at La Selva for four nights (July 2,3,4,5 2018) in very comfortable accomodation surrounded by the calls of birds and sounds of nature. Our days and nights will be spent:
- Searching for frogs, salamanders and caecilians
- Birdwatching — there are toucans, macaws, and parrots — as well as over 500 other bird species known from La Selva.
- Hiking through the jungle with monkeys
- Learning about ecology, medicinal plants and the history of the region
- Climbing observation towers
- Canoeing
- Stargazing
- Eating fabulous Ecuadorian cuisine
- All activities are optional, so there will be plenty of opportunities for relaxation
The La Selva Amazon Ecolodge has very comfortable accommodations and exceptionally high TripAdvisor reviews. We first heard of the lodge from a long-time SAVE THE FROGS! supporter who had an amazing time there and showed us her video of the abundant wildlife she found. We expect to have an amazing time at La Selva and hope you will be there with us!
The La Selva Amazon Ecolodge from above.
We expect to see lots of squirrel monkeys!
The lush Ecuadorian Amazon.
Quito
We will spend our final night (July 6th, 2018) of the ecotour in the Historic Center of Quito. Participants will have the opportunity to take a walking tour of the Historical Center. Hikers can ride up the Teleferico (the world’s highest operating cable car) and take a hike high above the city; SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger enjoys this hike so much, he has done it three times! You can also shop in local artisanal markets to bring home souvenirs. We will conclude our tour with a delicious meal overlooking the city and enjoy our final night together! In the morning (July 7th, 2018), we will have breakfast and depart with wonderful frog-filled memories of Ecuador!
Cotopaxi at sunset, view from above the Teleferico
Rucu Pichincha (4,794m above sea level), the extinct volcano above Quito.
It may be a major city, but Quito does have frogs! We found this frog calling below the Teleferico during the 2016 SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour.
Centro Historico in Quito
Group Size
Our group will consist of 15 participants and 2 trip leaders (SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger and Ecuadorian herpetologist Jaime Culebras). We will also have many local guides assisting and sharing their knowledge along the way. We split into multiple groups whenever possible when we are searching for wildlife or going on hikes.
Who comes on a SAVE THE FROGS! Ecotour? All types of nature enthusiasts and travelers! We’ve had professional biologists and people with no experience in environmental fields; kids as young as 9; adult kids with 83 years of life experience; people from the USA, Mexico, New Zealand, the UK and elsewhere. If you love frogs and exploring new places, you will love the SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour!
Know Before You Go
Are you ready for an experience of a lifetime? Traveling in Ecuador may be a different experience than what you are accustomed to, so we have written a few things we would love to pass along! Please click here to get prepared for your adventure in Ecuador.
We will probably see some snakes in Ecuador…that’s one reason we start the tour with a safety discussion! A bit of preparation goes a long way to ensuring you have a safe and pleasant ecotour.
Meet Your Trip Leaders
Dr. Kerry Kriger
Hi, my name is Dr. Kerry Kriger and I am the Founder & Executive Director of SAVE THE FROGS!. I am an amphibian biologist and have helped coordinate over 1,900 educational events in 60+ countries to raise awareness of the threats amphibians face and ways people can help. I have led four SAVE THE FROGS! Ecotours (Belize 2013 & 2015; Ecuador 2016; and Costa Rica 2017) and been involved with the conception and organization of several other tours. I have traveled to at least 55 countries, including every country in Central and South America. I first visited Ecuador in 2015 to develop the inaugural SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour, and returned in 2016 to lead the tour, which was a huge success. Ecuador has incredible nature, wildlife, scenery and food, and I am very excited to introduce you to Ecuador’s amphibians as well as the country’s relaxing lifestyle. Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet and our SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour will be something you will remember for the rest of your life. I am looking forward to frogging Ecuador with you!
SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger at the base of Rucu Pichincha, an extinct volcano above Quito.
Jaime Culebras
Jaime Culebras is an Ecuador-based Spanish wildlife photographer who spends his life taking pictures and researching for conservation. Jaime joined our 2016 and 2017 Ecuador Ecotours and will be accompanying both our 2018 tours as well. Jaime is a wealth of knowledge on all things amphibian and reptile and can also give you lots of photography tips.
More than just an ecotour
We will get to indulge in many activities, not just frogwatching! There will be lots of frog filled excitement through each place, but we will also learn about ecosystems, conservation, and environmental protection. We will see a variety of wildlife and experience the local culture. With a group of SAVE THE FROGS! participants there is sure to be lots of smiles, laughs, and learning going around.
Trip Cost
Are you ready to join SAVE THE FROGS! in Ecuador? Fabulous!
The July 2018 SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour pricing is as follows:
Name Your Own Price Here Through March 21st, 2018
All proceeds support SAVE THE FROGS! worldwide amphibian conservation efforts, enabling us to protect amphibians and promote a society that respects and appreciates wildlife and nature. Your participation not only helps our conservation programs, it directly benefits the lodges and communities that actively protect the frog habitats we visit.
Your ecotour payment will cover:
- all lodging
- all meals
- in-country transportation (e.g. airport transfers on July 1st and 7th; roundtrip flight from Quito to the Amazon; boat rides, etc…)
- world-class tour guides and their scientific expertise
- park entrance fees
- Tips to our local guides and waitstaff
It is your responsibility to pay your own costs of:
- Airfare from your home country to Ecuador and the return flight
- snacks
- alcoholic beverages
- travel insurance
- optional adventure tourism activities
- souvenirs
- we also encourage you to tip your SAVE THE FROGS! guides if you like them (which we are certain you will!)
Payment Options & Securing Your Space On The Tour
To secure your space on the tour, you can pay a $1,000 per person non-refundable deposit if you prefer not to pay in full all at once. Full payment is due by May 1st, 2018. Failure to pay in full by May 1st, 2018 may result in forfeiture of your deposit money and your space on the ecotour. We accept checks and credit card.
Sunset above Quito, with Cotopaxi in the background
Terms & Conditions
In order to take part on this trip, you will be required to sign a liability waiver acknowledging the inherent risks of ecotourism in Ecuador, and legally releasing SAVE THE FROGS! and affiliated trip operators and personnel from legal damages and consequences. Please click here for our full ecotour terms and conditions and to review our payment and refund policy.
“I work in ecotourism and would love to do an ecotour in a different ecosystem and photograph frogs, turtles, sloths, plants, landscapes, etc. I think it’s important to choose tours that are ecologically conscious and responsible and SAVE THE FROGS! sounds like a great option.”
— Sara G., Ecology teacher, Chile
Photo of Epipedobates bilinguis by Dr. Kaya Klop-Toker
Sign Up For The Experience Of A Lifetime!
If you are considering joining the SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador Ecotour and you want to have the trip of your lifetime, then you are in the right place! Please take a few moments to complete the Expression of Interest Form below, and we will be in touch with you soon to answer all your questions and help you register. We are looking forward to finding frogs and enjoying spectacular scenery with you!
Photo of Pristimantis ornatissimus by Jaime Culebras, who will be joining our group in the Amazon to share his amphibian and photographic expertise.
Flight Info
Arrival:
Do your best to arrive at Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) by 5pm on July 1st, 2018 so you can be at our 7:30pm dinner that evening. Know that our group will fly together to the Amazon on the morning of July 2nd and it is your responsibility for ensuring you are with us in time for that flight. Missing that flight would be very unfortunate, so we encourage you to arrive in Ecuador a day early if at all possible: international flights have been known to get delayed and we do not want you to arrive late.
Departure:
You can fly out of UIO anytime on July 7th.
Want to arrive early or stay late?
We can provide travel recommendations or arrange a private tour. Dr. Kriger is organizing an excursion to Laguna Quilatoa, a famous high-altitude lake perfect for Andes hiking. This will likely take place July 8th to 11th. Let us know if you would like to join this unofficial add-on.
Monkey Frog photo by Katie O’Donnell, who participated in the SAVE THE FROGS! Ecuador and Peru Ecotours.
Thanks for your interest in SAVE THE FROGS! Ecotours and we hope to see you in Ecuador in July!
