Cruising the Galápagos on board the Santa Cruz II with Ecuador's Amazon 2021

Welcome to Quito, where you will be met by your Local Host

Fly to Coca and travel by canoe trip downriver to your selected Amazon lodge, your home base for the next three nights
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At the Napo Wildlife Center: Your time in the Amazon accompanied by a Local Guide includes early morning EXCURSIONS to parrot clay licks; dugout canoe rides in search of river otters, potoos, kingfishers, hoatzins, jacamars, hawks, and monkeys; and walks along the canopy platform to view Sspider Mmonkeys, aracaris, toucans, Bblue and Ggold Macaws, numerous species of tanagers, and the Rred-Rrumped Ccacique. In your free time, consider a walk through the jungle in search of interesting plants and colorful or well-camouflaged insects. You are also invited to join families of the Anangu indigenous community on their daily activities, such as harvesting bananas, coco, and manioc. (B,L,D) At the Sacha Lodge: During your stay, enjoy NATURE EXCURSIONS with a Naturalist who introduces you to the Amazon. On the suspended rainforest canopy walk, your Naturalist points out many different species of vibrantly colored birds. Jungle walks show off the immense biodiversity and medicinal plants that have been used by the native cultures for hundreds of years. Visit the lodge’s butterfly house, one of Ecuador’s largest, and take a night walk or canoe ride with a Local Guide to discover creatures that can rarely be seen during the day! You will also cruise through the flooded forest in search of troops of squirrels, capuchin, and howler monkeys—and maybe even the incredibly well camouflaged 3-toed sloth. After fishing for piranhas, arrive at the Kapok Tree tower, perched 135-feet high. Get close-up views of birds as the sun sets on volcanic Mount Sumaco and the Andes
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At the Napo Wildlife Center: Continue your Amazon exploration. (B,L,D) At the Sacha Lodge: Continue your Amazon exploration
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Depart your Amazon lodge and fly from Coca to Quito today. The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure
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Your included private city tour showcases Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the basilica
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Fly to the Galápagos Islands and board the Santa Cruz II. Visit Las Bachas on Santa Cruz Island, an important nesting area for the East Pacific green sea turtle. See brackish lagoons just steps away from the sea, a feeding ground for various wading birds—from stilts to flamingos
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Arrive at Buccaneer Cove on Santiago Island to explore the dramatic coastline inhabited by a large number of marine birds, sea lions, and inter-tidal organisms. You will also have the opportunity to snorkel and take a ride on the panga or the glass-bottom boat. Later, at Puerto Egas—known for its black-sand beach, tuff-stone layers, and lava flows—see land and marine birds, as well as a colony of fur sea lions, marine iguanas, and marine turtles
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Visit Rábida Island with its red-colored beach, caused by the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. Your Naturalist will point out large colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. Very close to the beach, a salt pond occasionally hosts American flamingos. Snorkel from the beach to see the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. At Bartolomé Island, hike to the summit for a stunning view of Pinnacle Rock. Take a snorkel or a ride on the glass-bottom boat and possibly see Galápagos penguins in tropical waters!
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On Genovesa Island, take a walk up Prince Phillip’s Steps as your Naturalist reveals large colonies of masked boobies, blue- and red-footed boobies, frigatebirds, storm petrels, and short-eared owls. In the afternoon, disembark on a beautiful beach at Darwin Bay to observe frigatebirds, red-footed and masked boobies, herons, finches, and mockingbirds. Return to the beach for snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming
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Disembark at the north shore of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to a Tortoise Reserve in the highlands. Here, you will see and learn about the Giant Galápagos Tortoises living in the wild and what is being done to help preserve these ancient creatures. Later, fly to Guayaquil
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Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.