Day 1
Welcome to Quito, where you will be met by your Local Host
Day 2
Fly to Coca and travel by canoe trip downriver to your selected Amazon lodge, your home base for the next three nights
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 3
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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 4
At the Napo Wildlife Center: Continue your Amazon exploration. (B,L,D)
At the Sacha Lodge: Continue your Amazon exploration
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 5
Depart your Amazon lodge and fly from Coca to Quito today. The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure
BreakfastDay 6
Your included private city tour showcases Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the basilica
BreakfastDay 7
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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 8
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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 9
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!
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 10
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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 11
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
BreakfastDay 12
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning
BreakfastDay 13
ECUADOR
Day 14
QUITO–COCA–AMAZON LODGE
Day 15
AMAZON LODGE
Day 16
AMAZON LODGE
Day 17
COCA–QUITO
Day 18
QUITO
Day 19
QUITO–BALTRA (EMBARKATION)–GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
Day 20
CRUISING: SANTIAGO ISLAND
Day 21
CRUISING: RÁBIDA & BARTOLOMÉ ISLANDS
Day 22
CRUISING: GENOVESA ISLAND
Day 23
CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ (DISEMBARKATION)–BALTRA–GUAYAQUIL
Day 24
GUAYAQUIL
Day 25
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 26
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 27
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 28
Breakfast
Day 29
Breakfast
Day 30
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 31
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 32
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 33
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 34
Breakfast
Day 35
Breakfast
Day 36 ECUADOR
Welcome to Quito, where you will be met by your Local Host
Day 37 QUITO–COCA–AMAZON LODGE.
Fly to Coca and travel by canoe trip downriver to your selected Amazon lodge, your home base for the next three nights
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 38 AMAZON LODGE.
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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 39 AMAZON LODGE.
At the Napo Wildlife Center: Continue your Amazon exploration. (B,L,D)
At the Sacha Lodge: Continue your Amazon exploration
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 40 COCA–QUITO.
Depart your Amazon lodge and fly from Coca to Quito today. The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure
BreakfastDay 41 QUITO.
Your included private city tour showcases Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the basilica
BreakfastDay 42 QUITO–BALTRA (EMBARKATION)–GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND.
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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 43 CRUISING: SANTIAGO ISLAND.
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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 44 CRUISING: RÁBIDA & BARTOLOMÉ ISLANDS.
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!
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 45 CRUISING: GENOVESA ISLAND.
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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 46 CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ (DISEMBARKATION)–BALTRA–GUAYAQUIL.
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
BreakfastDay 47 GUAYAQUIL.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.