Amazon & Galapagos (Ecuador Nature)

Your Ecuadorian adventure begins in Quito, the second-highest capital in the world, nestled in the Andes mountains. A city known for its dramatic setting and well-preserved history, it offers a breathtaking introduction to the country. To ensure a smooth arrival, a guide and driver will welcome you at the airport and oversee your private transfer to your hotel. Relax and settle in as you prepare for the days ahead.

Meals: (X)

Today, you will immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Quito. The day is dedicated to a Colonial City Tour, where you will explore the historic center—a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its narrow cobblestone streets, grand plazas, and ornate churches. Following this journey through the past, you will head to the “Mitad del Mundo” (Middle of the World). Here, you can straddle the equator line, standing with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere, a unique experience that defines this region.

Meals: (B, L)

Prepare to leave the highlands behind as you transfer to the airport for your flight to Coca. This journey marks your entry into the lush, vibrant world of the Amazon Rainforest. After a 30-minute commercial flight a representative will transfer you by private transportation to the city’s main dock at the Napo River. The next two hours will be on a motorized canoe heading down river on what will be the beginning of an unforgettable experience in the tropical rainforest, the Amazon.

Your immersion into the Amazon begins as you trade the hum of the motorized canoe for the silence of a paddle canoe, gliding through the water for the final leg of your journey to the lodge. Staff will handle your luggage while you are welcomed at the main dock with refreshing juice and a briefing on life at the lodge. To acquaint you with this new environment, a Naturalist Guide will provide an introduction to the rainforest ecosystem. You will then embark on the Matapalo Trail, named after the famous Strangler Fig. Here, you can admire 400-year-old Mahogany trees and witness the forest transition from day to night, as nocturnal animals begin to stir. The evening concludes with cocktails at the bar and a seated dinner.

Meals: (B, L, D)

We rise before the sun to capture the most active time of the day. A short walk leads you to the Observation Tower, a stunning construction rising 120 feet above the forest floor. From this vantage point, your guides will help you spot colorful birds and primates in the canopy. On the return trip via the Tucaneta Trail, you will learn about medicinal plants still used today. After lunch and a rest, explore the Charapa Trail, a loop winding from the lodge to the lagoon’s edge, offering excellent opportunities to see mammals and monkeys searching for food. As the sun sets, enjoy the view from a canoe on the water. The adventure continues after dark with a guided spotlight canoe ride to seek out caimans and other nightlife, or simply to gaze at the incredible Amazonian stars.

Meals: (B, L, D)

Today you return to the Napo River for a motorized canoe ride to the clay licks—one of nature’s most fascinating displays—where hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather to eat mineral-rich soil. Following this, you will visit a local community center for a unique cultural exchange. A Kichua woman will welcome you, offering a rare glimpse into the daily life and traditions of the indigenous people of the Amazon. In the afternoon, enjoy a walk along the Coto Trail near the Garzacocha Lagoon. The lighting at this time of day is perfect for photography and spotting groups of black-mantled tamarin monkeys or even tapirs. Your guides will deepen your understanding of the flora and fauna before a peaceful canoe ride brings you back to the lodge.

Meals: (B, L, D)

Following an early wake-up call and breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to the jungle. The lodge staff will assist with your luggage as you travel upstream by motorized canoe back to Coca. Upon arrival, representatives will meet you to assist with the transfer to the airport and your check-in procedures for your flight back to Quito.

Meals: (B)

AM: Today, you head to the legendary Galapagos Islands. Your guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight. You will fly from Quito to the Galapagos to begin your exploration of this unique living laboratory of evolution.

Arrive at San Cristobal airport where you will be met by our staff and escorted to the vessel to begin your adventure! We will embark at from San Cristobal Port.

PM: A visit to the David Rodriguez Breeding Center provides information about the origin and evolution of the giant tortoise and explains why the center is so vital in safeguarding the future of these incredible creatures. Walking through the trails of the reserve, you can see baby tortoises being reared in semi-natural conditions – a brilliant demonstration of the commitment the local people have to preserving the wildlife that makes the Galapagos so special.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: Suarez Point is packed with wildlife and is best explored by following the circular walking trail. This memorable walk will take you past nesting sites of large colonies of nazca and blue-footed boobies and mockingbirds. Unique to Española island are also the beautiful waved albatross, that can be seen majestically launching themselves out across the ocean from the cliffs and the red and green marine iguanas. A geological highlight are several blow holes, capable of shooting water 25m into the air, that make for a spectacular photo.

PM: The pristine white sandy beach of Gardner Bay dotted with sea lions provides a perfect spot to relax and kayaking or paddle boarding is a fantastic way to observe the large number of waved albatross who use this beach as a breeding site.

A short dinghy ride will take you to the Gardner and Osborn Islets, which are superb locations for snorkeling with young sea lions and a variety of colorful tropical fish and corals.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: Cormorant Point features two contrasting beaches: one with olive-green sand due to the high content of olivine crystals, and another with pure white sand (commonly known as ‘Flour Beach’) derived from pulverized coral. The saltwater pond is a must-see as it is frequented by one of the archipelago’s largest populations of Galapagos flamingos as well as other shorebirds such as stilts, white-cheeked pintails and large-billed flycatchers. Afterwards, guests will take a dinghy ride to Devil´s Crown, an underwater volcanic crater that is almost completely submerged – in fact, just a small portion of the rock formation can be seen from above, and it looks like a crown. Snorkelers will discover a vast underwater world full of coral reefs and a myriad of marine species. Birds are also part of this visitor point due to its location in open waters.

PM: Post Office Bay is a man-made site that offers an insight into a remarkable mailing tradition developed by British whalers in the 18th century, that visitors can still take part in today. The beach here provides for good snorkeling and kayaking and it is also possible to descend into and walk through a lava tube. Next, take a dinghy ride to the Baroness’ Lookout, a volcanic rock formation named after an Australian baroness, who visited the island in the 1930’s and is believed to have mysteriously disappeared. A short trail leads to a brilliant vantage point with panoramic views of the surrounding mangroves and coastline.

Meals: (B, L, D)

Mosquera islet is a small, flat, sandy islet located between Baltra and North Seymour islands. With no fixed trail, you are free to explore the beautiful surroundings on foot, where you will encounter a large population of sea lions, shorebirds and the striking Sally Lightfoot crabs that cling to the dark rocks. The numerous coral reefs also make it a fantastic site for snorkeling and catching sight of a range of marine life including sharks, turtles and rays.

Disembark from the cruise at Baltra Port. After the early morning visit, get ready and then be taken to Baltra Airport, crossing the highlands of Santa Cruz Island by car. Our airport personnel will assist yoy with the check-in process.

Your island expedition concludes as you fly back to the mainland. Upon landing in Quito, a shuttle transfer will take you to your airport hotel, providing a comfortable and easy stopover for your final night in Ecuador.

Meals: (B)

Your trip comes to a close with a shuttle transfer to the airport for your international flight. You depart carrying the memories of colonial cities, the Amazonian jungle, and the enchanting Galapagos Islands.

Meals: (B)