Ecuador, Galapagos Islands and Western Amazon Adventure

Feb. 23 – March 12, 2011
18 days

A sea lion pup in the Galapagos Islands

Day 1, Feb. 23 - Depart for Quito, Ecuador. Arrive late in the evening and transfer to the hotel (Dann Carlton or similar).

Day 2, Feb. 24 - In the morning, enjoy a Quito city tour - In Centro Histórico, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, enjoy a panoramic view of Alameda Park and Basilica, walk down the Street of the Seven Crosses. Stroll from Independence Square to view the presidential palace, main cathedral, gold-plated La Compañía Church, San Francisco Church and San Francisco Plaza.

The Basilica of the National Vow (Basílica del Voto Nacional) in Quito

(Day 2 continued) At midday, head north to the equator to the monument at Middle of the World (Mitad del Mundo). Choice: Visit the Ethnographic Museum or the Inti Ñan Museum, both located near the site of the monument. Return to hotel in Quito.

Monument at the Middle of the World

Day 3, Feb. 25 - Jungle lodge adventure. Transfer to airport for flight to Coca, Ecuador (also known as Puerto Francisco de Orellana). Transfer by Chiva (open bus) to a dock. Board a motorized canoe for transport to Sacha Lodge, Ecuador. Arrive at 4:00 pm. Refresh from the equatorial heat with a swim in Lake Pilchicocha (a black water lake with fish and animals), or at a mini tower, observe bird species that thrive near the lodge, and watch the sun setting. Visit butterfly house with a naturalist guide to relish the brilliant colors of different species. After dinner, join a naturalist guide on a night walk through the rainforest. View animal species found only at night, or silently paddle canoes on the lake to view spectacled and black caimans with glowing orange eyes.

Butterflies in the rainforest of Ecuador

Day 4, Feb. 26 - Jungle lodge adventure at Sacha Lodge, Ecuador. Activities begin 6:00-7:00 am (full day / box lunch). Hike Trail Liana Chica, arrive at a canopy walk for spectacular views of the rainforest canopy with vibrantly colored birds. Walk Liana Grande through terra firma and igapo forest habitats. Native guides explain the use of medicinal plants in the culture. Continue to Trail Higueron. Pass through pristine primary forest with huge, towering kapok and fig trees. Arrive at Finca for a prepared lunch. From the Finca, choose a leisurely hike along Rio Napo, or a more challenging hike on trail Leoncillo to try spotting an elusive dusky titi monkey. Continue to the main boardwalk for a final hike and canoe ride back to the lodge.

A dusky titi monkey

Day 5, Feb. 27 - Jungle lodge adventure at Sacha Lodge. After breakfast, depart the lodge and hike trail Lagartococha to learn about native people and their relationship with the forest. Discover trees in which native people believe spirits of ancestors live, and mysterious “dwende” or devil-man of the forest. At Lake Lagartococha, ride a canoe through a tranquil natural swamp, home to anacondas, caimans, and capybaras. Walk on the opposite side of Largatococha to spot capuchin or squirrel monkeys playfully jumping through trees. Return to the lodge for a swim in the lake, or enjoy a nap in your balcony’s hammock. After lunch, a native guide provides fishing instructions for razor-toothed piranha. Piranhas don’t attack people, swimming is safe. At 4:00 pm, begin the best trail at Sacha, a silent canoe ride through flooded Amazonian forest encircled by troops of squirrel, capuchin, and howler monkeys. Keep your eyes peeled for shy, elusive river otters, and well-camouflaged three-toed sloths! Arrive at Sacha´s 135-foot wooden tower built around an ancient Kapok tree. Observe vibrantly colored birds through powerful scopes, watch the sun setting behind amazing Mount Sumaco, a volcano, and perhaps view Andes’ snow-covered caps! The mesmerizing canoe ride back through flooded forest at night is an awe-inspiring experience: Listen to symphony of frogs and insects, keep your eyes open for caimans, watch several species of bats flying overhead, listen to eerie nighttime calls of nocturnal birds. Return to Lake Pilchicocha and the lights of Sacha Lodge.

Three-toed sloth

Day 6, Feb. 28 - Return to Quito by air, arriving around noon. Transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Day 7, March 1 - A free day to relax, shop, and explore Quito.

Day 8, March 2 - Quito - Otavalo - Ibarra. Chaski Antawa Messenger Train & Otavalo Indian Market. This morning, depart Quito with guide, and head to Otavalo, Ecuador, famous for its weekly artesian market. Along the Pan-Am Highway, stop at Calderon, famous for making "masapan" dolls. Continue to Guayllabamba town, Ecuador with its typical fruit, cherimoyer. Stop and admire the beautiful landscapes and snow-capped mountains in the area. Reach the city of Ibarra, Ecuador. A messenger train runs on railway built in the early 20th century, connecting northern highlands to tropical coast. From Ibarra, the train climbs down to the warm, dry valley of Ambuqui, through sugarcane plantations, magical landscapes, tunnels and across bridges spanning deep canyons and gullies. The 26-km ride to Salinas plunges from 2,200 down to 1,500 meters above sea level (7,216 to 4,920 feet) in two hours. Enjoy a unique lunch at a social project called Chaski Antawa Restaurant, which helps the Valley of Salinas and surrounding area by raising the standard of living. Sites include Otavalo with its indigenous arts and crafts market, the largest in South America. Return to Quito.

Crafts made in Ecuador

Day 9, March 3 - Quito - Galapagos. Onboard M/V Galapagos Legend (a 5-star, expedition-style ship) - After an early breakfast, transfer with guide to Quito Airport. Fly to the Galapagos Islands (the flight is about 2.5 hours on a Boeing 727).

Arrive at Baltra Island (marked B on the map), a small island of the Galapagos Islands. Pass through an inspection point to ensure that no foreign plants or animals enter the islands. Meet guide, ride a bus to the harbour. Motorized rafts ("Pangas") transport you to the ship M/V Galapagos Legend (a ship) where the crew welcomes you.

The ship (M/V Galapagos Legend)

After departure and lunch, visit the first island: Bartolomé - Dry landing. View volcanic formations: lava bombs, spatter cones, and cinder cones. Hike to the summit, then view surrounding islands, including Pinnacle Rock’s eroded tuff cone. During a hike to the summit, colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tequila, and various cacti are often seen. Snorkel and see Galapagos penguin, sea turtles, whitetip reef sharks from a safe distance.

Pinnacle Rock

Day 10, March 4 - Cruise. Urbina Bay (Isabela Island). Wet landing. Visit fossil beach and coral area, perhaps observe giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants. Walk, then snorkel. Fernandina Island (Espinosa Point). Dry landing. See the largest marine iguanas mingling with sally lightfoot crabs, and flightless cormorants at nesting sites, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions. Locate brachycereus cactus, pahoehoe lava and A'a lava formations. Mangrove beds extend to the sea.

Sally lightfoot crab (Grapsus grapsus)

Day 11, March 5 - Cruise. Santiago Island (Egas Port). Wet landing on a dark sand beach. Most landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. Observe hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, yellow-crowned night herons, and oystercatchers. View marine iguanas grazing on algae beds alongside red sally light-foot crabs, a colony of fur seals swimming in deep cool-water pools. Swim, snorkel, find octopuses, seahorses, star fish. Rábida (Jervis). Wet landing. Volcano-formed dark red beach frequented by sea lions, is considered the "geographic center of Galapagos" - it has the most diverse volcanic rocks on the Islands. Hike to a salt water lagoon. At times, one finds flamingoes, brown pelicans nesting in salty bushes, Boobies, and 9 species of Darwin’s finches. Ride along reefs in a dinghy, snorkel.

Yellow-crowned night heron
A blue-footed booby

Day 12, March 6 - Santa Cruz Island - Charles Darwin Research Station. Travel to Santa Cruz Island and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Admire giant tortoises in the breeding program, prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Have free time to walk around town, shop for souvenirs. Trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz, visit Cerro Chato to observe the famous giant tortoises. Walk inside dormant lava tubes.

Explore a lava tube

Day 13, March 7 - Galapagos - Guayaquil. Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach). Wet landing. Explore a white-sand beach on the north side of Santa Cruz Island. Encounter sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles and swim. Return to the Galapagos Legend for check out. Transfer to Baltra’s airport for your flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador. Transfer to hotel (Oro Verde or similar).

Day 14, March 8 - Guayaquil - Salinas. Venture out on a half-day city tour that includes Iguana Park, Malecón 2000, and Santa Ana Hill. Transfer to Salinas beach. Transfer to Salinas beach on southwest Pacific coast. Free time. Overnight at Barcelo Colon Miramar, Playa Salinas, Ecuador.

Salinas beach

Day 15, March 9 - Salinas. Day at leisure.

Day 16, March 10 - Salinas - Guayaquil. Morning at leisure, then transfer to Guayaquil.

Day 17, March 11 - Guayaquil - City Tour and Historic Park. Tour the Port of Guayaquil: Heart of the commercial zone, Parque Centenario, Palacio Municipal, Moorish Clock Tower, Sucre’s monument, Bolívar Park (“Iguanas Park”), and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Head to Crystal Palace, Integration Square, Square of the Flags and Olmedo Plaza, just south of Malecón 2000. After optional lunch, drive half hour to Guayaquil’s historical park located in Canton Samborondón. With eight hectares divided into three zones, this park presents a wildlife area displaying flora and fauna native to this ecosystem plus extinct animal species. The park aims to rebuild habitat to display to the modern world. The Zone of Traditions shows native rural architecture of Montubio native people, labor instruments, clothing, household items, daily life objects from of countryside. In early evening, return to hotel for farewell dinner, as well as a free evening.

Banana plant

Day 18, March 12 - Guayaquil. Rodeo Grande Hacienda. Tour a banana farm, Skipper: 275 acres of bananas grow under Dole’s contract, producing 270,000 boxes of bananas per year exporting to USA and Europe. Farm was awarded ISO 14000 Certificate for care of environment. Visit adjoining 3000 acre cattle farm on Ecuadorian coastal plain only 10 meters above sea level. The farm is worked by cowboys in traditional ways, caring for 1500 head of cattle and buffaloes. Extensive land usage allows ranching to coexist with abundant wildlife: birds, ostrich, sloth, iguanas, squirrels, turtles, snakes, plus flowering trees in vivid colours. Estimated tour duration is 8 hours. Evening: Transfer to Guayaquil Airport for a very early morning flight to Canada on March 13.

Please note that the itinerary may change. Contact us for a full itinerary, for price information or about any other questions you may have.

 

Mountains in Ecuador

 

A tanager (bird) in Ecuador

 

Llama in Ecuador

Contact us for a full itinerary, for price information or about any other questions you may have.

Image Credits: Sea Lion Pup by dagpeak on Flickr. Clock tower at the Basilica by Pictures from Heather on Flickr. Ecuadorian Rainforest: Butterfly house by jrubinic on Flickr. Dusky Titi Monkey (Callicebus moloch) by cliff1066™ on Flickr. The photo of the three-toed sloth was released into the public domain by its author, Tauchgurke on Wikimedia Commons. Mitad del Mundo - Middle of the earth by Fred Hsu on Flickr. They're looking at you..! (the owl crafts) by kaibara87 on Flickr. The map of the Galapagos Islands was released into the public domain by its author, Indolences on Wikimedia Commons. DSC_3988 (M/V Galapagos Legend) by nik z32 on Flickr. IXS_5377 (Pinnacle Rock) by acme on Flickr. Sally Lightfoot Crab by Mike Weston on Flickr. Yellow-crowned Night Heron by kansasphoto on Flickr. IMG_0086.JPL (blue-footed booby) by Tim Blair on Flickr. Lava Tube by mdove64 on Flickr. Salinas, Ecuador by Rinaldo W. on Flickr. Banana tree, Rarotonga, Cook Islands by g-hat on Flickr. Landscape (mountains) by Pictures from Heather on Flickr. Grass-green Tanager by Michael Woodruff on Flickr. Wanted Llama by L.Marcio_Ramalho on Flickr. Unless otherwise noted, all photos on this page are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.