Experience the magic of Ecuador on a holiday to the Andes, the Amazon and the Galapagos.
Departures: Weekly on Saturdays
Length: 12 days / 11 nights
Destinations: Quito / Amazon Rainforest Napo Wildlife Center / Galapagos Islands Cruise (choose from a 5-day Western Islands Cruise or a 5-day Eastern Islands Cruise) / Guayaquil
Cruise: 5 days / 4 nights on the Archipel I or Archipel II Galapagos catamarans.
Alternative Cruises: We tailor all our holidays to suit our own travel style and wishes and can include a wide range of alternative Galapagos cruises in this holiday to replace the Archipel Catamaran to suit your preferred cruise style or budget. Please contact us for further information.
Highlights: Experience the three key geographic regions of Ecuador in one epic journey: the Andes, the Amazon and the Galapagos. Start in Quito and tour this UNESCO World Heritage city before travelling to the Amazon for a stay in the excellent Napo Wildlife Center for a wildlife-watching extravaganza then finish your holiday with a 5 day cruise through the Galapagos Islands.
Tailor Made: This is a suggested holiday that can be booked exactly as described if you wish or that can be used to help inspire you on the fascinating journeys and destinations in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Like all our holidays this itinerary can be tailored, customised and crafted by our friendly experts to suit your own travel style, personal requirements, wishes, budget and interests. Simply get in touch to discuss, and we would be delighted to create a truly personalised holiday for you.
Holiday Itinerary
Arrive in Quito to start your wonderful holiday in Ecuador. On arrival we will meet you and escort you to your hotel in the heart of Quito. The remainder of the day is free time for you to relax following your flight and to explore this wonderful city.
Meals: None
Overnight: Central hotel in Quito
Today you will enjoy a city tour through the fabulous UNESCO World Heritage City of Quito. Visit the stunning Compañia de Jesús (Church of the Society of Jesus) with its fantastically ornate gold interior, and explore San Francisco Convent nearby on Plaza de San Francisco to learn about the fascinating religious history of this city. The tour concludes with a visit to the Virgen del Panecillo lookout which is dominated by a giant iconic landmark statue of madonna and which has incredible landscape views over Quito and of the Andes beyond.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Central hotel in Quito
Today we will escort you to Quito airport for the short flight to the town of Coca in the Ecuadorian jungle. On arrival you will be met by your jungle guide and from Coca will travel to the lodge by motorised canoe along the Napo River, a fabulous journey where you can sit back and spot kingfisher, heron and other birdlife fishing in the waters. After 2 hours there is a short break where you transfer to paddle canoes to enter the Yasuni National Park (no motors, to protect the environment around the lodge and within the park), reaching the lodge via a narrow stream which opens into the beautiful Añangu Lake. On arrival at the Napo Wildlife Center, which sits on the banks of the lake, you will be welcomed with drinks and will have time to relax and enjoy the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (box lunch during journey), Evening Meal
Overnight: Napo Wildlife Center Lodge
A fabulous day of wildlife watching begins early as you depart from the lodge to travel to a parrot clay lick to marvel at the natural spectacle of up to 11 species of birds, including parrots, macaws and parakeets, descending from the trees to the lick to ingest the clay. After admiring this colourful display you will enjoy a short hike through the jungle to visit the Kichwa Anangu community where you will have the opportunity to meet some of the families and children of the community and learn about their traditions and way of life. From the community a further jungle hike visits a second clay lick and here you will enjoy lunch in the company of the nature all around you. In the afternoon you return to the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Meal
Overnight: Napo Wildlife Center Lodge
Today begins with a short 30 minute hike through the forest to visit a 36m high canopy tower which provides stunning views across the landscape and a great opportunity to get the chance to see the birdlife from up close. As you climb the steps of the tower you journey through the canopy to observe the different levels of the forest, and from the top the birdlife comes to life with the chance to spot flocks of tanagers, blue-and-yellow macaws and large toucans. The wildlife watching continues in the afternoon when you will enjoy a hike along a Terra Firme forest trail to discover the forest and try to spot a variety of wildlife including lizards, snakes, monkeys (including Golden Mantle Tamarin monkey) and bizarre insects. The day concludes with a visit to the Añangu Lake and the streams which feed it that are home to a variety of species including the Giant Amazon Otter.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Meal
Overnight: Napo Wildlife Center Lodge
This morning you will leave the lodge early to return by paddle canoe out of the national park, and by motorised canoe back to Coca for a return flight to Quito. The journey across the lake and along the rivers provides another opportunity to spot the wildlife of this incredible region. On arrival in Quito we will meet you and escort you to you hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Central hotel in Quito
Day 7 (Thu) This morning we will escort you to Quito airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands where you will meet your guide and begin your Galapagos cruise. Your first visit is to the green highlands of Santa Cruz Island where you will spot wild Galapagos Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat.
Day 8 (Fri) Start today with a visit to Tintoreras, a collection of jagged rocky islets which make a fabulous location to spot penguins, sea lions and white-tipped reef sharks. In the afternoon enjoy a land excursion on Isabela Island, the largest in the archipelago, to spot flamingos and to visit the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Centre.
Day 9 (Sat) Enjoy an overland trail hike at Moreno Point following a "Pahohoe" lava trail to spot birds in the nearby creeks and mangroves. This afternoon embark on a panga-boat excursion to spot wildlife including flightless cormorants, sea turtles and penguins at the Marielas Islets.
Day 10 (Sun) This morning visit Tagus Cove to spot penguins and to embark on a short hike up to the cliff tops for views of Darwin Lake. Espinoza Point is the only visitor site on Fernandina Island and this afternoon you will visit the colony of marine iguanas and flightless cormorant that live here.
Day 11 (Mon) On your final morning in the Galapagos visit the beautiful white sands of Bachas Beach, a nesting site for sea turtles. In late morning you will be escorted to the Galapagos airport for your return flight to the Ecuador mainland where we will escort you to your hotel.
Meals Days 7-10: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Meal / Day 11: Breakfast
Overnight Days 7-10: Archipel I or Archipel II Catamaran / Day 11: Hotel in Guayaquil
Day 7 (Thu) This morning we will escort you to Quito airport where you will embark on a flight to the Galapagos Islands to begin your Galapagos cruise on the Archipel Catamaran. Your excursions begin in the Santa Cruz highlands with a visit to the Twin Towers and to spot Giant tortoises in their natural habitat.
Day 8 (Fri) Visit Floreana Island to spot sea lions on the beach and flamingos in a lagoon at Cormorant Point. In the afternoon visit the historic Post Office Bay and the nearby Baroness Lookout, and spend time spotting crabs and pelicans at the beautiful white-sand beach nearby.
Day 9 (Sat) This morning enjoy a wet-landing to visit the beautiful white sandy beach at Gardner Bay and spot the sea lions that lazily sun-bathe on the beach. In the afternoon visit the bird-lovers paradise of Suarez Point and walk along an overland trail past a variety of birdlife including Nazca boobies and albatross.
Day 10 (Sun) This morning visit Pitt Point, the only place in the Galapagos to spot blue-footed, red-footed and Nazca-boobies altogether in one colony. In the afternoon visit Witch Hill and make a landing on the coral beach to enjoy fabulous snorkelling to spot sealife in the crystal clear waters.
Day 11 (Mon) Spot Great frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies and Galapagos sea lions at Lobos Islet to bring your cruise to an end. After your morning excursion has concluded in late morning you will be escorted to the Galapagos airport for your return flight to the mainland where we will escort you to your hotel.
Meals Days 7-10: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Meal / Day 11: Breakfast
Overnight Days 7-10: Archipel I or Archipel II Catamaran / Day 11: Hotel in Guayaquil
At the appropriate time we will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Guayaquil airport from where you can check-in for your return international flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: N/A
Included
- Four domestic flights within Ecuador (Quito - Amazon / Amazon - Quito / Quito - Galapagos Islands / Galapagos Islands - Guayaquil)
- All excursions
- English-speaking guides for all excursions
- INGALA Galapagos Control Card
- Entry fees to all sites included in the itinerary (with the exception of Galapagos National Park Entry Fee which is payable on arrival in Galapagos)
- Accommodation
- All meals detailed
- Private transfers to / from airports or hotels
- All transport and travel within South America
Not Included
- International flights to/from South America. We exclude international flights to give the option to compare flight pricing or use air miles, however we can include and provide international flights as part of your holiday and any international flights booked through us would be ATOL-protected as part of your package with us. Depending on time of year, departure airport and airline preference flight prices start from around £500pp economy for return flights. If you would like us to include international flights or provide a quote just let us know your preferred departure airport when you enquire.
- Galapagos National Park Entry Fee (payable on arrival in the Galapagos).
ATOL PROTECTION
This is a flight-inclusive package holiday. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/atolcertificate.
Contact Us if you want more information or want to book this holiday. One of our South America holiday specialists will be more than willing to help.
