11 Days Galapagos & Amazon

You are met by a representative at the airport in Quito and will be transferred to your hotel.

After breakfast we will drive around the colonial section of Quito and admire architectural monuments, la Basilica church, Independence Square, with the Presidential Palace and the colonial churches. You’ll also be able to visit the toy workshop where you will find wooden toys, like spin toys. Visit the Api Real store, they produce products such as soaps, creams, and shampoos, based on honey, essential oils, and extracts.

You will be able to make some of the native food like quesadillas and delicious desserts. We will drive to the “Middle of the World City” (entrance not included) where there is a monument that divides the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. It was built during the XVII century when a French Expedition defined the precise location of the equatorial line. The “Intiñan Museum,” known as the Equinox solar Museum, can also be visited (entrance is not included).

Overnight in Quito .

After breakfast our guide will transfer you for the flight to Lago Agrio.

Upon arrival in Lago Agrio, you will go by private bus to the entrance of the Cuyabeno River (2 hours), where we will have a box lunch. At this point the visitors have to register in the Reserve’s office. Our Naturalist Guide will give information about the Reserve, important recommendations, and other tips to begin the two hours navigation on the Cuyabeno River to reach Jamu Lodge (pictured below) in the afternoon. At that time you will be shown to your rooms where you can relax. After a siesta, we will leave the camp for a swim in the lagoon and to watch a beautiful sunset in the middle of the Laguna Grande. You will then return to the camp for dinner.

Jungle Expedition

After breakfast we will take a trek in the primary forest for 3 to 4 hours, where your guide will explain how the complex tropical ecosystem works. You will be able to learn about medicinal plants before lunch and a siesta. In the afternoon, we will go to the lagoon, have a swim and watch the sunset. With a little luck you can observe the pink river dolphins or an anaconda sunbathing in a tree. You will return to the camp for dinner, and take a canoe night ride to look for caimans.

Day 04 (Option 2): (B,L,D)

Visit to the Indigenous Community

After breakfast, we depart to head to the Siona Community of Puerto Bolivar, the largest ethnic group in the Reserve. During this tour you will learn their customs, traditions and way of life. You will be part of the elaboration of the Casabe; local dish made of yucca (carbohydrates are the principal food of the community). A visit to the Shaman is also included. He will explain some more about life in the jungle. The trip takes 1 hour downstream to get there, & on the way it will be possible to admire the existing fauna along the Rio Cuyabeno such as: birds, monkeys, snakes, pink dolphins, tortoises and many others. This is a full day excursion with lunch in the community. After that we return to the lodge to go for a nocturnal hike through the primary forest in search of insects, spiders, geckos or scorpions, and listen to the night sounds of the jungle. We will have dinner and spend the night in the lodge.

Option 1: We offer you this option when Tame airline has a return flight to Quito in the afternoon around 5:00 pm.

Early in the morning before breakfast a bird-watching excursion is optional. Back at the lodge we have breakfast and you will start the journey back upstream on the Cuyabeno River. Lunch (lunch box) at the bridge. The bus will take you to Lago Agrio. Return to flight to Quito.

Option 2: We offer you this option when Tame Airline has a return flight of Quito in the morning around 11:00 am.

Early in the morning we have breakfast in the lodge. We take the canoe until the bridge (2 Hours approx.) We travel in a canoe through the Cuyabeno river until the bridge in Lago Agrio (2 Hours approx.) On the bridge, we expect a bus to head to the airport, and come back to Quito. You are met by a representative at the airport in Quito and provided transfer to a Select Hotel in Quito.

NOTE: All activities in the Camp by the motorized canoe or rowing boats.

Morning transfer to airport for the flight to Baltra Island.

On arrival to the Galapagos Island you will be greeted by guide to escort you to Santa Cruz. In 45 minutes you will be in Puerto Ayoral. Check in the hotel. Lunch. Afternoon we will visit the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION and its interpretive Center, with the help of the IUCN, UNESCO, and conservationists worldwide, Charles Darwin Foundation was founded under Belgian Law in 1959. Since then, CDF has been instrumental in stabilizing the ecosystem and preserving the natural wonders the islands offer. Here we will have the great opportunity to see and explore this separate center of creation.

After breakfast, we sail an hour to Santa Fe Island. From the yacht, we see on its huge cliffs a forest of giant cacti common to this island. In the calm, turquoise waters of the bay are colonies of sea birds, such as pelicans, boobies and gulls, and many sea lions. Snorkeling is fantastic. We will swim with manta rays and tropical fish, and sometimes see sea turtles. We will have lunch on board and then land on a beautiful, white-sand beach. There we will relax, take photos and enjoy the Galapagos sun, before returning to the hotel.

(OR)

Pick up hotel at 7:00 am. Speed boat to the Isabela Island, we will sail to TINTORERAS ISLET, it is called this due to a large Crevice with very clear, calm water in which white-tip sharks known as “Tintoreras” come daily to rest on the bottom. We can also observe penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas and go snorkeling with sharks as well as other colorful tropical fish. Lunch at local restaurant. Additionally, we will visit a wetlands, flamingos lagoon. Return to Puerto Ayora.

Pick up at 8:00 am from hotel. Navigate to different places such as: CHANNEL OF SHARKS, an arm of the crystal clear sea where sharks found in the surrounding area can see sea lions and frigates. IGUANA BEACH :with a large concentration of marine iguanas, can observe blue-footed boobies; LOVE CANAL crystalline waters, is a very private and romantic place. GRIETAS in this unique place we will have the chance to snorkel into a canyon formed by the sea water into the land, in this area we will also have the chance to see blue footed boobies, red crabs, frigate birds, and other bird species. Finally, enjoy the BEACH PUNTA ESTRADA.

LAS GRIETAS, this landscape is made up of interesting fissures of lava, that form two giant walls crossed by an arm of brackish water filtered from the top where it mixes with seawater which is highly recommended for swimming and snorkeling practice, because of the water’s transparency. The giant cactus is a feature of this landscape.

After breakfast visit: TORTUGA BAY beach. This is one of the largest beaches of white sand in the archipelago, an excellent place for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing or simply walking. The marine iguanas, sharks and sea turtles can be seen along a small trail suitable for visitors. Migratory birds can be seen walking along the coast.

Breakfast in the hotel, transfer to the Baltra’s airport approx at 08:00 a.m. Flight to Galapagos to Quito or Guayaquil. In the airport, you are met by our representative and provided transfers to hotel in Guayaquil or QUITO.

After breakfast, Transfer to airport for an international flight.