Luxury Galapagos and the Amazon
12 Days/11 Nights
From $7,319 per person
(Dbl. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)
Overview
Embark on this journey to explore the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador’s Amazon Basin. The tour begins with a city tour of Quito and excursion to the Middle of the World Monument. You then embark on a five day cruise aboard the luxurious La Pinta, to observe giant tortoises, land iguanas, and other fascinating wildlife. The last part of the trip takes you to Napo Wildlife Center, the only lodge located within Yasuni National Park, where highlights include a parrot clay lick, canopy tower, and native community visit.
Lodging and Meals: This tour includes accommodations for 11 nights (4 nights in Quito, 4 nights aboard the La Pinta, and 3 nights at Napo Wildlife Center), and 25 meals (11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 7 dinners).
Best Time to Go: Year-Round.
Destinations: South America, Ecuador, Galapagos, and the Amazon.
Interests: Adventure, All-Inclusive Properties, Culture & History, Expedition Cruising, Luxury, Sea Kayaking, Snorkeling, and Wildlife Viewing.
Places Visited: Quito, the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Galapagos Islands, Baltra Island, Española Island, San Cristóbal Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Fe Island, and South Plaza Island.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Note: The route and program may vary according to National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety reasons and wildlife encounters.
Dry Landing: Guests step from the dinghy directly onto rocks or a dock.
Wet Landing: As the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee-deep water and wade ashore.
Day 1 (Tue): Quito.
Day 2 (Wed): City Tour of Quito-Equatorial Monument.
Then continue to the Equatorial Monument, 16 miles north of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the different Native American groups living in Ecuador. Beside the monument there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs. You will get a certificate for having crossed the Equator. Overnight in Quito. (B)
Day 3 (Thu): Quito-Baltra Airport-South Plaza.
South Plaza Island. The turquoise waters of the channel here contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline, while a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus beyond, populated by yellow-grey land iguanas. Along the coastline one finds sea lion colonies, while sea birds play with the thermals that form along the cliffs of this small but spectacular island. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 4 (Fri): Santa Fe-Cerro Colorado (San Cristobal).
Cerro Colorado. After lunch, you disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the island’s capital, and drive 40 minutes to the island’s southern shore. At Cerro Colorado, you visit the breeding center for highly endangered giant tortoises in the midst of a fantastic deciduous forest, home to dozens of bird species, including the San Cristobal mockingbird, and the San Cristobal lava lizard, both island endemics. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 5 (Sat): Punta Pitt-Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal).
Cerro Brujo. In the afternoon following lunch on board, a dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers takes you to Cerro Brujo’s expansive, white coral beach, great for walking, with rewarding bird-watching featuring seabirds and shore birds. Also, look out for Galapagos sea lions. These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 6 (Sun): Punta Suarez-Gardner Bay (Española Island).
Gardner Bay. In the afternoon, you set down at this beautiful, white coral beach for a short walk to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, or enjoy the beach. There is great snorkeling in this area, or else there’s time to kayak or ride the glass-bottom boat. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 7 (Mon): Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz)-Baltra Airport-Quito.
Day 8 (Tue): Quito-Coca-Napo Wildlife Center.
After arriving at Napo Wildlife Center’s (NWC) dock you disembark for a short break, and then take a majestic and peaceful two hour dugout canoe ride surrounded by trees overhead, paddling along a narrow creek that connects to the lake where the lodge is located. There is a god possibility to see various monkey species, as well as large birds including toucans, parrots, and even macaws. Late afternoon arrival to the NWC lodge on Añangu lake, with a welcome drink. After dinner, there will be an optional cayman (alligator) observation tour around the lake, with natural sounds at night. Overnight at the lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 9 (Wed): Napo Wildlife Center-Parrot Clay Lick-Añangu Community Visit.
Later, hike along forest trail to visit to the Kichwa community of Añangu and share time with a native family during their daily activities. Return to the creek and hike through a Terra Firme Forest for about 30 minutes until you arrive to the second parrot clay lick, where if the weather conditions allow, you will be able to observe more activity. Box lunch served at the parrot clay lick. Late afternoon return to the lodge. Overnight at the lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 10 (Thu): Napo Wildlife Center-Canopy Tower-Terra Firme Trail.
In the afternoon, you will visit a terra firme trail and hike along primary forest to discover the forest interior. You may find lizards, colorful Manikins, or the unique and endemic Golden Mantle Tamarin Monkeys. After the hike, explore the lake and creeks by dugout canoe, with a good chance of seeing a Giant River Otter family on the way. Overnight at the lodge. (B,L,D)
Day 11 (Fri): Napo Wildlife Center-Coca-Quito.
Day 12 (Sat): Quito).
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
What's Included
Price Includes
- South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
- Quito-Coca-Quito airfare.
- Airport/hotel transfers including baggage handling.
- Four night accommodations at Swissotel Quito (or similar) including service fees and taxes.
- Three night accommodations at the Napo Wildlife Center including service fees and taxes.
- Accommodations on board the Yacht La Pinta.
- Yasuni National Park entrance fee.
- All meals scheduled on board and others as indicated on the itinerary.
- Daily excursions to the islands conducted by English-speaking naturalist guides.
- Other excursions as indicated on the itinerary including all applicable entrance fees.
- Evening briefings during the cruise.
- Use of kayaks and snorkeling equipment.
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare.
- Quito-Galapagos-Quito airfare ($508).
- Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee ($100).
- Transit control card ($20).
- Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
- Gratuities to ship crew and guides.
- Bar, gifts, and personal items.
- Travel insurance.
We will be happy to quote the cost of airfare and travel insurance, and to make these arrangements for you.
Additional Details
Group Private: All services in Quito are private, except for the shuttle transfers to/from the airport on the first and last days of the cruise, and all services in the Galapagos and the Amazon are operated on a group basis.
Elevations: Quito is 9,350 feet above sea level.
IGTOA’S Galapagos Traveler Conservation Fund: South American Vacations is an active member of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association). In support of IGTOA’s Galapagos Traveler Conservation Fund, we contribute $20 for each passenger that we send to the Galapagos Islands. You’ll travel knowing that you support the lasting protection of Galapagos Islands.
Sixty percent of the funding of this program goes directly to the Charles Darwin Foundation for science, conservation, and education. Their work, carried out through the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galapagos National Park, is vital to the preservation of the islands. You can visit their web site to learn more www.darwinfoundation.org. The remainder goes toward IGTOA’s mission of creating a model of responsible and sustainable tourism.
Passport/Visa: U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Ecuadorian embassy in their country before traveling.
Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Global Assistance’s Classic Comprehensive and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan.
To Book This Trip: Call or email us to confirm the availability of a cabin on this ship for your desired dates of travel. The non-refundable deposits for single, double, and triple passengers are $1,600, $1,300, and $1,300 per person, plus the cost of the airfare (if we arrange it for you).
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