Ecuador's Natural Wonders

• Meet a local representative who will transfer you after clearing customs and collecting your luggage to Casa Gangotena Hotel (± 50 minutes)

• Stay at Casa Gangotena Hotel in a Standard Room for 2 nights

• Breakfast included

• Half Day Colonial City Walking Tour

Ecuador has history, fascinating indigenous cultures, slow winding rivers and lush tropical forests, spectacular snowcapped volcanoes and some of the most exciting wildlife on earth. The place to start is Colonial Quito: a city of narrow cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed walls and, rising above, the steeples and cupolas of the city ́s many spectacularly decorated historic churches. The city has one of the best preserved colonial centers in all South America and its integrity was assured in 1978 when the United Nations declared Quito a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site.

Walk through the Main Plaza, where you will see the Government Palace and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries, including the La Compañía, and the San Francisco Monastery which was begun 5 days after the founding of the city in 1534.

You will also visit the city’s most famous colonial street, La Ronda, and learn about traditional work in Colonial Quito.

• Road transfer from Casa Gangotena Hotel to Mariscal Sucre Airport (± 50 minutes)
• Scheduled flight Quito - Puerto Francisco de Orellana (± 30 minutes)
• Private road transfer from airport to main dock at Napo River
• Boat transfer from main dock to La Selva (±2.5 hours) 
• Stay at La Selva Lodge in a Suite for 3 nights
• Evening walk along the Matapalo Trail
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

The Matapalo trail was given the Spanish name of the famous Strangler fig (Ficus sp), one of many remarkable trees that you can find on this short walk. Mahogany trees over 400 years old can be seen and your guides will share their knowledge of the flora and fauna. The evening hour offers beautiful natural light and the opportunity to watch some of the nocturnal animals start to explore. 

Morning walk to Observation Tower with time on the Tucaneta trail and the Manda Forest.

A 20 minute walk brings you to the observation tower from which you can enjoy incredible views across the forest.  Your guides will help you spot the colorful birds of the Amazon and possibly even some primates. Return back via the Tucaneta Trail where your guides can show you some of the medicinal plants still in use today as well as facts about the ecology and natural history of the Amazon. There is also the option of visiting the beautiful lagoon of Mandi Cocha. Different species of birds and even giant otters can be seen here.

Afternoon excursion on the Charapa Trail

This trail begins at the lodge and ends by the edge of the lagoon after an hour's walk. Enjoy spotting a variety of different mammals, monkeys and birds as they come closer to the lagoon looking for food. Enjoy a beautiful Amazonian sunset from the water. Once darkness falls, enjoy a nighttime canoe excursion -  your guides will spotlight the water as you search for nocturnal animals. This is also a great opportunity for star gazing!

Morning canoe excursion and cultural visit

The day begins as you journey by motorized canoe ride to the clay licks and one of the most fascinating displays of the natural world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather here to eat the mineral rich soil, an important part of their diet. 

The day continues at a local community where an Amazonian Kichwa woman will welcome you to the community and share stories about their life as the Kichwas of the Amazon. 

Afternoon boating

The afternoon begins on the Garzacocha Lagoon, one of the most beautiful lagoons in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Wildlife to see includes squirrel and capuchin monkeys who are looking for food, as well as rich birdlife, including hoatzin, toucans and macaws. The tremendously loud calls of the Howler monkeys can also be heard in the afternoon and, with luck, you will spot a Pygmy Marmoset, the smallest monkey in the world.

As the sun sets, enjoy a pre-dinner nocturnal walk for another opportunity to enjoy the creatures and sounds of the Amazon Jungle at night.

• Boat transfer from Le Selva back to Coca main dock
• Transfer from Coca dock to Airport 
• Scheduled flight Franscisco de Orellana - Quito Airport (± 30 minutes)
• Airport transfer from Quito Airport to Wyndham Quito (± 5 minutes)
• Stay at the Wyndham Quito in a Deluxe Room for 1 night
• Breakfast included

• Airport transfer from the Wyndham to Quito Airport (± 5 minutes)

• Scheduled flight Quito - Baltra Airport (cost not included)

• Road transfer from airport to harbor for boarding onto M/C Endemic

• Stay on the M/C Endemic in a cabin for 4 nights

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Santa Cruz Island  Afternoon visit to Dragon Hill 

Located on the north-western part of Santa Cruz island. Here you will have the opportunity to view the land iguana. Be amongst these magnificent reptiles, that just a few decades ago were on the brink of extinction.

Other highlights include the flamingos’ lagoon, pintail ducks and other endemic birds including flycatchers and warblers. After a short trek, an amazing view awaits us up the hill. Enjoy some offshore snorkeling before returning to the yacht.

• Possible Activities: Walk amongst iguana, excellent bird watching
• Type of Landing: Dry landing
• Difficulty: Easy

• San Cristobal Island - Morning briefing, Interpretation Center and La Galapauera 

Highlights: Kicker Rock, an impressive geological formation due to erosion and nesting place of sea birds. Additionally, curious sea lions and while snorkeling marine life can be found, such as fish, turtles, sharks, rays.

• Activities: Circumnavigation
• Type of Landing: No landing

Witch Hill, a tuff cone hill located southwest of San Cristobal. This name comes from the Spanish name of the bird known in English as Vermilion Flycatcher.

A zodiac ride will take passengers into amazing rock formations along the island shore. A white sand beach and crystal-clear waters are part of this enchanted location. Fantastic opportunity for snorkeling.

• Possible Activities: hike, zodiac ride, snorkeling & kayaking
• Type of Landing: Wet landing
• Difficulty: Easy

In the afternoon, you will be taken to Lobos Island, where a small population of blue-footed boobies, frigates, marine iguanas, and great frigate birds nesting can be observed. Snorkeling with sea lions in this calm bay

• Possible Activities: Short Hike (less than 0.6 mi/1 km), zodiac ride, Bird watching, zodiac ride and/or snorkeling
• Type of Landing: Dry landing
• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Espanola Island  -  This is the southernmost island in the Galapagos archipelago, and home to several wildlife species, including the endemic Hood mockingbrid, masked and blue-footed boobies. Spectacular views from the top of a cliff.

Gardner Bay - breeding site of nearly all of the world´s 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses. It has an ample white sandy beach with a myriad of sea lions, perfect for relaxing. Its rocky shores make this site a great place for diving and snorkeling. 

Highlights: White sandy beach, sea lions, mockingbirds; snorkeling: colorful fish, sea lion nursery

• Possible Activities: Snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking, and short hike of (0.6 mi / 1km)

• Type of Landing: Wet landing

• Difficulty: Easy

Or visit the Osborn and Gardner islets that are amazing for underwater discovery. Snorkeling is a highlight here.

After lunch, Point Suarez will be visited, which represents one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand.

Highlights: Hood mockingbird, Nazca booby, waved albatross, red-billed tropicbirds, lava lizards, Galapagos hawk, blue-footed booby, blowhole, amazing landscapes.

• Possible Activities: Snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking, and short hike of (0.6 mi / 1km)
• Type of Landing: Wet Landing
• Difficulty: Easy

Sante Fe Island - In the morning, after breakfast, Santa Fe island will be visited, which is one of the most entertaining destinations for shore excursions in the Galapagos Islands. It has two trail choices for visitors, one of which takes you to the tallest Opuntia cactus in the Galapagos. While the other trail takes you into the highlands where land iguanas can be seen. After a long walk, the opportunity to swim in calm waters or snorkel with playful sea lions will be pretty tempting.

• Activities: Hiking, snorkeling
• Type of landing: Dry landing
• Difficulty: Moderate

In the afternoon, visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, which is also known as Charles Darwin Research Station. Here you will find an information center, a museum, a library and a tortoise breeding station. In the tortoise breeding station, you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies, which are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this Station is probably the Lonesome George turtle, who died in 2012.

• Activities: Walk
• Type of landing: Dry landing
• Difficulty: Easy

South Plazas Island

Morning visit to  South Plazas island with its unique Sesuvium plants and Opuntia cactuses scattered across the landscape which provide some of the most interesting wildlife observations available in Galapagos. 

• Activities: Hike

• Type of landing: No landing

• Difficulty: Easy

Land iguanas are easily seen from the trail, frequently under the shade of cactuses, waiting for a prickly pear to fall.

• Private transfer from the harbor to Baltra airport 
• Scheduled flight from Baltra - Quito Airport (Cost not included)