Gilchrist - Ecuador

Bon Voyage! 

Depart Toronto today with Copa Airlines to Quito (via Pamana), airline reference AFAUAV. 

Please check in online 24 hours prior to departure online and make sure to arrive at the airport with ample time for check in and baggage drop. Refer to your e ticket for the most up to date flight information. 

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Welcome to Ecuador! 

Airport Transfer
11NOV -  Private Transfer from the airport to your hotel

• Meet your driver after collecting your baggage in the arrivals hall. They will be holding a sign with your name on it. 
• Service is provided by Tropic Travel. If you cannot locate your driver, do not leave the airport. Please call emergency support on (+593 9) 9 919 2012.

Wyndham Quito Airport
Check in: 11NOV- 1 night 
Room: Deluxe Room with Breakfast 

Room is prepaid,  a credit card may be required for incidentals at check in. 

Private Transfer
12NOV/ 7:20 AM - Transfer from your hotel to Quito Airport  

• Please meet your assistant in the hotel lobby with your luggage ready to depart at 7:20 AM. 

• Service is provided by Tropic Travel.  If you cannot locate your assistant or driver, please call emergency support on (+593 9) 9 919 2012.

At the Quito International Airport you will be greeted by one of our La Selva representatives in the National Departure area. Here they will assist you with the check-in process and give you a short briefing about the journey. 

Flight Quito - Coca
Remark: LATAM#1397, 12 NOV, QUITO (UIO) - 09:30 | COCA (OCC) - 10:08 (LA SELVA LODGE)
Airline Reference: UZZCAP

You will be checked in by La Selva staff the night prior and collect your boarding passes at the airport from the representative. 

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Welcome to the Amazon! 

12NOV - Amazon Program

After a 30 minute commercial flight to Puerto Francisco de Orellana "El Coca", our representative will transfer you by private transportation to the city's main dock at the Napo River. The next two hours will consist of a ride on a motorized canoe heading down river on what will be the beginning of an unforgettable experience in the tropical rainforest, the Amazon. At the end of the motorized canoe ride, you will finally have arrived at La Selva's main dock and your first close encounter with the rainforest begins, the final step of the trip to the lodge will be completed in a paddle canoe. The only thing you must take care of during this part of the trip is your carry-on and camera equipment, all other luggage will be transported by La Selva staff. The manager will be waiting to greet you with a refreshing juice, snacks and a short briefing with general information about your stay at La Selva.

4:30 PM - Intro To The Rainforest One of the Naturalist Guides will give you basic info about the tropical rainforest, the Amazon, and how La Selva operates. The idea is to begin your activities with background knowledge of this amazing place you have just arrived to.

5:00 PM - Matapalo Trail This 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 that are over 400 years old can be seen here while your guides share their knowledge of the flora and fauna. Due to the time we will have started when there is great natural light and further on the diurnal and nocturnal animals will begin their daily transitional activities.

7:00 PM - Snacks At the bar you can find snacks and order cocktails from the bartender. Or, feel free to help yourself to limitless tea and coffee.

7:30 PM - Dinner will be served at this time. Find your seat and get comfortable while our waiters serve you each course.

La Selva Lodge 
Check in: 12NOV- 3 nights 
Room: Superior Room - All Inclusive 

Package is prepaid, a credit card may be required for incidentals at check in.

Please note program is subject to change due to weather conditions and based on your preferences while at La Selva Lodge. 

13NOV - The Amazon 

6:30 AM - Breakfast

7:00 AM - Observation Tower & Tucaneta Trail After a 20 minute walk the observation tower comes into sight. This amazing construction will allow you to climb 120 ft above the forest. Your Naturalist and Native guides will help you spot the colorful birds of the Amazon, maybe even certain primates. On the way back from the tower there is the option of taking the Tucaneta Trail where your Native Guide can show you some of the medicinal plants still in use today and your Naturalist Guide will provide you with interesting info on the ecology and natural history of the Amazon.

1:00 PM - Lunch

4:30 PM - Charapa Trail This trail goes on for about an hour beginning at the lodge and ending by the edge of the lagoon. It is a great loop where different mammals, monkeys and birds can be seen as they come closer to the lagoon at this time looking for food. It is also perfect for witnessing an Amazonian sunset from the water on the canoe.

6:40 PM - Night Canoe Ride With the help of a spot light your guides will take you around the lagoon via canoe looking for nighttime wildlife. This is also a great opportunity for star gazing!

7:30 PM - Dinner

Please note program is subject to change due to weather conditions and based on your preferences while at La Selva Lodge. 

14NOV - The Amazon 

6:30 am - Breakfast

7:00 - Parrot Clay Lick and Mandi Wasi - Today you will make your way back to the Napo River and take a motorized canoe ride to the clay licks, one of the most fascinating displays of the wild world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather here to eat the mineral rich soil, an important part of their diet. Binoculars are essential to really capture the moment. After the clay licks we will take you to experience a Cultural Activity. An Amazonian Kichwa woman will welcome you at their community center to share their life as the Kichwa's of the Amazon. This is a very special activity because it is part of an Amazonian experience that you do not find on maps and provides the special and unique opportunity to really get to learn more about the people of the Amazon.

1:00 pm - Lunch

4:30 pm- Garzacocha Lagoon and Ceiba Trail This is one of the most beautiful lagoons in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Here there are many chances to see monkeys and birds, sometimes families of squirrel monkeys join capuchin monkeys that are looking for food. The tremendously loud calls of the Howler monkeys can be heard in the afternoon and the smallest monkey in the world, the Pigmy Marmoset can be seen here too. Plenty of birds like the Hoatzin, toucans or macaws can also be seen flying overhead.

6:30 pm- Nocturnal Walk On a night walk we give you the chance to enjoy the creatures and sounds of the Amazon Jungle at night. Sometimes you might be able to see amazing events occurring during the activity. Make sure you bring a flashlight for this fantastic experience.

7:15 pm - Departure Briefing Our manager will provide you all the necessary information about your departure procedure for the next morning.

7:30 pm - Dinner

Enjoy your last evening in the Amazon!

Please note program is subject to change due to weather conditions and based on your preferences while at La Selva Lodge. 

15NOV - Final Day in the Amazon 

6:30 am - Breakfast

7:00 am - Departure for Coca. In accordance to your briefing the night before, you will have an early wake up call, breakfast and departure from the lodge. The lodge staff will assist you with your checked luggage and the motorized canoe ride will head upstream back to Coca, where our representatives will take you to the airport to help you with your checked luggage and boarding passes. 

Flight  Coca - Quito
LATAM#1396, 15 NOV, COCA (OCC) - 10:20 | QUITO (UIO) - 11:00 
Airline Reference: UZZCAP

You will be checked in by La Selva staff the night prior and collect your boarding passes at the airport from the representative. 

Airport Transfer
15NOV -  Private Transfer from the Quito airport to your hotel

• Meet your driver after collecting your baggage in the arrivals hall. They will be holding a sign with your name on it. 
• Service is provided by Tropic Travel. If you cannot locate your driver, do not leave the airport. Please call emergency support on (+593 9) 9 919 2012.

Hotel Casa Gangotena
Check in: 15NOV- 1 night 
Room: Luxury Room with Breakfast 

Room is prepaid , a credit card may be required at check in for incidentals. 

The afternoon free to relax and rest before your adventure to the Galapagos! 

Private Transfer
16NOV/ 5:00 AM - Transfer from your hotel to Quito Airport  

• Please meet your representative and driver at hotel lobby with your luggage ready to depart at 5:00 AM. 

• Service is provided by Tropic Travel.  If you cannot locate your assistant or driver, please call emergency support on (+593 9) 9 919 2012.

Flight Quito to San Cristobal 
AVIANCA#1630, 16 NOV, QUITO (UIO) - 08:05 | SAN CRISTOBAL (SCY) - 10:36 (Booked by cruise) 

You will be checked in by Ecoventura staff the night prior and collect your boarding passes at the airport from the representative. 

MY Origin, MY Theory, MY Evolve EcoVentura 
16NOV - 7 Nights/ 8 Days - San Cristóbal to San Cristóbal 

Day 1: San Cristóbal / Kicker Rock or Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado

Upon arrival in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (SCY) SAN CRISTOBAL Island, our guides will be waiting to escort you to your expedition yacht. After a short ride by bus to the dock, and by Zodiac to the yacht anchored in the bay, you’ll be shown your cabin and treated to a delicious lunch. 

There will be a welcome briefing and a brief safety drill afterward you can chose your snorkel equipment and wetsuit for the week. You’ll have time to settle in after lunch before the yacht leaves the harbor. Within a few hours, we reach Leon Dormido, (Spanish for sleeping lion), a remnant of a vertical tuff cone formation, rising 500 feet from the ocean. Erosion has split the rock providing a spectacular backdrop for photographs at sunset. As we circumnavigate the formation, you’ll easily spot blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and frigatebirds on the cliffs. Guests on the Letty visit La Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado (Centro de Crianza Gianni Arismendy)

After a briefing on activities for the following day, join our Captain and crew for a cocktail reception. An elegant multi-course dinner, prepared by our accomplished chefs is served.

Day 2: San Cristóbal / Cerro Brujo - San Cristóbal / Punta Pitt

AM Your first day of exploration starts with a Zodiac ride to look for wildlife at Cerro Brujo, which translates to Wizard Hill. Your guide will point out the wide variety of birds soaring overhead, from brown pelicans and brown noddy terns to blue footed boobies dive-bombing the water as they fish. Look for different color patterns that indicate age - for example, a brown pelican will have a white neck when it’s mature. Sally lightfoot crabs, black when they’re young but extremely colorful once fully grown, scurry all over the rocks. Your guides will also point out unusual geological formations, including the Cathedral, jokingly called Darwin’s Pants. After the Zodiac tour, you’ll step ashore at a gorgeous coral sand beach and can explore at your own pace. Take a peaceful walk along the beach, swim with sea lions or get in a paddleboard or kayak. 

Paddleboards are beginner-friendly, with the option to kneel if you aren’t comfortable standing. This is a good opportunity to become familiar with your snorkeling gear from the beach before snorkeling in deeper water. Your guides will help you identify the various species of fish you’ve encountered so far and lend their expertise. We return to the yacht for a BBQ lunch served on the sun deck (weather permitting). 

PM Later this after, we go ashore at Punta Pitt for a hike - parts of the trail are rocky, and there is some climbing involved. This is considered one of the best sites for bird-watching, primarily because it is the only place where you’ll see all three species of boobies: blue-footed, red-footed, and the Nazca. Look for baby blue-footed boobies, fully grown after just a couple of months but fluffy and white until their feathers grow in. Your guides will also point out frigatebirds, swallow tailed gulls, storm petrels, and brown pelicans. We can snorkel at Pitt Rock with sea lions and colorful fish; King Angel and Surgeon fish. Return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner. As the yacht sets sail, choose from a selection of guidebooks or fiction from the library, or climb to the top deck for a distant view of “Sleeping Lion”.

After dinner, join your guide on deck for an exploration of the Southern skies full of stars.

Day 3: Española / Punta Suárez - Española / Gardner Bay

AM This morning you’ll land at Punta Suarez on Espanola (Hood) Island. Your guides will point out the large number of endemic species living here, such as the waved albatross. These gorgeous birds spend the first several years of their lives in the open ocean and return to land to mate. If your visit is between April and December, you will witness the well-known courtship dance. As you walk, take care not to step on the marine iguanas sunbathing on the dark lava rocks. These iguanas are usually black but acquire bright red and green coloration during mating season from the algae they eat. Follow the trail to the dramatic ocean blow hole, watch for colorful sally light-foot crabs crawling along the shoreline. We also find Darwin’s Finches, Hood mockingbird, Galapagos Doves, red-billed tropicbirds, Galapagos Hawks, Nazca boobies and swallow-tailed gulls, the only nocturnal gull in the world. Return to the yacht for a BBQ lunch served on deck (weather permitting) and a cooking demonstration on how to make Ecuadorian ceviche. 

PM After lunch, you’ll have the option to snorkel at Tortuga Rock and explore the caves covered with invertebrates. Disembark at Gardner Bay, site of an expansive white-powder sand beach where colonies of sea lions dot the shoreline. The dominant males of a sea lion colony keep watch over their harems to keep them safe. Here you’ll have the option to snorkel from the beach, kayak or paddleboard, or take a leisurely stroll, sunbathe or look for wildlife; Darwin Finches, Espanola mockingbird and Galapagos hawks. After the activities, return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner. Your guide will offer an optional enrichment lecture tonight after dinner. Informative and entertaining, the topic for this evening is on marine currents and climate or Geology of the Islands.

Day 4: Floreana / Punta Cormorant - Floreana / Post Office Bay

AM Step ashore at Punta Cormorant’s olive-sand beach with the sounds of sea lions, lava herons, yellow-crowned night herons and blue-footed boobies as you explore Floreana (Charles) Island. The green mineral you’ll see on the beach is caused by a high concentration of iron and manganese from the same basaltic lava found in Hawaii. As you walk to a brackish lagoon, home to Bahama ducks, common stilts, Galapagos flycatchers and bright pink flamingos, the guides will point out the rich variety of plant life, including morning glories, cut-leaf daisies, mangroves (black, red and white), palo verde and Scalesia. The trail leads to a beach where sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand dunes and sting rays swim in the shallow water. Don’t miss the opportunity to snorkel at Devil’s Crown or Champion Islet, a shallow sunken crater colonized by a brilliant array of colorful fish and coral, white-tipped sharks, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays and sea stars. Return to the yacht for lunch and a lecture on the human history of Galapagos. Learn about fascinating facts of why this island is sometimes called the Island of Mysteries. 

PM In the afternoon, you’ll be able to participate in a thrilling Galapagos tradition. Floreana is home to Post Office Bay, the site where English whaling vessels erected a post barrel in the late 18th century. When you drop a postcard in the barrel, no postage is required. You’ll search through the postcards left by previous visitors, and if you see one addressed to a location near your home, you may choose to take it with you. However, you must deliver it in person. Similarly, your postcards will be delivered by future visitors. Take a Zodiac excursion or explore by paddleboard at Baroness Point to find sea turtles and rays in the shallow lagoon You’ll be busy snapping photos of sea stars and a brilliant array of colorful fish. Return to the yacht for a briefing followed by dinner and a fun filled pirate themed party – participation is optional.

Day 5: Santa Cruz / Highland / Los Gemelos - Santa Cruz / Centro de Crianza Fausto Llerena o Charles Darwin Research

AM When you awake this morning, the view will be completely different from the last few days. A harbor full of boats is bustling with activity at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, a town with a population of 24,000. You’ll travel by bus to a higher altitude with beautiful geological formations including the lava tunnels at El Mirador and Los Gemelos (the twins), a pair of massive craters. Your guides will explain how they were formed. The highlight of the morning is a visit to Rancho Primicias, a privately-owned ranch where tortoises roam free. These slow-moving giants can grow to be over 500 pounds! Lunch is served back on board the yacht.

PM In the afternoon you’ll learn about the most famous visitor to the Galapagos - Charles Darwin - as well as current conservation efforts, when you visit the Centro de Crianza Fausto Llerena or Charles Darwin Research Station. Visit the exhibit honoring Lonesome George, whose death marked the extinction of his species of tortoise from Pinta Island. There’s another story with a happier ending: Diego, a tortoise from the San Diego zoo, brought his species back from the brink of extinction by fathering hundreds of offspring. Return to your yacht for the briefing and customary delicious multi-course dinner.

Day 6: Bartolomé - Sombrero Chino or Playa las Bachas - Caleta Tortuga Negra

AM When you wake up this morning, you’ll be in solitude once again, with no other boats in sight. You’ll have two options for a morning activity. Today’s hike is a challenge, with about 400 wooden steps winding around Bartolome island (4), ending in a gorgeous panoramic view of Pinnacle Rock. Your guide will stop along the way to describe the geology of the landscape; mini lava cones and lava bombs formed by flowing magma from past volcanic eruptions. If you’d rather skip the hike, enjoy a Zodiac ride around the island to look for penguins. You’ll see these adorable animals, the second smallest type of penguin, swimming and diving playfully or grooming themselves on rocks. Crystal clear water beckons you to wade in from the beach. Snorkel with schools of tropical fish, white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos Penguins. Return to the vessel for a BBQ lunch served on the sundeck (weather permitting). 

PM The itinerary for this afternoon varies depending on your yacht, but all visitors will enjoy lovely views and some of the Galapagos’ renowned wildlife. Guests on the Origin go ashore on Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat), a small island off the southern tip of Santiago that owes its name to its shape. Sea lions await on the beach, and as you explore, you’ll see marine iguanas and oystercatchers. Along the trail, you’ll see remnants of the island’s geological history, with volcanic rubble and cracked lava formations. Snorkeling here, often with penguins, is not to be missed. Guests on Theory visit Playa las Bachas, on the northern side of Santa Cruz. You’ll also have a wonderful opportunity for snorkeling after exploring interior lagoons with vivid flamingos. Guests on the Letty have a Zodiac excursion at Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) through a series of coves and inlets surrounded by mangroves. You’ll navigate slowly along the shoreline, listening for the telltale deep inhale of a sea turtle and watching for the wings of a school of golden rays.

Your guide will offer an enrichment lecture tonight after dinner. 

Day 7: South Plaza - Seymour Norte

AM This morning you’ll head out on South Plaza, a small islet with tall cliffs and a trail with a variety of plants and animals. This island’s species of “Opuntia” or prickly pear cactus has been decimated by invasive species, so you’ll see young plants surrounded by nets to protect them. Look for nests for a variety of birds, such as swallow-tailed gulls, shearwaters, small ground finches, and red-billed tropicbirds. This geological uplift is home to a colony of bachelor sea lions, with dominant bulls in various stages of recovery from battles over prime beach territory. You’ll also have an opportunity to see land iguanas up close, and your guide will describe what differentiates them from marine iguanas. 

PM During lunch, you’ll sail to North Seymour Island, where a spectacular sight awaits: frigate birds with red sacs on their chests inflated, seeking mates. At the height of mating season, you’ll be surrounded by dozens, but no matter what time   of year you visit, there will be individuals seeking mates. The Galapagos Islands are home to two different species of frigates, Great and Magnificent, and your guides will teach you to identify the difference. You’ll have a final opportunity to snorkel in deeper water. Look for sharks, sea lions, and starfish, along with a variety of tropical fish.

Before dinner, enjoy a champagne toast to celebrate a wonderful week at the Captain’s farewell gathering. During the briefing, and you’ll receive detailed instructions for disembarking the next morning. After dinner, there is a special presentation from your guides with images from your week in paradise.

Day 8: Centro de Interpretación de San Cristóbal

AM This morning you’ll disembark from the yacht after breakfast. As a perfect way to sum up the trip, you’ll visit the Interpretation Center on San Cristobal to discover more about the human history of the Galapagos Islands. There’s also a paved trail where you can enjoy a brief walk before a bus ride into town. Guests on the Letty visit Isla Lobos.

You’ll have some free time for last-minute photos before your transfer to the airport. It’s a quick flight back to the mainland, but you’ll be bringing lifelong memories with you.

San Cristobal to Quito 
AVIANCA#1631, 23 NOV, SAN CRISTOBAL (SCY) – 11:25 |QUITO (UIO) – 15:55 (Booked by Ecoventura) 

You will be checked in for your flight the night prior to departure and will be given boarding passes by your Ecoventura representative this morning. 

Airport Transfer
23NOV- Transfer from the airport to your hotel

• Meet your assistant and driver after collecting your baggage in the arrivals hall. They will be holding a sign with your name on it. 
• Service is provided by Tropic Travel. If you cannot locate your driver, do not leave the airport. Please call emergency support on (+593 9) 9 919 2012.

Wyndham Quito Airport
Check in: 23NOV- 1 night 
Room: Deluxe Room with Breakfast 

Room is prepaid , a credit card may be required for incidentals. 

Your trip through Ecuador has come to an end. Your assistant will meet you at the hotel and guide you to the airport  for your international flight back home. 

Private Transfer
24NOV/ 9:00 AM - Transfer from your hotel to Quito Airport  

• Please meet your driver at hotel lobby with your luggage ready to depart at 9:00 AM

• Service is provided byTropic Travel. 

Flight 
Depart Quito today with Copa Airlines to Quito (via Pamana), airline reference AFAUAV. 

Please check in online 24 hours prior to departure online and make sure to arrive at the airport with ample time for check in and baggage drop. Refer to your e ticket for the most up to date flight information. 

Safe travels home!