Ecuador - Amazon & The Galapagos

Welcome to Quito. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to Hotel Villa Colonna located in historic Quito.

Today, you will be met by your guide for a half day city tour. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Today, you will be met and transferred to the Quito airport for your flight to Coca. On arrival you will be transferred by river boat to the lodge.

At the lodge, enjoy all of your meals, guided excursions and water activities in the Amazon.

A typical day at Sacha begins at sunrise or earlier, taking advantage of the cool morning hours when the rainforest’s animals are most active.

You might begin the day paddling dugout canoes along tannin-rich black-water creeks and lakes, where luxuriant lianas, orchids, bromeliads and palm trees thrive. There is a possibility of spotting animals, from the tiny pygmy marmoset to the feared ocelot or puma.

You will have an opportunity to visit the Providencia Community of Yasuní, learning about their jungle way of life and testing out their cooking techniques.  One early morning  you will  go the  clay lick  where you can often see 100's of parrots (possible on Wednesdays only).

You will return to the Lodge in the late morning, in time for a 1PM lunch. In the time between lunch and your afternoon adventure, you are free to enjoy the Lodge, lounging on sun chairs with a book on the Balsa, or cooling off in the Lake Pool.

Activities begin again between 3:00PM and 4:30PM and often continue into the evening, when the nocturnal insect and frog chorus begins. An afternoon excursion might see you trekking through pristine Terra Firme forest, where 150-foot kapok trees tower above and roots form huge buttresses to give trees support, your guide pointing out the crest owl territory and calling to the howler monkeys. You could then climb 30 meters up to the Canopy Walk, a 940-foot (275-meter) bridge across the treetops from where you can spot dozens of animals and birds.

Days at Sacha Lodge do not end with the fading of the light, or even with dinner. Night walks and canoe trips, with the aid of flashlights, often reveal creatures seldom seen during daylight. Caimans (of the alligator family) and giant insects rule the jungle after sunset. 

*Please note: activities are subject to weather, though Forest Walks, the Kapok Tower, and Canopy Walk are the keystones of the Sacha Lodge experience.

Today, you will transfer to Coca Airport for your flight to Quito. On arrival, you will take the shuttle to Wyndham Airport hotel.

Today, you will take the shuttle to the airport for your flight to Galapagos. 

Upon arrival to the airport in San Cristobal, you will be greeted by our staff and taken directly to the boat. Once aboard you will be briefed by the guide on everything you will need to know about living aboard.

PM - San Cristobal: Kicker Rock

This striking rock formation is located a couple hours off the western shore of San Cristobal. Jutting out of the water, the rocks stand vertically at hundreds of feet above the ocean divided by a small channel. Although there are no landing areas, kayaking and dinghy rides allow visitors to spot a variety of marine life.

Highlights: Sharks, tropical fish, turtles, manta rays (occ.), hammerhead sharks, spectacular rock formations; sea birds: blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies & frigatebirds.

Possible Activities: Dinghy ride
Type of Landing: No landing
Difficulty: Easy
 

AM - North Seymour

Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds are abundant on North Seymour Island. The island was formed by a series of submarine lava containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone.

Highlights: Land & marine iguanas, frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, sea lions; snorkeling: rays, reef shark, fish, garden eels.

Possible Activities: Dinghy ride & hiking (1.5 miles / 2.5 km)
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate / difficult

PM - South Plaza Island

This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by Opuntia cacti. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies as well as colorful yellow and red land iguanas. The most characteristic plant is Sesuvium. During the rainy season its color is a greenish to yellowish tone and in the dry season (end of June through January) a bright red.

Highlights: Land iguanas, sea lion colony, Audubon's shearwaters, swallow-tailed gulls, Nazca boobies, amazing landscape with cliffs

Possible Activities: Hike (1.5 miles / 2 ½ km)
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate

AM - Rabida Island

Rabida Island (Jervis) is one of the most colorful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago and a great snorkeling site. Its famous maroon sandy beach and stunning lookouts provide wonderful landscapes. The island is a birdwatcher’s delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance, such as nine varieties of finches, large-billed flycatchers, Galapagos hawks and brown pelicans.

Highlights: Snorkeling: white-cheeked pintail ducks, colorful fish, sea lions, brackish water lagoon, penguins, Galapagos hawk

Possible Activities: Snorkeling, dinghy ride & short hike (0.6 miles /1 km)
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy / moderate

PM - Bartholomew Island

Home of the famous Pinnacle Rock, Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. A trail of stairs leads to the summit of the volcano, boasting one of the best views of the islands. The beach is perfect for snorkeling and possible sightings of the Galapagos penguin.

Highlights: Pinnacle rock, panoramic view, moonlike landscape, penguins, pioneer plants, lava cactus; snorkeling: penguins, reef sharks, rays, and great colorful fish.

Possible Activities: Dinghy ride, snorkeling & hiking (1.2 miles/ 2 km)
Type of Landing: Dry and wet landings
Difficulty: Moderate/difficult. Walk up to the top of volcano 114 meters, 375 wooden steps

AM - Santiago: Sullivan Bay

A coral beach landing leads you towards a lava field as far as the eye can see. Hunt and peck over the two distinguished types of lava, pahoehoe and 'a'a, for signs of plant life that have managed to emerge over the past 100 years since the most recent volcanic explosion. A truly amazing volcanic experience…up close and personal!

Highlights: Variety of lava formations and landscapes, pahoehoe lava which is found primarily in Hawai'i and the Galapagos islands, 'a'a lava, and pristine coral sand beach.

Possible Activities: Walk, snorkel, swim
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Be sure to wear good solid walking shoes or boots as the 'a'a lava is very sharp and pointy

PM - Santa Cruz: Dragon Hill

Situated on Santa Cruz Island, Dragon Hill is one of the newest visitor sites accessible to tourists in the Galapagos Islands. One of the lengthier Galapagos walking trails will lead visitors along a beach and up a trail to the lagoon lookout where bright flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas can be spotted.

Highlights: Land iguana nesting spot, Galapagos flamingos, common stilts, palo santo trees and cacti forest.

Possible Activities: Walking and hiking
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Easy to moderate: the trail may get muddy at times, and there is uneven rocky terrain.

Today, you will be transferred to Baltra Airport for your flight to Quito. On arrival, you will transfer to the Wyndham hotel where we have arranged a day room before your flight home.

Flights depart Quito late at night.