Galapagos Cruise & Wild Amazon Immersion

Breakfast at the hotel. At 8 a.m. there will be a briefing session to explain the program and answer any questions you may have. Spend the day in Quito at your leisure, exploring the city or simply taking some time to enjoy the beautiful climate and natural environment. We recommend enjoying our excursion to Otavalo* that will take you around various Andean towns. Overnight stay in Quito.

*Optional Otavalo day tour: Full-day tour to various towns in the Andean highlands where you’ll discover some of the local gastronomy and traditional way of life. Start off your experience by tasting the interesting Cherimoya fruits in Guayllabamba, carry on to try the local biscuits made by the community in Cayambe. You will then be guided around the indigenous markets in Otavalo, Peguche and Cotacachi and get to know the story of the native people.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, take a guided Quito city tour to get to know the capital's most emblematic sights. Admire the colonial-era architecture and picturesque plazas. Stroll through the narrow streets of the city center and visit a local market where your guide will introduce you to local produce.

In the afternoon leave Quito behind as you set off into the Ecuadorian highlands and down into the rainforest, headed for Punta Ahuano in the Amazon. Continue through verdant landscapes towards the lodge, in the heart of the jungle. Arrive in time to behold the extraordinary sunset and enjoy a welcome cocktail on arrival. Dinner and overnight in Tena.

Enjoy an early breakfast before setting off for a wildlife walk through the secondary rainforest of the Amazon. Your local guide will point out tropical wildlife endemic to the region, so you can really appreciate the sheer scale and beauty of the jungle. Return to the lodge for lunch before enjoying the afternoon at your leisure. Dinner and overnight stay in the Amazon.

Bear in mind that specific details of hikes and activities will be decided with your local guide at the Lodge.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning take a moment to appreciate your last few moments in the Amazon Rainforest as it’s time to head back to Quito. During your return journey through the mountains, stop at the serene Papallacta Hot Springs, where you can bathe to relax and reflect on your adventure so far.

Continue your journey to the capital city and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to do some souvenir shopping for example or try some delicious food in the gastronomic neighborhood of La Floresta. Overnight stay in Quito.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the Quito airport for your flight to Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands. On arrival, you’ll be greeted by your local guide and driven to your cruising yacht, where you can settle into your cabin and have lunch. Afterwards, your guide will provice you with an overview of the fun activities to come. In the afternoon, take a boat tour of the Itabaca Channel, where you can observe tropical fish, sharks, and blue-footed boobies. Overnight stay on the cruise.

Full board on the cruise ship. After breakfast, head to Prince Philip’s Steps. Named for a 1964 royal visit, this steep cliffside path hosts a seabird colony as well as diverse marine life from fish to sea lions. Follow the stairway upwards through the rocky volcanic terrain, encountering red-footed boobies and perhaps even short-eared owls as you reach the Palo Santo forest at the top.

Head back to the yacht for lunch, and in the afternoon make another stop at Darwin Bay. Land on a small coral beach, and then make your way westward up to a viewpoint overlooking the bay. On your walk, expect to see swallow-tailed gulls, lava gulls, yellow-crowned herons, and lava herons. This is one of the few places in the islands where visitors are guaranteed to see red-footed boobies, so if you didn’t catch them before, you will now! When finished, head back to the cruise for dinner and your overnight stay.

Full board on the cruise ship. This morning, head to Rabida Island with its unique dark red sandy beaches. Bear in mind that this will be a “wet landing,” meaning you’ll disembark slightly off shore due to environmental regulations–be sure to wear water shoes! Rabida Island is home to sea lions, brown pelicans, and several varieties of Darwin’s famous finches. Take a dinghy along the island’s cliffs to observe the bird life, and try snorkeling just offshore.

In the afternoon, make another stop at Bartolomé Island. This arid, moon-like volcanic island may not be home to much vegetation aside from some shrubs and cacti, but its beaches host the perfect location to snorkel and observe tropical marine life up close. Spot penguins on shore, plus sea turtles, white tip reef sharks, and a variety of colorful fish in the water. Return to the cruise for dinner and your overnight stay.

Breakfast aboard the cruise. Return to Santa Cruz and head to higher ground, taking a path up into the rainforest. If you're lucky, you might spot the island's characteristic giant tortoises on your walk. At the top, you’ll encounter an extraordinary bird sanctuary. Admire birds such as tree and ground finches, vermilion flycatchers, painted-billed chickadees, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets (usually found standing on the shells of tortoises).

After your visit, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Quito. Once you land, head to a nearby hotel for your overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, take a shared shuttle to the airport for your flight back to the US. Night on board.