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Galapagos, Amazon & Andes

Example 15 Day Tour
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Discover the magical Galapagos archipelago, declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Further enhance your experience by adding a jungle exploration through the Amazon Rainforest and the northern Ecuadorian Andes. While in the Galapagos, enjoy land-based activities to learn about endemic flora & fauna species, hike around active volcanoes and photograph wonderful landscapes. Continue to the jungle and experience the Napo River by paddling dugout canoes along tannin-rich black water creeks and lakes, where luxuriant lianas, bromeliads and palm trees thrive. Move on to the northern Andes where you will enjoy a train ride and a community dance performance. Visit Otavalo and shop in one of the biggest craft markets in South America. 
Cultivated fields surrounded by the Andes MountainsSaki Monkey in the AmazonCurious sea lion during a snorkeling outingQuitoCloudforest in EcuadorBlue footed boobyWildlife in the GalapagosTwo squirrel monkeys in the AmazonA local selling his weavings in the marketPerched macaws
Highlights
  • Admire Quito's colonial center and learn about its artistic legacy
  • Hike around active volcanoes in Isabela and discover its unique wildlife
  • Enjoy a train ride across the northern Ecuadorian Andes
  • Experience the amazing canopy walkway in Sacha Lodge
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive Quito

Arrive Quito. Airport transfer to Casa Aliso, a centrally located 10-room boutique hotel.

Day 2: Quito's colonial center and the Middle of the World

Explore Quito’s colonial center; the best preserved historic center in America. Learn about Quito’s history and artistic legacy. Admire the wonderful architecture of its colonial buildings and the uniqueness of religious art pieces. Continue to the famous Middle of the World and celebrate the ability to be in both hemispheres at the same time.

Day 3: Isabela Island - Sucre's Cave & Mirador de Mango

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Transfer to Quito's airport for flight to Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. Flight from Baltra to Puerto Villamil. Transfer to Scalesia Lodge. Scalesia is situated in the highlands of Isabela Island on the slopes of a volcano, about 20 minutes from the town of Puerto Villamil. The modern, luxurious, safari-style tent resort is in the middle of 16 hectare (40 acre) property of a magical forest with a spectacular view of the coast of Isabela Island, the Pacific Ocean, and other Islands of Galapagos dotting the horizon. In the afternoon, visit the Sucre's cave, and enjoy a short walk to appreciate the typical vegetation and endemic plants. Continue to Mirador de Mango from where you have panoramic views of southern Isabela and the agricultural area. This is also a place for finch birds’ observation.

Day 4: Isabela Island - Sierra Negra, Chico Volcano & Concha Perla

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit some of Isabela's best attractions: the Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano. Sierra Negra is one of the most active volcanoes of the archipelago, The volcano’s crater is considered the second largest in the world with a diameter of 10kms. Volcan Chico is also an active volcano, sulfur vents can be seen in this area. This is an approximately 6-hour walk tour to appreciate all the splendor of the volcanoes. For those who do not wish to do the hike, an alternative activity is visiting the Tuneles: a 30-minute ride on a small fast boat that takes visitors to this unique place where lava flow has been impacted for many years by the oceans waves. This visiting site is a marine paradise for white tipped reef sharks, Galápagos green sea turtles, the Galápagos sea lions, manta rays, parrot fish, yellow tail surgeon fish among many others. (Please let us know when booking which option you would like to book).

Return to the Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy Concha Perla, where you can swim and snorkel alongside tropical fish, sea lions, penguins and turtles and it is also possible to observe up to 20 bird species.

Day 5: Isabela Island - Tintoreras, Humedales & turtle breeding center

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Morning visit to the Tintoreras, an islet formed by lava flows located 10 minutes by dinghy from Puerto Villamil. Its name comes from the white tip reef sharks called in Spanish as “tintoreras” which are frequently seen in this area. Different species of animals can be seen in the area as sea lions, marine iguanas and penguins. This is a perfect place to practice snorkeling. Return to the hotel by lunch time. In the afternoon visit los Humedales, a complex with various trails where you can find the four species of mangroves existing in Galapagos. This area is characterized by solitary beaches, lava tunnels, natural pools and estuaries where you can see flamingos and other birds. You will also visit the Turtle breeding center where the National Park is breeding turtles in danger of extinction. Some of this giant turtles have been released by the park and can be found on the trails.

Day 6: Santa Cruz Island - Las Grietas & Tortuga Bay

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Early in the morning, transfer to the airport to take your flight back to Baltra. Pick up and transfer to Puerto Ayora. Visit to Las Grietas. Las Grietas means “the Crevasses,” a simple name for one of the Galápagos Islands’ most enchanting locations – a series of three elongated, almost rectangular pools amid tall lava cliffs. In the afternoon, visit Tortuga Bay beach. Tortuga Bay is located to the southwest of Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island. Its name means turtle, since it is the favorite place for sea turtles to lay their eggs. After the visit you will be taken to Finch Bay Hotel.

Day 7: Day trip navigation

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
/> Day trip navigation to one of these islands: Bartolome Island (Saturday, Sunday), Santa Fe Island (Wednesday), South Plazas Island (Tuesday, Friday) or North Seymour Island (Monday, Thursday). Over- night at Finch Bay Hotel.

NOTE: Itineraries in Galapagos subject to change without notice. The sequence of visits might be altered depending on arrival of flights to Baltra or Isabela, weather conditions, or other unexpected circumstances beyond our control.

Day 8: Return Quito

After breakfast, transfer to Baltra to take your flight back to Quito. Arrive to Quito in the afternoon. Airport transfer to Casa Aliso Boutique hotel.

Day 9: Transfer to Sacha Lodge

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Transfer from hotel to Quito airport. Embark on a 30-minute flight and arrive to Puerto Francisco de Orellana, locally known as Coca to meet the naturalist guide and board a larger motorized canoe for a 2-hour ride down the Rio Napo to Sacha Lodge. Upon arrival to Sacha Lodge’s private reserve, guests take their first walk along a raised boardwalk through dense flooded palm forest where several species of monkeys are often sighted. Dugout canoes await to carry you across the Pilchicocha lake to the Lodge. You arrive with time to settle in, bird-watch, swim, or take a walk under the canopy before dinner.

Day 10-11: Sacha Lodge - Explore rainforest

  • Hotel
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Activities are spread out over a wide area and allow visitors to explore several distinct but equally fascinating habitats. Visit to the butterfly farm is not to be missed. One of Sacha Lodge’s highlights is the Canopy Walk. It is one of only a few rigid, self-standing suspension canopy walkways in the world. Two of the three towers have observation platforms every 12 meters, making the towers accessible for everyone. The 275 meters, (900 feet) long canopy walkway is suspended at 36 meters (120 feet) above the forest floor.

The Treetop Walk, allow visitors explore the rich life of the rainforest understory. We have built 5 observation platforms around tree trunks under the canopy, at heights between 20 and 65 feet, all connected by bridges. The Treetop Walk leads us on a 240 feet long path through this rainforest layer so rarely observed by human beings before.
A favorite activity of our guests is to paddle dugout canoes along tannin-rich black-water creeks and lakes, where luxuriant lianas, bromeliads and palm trees thrive. There is also a 43 meter (135 feet) observation tower that allows guests to climb into and above the rainforest canopy for a magnificent view of the surrounding area.
Located ten minutes across de Napo River, the Nueva Providencia Interpretation Center, an offers our guests the opportunity to share with the women from the community and learn about the Kichwa lifestyle. The visit culminates with a tasting of the local cuisine!
For adventurous souls, the day does not necessarily end with dinner. Night walks and canoe trips, with the aid of flashlights, often reveal creatures such as caimans that are seldom seen during daylight.

Day 12: Cayambe - Quitsato monument on the Equator Line

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, walk back out to the Napo River along the boardwalk. The motorized canoe waits at the shore of the Napo for the trip to Puerto Francisco de Orellana, to fly back to Quito. Pick up at Quito airport at noon to head north through the winding roads of the Andes, reaching the fertile province of Imbabura. On the way, stop in Cayambe, visit Quisato monument right on the Equator line, lunch and visit a rose plantation (no Sundays). Arrive in Hacienda Piman at late afternoon.

Day 13: Imbabura - El Chota Valley - Train ride

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Depart from Piman to Ibarra for a brief walk around its historic center and continue to the train station to board a locomotive for one hour and a half. Experience an adventure ride through natural landscapes formed by mountains and sugarcane plantations. Arrive to Salinas de Ibarra at midday where community welcomes visitors and shows part of their culture including a music and dance performance. Continue to explore the area and visit the village of El Juncal and its interpretation center, enjoy lunch with a local family. After lunch, return to Piman offside the main roads, drive up into the highlands, Paramo of Yuracruz with awesome views above the Imbabura and Chota Valley. On the way, near Mariano Acosta village, visit one of the oldest active watermill in Ecuador. At the highest point, la Carboneria, in the Paramo, the view to the Cayambe volcano invites for a walk downhill along the road through primary mountain forest with abundant fauna (excellent birding) and flora, home of the Andean spectacled bear. Arrive at Piman at 4:30 PM

Note: The train operates from Thursday to Sunday. In case, it cannot fit the excursion on a train day we will offer an alternative excursion to El Angel Reserve to explore its strange and beautiful plants, forest and lakes

Day 14: Otavalo market - Parque Condor - Return Quito

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Leave Piman in the morning to head back to Quito. On the way, stop in Cotacachi, continue to the Otavalo indigenous craft market, lunch in Otavalo, stop at Parque del Condor, continue back to Quito arriving at around 5:00 pm. Overnight at Casa Aliso Boutique Hotel.

Day 15: Return Home

  • 1 Breakfast
Enjoy one last breakfast before heading to the airport for your flight home.

Accommodations

Sacha Lodge

Sacha Lodge
Sacha Lodge Oropendola Restaurant
Sacha Lodge Bar

Casa Aliso

Double Room Accommodations at Casa Aliso
Relax at the Casa Aliso
Double Room accommodations

Finch Bay Hotel

Finch Bay Hotel
Finch Bay Hotel
Finch Bay Hotel

Hacienda Piman

Enjoy a comfortable stay at Ecuador's Hacienda Piman
Relax in the covered outdoor lounge at Hacienda Piman
Elegant columns light the way to your room at Hacienda Piman

Scalesia Lodge

Scalesia Lodge on Isabela Island
Scalesia Lodge on Isabela Island
Scalesia Lodge on Isabela Island

Dates & Prices

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DBL occupancy per person: USD 5260
(minimum 02 passengers)
Included
  • 12 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 10 Dinners
  • 12 Nights Accommodations
  • 1 Day Locally Hosted Guide Service
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Aquatic transportation in Galapagos and Sacha Lodge
  • Salinas-.Ibarra train ride
  • Gear Rental
  • Wetsuit rentals are included in your tour cost.  Please note that wetsuits are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis, so we cannot guarantee that your size will available each day.  You are more than welcome to bring your own wetsuit if you'd prefer.
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Galapagos Park Entrance Fee: $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12 (fees of $100 per adult and $50 per child valid on arrivals through Aug 1, 2024). Payable upon arrival to the Galapagos, only in cash dollars. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
  • Entrance Fee: Quito City Tour Entrance Fees Not Included & Are Paid Locally
  • Unlimited Water Refill on Tour
  • Airport Departure Tax
  • Meals not Included - Meals in Quito are not included, only breakfast at hotel.
  • Air ticket Quito-Baltra-Quito - USD 475.00 - USD 540.00 depending on season per person (subject to change).
  • Puerto Villamil entrance fee - $10 per person
  • Air tickets Baltra-Puerto Villamil-Baltra
  • Park Entrance Fee - Optional parrot salt lick
  • Arrival Transfer
  • Departure Transfer
  • Puerto Villamil Municipal Fee
  • Roundtrip boat ride to Isabela (includes transportation to the ports) - Alternative option to Baltra-Isabela roundtrip flights
  • Baltra - Isabela Roundtrip Transportation

Map

When to Go

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.

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This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
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