Experience three wonders of the world - the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Andes mountains - in one action-packed 15-day trip visiting the best of Ecuador. Spend five nights in the Amazon jungle at the comfortable Sacha Lodge, paddling dug-out canoes and searching for Amazonian wildlife like monkeys, sloths, and caimans. Later in the week, fly to the Galapagos for a cruise around the islands. Visit remote areas for nature walks and get the opportunity to view the unique, fearless wildlife of the Enchanted Islands.
Highlights
Observe macaws at Ecuador's most famous clay lick
Visit a 130-foot observation tower for views of the rainforest canopy
See blue footed boobies, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, seals and more!
Snorkel through clear waters with playful sea lions and colorful fish
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Begin your Ecuador travel adventure with a short flight over the high Andes and down to the Amazon frontier town of Puerto Francisco de Orellana (called Coca by locals). You travel by motorized canoe two and a half hours down the Napo River, followed by a short walk through a thick palm forest to Sacha Lodge, your home for the next few days.
Your stay at Sacha Lodge is filled with discovery. Upon arrival, visitors are divided into small groups (max 6), each with its own naturalist/guide that stays with their group for the duration of their stay. This allows each hike, each canoe ride, and each exploration to build on the species seen or the lessons learned in the previous experience.
Twice-daily activities are centered around paddling dugout canoes along blackwater creeks and lakes - past luxuriant lianas, bromeliads, and enormous palms. There are points along many of these blackwater creeks where travelers will be able to get out and hike for a bit to further explore the Amazon ecosystem and see more wildlife.
Sacha Lodge also offers a number of very unique ways for visitors to get up high in the Amazon. A 130-foot-high observation tower and a 940-foot-long canopy walkway both give visitors a chance to get above the rainforest canopy for incredible views of the area. The Kapok tower climbs right into the highest reaches of one of the tallest trees in the Amazon, and a crane hoists travelers directly into the sky in an open-air basket - without all those pesky steps/stairs. These are great places to observe toucans and other tropical birds and, with luck, spot noisy howler monkeys, potoos, or three-toed sloths.
Swimming and piranha fishing are also popular (the piranha here are harmless, really!). And for the adventurous Ecuador traveler, there are nighttime walks and nighttime canoe trips in search of caiman and other nocturnal creatures. Finally, if staying in the rainforest long enough, travelers are also able to travel by the Yasuni Parrot Lick, on their way to a cultural experience at the Yasuni Community across the river from Sacha Lodge, just a short distance via motorized canoe.
Complete your Amazon tour with a flight back to Quito. Two hours north of Quito lies one of Ecuador's finest haciendas. Nestled in the Otavalo Valley in the shadow of Imbabura Volcano, the 200-year-old Hacienda Pinsaqui was a favorite haunt of the revolutionary General Simon Bolívar. The thick, whitewashed walls seem to whisper stories of a bygone era. From the hacienda, go mountain biking in the countryside, visit the white city of Ibarra and the leather shops of Cotacachi, or take horses around Cuicocha Lake. Pinsaqui, with its gardens and old textile shops, is yours to explore.
After a pleasant breakfast at Pinsaqui, your day's adventures are open. Hike around the volcanic crater of Cuicocha, visit the villages around Otavalo, or share a traditional lunch with an Otavaleño family. The choice is yours! There are markets every day of the week in the tiny town of Otavalo, where indigenous people from the mountains descend into the valley to sell their crafts, textiles, cows, and goats. This is the most famous Indian market on the continent, and the Otavaleños are sure to win your heart. This afternoon, return to Quito to prepare for the next day's Galapagos adventures!
Day 8: Fly to Galapagos
1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner
An early morning flight from Quito brings you to the Galapagos Archipelago. Upon arrival, you are picked up and transferred to your yacht - your home for the next seven nights. This afternoon, you head to your first island to begin your Galapagos cruise and a week filled with mysteries of the natural world. Click here for more details about Corals.
Visit several islands during your unforgettable voyage. Each day, you leave the comfort of your yacht and go ashore in a panga (the local word for dinghies, Zodiacs, etc.) to remote areas of the islands for natural history walks through the Galapagos's unique ecology. Your crew takes excellent care of you with delicious meals and attends to all your creature comforts onboard. On the islands, your naturalist guide shows you the diversity of Galapagos life and teaches you about the area's natural history. This is everyone's chance to photograph unusual marine iguanas, snorkel with playful sea lions, and take in the unique landscape of ancient volcanic turmoil. Except for a few settlements, the entire archipelago is a national park, and the beaches and meandering footpaths invite relaxation and fanciful dreams.
Day 15: Fly to Quito | Return Home
1 Breakfast
This morning, you visit one last island and say goodbye to Bachas Beach as you complete your Galapagos tour. You are transferred back to the airport for your return to Quito.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$7,6842-3 travelers
Notes
Select a Date
Price based on the Standard Plus cabin of Corals. Contact us for different Galapagos yacht and start date options.
Initial deposit is $1100 (depending on cruise option), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
14 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 11 Dinners
14 Nights Accommodations
2 Days 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
Gear Rental: Snorkeling Gear
Bilingual Naturalist Guide
Adventure Life Pre-departure Services and In-Country Assistance (Quito Representative)
Transfers and Baggage Handling in the Galapagos
Shore Excursions, Swimming, Snorkeling and Glass Bottom Boat
INGALA Transit Control Card
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. Payable upon arrival to the Galapagos, only in cash dollars. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
Wetsuits are not included but are available to rent on board - $25 for 4-day and 5-day tours, $50 for 8-day, 11-day, and 12 day tours, and $75 for 15-day tours.
Kayak available for $45/use
Park Entrance Fee - Optional parrot salt lick excursion
Everything was amazing! The planning with Adventure Life went smoothly. The actual trip was fantastic! One of the best trips I have experienced. The cruise staff members were knowledgeable and attentive. I will be writing more about this on the blog!