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See giant tortoises in the Galapagos

Wildlife Odyssey

Amazon & Galapagos - Example 15 Day Tour
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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.  
Sacha LodgeTrek through the AmazonMonkey business in CocaAt the Parrot Clay LickA pair of blue-footed boobies watch travelers pass in the GalapagosCrossing the suspension bridgeFrigatebird in the Galapagos Islands250kg fully grown, 300 metres an hour, just try and stop itSee Blue-footed Boobies on your trip to the GalapagosRaul declares Land Ahoy - Ruth confirms!Nap timeEl Penguino!Galapagos Sally Lightfoot CrabBoat ride to Sacha LodgeIguana found during a Galapagos wildlife cruiseCruising Leon Dormido on a tour of the GalapagosEspanola is for loversGalapagos PenguinsRoad to QuitoPenguins pay us a visitA pair Galapagos penguins during a cruise tourSea lions nap on the sunny beaches of the GalapagosSee giant tortoises in the Galapagos
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
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 in Quito

Arrive in Quito and overnight.

Day 2: Arrive Sacha Lodge

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.

Day 3-5: Sacha Lodge

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.

Day 6: Depart Sacha Lodge | Hacienda Pinsaqui

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.

Day 7: Otavalo Market | Quito

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.

Day 9-14: Galapagos cruise

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.

Accommodations

Corals

Corals during the sunset
Corals Jacuzzi
Sun Terrace  Moon deck  Coral II

Sacha Lodge

Sacha Lodge Aerial View
Sacha Lodge Pool Deck
Sacha Lodge Terrace

Hacienda Pinsaqui

Hacienda Pinsaqui
Hacienda Pinsaqui
Hacienda Pinsaqui

Quito - Hotels

Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
$7,684 2-3 travelers

Notes

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Price based on the Standard Plus cabin of Corals. Contact us for different Galapagos yacht and start date options.
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.
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador: $475-675
  • 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
  • Internal Flights: Quito - Coca - Quito - Galapagos - Quito

Map

When to Go

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Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.

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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!
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