Ecuador & Galapagos in the Grand Manner
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Highlights:
There once was a time when exploring the natural wonders of Ecuador required forgoing certain amenities that many find comfort in. We created this itinerary gladly, because the wonders here were worth it.
Times have changed now and though the sights remain wondrous, so too are the ways you might experience them. Stay at an ultra-lodge in Cloud Forest, exploring flora during the day and world class cuisine by sunset. Delve into The Ecuadorian Amazon and enjoy the comforts of a city hotel enhanced by the unique sounds and surroundings of the Amazon jungle.
Fly to the Galapagos, to experience land and sea - where you'll stay at an ecolodge with a spa and make day trips to selected islands in a 105 foot luxury yacht. Welcome to Ecuador in the Grand Manner.
There once was a time when exploring the natural wonders of Ecuador required forgoing certain amenities that many find comfort in. We created this itinerary gladly, because the wonders here were worth it.
Times have changed now and though the sights remain wondrous, so too are the ways you might experience them. Stay at an ultra-lodge in Cloud Forest, exploring flora during the day and world class cuisine by sunset. Delve into The Ecuadorian Amazon and enjoy the comforts of a city hotel enhanced by the unique sounds and surroundings of the Amazon jungle.
Fly to the Galapagos, to experience land and sea - where you'll stay at an ecolodge with a spa and make day trips to selected islands in a 105 foot luxury yacht. Welcome to Ecuador in the Grand Manner.
SKU:
Explore: Ecuador & the Galapagos
Customizable Itinerary - 15 Days (from $12,982 per person)
Day 1: USA-Quito
Today you board a flight bound for Quito. If you are traveling from the East or Midwest you take advantage of the time change to arrive in Quito in time to enjoy dinner at the hotel before retiring to adjust to the altitude.
Dinner
Day 2: An intriguing journey to Mashpi Reserve
In the morning you will be met by your guide and drive north, passing the Equator monument at Latitude 0. Climbing up to the western pass you stop to view Pululahua Crate created by a dormant volcano. As you head towards the Pacific Ocean you turn off the highway and follow rural roads to the Tulipe archaeological site. You continue until you reach the entrance to Mashpi Reserve which covers over 3,200 acres, a haven for wildlife and biodiversity. Arriving at the lodge, you check in and have time to freshen up before joining fellow explorers at lunch. Relax in the afternoon and then join your naturalist guide for a tour of the forest. Return to the lodge for dinner. If you feel like it you can also join a nocturnal walk any night of your stay.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Days 3 & 4: Exploring the Cloud Forest
You have two full days to explore all aspects of the forest with your expert guides. For those who want to enjoy the beauty and magic of dawn in the forest, which is when most birds are active and calling, as well as when views ae most spectacular, early morning activities are organized before breakfast. Following breakfast, you head out from the lodge to explore, returning for lunch and a rest, before enjoying an afternoon adventure. There is a six passenger gondola that travels above the trees for 1.5 miles in one direction and in the tree cover on the return. There is also a tower halfway allowing you to take the gondola uphill then walk down on one of two major trails. Many trails are interspersed with waterfalls and rock pools, perfect for swimming. You can also go to the Hummingbird centre to see over 20 species indigenous to the area.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Return to Quito
You have the morning to take another walk in the forest followed by lunch and then you will be returned to Quito. The city has a wide variety of quality restaurants and we will be glad to make recommendations for dinner.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: Journey to the Amazon Rain Forest
After breakfast your driver will take you to Quito airport where you will meet a representative of your Amazon Lodge who will help with check-in to your flight to Puerto Francisco Orellana or “El Coca”. After a short flight you will be met and you will take a motorized canoe into the Amazon (your luggage will be transferred separately). You will be deposited at the Lodge’s dock and the final stage of the journey will be by paddle canoe. Now you are beginning to feel that you are in the Amazon. You will be met by the manager and offered a cooling drink and shown to your suite. After a chance to freshen up you will get a briefing on the Amazon and the lodge before you embark on a leisurely hike among 400 year old mahogany trees. Return to the lodge for dinner.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: A Tower View and the Charapa Trail
You will get a wakeup call at 6:30AM to take advantage of the morning. You have breakfast and then leave with your naturalist and native guide to the observation tower which allows you to climb 120 feet above the forest. Your guides will help you spot the colorful birds of the Amazon and even certain primates. On the return from the tower your native guide can show you some of the medicinal plants still in use today and your naturalist guide will provide interesting info on the ecology and natural history of the Amazon. You return to the lodge for lunch and a chance to relax. In the afternoon you join your guide for a walk along the Charapa Trail which goes on for about an hour beginning at the lodge and ending by the edge of the lagoon. It is a great loop where different mammals, monkeys and birds can be seen as they come to the lagoon looking for food. It is also perfect for witnessing an Amazonian sunset as you sit in a canoe on the water. You then embark on a nighttime canoe ride with the help of a spotlight which your guide will use to highlight nocturnal animals.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Parrot Salt Licks and the Garzacocha Lagoon
Another early morning but well worth it as your guide takes you on the Napo River in a motorized canoe where you visit the clay licks, one of the most fascinating displays in the wide world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather here to eat the mineral rich soil, an important part of their diet. Binoculars are essential to capture the moment. After the clay licks you will be taken to meet an Amazonian Kichua woman who will share with you the life of the Kichua’ s in the Amazon. This is special because it is part of the Amazon you do not find on maps and provides special insight. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you will you will travel to the Garzacocha Lagoon, one of the most beautiful lagoons in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Here you will have the chance to see monkeys and birds and sometimes families of squirrel monkeys join capuchin monkeys in looking for food. The calls of the Howler monkeys also ring out and you might have a chance to see the smallest monkey in the world, the Pigmy Marmoset. As the sun sets, the Hoatzin, toucans and macaws can be seen circling overhead. A perfect ending to your day and your stay.
Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: From the Amazon to Guayaquil
After breakfast you will take your river ride in reverse starting with a paddle canoe then a motorized canoe. Meet a guide who will take you to the airport for a flight to the port city of Guayaquil. You are met and taken to your hotel where you have the afternoon to relax or sightsee.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: Flight to the Galapagos
After breakfast you are transferred to the airport where you board a flight to the Galapagos. You will be met on arrival and taken to your eco lodge which sits high on a hill on the island of Santa Cruz. In addition to many of its own attractions, the island is central to other islands making it a perfect base for day trips. Get to know your accommodations and take a swim in the infinity pool and try a massage or treatment at the spa before enjoying the first of many fine meals
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Bartholomew Island and Sullivan Bay
Today will be the first of two days devoted to visits by yacht to other islands. Your yacht is 105 feet in length and fully stabilized meaning no choppy trips between islands as you get on some other vessels. Even though it is a day cruise you have your own private cabin to change into or out of swimming attire and take a fresh water shower. You will visit two islands and enjoy an elegant lunch on board while traveling between the two. Your first stop is Bartolome or Bartholomew in English (all islands have Spanish and English names) which was named for an officer on Darwin’s ship HMS Beagle. It is a volcanic island and the highlight is Pinnacle Peak caused by a volcanic eruption. A climb to its peak offers a panoramic view of the islands around you. Your second visit is to Santiago or James Island which is known for its blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas (the only iguanas that can swim) it also home to a lava flow at Sullivan’s Bay which is relatively recent (1897) its unique flow makes for an interesting visit. Sail back to the lodge in time for dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: A Day on Santa Cruz Island
Today is your “land” day giving you the chance to enjoy the charm of Santa Cruz. While the lodge can arrange some site visits, you are better off to explore on your own. You can visit the El Chato reserve, one of the best places in the islands to see the giant tortoises in their natural habitat that can live to be over 200 years old. There are hiking and jogging trails that take you to and through interesting areas. You can go further afield if you select mountain bikes. The island is known for its beautiful beaches; most situated in National Parks so no distractions and rarely visited by ships. As busy as the Galapagos Islands are, it is quite possible to visit a beach like Tortuga Bay and be the only visitors walking along the beach. You can also split the day between Mountain biking in the morning and the spa and infinity pool in the afternoon.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Santa Fe and South Plaza Islands
Today it is back to the yacht as you make your way to Santa Fe Island where you make a wet landing on a white sand beach populated by sea lions. Watch as bulls vie for the right of “Beach Master”, while smaller males, posing as females, make stealthy mating moves. Galapagos hawks are often observed perched atop salt bushes as you walk to find the Santa Fe Land Iguana. Before your leave Santa Fe enjoy some deep-water snorkeling or swimming from the beach before returning to the yacht for lunch. After lunch you arrive at South Plaza Island. There is a North and South Plaza Island and you will land in the channel between the two islands. The rocks have a coating of green seaweed which contrasts with the bright red of the sally-lightfoot crabs. Along the coastline you will find frigate birds gliding in the air currents created by the cliffs, The Island is home to one of the largest sea lion colonies and a large colony of land iguanas. After your visit you return to the yacht for the sail back to Santa Cruz Island. Enjoy a final dinner at the lodge.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Return to the Mainland and the USA
You have some free time after breakfast to take a walk or a swim before being transferred to the airport for the flight to Quito. You will connect to a late night flight to the USA.
Breakfast
Day 15: Arrive in USA
You arrive in the USA early in the morning.
Today you board a flight bound for Quito. If you are traveling from the East or Midwest you take advantage of the time change to arrive in Quito in time to enjoy dinner at the hotel before retiring to adjust to the altitude.
Dinner
Day 2: An intriguing journey to Mashpi Reserve
In the morning you will be met by your guide and drive north, passing the Equator monument at Latitude 0. Climbing up to the western pass you stop to view Pululahua Crate created by a dormant volcano. As you head towards the Pacific Ocean you turn off the highway and follow rural roads to the Tulipe archaeological site. You continue until you reach the entrance to Mashpi Reserve which covers over 3,200 acres, a haven for wildlife and biodiversity. Arriving at the lodge, you check in and have time to freshen up before joining fellow explorers at lunch. Relax in the afternoon and then join your naturalist guide for a tour of the forest. Return to the lodge for dinner. If you feel like it you can also join a nocturnal walk any night of your stay.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Days 3 & 4: Exploring the Cloud Forest
You have two full days to explore all aspects of the forest with your expert guides. For those who want to enjoy the beauty and magic of dawn in the forest, which is when most birds are active and calling, as well as when views ae most spectacular, early morning activities are organized before breakfast. Following breakfast, you head out from the lodge to explore, returning for lunch and a rest, before enjoying an afternoon adventure. There is a six passenger gondola that travels above the trees for 1.5 miles in one direction and in the tree cover on the return. There is also a tower halfway allowing you to take the gondola uphill then walk down on one of two major trails. Many trails are interspersed with waterfalls and rock pools, perfect for swimming. You can also go to the Hummingbird centre to see over 20 species indigenous to the area.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Return to Quito
You have the morning to take another walk in the forest followed by lunch and then you will be returned to Quito. The city has a wide variety of quality restaurants and we will be glad to make recommendations for dinner.
Breakfast and Lunch
Day 6: Journey to the Amazon Rain Forest
After breakfast your driver will take you to Quito airport where you will meet a representative of your Amazon Lodge who will help with check-in to your flight to Puerto Francisco Orellana or “El Coca”. After a short flight you will be met and you will take a motorized canoe into the Amazon (your luggage will be transferred separately). You will be deposited at the Lodge’s dock and the final stage of the journey will be by paddle canoe. Now you are beginning to feel that you are in the Amazon. You will be met by the manager and offered a cooling drink and shown to your suite. After a chance to freshen up you will get a briefing on the Amazon and the lodge before you embark on a leisurely hike among 400 year old mahogany trees. Return to the lodge for dinner.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: A Tower View and the Charapa Trail
You will get a wakeup call at 6:30AM to take advantage of the morning. You have breakfast and then leave with your naturalist and native guide to the observation tower which allows you to climb 120 feet above the forest. Your guides will help you spot the colorful birds of the Amazon and even certain primates. On the return from the tower your native guide can show you some of the medicinal plants still in use today and your naturalist guide will provide interesting info on the ecology and natural history of the Amazon. You return to the lodge for lunch and a chance to relax. In the afternoon you join your guide for a walk along the Charapa Trail which goes on for about an hour beginning at the lodge and ending by the edge of the lagoon. It is a great loop where different mammals, monkeys and birds can be seen as they come to the lagoon looking for food. It is also perfect for witnessing an Amazonian sunset as you sit in a canoe on the water. You then embark on a nighttime canoe ride with the help of a spotlight which your guide will use to highlight nocturnal animals.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Parrot Salt Licks and the Garzacocha Lagoon
Another early morning but well worth it as your guide takes you on the Napo River in a motorized canoe where you visit the clay licks, one of the most fascinating displays in the wide world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather here to eat the mineral rich soil, an important part of their diet. Binoculars are essential to capture the moment. After the clay licks you will be taken to meet an Amazonian Kichua woman who will share with you the life of the Kichua’ s in the Amazon. This is special because it is part of the Amazon you do not find on maps and provides special insight. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon you will you will travel to the Garzacocha Lagoon, one of the most beautiful lagoons in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Here you will have the chance to see monkeys and birds and sometimes families of squirrel monkeys join capuchin monkeys in looking for food. The calls of the Howler monkeys also ring out and you might have a chance to see the smallest monkey in the world, the Pigmy Marmoset. As the sun sets, the Hoatzin, toucans and macaws can be seen circling overhead. A perfect ending to your day and your stay.
Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: From the Amazon to Guayaquil
After breakfast you will take your river ride in reverse starting with a paddle canoe then a motorized canoe. Meet a guide who will take you to the airport for a flight to the port city of Guayaquil. You are met and taken to your hotel where you have the afternoon to relax or sightsee.
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10: Flight to the Galapagos
After breakfast you are transferred to the airport where you board a flight to the Galapagos. You will be met on arrival and taken to your eco lodge which sits high on a hill on the island of Santa Cruz. In addition to many of its own attractions, the island is central to other islands making it a perfect base for day trips. Get to know your accommodations and take a swim in the infinity pool and try a massage or treatment at the spa before enjoying the first of many fine meals
Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Bartholomew Island and Sullivan Bay
Today will be the first of two days devoted to visits by yacht to other islands. Your yacht is 105 feet in length and fully stabilized meaning no choppy trips between islands as you get on some other vessels. Even though it is a day cruise you have your own private cabin to change into or out of swimming attire and take a fresh water shower. You will visit two islands and enjoy an elegant lunch on board while traveling between the two. Your first stop is Bartolome or Bartholomew in English (all islands have Spanish and English names) which was named for an officer on Darwin’s ship HMS Beagle. It is a volcanic island and the highlight is Pinnacle Peak caused by a volcanic eruption. A climb to its peak offers a panoramic view of the islands around you. Your second visit is to Santiago or James Island which is known for its blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas (the only iguanas that can swim) it also home to a lava flow at Sullivan’s Bay which is relatively recent (1897) its unique flow makes for an interesting visit. Sail back to the lodge in time for dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: A Day on Santa Cruz Island
Today is your “land” day giving you the chance to enjoy the charm of Santa Cruz. While the lodge can arrange some site visits, you are better off to explore on your own. You can visit the El Chato reserve, one of the best places in the islands to see the giant tortoises in their natural habitat that can live to be over 200 years old. There are hiking and jogging trails that take you to and through interesting areas. You can go further afield if you select mountain bikes. The island is known for its beautiful beaches; most situated in National Parks so no distractions and rarely visited by ships. As busy as the Galapagos Islands are, it is quite possible to visit a beach like Tortuga Bay and be the only visitors walking along the beach. You can also split the day between Mountain biking in the morning and the spa and infinity pool in the afternoon.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Santa Fe and South Plaza Islands
Today it is back to the yacht as you make your way to Santa Fe Island where you make a wet landing on a white sand beach populated by sea lions. Watch as bulls vie for the right of “Beach Master”, while smaller males, posing as females, make stealthy mating moves. Galapagos hawks are often observed perched atop salt bushes as you walk to find the Santa Fe Land Iguana. Before your leave Santa Fe enjoy some deep-water snorkeling or swimming from the beach before returning to the yacht for lunch. After lunch you arrive at South Plaza Island. There is a North and South Plaza Island and you will land in the channel between the two islands. The rocks have a coating of green seaweed which contrasts with the bright red of the sally-lightfoot crabs. Along the coastline you will find frigate birds gliding in the air currents created by the cliffs, The Island is home to one of the largest sea lion colonies and a large colony of land iguanas. After your visit you return to the yacht for the sail back to Santa Cruz Island. Enjoy a final dinner at the lodge.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Return to the Mainland and the USA
You have some free time after breakfast to take a walk or a swim before being transferred to the airport for the flight to Quito. You will connect to a late night flight to the USA.
Breakfast
Day 15: Arrive in USA
You arrive in the USA early in the morning.
