ITINERARY
DAY 01: Arrival in Quito and transfer to Auberge Inn. DAY 02: Quito – Full day tours to the equatorial line and THE the Indians of Octavalo, at night a typical live concert. At about 25 km in downtown Quito, the equatorial line divides the earth in two hemispheres. There, an imposing monument commemorates the French geodesic mission which in the 18th century first in determined the exact position of the equatorial line. We will tour the monument and visit the ethnographic museum so as to not forget that Ecuador is rich in cultural and ethnic diversity. Changing landscapes with deep valleys and summits characterizes the way to the greatest indigenous market in the country. Otavalo is the economic and cultural center of this valley. Every Saturday the greatest market in the Andean countries takes place here on this day the city becomes an enormous market. In addition to the traditional market where the inhabitants interchange various products, we visit the Otavaleno natives who are famous wool retailers of coats, ponchos, woven carpets, carpets and much more. Next the artisan towns in the environs can be visited. The rest of the afternoon we can enjoy the atmosphere of an indigenous town. DAY 03: After breakfast we will travel to the idyllic lake of the crater of Cuicocha volcano, where we can walk to the edge of the crater. With good weather we will have a beautiful vista of the Otavalo valley and its incredible volcanos: Cotacachi, Imbabura and Cayambe. If the travelers are in good condition and thus they wish to, we can offer a stroll and hikes of approximately 4 hours around the crater. Visit the town of Cotacachi rich in leather handcraft. On the return to Quito, stop to visit the small city of Cayambe, famous for its pastry. DAY 04: Early in the morning travel from Quito to Papallacta and then to Coca. Traveling to an altitude 4,200 ms, we crossed the Andean eastern mountain range. At 3,300 meters above sea level, you will find the magnificent thermal waters of Papallacta, surrounded by an impressive landscape. After a relaxing water bath, we follow with a trip east to the Napo River. DAY 05: A one hour motor canoe trip down the Napo river to where it joins to the Maduro River. The Manduro River is the first landmark to be seen in the Yarina area of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Upon arrival you will enjoy a short walk around the Cotinga trail to observe insects, reptiles and nocturnal rodents. Yarina lodge is located east of the town of Coca, one hour by boat down the River Napo, on the shore of the Manduro River. Yarina Reserve is a part of an Ecological Reserve that covers 300 ha within an unexplored part of the Amazon Jungle. The giant trees of the tropical humid forest, multicolored butterflies, birds, insects, monkeys, parrots, tapir, caiman, and many other species are part of the scene of this attractive and natural spot. Yarina lodge offers great comfort, 20 spacious huts all with private baths, good meals and expert Indian naturalist guides. Yarina is the Quechua name for the "tagua tree" which is predominant in the Amazon Region. DAY 06: Start after breakfast with an adventure walk through the Socali trail where it is possible to see plants such as "Chontillos", anthurios and a large diversity of aquatic birds. In the afternoon enjoy piranha fishing and a canoe trip through the Napo River. We stop on the banks of this river where you can take a refresing bath while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Night canoe cruise to enjoy the sounds of the jungle. DAY 07: Start after breakfast with an adventure walk on the Capibara trail to see medicinal plants and learn from the guides how they have been used traditionally. Observation of bird life, toucans, parrots, iguanas, and the forest vegetation: orchids, palms, lianas, and a large variety of insects. In the afternoon visit the Canopy Tower from where it is possible to enjoy the beautiful photogenic landscapes. In the afternoon native guides will show you how to use the "cerbatana", the blowgun traditionally used by the Indians. After dinner, a night canoe trip to observe caimans. DAY 08: From Yarina Lodge travel to Tena (6 hours). At night, according to the age, party-time or discothèque-night. DAY 09: Full day in Tena. Once an important colonial trading post in the Amazon, Tena is now the commercial center and capital of Napo Province. And though Tena has population of just over 14,000, it has retained much of its culture and traditional lifestyle. Tena supports a large population of lowland Quichua Indians, and significant numbers of Quijos and Chibcha Indians. It is possible to visit some of these communities and to observe and sometimes participate in traditional dancing and rituals. Tena is the perfect launching point for a jungle trek, rafting or kayaking trip down one of the countless rivers that pass through or by the city. In the Tena area you can find Cuevas de Jumandy with a labyrinth of natural caves and tunnels that extend several kilometers underground. Sumaco Volcano - is located in the Sumaco Napo-Galeras National Park and reaching it is easily one of the most intense experiences to be had in Ecuador. The volcano soars 3,732 meters above the jungle and is surrounded by precipitous ravines and dense jungle, which have largely kept humans out and preserved its flora and fauna. DAY 10: Early in the morning travel from Tena to Green River, to hike the Cataract of Pailón del Diablo. DAY 11: Visit to the famous city of Baños at the entrance of the Ecuadorian Amazon and in the same place you can and witness the activity of Tungurahua volcano. If weather conditions allow, you will experience the ash from the volcano. Enjoy a full day of adventures such as horseback riding, bicycling or walking in the city. DAY 12: From Baños we will travel to Salasaca about 40 min away and then to Riobamba City at 80 km distance. The Salasacas natives are famous for their llama carpets. We will continue the trip through the Pan-American Highway past the majestic foot of the Chimborazo volcano (6,320 m), and arrive late at Riobamba City. DAY 13: After an early breakfast, we will travel to the Riobamba train station, where we will take the Trans-Andean Railroad. This railroad offer one of the most exciting train rides in the world, crossing the Andes at the foothills of snowcapped volcanoes, giving the tourist the opportunity to experience breath-taking scenery full of natural and cultural wonders. This old system, built in the 1800´s, was considered "the most difficult railway in the world" and even until now is considered a masterpiece of railway engineering. The highlight of the trip will be the Devil’s Nose, a high, almost perpendicular wall where zigzag turns were carved out of the rock allowing the train to advance and back-up until reaching the necessary height. After about 7 hours of traveling we will arrive in Alausi, a small Andean Town where our private transportation will pick us up and take us back to Latacunga. DAY 14: Latacunga and Cotopaxi National Park. Visit the market of Saquisilí, one of most colorful in the country. There are numerous plazas and many narrow streets where you can find any type of merchandise. We also will visit the extraordinary animal market. Later we continued our trip to the National Park of the Cotopaxi. By a highway surrounded by a coniferous forest, we continued our trip to the plain of Limpiopungo (3,830 ms) at the foot of the imposing cone of Cotopaxi volcano (5,897 ms) where you will find a lagoon of the same name. In our vehicle we reach a height of 4,500 ms and from there climb to the Jose Ribas refuge at4,800 ms on a hard, long hike of 45 minutes. For a few minutes at the refuge we can marvel at an impressive glacier. Next we take one short walk to the foot of the volcano to appreciate and learn about the manifold flora the Andean desert. In the afternoon return to Quito. DAY 15: Transfer to Quito airport for flight to Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. In the airport of Baltra we meet another specialized guide who will accompany the bus to the yacht, and later provide you with a brief explanation of the regulations of the Galapagos National Park. The guide will point out the different species of animals that you find in our first exploration of the Bachas beaches. There are lava lizards, pelicans, flamingos and other migratory birds during the long walks and golden rays. In the beach you have swimming and snorkeling. This site is also an area of marine turtle nesting. We will return to the yacht in afternoon and at night you will have a welcome cocktail and dinner. Sail around the Galapagos in a luxury live-aboard motor yacht. With our naturalist guide, we will have time to explore the different islands. Around fifty percent of the species on the Galapagos Islands are not found anywhere else in the world! Such as the Galapagos tortoise that can grow more than 6 feet in length, weigh more than 500 pounds, and live for 150 years! Or the 3-ft long vegetarian marine iguana—the only known sea-feeding lizard on earth. There are also Galapagos penguins, Sally light foot crabs, sea lions, lava lizards, and a prolific bird population! The magnificent frigate bird (with an 8-ft wingspan), the blue-footed booby, swallow-tailed gulls, short-eared owls, Hood Island mockingbirds, oyster catchers, Galapagos hawks, storm petrels, flightless cormorants, lava herons, three species of Darwin's finches, and more exotic animals. At night, dinner and a welcome drink. DAY 16: Plazas - Santa Fe. Soon after breakfast you will take a short excursion to the South Seat Island where it is possible to observed terrestrial and marine iguanas, in addition to one of the greatest colonies of sea lions in the Galapagos Islands. The island has little vegetation, compose mainly of cactus which constitutes the main food of the terrestrial iguanas and penguins. Also, it is possible to see tropical birds, frigates, pelicans, gulls, and a forest of opuntia cactus. Lunch on board the yacht and we sail to the section of Wolves island where there is a great colony of sea lions and blue-legged penguins of blue legs. Later, we continue to Santa Fe Island, well known for the opuntia cactus, some of which are more than 10 meters haigh, and the endemic terrestrial iguana. Excellent snorkeling sites. DAY 17: Española (Spanish Island). After the breakfast, we visit Spanish Island, the southern-most island of the archipelago where there are two points of interest: Suarez End and Gardner Bay. In the first long walk to Suárez End it is possible to see the sea lions wolves, iguanas and marine birds in great multitudes throughout the coast. Among the marine birds it is possible to observe the penguin, tropical frigate birds and albatrosses which have a unique special mating dance. DAY 18: FLOREANA (Cormorant End, Crown of the Devil and Post Office). Soon after breakfast we visit Cormorant End in the Floreana Island, the sixth largest Island of the Archipelago. Here we will take a long walk to observe different species of birds, such as flamingos, cariblancos, nocturnal herons, anades and Galapagos sparrowhawks. Another special feature of Cormorant End is the Coralline Beach that serves as a nesting place for the marine turtles. Continuing with our itinerary, snorkel around Corona of the Devil, a volcanic cone emerging from the east coast which is one of most spectacular snorkeling places because of the many sea lions, coral formations, starfishes and a thousand of colorful fishes that can be found there. We will return to the yacht to have lunch and visit the Post Office Bay, the site of the first postal system in the Islands which opened in 1793. Later we return to the yacht to have dinner. DAY 19: Charles Darwin Scientific Station and Highland Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz Island is the second largest island in the Archipelago the most populated and with the most tourist facilities. In the morning soon after the breakfast we will visit the Charles Darwin Station, an institution that works for the protection of different species, from giant turtles to birds. During the visit we will have the opportunity to learn about the several directed programs of conservation that includes the protection of different species, such as the terrestrial turtles and iguanas, which are in danger of extinction. Other attractions of the Station are the breeding center where young terrestrial turtles (between l to 5 years of age) are kept and " Solitary Jorge " the last of that species of terrestrial turtles After our visit to the Charles Darwin Station, we will have the opportunity to visit the town of Ayora Port, one of the most populated in the Galapagos, where we will be able to buy souveniers (postal cards, T-shirts, books, etc.). After the lunch we, it can visit the higher elevation of the Islands and see that the vegetation is very different in the volcanic and craters. In addition, there is variety of terrestrial birds, such as Darwin finches and field owls. We will also have wonderful views of the landscape. In afternoon we can return to the town and enjoy the night life in the bars and discos. DAY 20: Rabida - James Bay: Bartolome - Sullivan Bay. Soon after breakfast we will visit Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island), the site of a massive black lava flow which formed in 1990. We will be able to walk throughout this unusual flow and observe the lava formation which has been preserved relatively well with the passage of time, in addition to the unique pioneering plants in this area. We will see a variety of lava types like the Pahoe-hoe, in addition to many pioneering plants, parasitic craters and cactus. Also there is a small colony of penguins in Sullivan Bay Beach. Soon after the lunch we will visit Bartholomew Island, one of the most impressive islands and photogenic sites in the Archipelago which offers some of the most spectacular views of the ocean and the islands. You have two options in your visit to Bartholomew: one is to visit the beach and to do excellent snorkeling where you can often see hammerhead sharks, penguins and a multitude of colorful tropical fish: the other option is to scale the hill, which requires some effort, but is rewarded by the wonderful panoramic vista, one of the best in the Galapagos. DAY 21: From here, we will continue to the airport in Baltra Island to take a domestic flight to the continent. Forever dinner. DAY 22: Transfer to Quito airport we will take our homeward flight. |
