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Welcome to Quito, a city situated in a circle of mountainous peaks, is the world's second highest capital and has one of the most magnificent settings in the world.
Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978, Quito boasts one of the finest colonial centers in Latin America.Transfer in to Sheraton hotel or similar
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AM
Breakfast at the hotel.We will pick you up to take you to a short ride through the north of the city in order to arrive to the Equatorial Monument, built as a tribute to the French scientists who determined the shape of the earth in the 1700s.
You will visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, where the colorful way of life of the different ethnic groups of Ecuador is on display, and you will continue to a visit to the Intiñan interactive museum, which shows the different theories of the Incas in determining the middle of the world.
MIDDLE DAY: The tour will then continue through to visit the modern section of Quito and continue towards the city's historic district.
You will visit San Agustín Convent and its historical Sala Capitular, followed by Independence Square, flanked by the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace and City Hall.Here you will have your lunch that will be served at a fine restaurant in downtown Quito.
PM
We will continue the visit with a stroll past El Sagrario Church and marvel at the exquisite stone facade of La Compañía Church.
You will visit the San Francisco Church, built over the ruins of an Inca Palace in the 16th century. After this, you can choose between a visit to the home of former philanthropist Maria Augusta Urrutia or the City Museum.
The Urrutia House has its original furniture and paintings from the 19th century, privately restored by the owners. The City Museum is housed in the old San Juan de Dios Hospital, a restored building from the 16th century.Here you will gain insight into what life was like in Quito, from prehistoric times to the 19th century.
The day will conclude with a ride up the road to the Panecillo or the Itchimbia hills for a breathtaking view of Quito.
Transfer to the hotel.
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AM
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart to enjoy magnificent sceneries along the way and spectacular views of San Pablo Lake as we approach Otavalo. In Cayambe we will stop at the Equatorial Monument and try some typical biscuits and cheese.
Upon arrival in Otavalo, you will have time to browse through the open-air indigenous market, where colorful handicrafts are on display. Lunch will be at a hacienda in the area.
PM
In the afternoon, we will visit the town of Cotacachi, home to Ecuador's finest leather craftsmen and go on a short walk at Cuicocha Crater Lake. We will get back to Quito and take you to the hotel.
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AM
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to airport in order to take the flight to Galapagos
Arrival to the Galapagos. Ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island (10min.ride). Check in at Our Lodge.
Lunch at the lodge
PM
After Lunch, snorkel with Sea Lions, Sting Rays and Baby Reef Sharks in the shallow, emerald waters of Tortuga Bay, then witness the nesting site of the famous Marine Iguanas.
Dinner at the hotel.
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AM
Breakfast at the lodge.
Departfor Tortoise Quest Tour.
This tour begins with a trip to the lavish, lush green "Los Gemelos" (The Twins), two enormous collapsed lava chambers a breathtakingvisual reminder of the power of nature.
After that, we visit a 600-acre private reserve where the giant Galapagos tortoises freely roam, graze and sleep.
After visiting the tortoises, we'll take a 5-minute ride to the entrance of a 450 meter (1350 feet) illuminated lava tunnel.
Stalagmites, stalactites, sulfur and mineral colored walls all await you on this uniquely Galapagos experience.
PM
Return to Aventura Lodge for Lunch.
Around 2:00 PM departure for Floreana.
Sailing time is 1.5 - 2 hours.Arriving on the dock, be greeted by amazing ruby red and turquoise colored Floreana marine iguanas.
Enjoy the visit Black Beachy, in this beautiful spot you will swim, walk or simply relax by absorbing the special scenery.
Check in Floreana Lodge, Dinner at a local family restaurant to enjoy Galapaguena food and warm hospitality of one of the first families to arrive at the island and leasing from them about the mysteries of Floreana.
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AM
Breakfast: Local restaurant
Enjoy the shores of Floreana: Depart on great adventure in which you will be able to catch the best of the island.
Short navigations around in order to swim, snorkel or simply relax on beautiful and remote shores of Floreana.
This is a day of full activity, be prepared to discover the amazing wildlife that surrounds Floreana, be ready to catch great pictures as prove of your memorable experience.
Box lunch.
PM
Share activities with the local community. Or A walk to la loberia. Dinner at local restaurant.
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AM
Breakfast at local restaurant.
Departure in an open-air bus that will transport you up to the highlands of Floreana while your Naturalist Guide begins filling you in on the history of this, the first settled island in the Galapagos.
You will walk up to see the Asilo de la Paz (Peace Asylum) where the spring is located, an artisan spring that attracted pirates, whalers and later settlers to Floreana as it was one of the very few year round sources of fresh water in the Galapagos.
The Cueva de los Piratas (Pirate's Cave) is quite literally where pirates carved temporary shelter out of soft stone and is also where one of the original settlers, Margret Wittmer, gave birth to a son, Rolf, who is still living. Some have almost jokingly referred to it as the 'Stonehenge' of Floreana due to its interesting shapes. Cerro Pajas (Bird Hill) truly lives up to its name with a multitude of Floreana finches.
It also offers spectacular views of the island and the sea below. We will visit a tortoise reserve where you can watch many of the giant tortoises up close and personal.
All the while, your Naturalist Guide will be pointing out the wildlife and filling you in on the colorful history of Floreana's first inhabitants, like the Baroness, and re-telling the legend of the "Floreana Mystery" which entailed the mysterious deaths of several inhabitants. It has never been solved.Departure at 11:00 AM for Isabela.
Sailing time is 1.5 - 2 hours.
Arriving in the port is a visual feast with stunning green and turquoise waters so clear, you can see sea turtles, sea lions and penguins as though looking through glass. We will check into the Red Mangrove Lodge and have a hot, wholesome lunch.
PM
2:30 PM departure to Las Tintoreras and Bay Tour.
After lunch we will board a smaller craft to head out across the port, slowing down to view blue-footed boobies and Galapagos penguins sharing the same rocky, sunning space before we turn a bend and dock.
From there we take an intriguing walk through a jagged "aa" lava field, passing abundant colonies of marine iguanas, to see a small canal full of resting white-tipped reef sharks.
If the tide is low, they are sometimes a mere two feet below the surface. The views from here are something you may carry with you for the rest of your life! The black, treacherous lava field, the emerald green sea, the forest green mangrove and the cloud capped volcanoes of Isla Isabela is the sort of afternoon backdrop you are not likely to ever forget.
Once you return to the dock, you can snorkel this warm, shallow bay surrounded by mangrove for an opportunity to see white-tipped reef sharks, sea lions, penguins and, of course, the mystery of the mangrove below the surface.
Don't worry, white-tipped reef sharks are not aggressive, merely fascinating.We'll have a bit of time to relax and shower before briefing and dinner in the Lodge at 7:00 PM.
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AM
Los Tuneles: From Puerto Villamil will take a Just an hour to get to Los Tuneles and what a precious time! In the way, we got to see plenty of marine beautiful wildlife like giant mantas on the surface, sea turtles and more.
Behind remains the majestic Sierra Negra Volcano as a witness of this unique adventure.Start snorkeling and get close encounters with many different types of tropical fish penguins! Only in piece of paradise you are able to snorkel with penguins and tropical fish and sea lions.
PM
Lunch: Late lunch at Isabela lodge
In the afternoon we depart to visit the highlands.
A visit to a coffee farm to see the whole process of graining and roosting coffee.
Learn how locals manage to handle rustic method. They will share with you the special all techniques for getting such a special flavor of Coffee from Galapagos
You will be able to buy some and take it home. Dinner: Isabela Lodge
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AM
Breakfast at the lodge.
Depart for Sierra Negra on 4x4 vehicles that will drive us up through the humid highlands to the slopes of Volcan Sierra Negra. Here, we start hiking the caldera(crater) of Sierra Negra, the second largest in the world with 4 miles across.
The views are breathtaking!We will relax a bit and have a snack on the edge of the caldera(crater). More advanced hikers will have the option to descend into the crater itself!
PM
After returning from Sierra Negra, we will have a late lunch around 2:30 PM at Campo Duro.
Campo Duro is a comfortable, whimsical otherworldly paradise perfect place for lunch after Sierra Negra. You will be greatly surprised by the spectacular atmosphere at this place.
After lunch we will visit Cuevas de Sucre. This is one of the newer Park Sites. It is not lit inside like the lava tunnels on Santa Cruz, so a flashlight is a must. Inside, the tunnel's ceilings look like you're walking through a gold mine.
Great place!Next, visit El Mango Mirador, located near the road leading to the agricultural area of the island, well-known since the early settlers of the island planted a mango treethat, so far, is still there.
From the top of the highest peak on a clear day you'll have a wonderful view of the entire southern part of Isabela Island, its nearby islands or even other islands, such as Floreana and Santa Cruz.Around 4:30 PM we head back to Isabela Lodge.
Many prefer to laze on the beautiful beach or climb on the rocks to take photos of the marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies. If you wish, near the main dock of Isabela is a beautiful walk through the mangrove that leads to an area known as Concha de Perla.
In the shallow waters there is a sea turtle "cleaning station." It's a great place to snorkel and see these creatures from a few feet away.Dinner at the lodge.
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AM
Breakfast at the lodge.
Around 8:30 AM departure to Kicker Rock or Sleeping Lion. Sailing time is 2 hours. This gigantic rock, and landmark of the Galapagos, raises 500 feet straight from the ocean.
It is great for scuba diving, so you will be invited to enjoy the beauty bellow the water. Under the sea the nearly crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful tropical fish and invertebrates.
However if you prefer to stay on the boat, don't snooze, the seabirds put on an astonishing acrobatic show above your head.
PM
Puerto Grande with its turquoise water and white sandy beach will be the frame for our onboard lunch, and then we disembark at this wondrous place to relax or swim.
Then to Isla Lobos, which is considered one of very best places for snorkeling and will be your chance to swim with sea lions.
Return to San Cristobal and free time to walk to the town and shop if desire
Dinner at local popular restaurant.
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AM
Breakfast at the lodge.
Your last visit while in Galapagos, a short walk of about two kilometers to visit Cerro de Las Tijeretas or Frigatebird Hill. Reached via a well marked trail, this spot is the nesting ground for several dozen tropical bird species eager to greet curious visitors.
Around 11:00 am. Departure to the airport to flight back to Quito.
PM
Arrival to Quito, transfer to the hotel Sheraton or similar.
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AM
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departing from Quito, 30 minute flight to Coca over the eastern Andes mountain range.
After landing, about mid morning, and airport procedures a 5 min transfer in local chiva (hired bus) or local taxi from airport to Port Francisco de Orellana will drive us to embark onto a comfortable covered motor boat. Here we start a canoe ride along the Napo River for about 2 hours approx, lunch box in route.
Along the way birds like herons, kingfishers and others can be spotted. After arriving at NWC's entry dock we disembark for restroom then take a majestic and peaceful one hour's dugout canoe ride surrounded by trees overhead, paddling along a narrow creek that connects to the lake where the lodge is located.
PM
Good possibilities of monkey's sights of various species as well as large birds like toucans, parrots or even macaws.
Late afternoon, arrival to the NWC lodge by the overwhelming view of the Añangu Lake, welcome drink and facilities.
Dinner at the lodge.
Optional cayman (alligator) observation around the lake and natural sounds at night.
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AM
Breakfast at the Lodge
Departure to reach the best and easy access parrot clay licks in Ecuador, about 1 hour away from the lodge, guests reach there just before parrot activity kicks off at the clay lick between 7:30 to 8:30. A total of 11 species of parrots, parakeets and macaws can be seen. This is a visit that depends on weather conditions but usually successful.
Later, hike along forest trail to visit to the Quichua community of Añangu and sharing time with a family on their activities.
PM
Return to the creek and hike through a Terra Firme Forest for about 30 minutes until we arrive to the second parrot clay lick where if the weather conditions help will be able to find different species of parrots, parakeets and even macaws.
Box lunch at the parrot clay lick observatory.
Late afternoon arrival to the lodge.
Dinner at the lodge.
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AM
Early breakfast at the lodge.
Depart from the lodge to the finest experience at a canopy tower on the Napo. A 36m high canopy tower opened to guests in November 2004, a great way to experience the life above the forest floor. This is the second tower at the Napo Wildlife
Center (the first is attached to the dining hall and allows great views of the lake). The canopy tower is located about 20 minutes from the lodge deep within the terra firm forest.
As you ascend the 12-story tower, you pass through different levels of the forest and emerge on top of a huge Ceiba tree. Here you cross onto a wooden platform that is actually built into the tree and experience the view formerly reserved only for the birds. The metal tower itself was constructed to the highest standards, galvanized, and carefully inspected by engineers.
Safety is the priority. The platform at the top of the tree was constructed by tree platform specialists as well. From top to bottom, there is no finer canopy experience in Eastern Ecuador.
Flocks of colorful tanagers pass right through the canopy of the tree, Blue-andyellow Macaws fly past, in nearby trees Spider Monkeys search for fruit, two species of large toucans call in the early mornings and afternoons, and the life of the forest canopy opens before you.
Birds that are virtually impossible to see from the forest floor far below are suddenly right beside you, oblivious to your presence. The canopy tower opens a whole new world to guests of the Napo Wildlife Center!!
Lunch at the lodge.
PM
Afternoon visit to a Terra Firme trail, hike along primary forest to discover the forest interior, possibilities of finding lizards, colorful manakins or the unique and endemic Golden mantle tamarin monkeys.
After the hike, explore the lake and creeks by dugout canoe with great possibilities of running into a Giant otter family on the way.
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AM
Breakfast at the lodge.
Early departure and last excursion canoeing back to the Napo River, the creek may reveal new sights of Giant otters, Monk Saki monkeys or many other rare birds.
Entry docking area, use of restrooms and embarking on motorized canoe in order to return back to Coca, arrival approximately after 2 hours boat ride up river, in order to check for Coca - Quito flight, schedule to be announced according to departure details and arrangements.
PM
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AM
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer out to Airport. End of Services.
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