Family holiday to the Ecuadorian Amazon and the Galapagos Islands

Day 1 - Day of arrival - Quito

On arrival at Quito Airport (at a height of 2,850 metres/9,350 feet) you will be met by a local bilingual guide who will transfer you to the Patio Andaluz Hotel (26 miles approximately 60 minutes) which is located in the heart of the colonial quarter of Quito.

On the way you will be briefed on the following days’ activities and any questions answered. We have worked with this hotel for many years. It is a charming, historic hotel with 32 rooms. You will be arriving in the late afternoon so do try the bar and restaurant (payable locally) and perhaps wander into the historical centre.

Overnight at Hotel Patio Andaluz (Bed & Breakfast)

Hotel Patio Andaluz, Quito

Day 2 - Quito

After breakfast you will be collected by your guide to embark on your half day tour and the day’s activities.The historic colonial centre of Quito is one of the best preserved in South America. A visit to the enormous Plaza Grande or Independence Square, surrounded by important historical buildings, is followed by a tour around the Compania de Jesus church, dating from the 17th century and considered to be one of the most beautiful baroque churches in South America. Also on the tour is the San Francisco Church and Monastery, which was built a few months after the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors in the 16th century, and then on to the enormous statue of the Virgin atop the Panecillo Hill overlooking all of Quito - a truly unique view. The tour will finish with a visit to an artisan chocolate shop for a lesson on chocolate making using Ecuadorian fine aroma cacao. Needless to say a tasting will follow!

Your guide will arrange a lunch (payable locally) before continuing towards the Middle of The World, just north of Quito, a drive of about 19 miles. This is where the equatorial line divides the northern and southern hemispheres. The main monument honours the French scientific expedition that arrived in Ecuador in the 18th century to measure the shape of the earth. The Inti Nan Museum and the GPS location of the equator line will also be visited. Depending on what time you return to your hotel there may be some time for you to explore the historic centre of the capital. Do try a local restaurant (payable locally) for your evening meal.

Overnight at Hotel Patio Andaluz (Bed & Breakfast)

Quito

Day 3 - Sacha Lodge

At an appropriate time (usually at around 11.00am) after breakfast you will be collected from your hotel and taken to Quito Airport. The flight to Coca, a bustling oil town, lasts about half an hour and crosses the Andes.

Sacha Lodge, your accommodation for the next four nights, has a private house in the town where lunch is served and then from the town docks, private canoes will launch to take you on a two-hour journey to Sacha’s Lodge in the Amazon rain forest. A 30-minute hike (you will have help with your luggage) will take you to Pilchicocha lake where you will be met and paddled across the lake to Sacha Lodge where you will arrive at around 15.30 to 16.00 in the afternoon. Please bear in mind that local conditions will determine the exact timings. After a hot, long and probably tiring journey using various transport modes, do take a swim in Lake Pilchicocha which is a black water lake. Or you can observe the local bird life from the lodge’s mini tower, watch the sun set or visit the butterfly house with your naturalist guide to view the many colourful and varied butterflies. After dinner there is a night walk organised, taking you through the forest to view those animals that are active only at night. The excursion could also be by canoe to view the spectacled black caimans with their glowing orange eyes.

Overnight at Sacha Lodge (Full Board)

Sacha Lodge

Day 4 - Canopy Walk

There are several sample itineraries available at the lodge and you should bear in mind that these are all subject to change on both days four and five depending on the local conditions. Today, after an early breakfast, activities begin at between 06.00 to 07.00. The Liana Chica trail leads to a canopy walk for spectacular views of the rainforest canopy and views of the many different species of vibrant coloured birds. The canopy walk is designed as a sturdy walkway enabling guests to casually move along while enjoying the spectacular views.

After the canopy walk, you will follow the Liana Grande trail through terra firma trails and igapo (swamp) forest habitats where native guides will explain many different species of medicinal plants that have been used in their culture for hundreds of years. The Liana Grande trail merges into the Higueron trail, which will take you through pristine primary forest with huge Kapok and Fig trees towering hundreds of feet above your head. After lunch, you may choose to take a leisurely hike along the Rio Napo, or choose a little more challenging hike on the Leoncillo trail to try and spot the elusive dusky Titi monkey. Either way, the trails will lead you back to the main board-walk for your final hike and canoe ride back to the lodge.

Overnight at Sacha Lodge (Full Board)

Canopy walk

Day 5 - Lagartococha Trail

Leaving the lodge after breakfast, you begin your hike on the Lagartococha trail. This trail offers the chance to learn more about the native people and their relationship with the forest. Learn about the trees where native people believe the spirits of their ancestors live, and the mysterious “dwende” or devil-man of the forest. After arriving at lake Lagartococha, there is a tranquil canoe ride through a natural swamp, which is the home of anacondas, caimans, and capybaras. After the canoe ride, a walk follows on the other side of Lake Largatococha where there is the possibility of spotting capuchin or squirrel monkeys playfully jumping through the trees.

On returning from the walk or canoe ride it’s back to the lodge for a refreshing dip in the lake, or a nice relaxing nap in your personal hammock on your private balcony. After lunch, your native guide will teach you how to fish for the infamous razor-toothed piranha (a favourite activity for children). Keep in mind that piranhas will never attack a person and swimming with them at the same time is perfectly safe and fun! At around 15:30, you embark on what many think is the best trail at Sacha, a silent canoe ride through the flooded Amazonian forest. Here, there is a good chance of being surrounded by troops of squirrel, capuchin, and howler monkeys. Keep your eyes peeled for the shy and elusive river otter as well as the incredibly well camouflaged three-toed sloth! Following your canoe ride through the flooded forest, you will reach Sacha ́s 135-foot wooden tower built around an ancient Kapok tree. This is an ideal opportunity for close-up views of vibrantly coloured birds through Sacha ́s powerful telescopes, and from here watch the sun set with an amazing view of Mount Sumaco volcano and, weather permitting, a possible sighting of the snow-covered peaks of the Andes! As the departure from the tower will be just before or after sunset, you will experience a canoe ride back through the flooded forest at night - an awesome experience listening to the symphony of frogs and insects as you navigate through the narrow flooded forest trails, keeping your eyes open for caimans. Watch for the several species of bats flying overhead and listen to the many species of nocturnal birds making their eerie nighttime calls. Finally, after your undoubtedly mesmerisng trip through the Amazon, you will arrive back at lake Pilchicocha and the welcoming lights of Sacha lodge for dinner.

Overnight at Sacha Lodge (Full Board)

Canoe ride through the Amazonian forest

Day 6 - Yasuni National Park

After breakfast - and once more subject to change - there is an opportunity to view four different species of parrots at the same time, something that should not be missed. Sacha is close enough to Yasuni National Park to enable a thirty minute motorised canoe ride down the Napo to the parrot lick.

Leaving at six in the morning from Sacha and arriving at the lick around 7:30 will give you plenty of time to get close up views of the parrots eating the clay to neutralise the acids which they ingest from eating their many different types of fruits and leaves. Lunch and dinner back at the lodge and time to relax.

Overnight at Sacha Lodge (Full Board)

Macaw 'lick' - eating the clay

Day 7 - Quito

An early breakfast at the lodge and a departure at around 07.30 is an opportunity for one last walk on the boardwalk to the river from where it is a 2 hour canoe ride back to Coca Airport for your 35 minute flight back to Quito, where you will arrive at around 12.30. You will be collected by a bilingual guide at the airport and transferred, for your last night, to the Hotel Holiday Inn Airport (17 minutes/8 miles). Lunch and dinner are payable locally.

Overnight at the Holiday Inn Airport (Bed & Breakfast)

Quito

Day 8 - Galapagos Islands cruise

After an early breakfast you will be collected from your hotel and taken to Quito Airport 17 minutes/8 miles) to board your flight to Baltra (2 hours and ten minutes) in the Galapagos. Your INGALA card (landing card) will be given to you by your guide accompanying you to the airport. On arrival you will have to present your INGALA card. Your National Park fee is pre-paid and your names will be on a list that the Galapagos Migration officials will have. You need to give them your names and cruise (Galaxy) and they will confirm that the fee has been paid and you will then go through to the arrivals hall where you will be met by Galaxy Representatives. Today you will sail from Baltra Island to North Seymour Island. Remote, spectacular and utterly unique, the Galapagos islands are a once in a lifetime destination for anyone interested in the natural world. The wonderfully diverse wildlife and dramatic volcanic landscapes exceed expectations, exciting even the most well-travelled visitors. There are 19 islands of varying sizes, located along the equator, 600 miles from the coast of Ecuador. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The bizarre wildlife includes giant tortoises, blue and red footed boobies, marine iguanas, colonies of sea lions and frigate birds. The weather tends to be hot with tropical downpours between December and May, cooler and more overcast June to November.

M/Y Galaxy, Galapagos Islands has single, double or twin and a triple cabin. In total this first-class motor yacht has a total of 9 cabins with a capacity for 16 passengers. The M/Y Galaxy measures 114 feet and is a roomy vessel. Cabins are air conditioned and the yacht offers a dining room, bar and lounge, polished wood decor, complimentary tea and coffee at any time, library and sundeck. Snorkelling gear, kayaks and paddle board equipment are provided and there are wetsuits for hire.

Overnight on Board M/Y Galaxy (days eight to thirteen) in your designated cabin(s) on a full board basis.

M/Y Galaxy

Day 9 - Sail to Bartolome and Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island

Visit one of the most popular islands of the Galapagos Islands thanks to its beautiful landscape. This island is the emblem of the Galapagos and is located northwest of the archipelago.

Overnight on Board M/Y Galaxy (Full Board)

Bartolome island

Day 10 - Sail to Prince Phillip’s Steps on El Barranco Island

Prince Philip’s Steps (also known as El Barranco) is located on Genovesa Island (often referred to as "Bird Island") in the northern Galápagos Archipelago.

Overnight on Board M/Y Galaxy (Full Board)

Blue-footed booby

Day 11 - Sail to South Plaza Island and the Santa Fe Island

South Plaza Island (Plaza Sur) and Santa Fe Island offers a chance to experience dense wildlife colonies, endemic iguanas, and unique cactus forests.

Overnight on Board M/Y Galaxy (Full Board)

Iguana

Day 12 - Sail to San Cristobal Island and Lobos Island

San Cristóbal is the fifth largest and easternmost island of Galápagos. It is comprised of four fused volcanoes, all extinct. A large number of sea lions rest in the sand and rocks along this coast. In addition to sea lions, birds such as Yellow Warblers, frigate birds, and numerous species of finches can be seen.

Overnight on Board M/Y Galaxy (Full Board)

Sea lion

Day 13 - Return to Quito

This afternoon you will fly from San Cristobal to Quito. On arrival in Quito Airport you will be met by your guide and transferred to the Holiday Inn Airport Hotel for your last night. Your evening meal is payable locally

Overnight at the Holiday Inn Airport (Bed & Breakfast)

Holiday Inn Airport Hotel, Quito

Day 14 - Day of departure

After breakfast you will be collected from the hotel and transferred to Quito Airport for your flight home.