Ecuador Wildlife: Amazon & Galapagos

Upon arrival transfer to the selected hotel.

Overnight in Quito.

Transfer to the airport.

Flight from Quito to Coca.

A quick lunch in Sacha´s private house and then it’s off to the town docks where you will board Sacha´s private canoes for the 2-hour journey down river to Sacha´s Lodges property.

A 30-minute hike through the rainforest leads you to lake Pilchicocha. Here, you are met by native workers to paddle you across the lake to your final destination. Arrive at Sacha Lodge around 15:30 or 16:00 pm.

Swim in Lake Pilchicocha, which is a black water lake home to many species of fish and animals. A refreshing swim after arriving may be just what you need after being in the equatorial heat all day. Bird observing from the mini tower offers guests an excellent opportunity to view several species of birds common around the lodge. Also a great place to watch the sun set. Visit the butterfly house with your naturalist guide to view the beautiful colors of many different species of butterflies.

After dinner, accompany your naturalist guide on a night walk through the rainforest to view the hundreds of different species of animals that can only be found at night. Or maybe a canoe ride on the lake to view the spectacled and black caimans with their glowing orange eyes as you silently paddle across the lake to get a closer view.

Overnight at Sacha Lodge.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Begin walking on the trail Liana Chica and arrive at the canopy walk, for spectacular views of the rainforest canopy and the many different species of vibrantly colored birds.

Designed to be a self-standing rigid suspension canopy walk. it is one of only a few in the world! Two of the three towers have observation decks every 12 meters making towers accessible for everyone. The canopy walkway is at 36 meters high and 275 meters long, giving guests a “birds eye view” of all the wonders and beauty the tropical rainforest has to offer.

After the canopy walk, native guides will explain many different species of medicinal plants that have been being used in their culture for hundreds of years.

After lunch, you may choose to take a leisurely hike along the Rio Napo, or choose a little more challenging hike on the trail Leoncillo to try and spot the elusive dusky titi monkey. Either way the trails will lead you back to the main boardwalk for your final hike and canoe ride back to the lodge.

Overnight at Sacha Lodge.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Leaving the lodge after breakfast, you begin your hike on trail Lagartococha. This trail offers you 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 the canoe ride, a walk on the other side of Largatococha may give you the opportunity to spot capuchin or squirrel monkeys playfully jumping through the trees.

Return from the walk or canoe ride and head 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. Keep in mind that piranhas will never attack a person and swimming at the same time is perfectly safe and fun!

Around 15:30 you will begin what many think is the best trail at Sacha, a silent canoe ride through the flooded Amazonian forest. Where you have 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!

After your eye-popping ride through the flooded forest, you will arrive at Sacha´s135-foot wooden tower built around an ancient Kapok tree. Get close up views of vibrantly colored birds through Sacha´s powerful scopes, and watch the sun set with an amazing view of Mount Sumaco, a volcano, and possibly a view of the snow-covered caps of the Andes.

Leaving the tower just before or after sunset will give you an experience not soon forgotten. A canoe ride back through the flooded forest at night will be an awe-inspiring experience. Listen to the symphony of frogs and insects as you navigate through the narrow flooded forest trail, keeping your eyes open for caimans. Watch the several species of bats flying over your heads and listen to the many species of nocturnal birds making their eerie nighttime calls. Finally, after your mesmerizing canoe trip through the Amazon, you will arrive back at lake Pilchicocha and the welcoming lights of Sacha lodge.

Overnight at Sacha Lodge.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A chance to view four different species of parrots at the same time is something that should not be missed. Sacha is close enough to Yasuni National Park that a thirty-minute motorized canoe ride down the Napo to the parrot lick is well worth it. 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 neutralize the acids which they get from eating their many different types of fruits and leaves.

Arriving back at the lodge around 11am or so gives you plenty of time to swim or relax before lunch is served. Visit the butterfly house once again to photograph the beautifully colored butterflies. For your afternoon activity, Pantano is the trail to take. Pantano offers you several different types of rainforest habitats.

From secondary to primary forests as well as flooded forest and swampy areas. An excellent trail for monkeys and birds in the afternoon, your naturalist and native guides will intrigue you with their knowledge of the jungle and its inhabitants as well as provide you with an everlasting experience and memory of the neotropical rainforest.

Overnight at Sacha Lodge.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast and a departure from the lodge at 7:30 a.m.for an easy walk on the boardwalk to watch monkeys one last time before your final departure.

Arrive in Coca and be escorted to the airport.

Flight to Quito and transfer to Otavalo.

Overnight at selected hotel in Otavalo.

Included: Breakfast.

Visit to Quitsato Sundial, a cultural-tourist place located at La Mitad Del Mundo, near to Cayambe, where you will learn about astronomical aspects of the prehispanic cultures of the region.

Today we will head to the town of Otavalo, either on foot (a recommended one hour hike on a back road) or a ten minute drive. This is truly one of the most interesting towns in Ecuador, where the local quechua indigenous culture is not only plainly visible, but in the ascendency.

The town´s famous craft market is one of the most visited sites in Ecuador, and with good reason. The market is filled with interesting colourful and sometimes rare objects and crafts. Do remember to bargain, but only if you´re interested. The market is held every day on one of the town squares at the foot of the majestic Mt. Imbabura. And to help you navigate the market your hosts will present you with a short explanation of the market´s and provide a map of the area. During the stay at the market you visit local workshops of handcrafts in Peguche.

Leather indigineous Village. Cotacachi you will stop at the picturesque colonial town of Cotacachi, famous for its leather work.

Transfer back to Quito.

Overnight at selected hotel.

Included: Breakfast, lunch.

Transfer to the airport.

Flight from Quito to Galapagos.

After landing in Galapagos, you first pay the national park entry fee and then leave the arrivals hall to where your guide will be waiting for you. After getting the group together, the guide then takes you to the boat to settle in. The island of Baltra is the only island in the entire Galapagos archipelago that is not completely included in the National Park Area. Parts of the island were used by the Americans during the Second World War as an air force base, from 1941-1948. The airport and harbor are Ecuadorian military territory, but the military presence has left its mark on Baltra.

Las Bachas (Santa Cruz): There is a white coral beach to the north of the Santa Cruz island, requiring a wet landing then an easy walk along the beach. There are small brackish water lagoons behind the sand dune where occasionally it’s possible to see Flamingos and other coastal birds like Black-necked Stilts, Whimbrels and White-cheeked Pintail Ducks. There is also a wonderful chance to snorkel here from the beach.

Overnight on board.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Genovesa is considered to be one of the most spectacular islands in Galapagos for bird species and is home to the red-footed booby. It’s a wet landing on Darwin Bay, a coral sand beach where Swallow-tailed Gulls and Lava Gulls gather near the tide pools. A trail leads us through red mangrove and salt bush, then we enter a forest of Opuntia cactus where colonies of Great Frigate nest. The males of this species inflate their red-throated pouches to attract females as they fly overhead. A few Nazca Boobies nest on the ground, and the trail leads along small tide pools up to a cliff with a spectacular view over the caldera. At low tide there are thousands of Galapagos Fiddler Crabs to see on the sandy shore.

The Barranco (Genovesa/Tower): El Barranco is a visitor site located on the southern part of Darwin Bay. The trail is made of volcanic rock and has a length of 1.5 km. We will walk along slowly for about 2 hours, exploring the flora and fauna. The youngest area of the island, from a geological point of view, is found here. The natural erosion that has occurred in these lava flows has transformed the place into an ideal spot for nesting Storm Petrels. We can see two species of petrels that nest in cavities and holes in the lava. One of the main predators of this place is the Short-eared Owl. The Nazca Booby is also present on this island. During the panga ride along the cliffs we can observe sea lions and other several species of seabirds.

Overnight on board.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Sullivan Bay (Bartolomé): This young island is inhospitable to most plants and animals and many visitors say walking here is like stepping into a different world. The dry landing is on a jetty, then the summit trail and stairs lead us on a 30 minute climb to the top of Bartolomé, a once active volcano. Along the way, we pause to marvel at lava bombs, spatter cones and cinder cones. From the top of the wooden stairs, we can gaze out across the island for a panoramic view of the island and Pinnacle Rock, an eroded tuff cone. Crystal clear water is an invitation to snorkel from the beach with schools of tropical fish and Galapagos Penguins or take a zodiac ride to spot them.

Chinese Hat (Bartolomé): So-called because of its resemblance to a Chinese hat, this is a small, attractive island separated from the larger Santiago Island (also called James) by a narrow 200m channel. We’re into the pangas for a wet landing on to small white coral beach, often with sea lions to greet us.

Overnight on board.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Daphne: Daphne is a tuff cone with little vegetation, made famous by the studies of Darwin Finches by Peter and Rosemary Grant. The panga or boat sails around the small tuff cone, not getting too close so as to avoid the introduction of any insects.

Black Turtle Cove: A real highlights - into the panga (dinghy) and then into a mangrove cove. There are many coves and inlets to explore, and your guide will often turn off the motor so you drift along. Keep an eye out for pairs of mating sea turtles (Sept to Feb), white-tipped reef sharks and golden cow-nosed rays, as well as eagle rays, golden rays and young Galapagos sharks.

Cerro Dragón: Located on the northern tip of Santa Cruz is Cerro Dragon aka Dragon Hill, offering great views over the Galapagos. As we walk towards the viewpoint, the trail passes a saltwater lagoon replete with Pink Flamingos as well as other lagoon birds; Stilts, Pintail Ducks, Sandpipers and more. We’ll most likely see Darwin Finches, Galapagos, Flycatchers, Yellow Warblers, Audubon Shearwater and the endemic land iguanas en route too. From the top of the hill, we enjoy a majestic view of the bay island covered in Opuntia cactus, Palo Santo and Cordia Lutea (muyuyu).

Overnight on board.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz): The visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station gives you the opportunity to get to known the scientific work that’s currently taking place in the National Park, particularly projects raising the different subspecies of Galapagos tortoises. Scientists from all over the globe work at the station and conduct biological research from anatomy to zoology. It is also a good opportunity to observe the Galapagos tortoises close up. In the Van Straiten Exhibition Hall, there is plenty of great information about the Galapagos Islands, replete with with photos and diagrams. The vegetation on the hike is an exuberant green colour and it’s a great place to spot Darwin's Finches – those famous wee birds.

Highlands of Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz): From the dry landing at Santa Cruz, we hop into a bus and drive up into the highlands. The scenery gradually changes as we wind our way through all seven vegetation zones found in Galapagos. Here more than anywhere, on the most populated islands on the Galapagos, the problems of introduced animals and plants are quite obvious. This part of the island is not National Park. When we reach the highest point of the road, we are back in the National Park and we head to ‘El Chato’, a farm in the highlands where we can look out for the Galapagos Tortoises in their natural, and free, surroundings. There may be the chance to Los Gemelos, Spanish for ‘The Twins’, a pair of large pit craters where we find the bright red male Vermilion Flycatcher.

Overnight on board.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Post Office Bay (Floreana): One of Galapagos’ most famous sites is Post Office Bay. Here resides a post barrel, erected and put into use in the late 18th century by English whaling vessels. Following a wet landing we head to the barrel and you can leave a postcard of your own for some other traveller to pick up and help towards its final destination, and pick up any mail from your area for you to distribute once back home. It’s a great tradition to keep up. There is a snorkel from the beach and take a zodiac ride throughout the shallow area in front of Baroness Point.

Mirador de la Baronesa / Baronesa view (Floreana): This viewpoint and trail is located on the north of Floreana Island, in Bay La Olla. It´s a formation of basaltic tuff between Punta Cormorant and Post Office Bay. The ascent of the trail is fairly easy, except for the last 33m where the slope is steep; however, steps have been implemented in this sector to help. During the panga ride here, you can observe several marine species such as golden eagle rays, sea turtles, sea lions, and hopefully some smooth Galapagos penguins.

Punta Cormoran (Floreana): Floreana is the least populated island in Galapagos and has a rich and mysterious anthropological history. The mood is set at the wet landing, as your toes touchdown on seemingly green sand with the backdrop of barking sea lions. We’ll leave out the history of the island for your guide to explain, but we can tell you that you will follow a trail to a brackish lagoon, home of the Pintail Ducks, Common Stilts, and the Greater Flamingos - the pinkest in the world. The colour theme continues as we come to the “White Flour Sand Beach” made of white corals. It’s a famous nesting beach for marine turtles and for this it is important to not walk on the sand dunes. Often we see a lot of stingrays in the shallow water.

Devil´s Crown (Floreana): This is one of the most famous snorkeling sites in the Galapagos, a real highlight. Devil’s Crown is the remains of a volcano some of which has been subsumed by the sea, but with the crater horns still exposed, it looks like a black crown emerging out of the sea. Once in the water, expect to see a brilliant array of colourful fish and corals.

Overnight on board.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Punta Suarez (Española): Sea lions will usually give a noisy greeting to us as we make a dry landing on a jetty at Punta Suarez and head to the beach. Curious Hood Mockingbirds may peck at our shoelaces. From April to December, the Waved Albatross, found only on Española, perform their wild mating ritual. Colonies of Blue-footed Boobies show off for potential mates, Nazca Boobies care for their young while at night the stunning Swallow-tailed Gull - the only nocturnal gulls in the world that fish at night – take to the air. There’s more - Darwin’s Finches, Galapagos Doves and Galapagos Hawks, plus a unique species of marine iguana with traces of red and green colorings. A real highlight is the blowhole. Here, the seawater is pushed through a fissure in the cliff under great pressure. Depending on the waves and tide levels, the blowhole can force water up to 80ft (24m) into the air.

Bahia Gardner (Española): Wet landing on a wonderful, long, white beach made of coral sand. For this visit you won’t even need shoes, it’s so soft underfoot, and there is no trail to follow so you can take a long walk and explore a bit. Playa Gardner is a very good place to observe finches and mockingbirds in the saltbush vegetation, and there is some great swimming and snorkeling from the beach, where curious sea lions are never far off. Some will even launch with you from the beach and into the water. Gardner Islet is a great site for snorkeling.

Overnight on board.

Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Leon Dormido (San Cristobal): Kicker Rock is the remains of an underwater volcano rising vertically 150m out of the sea. A truly impressive sight, as the exposed cone has fractured in two, leaving a wildlife rich sea channel for us to enjoy. Jump in the water and drift with the gentle current through the cleft, keeping an eye out below for sea turtles, manta rays and maybe the odd harmless Galapagos shark, just to name a few. Hammerheads are occasionally seen here too. On the cliffs, we spot Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies and magnificent Frigatebirds.

Centro de Interpretación (San Cristoba): The Centro de Crianza Jacinto Gordillo, aka La Galapaguera Cerro Colorado, is where the National Park has established a breeding program for the giant land tortoises that are repopulating the islands. Here you will learn about their origin, their evolution and the threats to them by animals introduced to the Galapagos.

Flight from Galapagos to Quito.

Reception at the airport and transfer to the selected hotel.

Overnight in Quito.

Included: Breakfast.

Transfer from the selected hotel to the airport.

Included: Breakfast.