Ecuador | Adventure to the Amazon and Galápagos Islands

Upon arrival at the airport in Quito, proceed through immigration, baggage claim and customs before exiting the secured area of the airport. A Holbrook representative will be waiting outside the exit door with a Holbrook sign to assist with our trip to the hotel. Most flights arrive to Quito in the evening. No meals are included on this day. Quito's elevation ranges from 9,223 to 9,883 feet. To minimize the chances of experiencing altitude sickness, try to get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol and fatty foods, consume high-carbohydrate foods, and avoid strenuous exercise at high elevations.

This morning after breakfast, we will have a welcome orientation and officially meet our Ecuadorian guide, who will be together with us throughout the program. Afterwards we will start our exploration of Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by volcanoes, Quito is a unique city that boasts one of the largest and best-preserved colonial centers in America. Visit the Church of La Compañía and the Church of San Francisco. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will enjoy a visit to the Casa del Alabado Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. We will return to our hotel in the late afternoon and have the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast, travel to the airport for a 45-minute flight to Coca, also known as Puerto Francisco de Orellana. The port city is the capital of the Orellana province and one of the country's gateways to exploring the Amazon. Begin the two-hour boat ride down the Napo River, an important Amazonian tributary and the country's longest river. We'll have a boxed lunch on the boat. After disembarkation, we'll walk on a raised boardwalk to Pilchicocha Lake to board canoes for the final leg of our journey. Once we check in, we will meet our local guides and have an orientation to our Amazon lodge and activities. A typical day will begin at sunrise or earlier to take advantage of the cool morning hours when the rainforest animals are most active. Afternoon excursions begin between 3 and 4 p.m. and often continue into the evening, when the nocturnal insect and frog chorus begins. In between activities, there is time to freshen up, relax, or swim in the black water lake home to many species of fish. During excursions, our group will be divided into smaller groups, each of which will be led by a native expert with knowledge of the rainforest's medicinal and other useful plants, and a bilingual naturalist educated in the biology and ecology of the area. Of the incredible 1,600 bird species recorded in Ecuador, 600 (37 percent) have been seen at Sacha Lodge. That's almost 7 percent of the species found in the entire world! Enjoy observing birds at the mini tower and the butterfly house before dinner at the lodge. After dinner, accompany the naturalist guide on a night walk through the rainforest to view some of the hundreds of different species of mammals that can only be found at night. PLEASE NOTE: The flight to Coca has a limit of 50 pounds per person for checked luggage. The excess luggage can be left in Quito and our field staff will make the necessary arrangements for the transfer between Quito hotels.

Begin the day at the Yasuní National Park parrot lick and learn about the life and habits of the local parrot population. The parrot lick is an exposed clay bank where brightly colored parrots of several different species gather in the morning hours. When weather conditions are ideal (sunny and dry) the parrots can often be seen perching on and eating the exposed clay. This activity is strictly weather-dependent, since the parrots do not appear when it rains. In case of rain, we will try to visit the lick the next day. Activities will be substituted accordingly. After spending time at the clay lick, we'll stop at the Shipati Warmi project, an initiative run by and benefiting the women of the Providencia community of Yasuní. We'll learn about the people of Amazonia, about their daily lives - how they dry clothes in the jungle and the challenges of getting to school - their language, and their customs. In the afternoon, hike along the Liana Chica Trail and arrive at the canopy walk for spectacular views of the rainforest and the many different species of birds. Designed to be a self-standing rigid suspension, the canopy walk is one of only a few in the world. Located within Sacha's private reserve, two miles from the shores of the Río Napo and one mile from the lodge, the bird walk gives us the opportunity to get an up-close view of the rainforest canopy.

Depart from the lodge after breakfast and begin the hike on Lagartococha Trail. This trail offers the chance to learn more about the Indigenous people and their relationship with the forest. Learn about the trees where residents believe the spirits of their ancestors live, and the mysterious "duende" or devil man of the forest. After arriving at Lake Lagartococha, take a tranquil canoe ride through a natural swamp, which is home to anacondas, caimans, and capybaras. After the canoe ride, a walk on the other side of Largatococha may give us the opportunity to spot capuchin or squirrel monkeys playfully jumping through the trees. Return from the walk 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, the local guide will teach us how to fish for the infamous razor-toothed piranha. In the afternoon, begin a silent canoe ride through the flooded Amazonian forest to spot the shy and elusive river otter, as well as the incredibly well-camouflaged three-toed sloth. After the ride through the flooded forest, arrive at Sacha's 135-foot wooden tower built around an ancient Kapok tree. View vibrantly colored birds through powerful scopes, and watch the sunset with an amazing view of Mount Sumaco, a volcano. We may even get a view of the snow-covered caps of the Andes! A canoe ride back through the flooded forest at night provides a different sensory experience; listen to the symphony of frogs and insects, nocturnal birds making their eerie nighttime calls, see the glowing eyes of the caimans, and watch for the several species of bats flying over our heads. Arrive back at Lake Pilchicocha to the welcoming lights of Sacha Lodge. To celebrate our last night in the Amazon, we'll have a barbecue dinner in the lodge's outdoor dining area and say farewell to the Amazon and to our local guides.

After breakfast, travel to Coca by boat for the late morning flight to Quito. Upon arrival, we will go to a local restaurant for lunch and a presentation from a local expert on the geology of the Amazon Basin and Galápagos Islands. Afterward, return to the airport in time for the flight to Guayaquil. This evening is at leisure to relax and get ready for our journey to the Galápagos Islands. PLEASE NOTE: There is a 50-pound weight limit for tomorrow's flight to the Galápagos Islands. You can leave your extra luggage at this hotel, as we will be coming back for our last night to the same location.

Very early this morning, we will travel to the airport for our flight to the Baltra Airport in Galápagos. Upon arrival, we will be met and transported to Puerto Ayora. En route to Puerto Ayora, we will visit a local farm to see giant tortoises in the wild. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and then board the fast boat to Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. Arrive to Isabela Island and participate in a meet-and-greet with our local guides before traveling to Scalesia Lodge. Take the rest of the afternoon to enjoy the lodge at leisure.

In the morning, visit Las Tintoreras, an islet formed by lava flows located a 10-minute dinghy ride from Puerto Villamil. Its name comes from the whitetip reef sharks, called "tintoreras" in Spanish, which are frequently seen in this area. Different species of animals can also be seen here, like sea lions, marine iguanas and penguins. This is a perfect place to practice snorkeling. Return to the hotel by lunch time. In the afternoon, visit Los Humedales, a complex with various trails where the four species of mangroves existing in Galápagos can be found. This area is characterized by solitary beaches, lava tunnels, natural pools and estuaries where you can see flamingos and other birds. We will also visit the tortoise breeding center where the Galápagos National Park is breeding tortoises in danger of extinction. Some of these giant tortoises have been released by the park and can be found on the trails.

Today we will visit some of Isabela's best attractions, Sierra Negra and Chico Volcano. Sierra Negra is one of the most active volcanoes of the archipelago, with its most recent eruption taking place in 2005. The volcano's crater is considered one of the largest in the world with a diameter of 6.2 miles. Volcán Chico is also an active volcano, and its sulfur vents can be seen in this area. This is an approximately 6-hour walk to appreciate all the splendor of the volcanoes. We will then enjoy a snack in the area. Return to Scalesia Lodge for lunch, and enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore the magical beach of Puerto Villamil or partake in one of the following activities: biking, surfing or kayaking.

In the morning, visit the Wall of Tears, a historical site 3.1 miles west of Puerto Villamil. It was built between 1945 and 1959 by prisoners in a penal colony on the island. The wall reaches up to 65 feet high and runs over 300 feet long. It got its name from locals after its ill-equipped construction conditions resulted in the deaths of a number of prisoners from both sickness and calamity. In the afternoon, enjoy snorkeling in Concha de Perla, located in the Port of Villamil. The bay can be reached via a wooden pathway and has calm, shallow, clear waters that are ideal for observing the incredible array of marine life. Visitors can swim and snorkel alongside tropical fish, sea lions, penguins and turtles, and it is also possible to observe up to 20 bird species.

After an early breakfast, we will take the fast boat back to Puerto Ayora and transfer to Baltra Airport for our flight back to Guayaquil. Lunch will be on your own. At Baltra Airport, there are opportunities to get a sandwich and drink. Once in Guayaquil, the afternoon is at leisure, with a farewell dinner being served at the hotel after.

This morning we will return to the airport for the flight home.