Flight to Quito. Upon arrival in Quito, be greeted for airport reception and transferred to the hotel.

The tour begins today with a visit to Independence Square where the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and El Sagrario Church are located. Also visit the Church of La Compania (1605), and enjoy a brief visit to the church and monastery of San Francisco (1535). The oldest Ecuadorian church, the collection of artwork here includes paintings, sculpture and furniture dating back to the 16th century. Leaving the churches, visit the recently restored 24 De Mayo Boulevard, named after the battle which sealed Ecuador´s independence.

Also, visit La Ronda Street in Old Quito. Lined with colonial houses and inspired by painters, poets, musicians and historians, this visit gives a taste of traditional Quito. The tour will then continue 30-minutes outside of Quito, towards the Middle of the World. Visit the main Monument honoring the correct location of the equator and visit the Ethnographic Museum, located inside the Equator Monument. Or, visit the Inti Nan Museum, a scientific and cultural Museum located in the exact place where the Equator Line crosses. ...read less

Transfer to the airport for the morning flight from Quito to Baltra in the Galapagos. Upon arrival, airport reception and transfer to the Galapagos cruise.
This afternoon, visit Bachas Beach, located on the northern coastline of Santa Cruz. Here one can see the brightly colored flamingo lagoon, encounter marine iguanas, various sea birds, and sea turtles. This is a good location to swim and snorkel.

Included in the itinerary is a First Class cruise. Due to current Galapagos Islands regulations each cruise can only visit an island every 14 days. This sample 5 day itinerary runs every two weeks. However, a variety of other Galapagos cruises are offered. Depending on the dates of travel, the itinerary can be customized to match the Galapagos Cruise departures.
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This morning, visit Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island. Genovesa is a collapsed volcano that ships are able to sail into through its large breached caldera and anchor at the foot of the steep crater walls. Genovesa is commonly referred to as ‘bird island’ because it is home to thousands of great frigate birds, red-footed boobies, noddy terns, lava gulls, tropic birds, doves, storm petrels, and Darwin’s finches.

This afternoon, visit Prince Philip’s Steps on Genovesa Island. El Barranco, also known as Prince Philip’s Steps, has a trail through a Palo Santo forest to an open area full of nesting birds that include masked boobies, frigates, and red-footed boobies. At the end of this trail are thousands of band-rumbed storm petrels nesting in the crevices at the cliff’s edge. One will also be able to see the short-eared owls as they hunt the storm petrels during the daylight hours
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This morning, visit Plazas Island. Plaza Sur was originally formed by uplifted lava and the terrain includes an impressive cactus forest. On land, see land iguanas, sea lions and several species of tropical birds.

This afternoon, visit Santa Fe Island, home to a cactus forest and a colony of land iguanas that are native to the island. Here one can also see the Galapagos mockingbird, magnificent frigate, brown pelican, and several species of Darwin’s finches.

This morning, visit Punta Pitt. This unusual volcanic formation is located in the northeast of San Cristobal Island. Here one is likely to see tiny lava lizards scurrying around the rocks as well as all three species of the Galapagos booby; Nazca, masked, and blue or red-footed boobies.
This afternoon, visit Isla Lobos, a tiny rock island, to see a colony of sea lions and a colony of blue-footed boobies. Continue on to Kicker Rock, a magnificent rock that jets out 500 feet high from the middle of the ocean and is shaped similar to a sleeping lion. The rock is split with towering vertical walls on either side that forms a narrow channel through which small vessels can investigate. There is no landing site here but the view from the boat will make a lasting impression.
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This morning, visit El Junco Lagoon, San Cristobal.

This site is reached by road and is about a half hour drive from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The road goes through the small farming settlement of El Progreso. The lake itself is the caldera (collapsed cone) of an extinct volcano and is about 300 meters wide. The name El Junco is Spanish for sedge, which is present along the banks of the lake.

This afternoon, be transferred to the San Cristobal airport for the flight to Quito to be greeted for airport reception and transferred to the hotel.
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This morning, transfer to the Quito airport for a 30 minute flight to Coca over the eastern Andes at almost 10,000 feet to the Amazon Basin at only 820 feet. Upon arrival in Coca, be greeted and transferred via the Napo River to the Napo Wildlife Center. Transfer will last approximately two hours during which one can enjoy a boxed lunch and view the exotic wildlife of the Amazon.

This afternoon, arrive at the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve to transfer to a smaller dugout canoe and enjoy a peaceful paddle up a small stream that connects to the lake on which the lodge is located (no motorized transport is allowed on the creek so wildlife isn't disturbed).

After one hour, reach the Anangu Lake and get the firsts view of the striking lodge. Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink before settling into the accommodations. After dinner, one will have the opportunity to join a night excursion, taking in the nocturnal sounds and sights. ...read less

This morning, wake early and transfer by canoe to one of the two best clay licks in Ecuador to witness the colorful whirlwind of activity beginning at 7:30am. Here one can see 11 species of macaws, parrots and parakeets. The colorful birds arrive by the hundreds to eat the clay that is thought to detoxify certain nuts and seeds they eat. A specially designed viewing blind allows for close proximity and complete concealment so while the birds are performing their morning ritual, one can peacefully enjoy a coffee. As the activity at this lick begins to slow, make way to the second clay lick where one will be able to see different species of macaws, parrots & parakeets, weather permitting. Here, enjoy a boxed lunch while watching the avian activity. Late this afternoon, return to the lodge and enjoy a siesta before dinner. ...read less

After an early breakfast, depart from the lodge for the finest experience at a canopy tower on the Napo. The 36 meter high canopy tour is the perfect way to view the wildlife above the forest floor. While ascending the 12-story tower, pass through different levels of the forest and emerge on top of a huge Ceiba tree.

Here, 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. ...read less

This morning, depart from the Napo Wildlife Center early in the morning for the return flight to Quito. Upon arrival in Quito, be greeted for airport reception and transferred to the hotel.

This morning, be greeted at the hotel in Quito and transferred privately to the Cotopaxi National Park. Here, admire the beautiful snow-capped volcano and will have an optional hike. Later, head to the Hacienda La Cienega, one of the oldest haciendas dating back to the seventeenth century, for a tasty lunch (included). After lunch, stop at Saquisili Market (if Thursday), or Latacunga Market (if Tuesday or Saturday). Transfer to Banos for an evening of leisure. Lunch included.

After breakfast enjoy a visit to the Banos waterfalls including Manto de la Novia, Pailon del Diablo and Ines Maria. During the visit, enjoy tastes of the local juice of sugar cane and melcochas. In the afternoon, transfer to Riobamba, visiting a local Indian Market en route (if open on that day).

Very early in the morning, after breakfast, we drive to the town of Alausi for a train ride to the famous “Devil’s Nose”. Due to the land topography, this portion is a masterpiece of railway engineering, commonly named “the most difficult railway in the world”. The descent is not an ordinary one, we start the ride at an altitude of 2,346 meters and go down to 1,860 meters in just 30 minutes, in a zigzag-carved railway tracks. Afterward the guide and driver will bring you to Tolte Community to enjoy the following activities.

• You will be able to descend 330 stairs up to a view point, perfect place to appreciate the zig-zag from Devil’s Nose and take fabulous pictures.


• You may choose between horse-back riding or biking tour in the surrounding areas of the local community to enjoy the landscape and see in a deeper way the local lifestyle (around 25 to 30 minutes)


• Enjoy a lunch prepared by the local community (gourmet meals). There will be a Dancing show during lunch time.


• Passengers will receive a key ring from devil’s nose train ride as souvenir


• Passengers are able to take pictures with the llama and local people without additional cost.


• Passengers are able to visit an organic local farm to see the where the community develops agro-tourism and produce the vegetables that will be served at the restaurant during the meals.

This morning, enjoy a city tour of Cuenca, visiting the Calderon Park, the new and old Cathedral, the Park of the Flowers, the City Museum and modern art, the Canari-Incas of all saints’ ruins, Canon of the Tomebamba and Turi River. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport to take the flight to Quito connecting with the international flight home.