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Worldwide Escorted Bus Tours & River Cruises
Cruising The Galapagos W/ Ecuador's Amazon
Buffet breakfast daily (B), 7 lunches (L), 7 dinners (D); Local Host service in each city; a welcome wallet and city map; sightseeing and transportation as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary.
Highlights:
Itinerary:
| Day #1 |
Arrive Quito, Ecuador. Arrive in Quito, where you will be met by your Local Host. |
| Day #2 |
Quito–Coca–Amazon Lodge. Fly to Coca and travel by motorized canoe to your selected Amazon lodge, your home base for the next three nights. (L,D) |
| Day #3 |
Sacha Lodge. During your stay, enjoy excursions with a Naturalist who introduces you to the Amazon. On the suspended rainforest canopy walk your Naturalist points out many different species of vibrantly colored birds. Jungle walks show off the immense biodiversity and medicinal plants that have been used by the native cultures for hundreds of years. Visit the lodge’s butterfly house, one of Ecuador’s largest, and take a night walk or canoe ride with a Local Guide to discover creatures that can rarely be seen during the day! You will also cruise through the flooded forest in search of troops of squirrels, capuchin, and howler monkeys—and maybe even the incredibly well camouflaged 3-toed sloth. After fishing for piranhas, arrive at the Kapok Tree tower, perched 135-feet high. Get close-up views of birds as the sun sets on volcanic Mount Sumaco and the Andes. (B,L,D)Napo Wildlife Center. Your time in the Amazon accompanied by a Local Guide includes early morning excursions to parrot clay licks; dugout canoe rides in search of river otters, potoos, kingfishers, hoatzins, jacamars, hawks, and monkeys; and walks along the canopy platform to view Spider Monkeys, aracaris, toucans, Blue and Gold Macaws, numerous species of tanagers, and the Red-Rumped Cacique. In your free time, consider a walk through the jungle in search of interesting plants and colorful or well-camouflaged insects. You are also invited to join families of the Anangu indigenous community on their daily activities, such as harvesting bananas, coco, manioc, or preparing chichi. (B,L,D) |
| Day #4 |
Sacha Lodge. During your stay, enjoy excursions with a Naturalist who introduces you to the Amazon. On the suspended rainforest canopy walk your Naturalist points out many different species of vibrantly colored birds. Jungle walks show off the immense biodiversity and medicinal plants that have been used by the native cultures for hundreds of years. Visit the lodge’s butterfly house, one of Ecuador’s largest, and take a night walk or canoe ride with a Local Guide to discover creatures that can rarely be seen during the day! You will also cruise through the flooded forest in search of troops of squirrels, capuchin, and howler monkeys—and maybe even the incredibly well camouflaged 3-toed sloth. After fishing for piranhas, arrive at the Kapok Tree tower, perched 135-feet high. Get close-up views of birds as the sun sets on volcanic Mount Sumaco and the Andes. (B,L,D)Napo Wildlife Center. Your time in the Amazon accompanied by a Local Guide includes early morning excursions to parrot clay licks; dugout canoe rides in search of river otters, potoos, kingfishers, hoatzins, jacamars, hawks, and monkeys; and walks along the canopy platform to view Spider Monkeys, aracaris, toucans, Blue and Gold Macaws, numerous species of tanagers, and the Red-Rumped Cacique. In your free time, consider a walk through the jungle in search of interesting plants and colorful or well-camouflaged insects. You are also invited to join families of the Anangu indigenous community on their daily activities, such as harvesting bananas, coco, manioc, or preparing chichi. (B,L,D) |
| Day #5 |
Coca–Quito. Depart your Amazon lodge and fly from Coca to Quito today. The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure. (B) |
| Day #6 |
Quito. Your included city tour showcases the rich legacy left by the Incas and, later, the Spaniards. See Independence Square, dominated by its formidable Cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows. (B) |
| Day #7 |
Quito–Baltra (Embarkation)–Santa Cruz. Fly to Baltra in the Galápagos. Upon arrival, transfer to Santa Cruz Island, where you will embark the Santa Cruz for your 4-night cruise. Your first stop takes you to Cerro Dragón, a bird-lover’s paradise, where stilts, pintail ducks, Darwin’s finches, Galápagos mockingbirds, and the endemic Galápagos flycatcher are regular sightings. This evening, a lecture led by your onboard Naturalist will prepare you for tomorrow’s adventure. (B,L,D) |
| Day #8 |
Cruising: Bartolomé & Puerto Egas Islands. At Bartolomé Island, hike to the summit for a stunning view of two beautiful bays and fascinating formations of lava flows and spatter cones. You will also have the chance to snorkel and possibly see Galápagos penguins in tropical waters. Cruise to Puerto Egas, known for its numerous shore birds, Galápagos fur seals, and marine iguanas. (B,L,D) |
| Day #9 |
Cruising: Rabida & North Seymour Islands. On Rabida, stroll along the red-sand beach (due to high iron content from the volcanic material), observing sea lions, marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches, mockingbirds, and even greater flamingos! This afternoon, travel to North Seymour to explore for colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, and swallow-tailed gulls. The island’s shore teems with sea lions and marine iguanas as well. (B,L,D) |
| Day #10 |
Cruising: Santa Cruz & Charles Darwin Research Center. Take a ride on Santa Cruz to the highlands, where the endangered giant tortoises can be seen (seasonally) grazing on the pastures of local farms. The vegetation of the area includes the Scalesia Forest, which provides an outstanding area for bird watching. It is up here where amazing encounters with woodpecker finches have occurred. This afternoon, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the efforts and results to protect the Galápagos’ giant tortoises. Spend some time in the town of Puerto Ayora before returning to the ship. (B,L,D) |
| Day #11 |
Cruising: San Cristobal Island (Disembarkation)–Quito. This morning, disembark in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, where you will have free time before flying back to Quito for one more night in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B) |
| Day #12 |
Quito. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
Pricing Options:
| Depart US | Land-Only |
|---|
| 01/18/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 01/25/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 02/08/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 02/22/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 03/08/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 03/22/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 03/29/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 04/05/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 05/03/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 05/17/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 06/07/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 07/12/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 08/09/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 09/27/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 10/11/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 10/18/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 10/25/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 11/01/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 11/29/2011 | $3,929.00 | | 01/17/2012 | $4,229.00 | | 01/24/2012 | $4,229.00 | | 02/07/2012 | $4,229.00 | | 02/14/2012 | $4,229.00 | | 02/21/2012 | $4,229.00 | | 02/28/2012 | $4,229.00 | | 03/06/2012 | $4,229.00 | | 03/13/2012 | $4,229.00 |
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©2005 Flamingo Travel Group
All Rights Reserved
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