Base Itinerary* Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Ikala Quito Hotel: Upon arrival to Mariscal Sucre Airport you will be welcomed by your guide who will arrange your transportation towards your hotel in Quito (1h). Hotel: Ikala Quito (4*)   Included: airport transfer, accommodation, guide assistance, dinner (or boxed meal will be provided if the arrival time is late at night)   Day 2: Quito City Tour & Middle of the World – Otavalo: Your adventures begin in Quito’s old town where we will visit the historical center’s narrow streets and colonial churches. We will begin by visiting La Basilica church and enjoy an incredible view of the city from El Panecillo. We continue visiting Plaza San Francisco and La Compañia church and finish visiting Plaza Grande. Then we will visit Casa Agave where we will try traditional Miske. We continue driving towards our lunch spot in a craft beer brewing company and continue to the Middle of the World where we will visit the Equator monument (Middle of the World). We will finish today’s activities visiting the traditional Inti Ñan Museum. From here we will make a two-hour drive to our hotel in Otavalo for a good night’s rest. Lunch: Santana Brewing Company Hotel: Hotel Otavalo (4*) / Las Palmeras Inn (3*) Included: Breakfast, private transfers, museum and church entries, touristic guide (Eng/Spa), lunch, and accommodation   Day 3: Otavalo – Quito: Today we begin with a visit to Cuicocha Lagoon where we will enjoy a quick hike. During the hike we will be amazed by the landscapes that this magical lake offers, we will get some good spots for photographs. We will go towards Peguche indigenous community, where we will be able to admire the incredible handwoven textiles of the local indigenous culture artisans and see the local musical instruments while the locals play traditional songs. Our next stop will be the center of Otavalo where we will enjoy a local lunch and visit Plaza de Ponchos to see the variety of handcrafts made of wood, gold, leather, wool, etc. On our way back to Quito we will pass the city of Cayambe to try the famous “Biscocho” biscuits and arrive in Quito for a good night’s rest. Lunch: Hotel Otavalo Hotel: Ikala Quito (4*) Included: Breakfast, transfers, museum entries, lunch, accommodation, and touristic guide (Eng/Spa) Day 4: Quito – Yacuma Ecolodge (Amazon Jungle): Early morning departure and transfer to the transition ecological area between Andean mountains and Amazon plain, this magnific area is home of a huge amount of bird species, especially hummingbirds. Here it is possible to make several stops to observe and photograph birds as well amazing landscapes. Then we will continue to Santa Rita where we will visit a cacao farm and learn about sustainable chocolate manufacturing, here we will have lunch. We continue to Santa Rosa town where we will start our adventure in the Amazon Jungle. From Santa Rosa a canoe ride will take us to Yacuma Ecolodge. Upon arrival enjoy a quick briefing and welcome with traditional “Guayusa” drink. After having our bungalows assigned, we have some time to rest and photograph the sunset before dinner and our night excursion. Lunch: Hacienda Paccari Dinner: Yacuma Ecolodge Hotel: Yacuma Ecolodge (private bungalows) (3*) Included: Breakfast, transfers, entry to Paccari farm and Guangolodge for birdwatching, lunch, dinner, accommodation, and touristic guide (Eng/Spa), local guide for amazon program, canoes for entry to the lodge.   Day 5: Yacuma Ecolodge: Amazon Jungle If weather allows it, we will visit the famous Parrot Clay Lick where you can see a big community of parrots. We return to the lodge for a hearty Amazonian breakfast. Our first activity will be a hike to the Medicinal Plants trail (2 hours) and a visit to the local Kichwa community where you can buy local crafts. After lunch we will enjoy some down time before heading to the Hidden Lagoon where we will enjoy some piranha fishing and afternoon navigation and birdwatching. Dinner and campfire celebration at night. Lunch & Dinner: Yacuma Ecolodge Hotel: Yacuma Ecolodge (private bungalows) (3*) Included: Breakfast, transfers, activities, lunch, dinner, accommodation, and touristic guide (Eng/Spa), local guide for amazon program.   Day 6: Yacuma Ecolodge: Amazon Jungle – Baños: If the weather allows it and we haven’t done it the previous day, we will visit the famous Parrot Clay Lick where you can see a big community of parrots. After breakfast we have our transfer from Yacuma Ecolodge to Santa Rosa from where we will drive to the city of Baños. On the way we will stop to enjoy some delicious lunch in the city of Puyo and visit the famous Pailon del Diablo waterfall. Lunch: Hosteria Turingia – Puyo Hotel: Hotel Luna Volcan (4*) / Hotel Sangay (4*) Included: Breakfast, transfers, lunch, entry Pailon del Diablo, accommodation, and touristic guide (Eng/Spa), canoe for returning to Santa Rosa.   Day 7: Baños – Chimborazo – Riobamba: Early in the morning and after a hearty breakfast we drive to the highlands of Ecuador where it is possible to observe graceful vicuñas and admire the beautiful Chimborazo Volcano. We will do a short hike in the Chimborazo National Park and enjoy lunch at the famous Chimborazo Lodge in the skirts of the highest mountain in the world. We drive to the city of Riobamba for a good night’s sleep in a local hotel. Lunch: Chimborazo Lodge Hotel: Hacienda La Andaluza (4*) / Quinde Loma (4*) Included: Breakfast, transfers, activities, lunch, accommodation, and touristic guide (Eng/Spa)   Day 8: Riobamba – Guayaquil: Early in the morning and after a hearty breakfast we make our way to Guayaquil. If this day is Friday or Saturday, we can make a quick stop in the Calpi Animal Market. Our next stop will be Balbanera, the first church in Ecuador for a quick visit. We continue and make our way to Hacienda la Danesa where you can enjoy a horseback riding experience or cooking-class to learn about local Ecuadorian recipes. We continue our drive to Guayaquil where you can enjoy a free afternoon and rest. Lunch: Hacienda La Danesa Hotel: Hotel Del Parque (5*) / Unipark Hotel (4*) Included: Breakfast, transfers, activities, lunch, accommodation, and touristic guide (Eng/Spa)   Day 9: Guayaquil – Galapagos (5 days cruise) Early in the morning we will have our transfer to Guayaquil airport for our flight to the Galapagos Islands. Our flight will arrive to Baltra Island at around noon (local time) where we will be greeted by our guide who will take us to Yacht Catamaran Anahi. Your baggage will be handled by one of our crew members. The captain and the crew will welcome you on board, and then you will have your cabins assigned. After lunch, our guide will give you a brief explanation of the afternoon activities. In the afternoon we visit Bachas Beach: The sand of the beach is made of decomposed coral, making it white and soft. One of the favorite nesting places of sea turtles. Nearby, we can also find a small lagoon where we will be able to observe flamingos, black-necked stilts, thrushes, as well as two old ships that were abandoned during the Second World War. Furthermore, we will also find sea lions, marine iguanas, and seabirds resting on the beach. We will enjoy the tranquility of the beach as well as spend some time with the playful sea lions that like to swim with the visitors. At 7 pm. we will have an official welcome cocktail followed by a delicious dinner. After dinner, your guide will give you information on the following day’s activities. Lunch & dinner: Yacht Catamaran Anahi Yacht Catamaran Anahi Included: Breakfast, transfers, activities, lunch, dinner, accommodation, and certified Galapagos naturalist guide (Eng/Spa)   Day 10: Genovesa Island: Darwin Bay and Prince Philip’s Steps.   In the morning, we will visit Darwin Bay: A beautiful bay area known for its great diversity of seabirds that nest in the mangroves that dominate the area. These include red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, Galápagos petrels, seabirds, Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and Galápagos doves. Prince Philip’s Steps: We will climb 25 meters of stairs at one of the best bird nesting sites on the islands. We will have the opportunity to snorkel, kayak, hike, and take a ride in a panga. *NOTE: The activities of this day can be modified, depending on the weather conditions and National Park statements. Breakfast, lunch & dinner: Yacht Catamaran Anahi Yacht Catamaran Anahi Included: Breakfast, activities, lunch, dinner, accommodation, and certified Galapagos naturalist guide (Eng/Spa)   Day 11: Plaza Islands and Santa Fe Island. In the morning, we visit Plaza Islands: These islands have an unusual vegetation, which creates an interesting landscape that helps to enhance the fauna and the flora of the Galápagos. It is also possible to observe land iguanas in the shade of the cacti. The main attractions of the Plaza Islands include land iguanas, sea lions, and swallow-tailed gulls, as well as lizards, island insects, red-beaked sparrows, frigate birds, and pelicans that glide down the cliffs. Then we will return to the yacht for lunch and a deserved rest. In the afternoon we will visit Santa Fe Island: An extremely scenic island, where we can visit two different trails, with one of them leading to a beautiful viewpoint on the top of a cliff, where you can find endemic land iguanas of the island. The other trail is a small circular path close to the beach, where we will be able to observe another colony of land iguana. Here we will also have the possibility to kayak, snorkel, panga ride, or walk, to observe and enjoy nature. Then we will return to the yacht for dinner and a time of relaxation. Breakfast, lunch & dinner: Yacht Catamaran Anahi Yacht Catamaran Anahi Included: Breakfast, activities, lunch, dinner, accommodation, and certified Galapagos naturalist guide (Eng/Spa)   Day 12: San Cristóbal Island: Punta Pitt, Kicker Rock, and Lobos Island. In the morning, we visit Punta Pitt: Considered as one of the most beautiful and impressive sites in the Galápagos, it has become one of the favorite nesting sites for seabirds. Here we will be able to see three species of frigate birds and their nesting sites in the same area. Then we will return to the yacht for lunch. In the afternoon we will visit Kicker Rock: Is a gigantic and impressive rock formation known locally as ‘León Dormido’ where we can see a multitude of blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, pelicans, and sea birds that will delight us with their majestic flights to be photographed. Later we head towards Isla Lobos, an islet separated from San Cristóbal Island by a narrow stretch of calm waters. On the islet we will take a walk that will allow us to observe frigates, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, a colony of sea lions and we will also be able to snorkel in the arm of the sea, probably with the company of sea lions and different kinds of colorful fish. The atmosphere is one of tranquility and primitive beauty, a typical environment of the Galapagos Islands. Breakfast, lunch & dinner: Yacht Catamaran Anahi Yacht Catamaran Anahi Included: Breakfast, activities, lunch, dinner, accommodation, and certified Galapagos naturalist guide (Eng/Spa)   Day 13: San Cristóbal Island: El Junco Lagoon, Cerro Colorado. In the morning, our guide will take us to the top of San Cristóbal Island. Following, our tour has 2 options. The first option starts from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and involves a visit to the El Junco Lagoon. For hundreds of years, rainwater and condensation have caused an accumulation of water in the caldera of an extinct volcano, creating a paradise for frigate birds and turtles. Alternatively, we will visit the “Cerro Colorado” turtle breeding center. There we will have a pleasant walk along a path that allows us to be in close contact with the turtles, that can vary from the smallest to the oldest of giants. After our visit, we will depart for the airport for our return flight to Quito or Guayaquil or continue with our 4’days cruise extension on board Yacht Anahi. Breakfast: Yacht Catamaran Anahi Yacht Catamaran Anahi Included: Breakfast, activities, accommodation, and certified Galapagos naturalist guide (Eng/Spa), transfer to airport. *Subject to change based on many factors but dates are set * Due to weather conditions, and other factors, times, and routes may change   ADD a 4 day extension to other islands of the Galapagos!