Day 1 – Fly from the UK to Quito.

You’ll be met at Quito Airport by an English-speaking guide, for a private transfer to your
centrally-located hotel.

2 nights Villa Colonna, Standard Room, B&B
o www.villacolonnaquito.com

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 2 – At leisure – Quito

Day at leisure to relax after the long-haul flight and self-explore Quito

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 3 – Flight to Coca in the Amazon

Transfer to Quito airport for a domestic flight to Coca in the Amazon. At Quito airport you’ll
meet a representative from the lodge who’ll give you all the documents you’ll need for your
side-trip to the Amazon, including the boarding passes for this flight.
o Flight times to be confirmed. Maximum luggage allowance is 20kg per person.
You’ll be met at the airport for your onward transfer by motorised river canoe then a short walk
and finally a hand-paddled canoe until reaching the lodge.

The initial canoe trip up river takes around 2 hours along the Napo River, a tributary of the
Amazon, and the hand-paddled canoe takes you across the Garzacocha Lagoon to the lodge
itself.
Total travel time from Quito is around 4-5 hours. On this transfer you’ll carry with you only your
hand luggage and photographic equipment; the rest of your luggage will be transported
separately by La Selva staff and you’ll be reunited with it at the lodge.
On arrival at the lodge you’ll be greeted with a refreshing juice, snacks and a short briefing
about your stay.
16:30 – Introduction to the Rainforest. One of the Naturalist Guides will give you basic info
about the tropical rainforest, the Amazon, and how La Selva operates. The idea is to begin your
activities with background knowledge of the amazing place you have just arrived to.
17:00 – Matapalo Trail. This trail was given the Spanish name of the famous Strangler fig (Ficus
sp), one of many remarkable trees that you can find on this short walk. Mahogany trees over
400 years old can be seen and your guides will share their knowledge of the flora and fauna.
Due to the time of day there is great natural light and the diurnal and nocturnal animals are
beginning their daily transitional activities.
19:00 pm – Snacks. At the bar you can find snacks and order cocktails from the bartender. Or,
feel free to help yourself to limitless tea and coffee.
19:30 – Dinner. Dinner is served.

4 nights La Selva EcoLodge, Superior or Scenic Suite, Full-board with included activities
o www.laselvajunglelodge.com/html/the_lodge.html
During your free time at the lodge you can use the on-site kayaks, swim in the lagoon, have a
massage or just relax in your room and have a nap. During your stay at the lodge you will have
a private guide for all the included activities.
See also www.laselvajunglelodge.com/html/5-days-amazon-tour.html

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 4 – Amazon

07:00am – Observation Tower & Tucaneta Trail. After a 20-minute walk the observation tower
comes into sight. This amazing construction will allow you to climb 120 ft above the forest.
Your Naturalist and Native guides will help you spot the colourful birds of the Amazon, maybe
even certain primates. On the way back from the tower there is the option of taking the
Tucaneta Trail where your Native Guide can show you some of the medicinal plants still in use
today and your Naturalist Guide will provide you with interesting info on the ecology and
natural history of the Amazon.

16:30 – Charapa Trail. This trail goes on for about an hour beginning at the lodge and ending by
the edge of the lagoon. It is a great loop where different mammals, monkeys and birds can be
seen that come closer to the lagoon at this time looking for food. It is also perfect for
witnessing an Amazonian sunset from the water in the canoe.

18:40 – Night Canoe Ride. With the help of a spot light your guides will take you around the
lagoon via canoe looking for night-time wildlife. This is also a great opportunity for star gazing!

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 5 – Amazon

07:00 – Parrot Clay Lick and Mandi Wasi. Today you will make your way back to the Napo River
and take a motorised canoe ride to the clay licks, one of the most fascinating displays of the
wild world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather here to eat the mineral rich soil, an
important part of their diet. Binoculars are essential to really capture the moment. After the
clay licks we will take you to experience our Cultural Activity. An Amazonian Kichua woman will
welcome you at their community centre to share their life of the Kichua’s in the Amazon. This is
special because it is part of the Amazon you do not find on the maps and provides the special
and unique opportunity to really get to learn more about the people of the Amazon.

16:30 – Coto Trail. This is a fantastic walk that takes off from the lodge to the edge of the
Garzacocha Lagoon. In the afternoon the light from the sun will come from behind most of the
time, making this walk an amazing experience and the perfect opportunity to enjoy the beauty
of this amazing forest. Groups of black-mantled tamarin monkeys can be spotted on this walk
and some of our groups have even seen tapirs too. Your Naturalist Guide is going to explain
about all the different creatures that can be found and will show you some of the medical
plants that they have been using for thousands of years. A canoe ride back to the lodge makes a
great ending for this activity.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 6 – Amazon

07:00 – Mandi Forest Adventure. Not all lodges can offer an exotic trip into deep wilderness
like the one you’re headed to on this adventure. We will walk through an amazing primary
forest for around 3 to 4 hours beginning at our main dock back at the Napo River. In this type of
ecosystem there are chances to find some of the biggest mammals of the rainforest, like
peccaries or wild pigs, deer or tapir. Eventually we will reach the lagoon of Mandi Cocha. Here
we get into a fiberglass canoe and paddle through the amazing Igapo Forest. This is a temporary
flooded black water forest. Here we might see different species of birds and some of our
guests, who are extra lucky, may encounter the elusive giant otter.

16:30 – Garzacocha Lagoon and Ceiba Trail. This lagoon is one of the most beautiful in all the
Ecuadorian Amazon. During this trip is when we have higher chances of spotting different
species of monkeys and birds. Sometimes huge groups of squirrel monkeys join families of
capuchin monkeys to look for food. Howler monkeys also like to spend the late afternoon
around the lagoon and you can hear their tremendous calls echoing on the lake. We may even
see the famous pigmy marmoset, which is the smallest monkey in the world. At La Selva we
have 7 primate species that can be seen. More wildlife that can be seen include the Hoatzin, a
famous bird with a very strange appearance and adaptations, toucans, macaws, and many other
species of birds.
18:30 – Nocturnal Walk. On a night walk we give you the chance to enjoy the creatures and
sounds of the Amazon Jungle at night. Sometimes we can see amazing things during this
activity. Make sure that you bring a flashlight for this fantastic experience.

19:15 – Departure Briefing. The lodge manager will provide you all the necessary information
about your departure procedure for the next morning.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 7 –  Coca – Quito

07:00 – Departure for Coca. In accordance with your briefing the night before, you will have an
early wake up call, breakfast and departure from the lodge. The lodge staff will assist you with
your checked luggage and the motorised canoe ride will head upstream back to Coca, where our
representatives will take you to the airport to help you with your checked luggage and boarding
passes.
–  Included Flight times to be confirmed
You’ll be met at Quito airport for a private transfer to your hotel.
3 nights Villa Colonna, Standard Room, B&B
– www.villacolonnaquito.com

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Days 8 & 9 – Leisure

Days at leisure.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 10 – Galapagos

Private transfer to the airport for a flight to The Galapagos via a touch-down in Guayaquil.
– Flight times to be confirmed
On arrival in Baltra airport you’ll be met for a shared transfer across to Santa Cruz island and
to your hotel, stopping at the Manzanillo Tortoise Reserve en route.
When on Santa Cruz Island a bus will take us to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Here we visit
the Giant Tortoises Reserve where the tortoises are to be found in their natural habitat. Make
sure you wear outdoors clothing and sturdy footwear this day. Manzanillo is on the natural path
tortoises take every year as they either migrate to higher moist locations during the garúa
season (June-September), or when they descend to the warmer lowlands during the wet season.
The Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is the largest living tortoise species, weighing
up to 250 kg (550 lb). It plays an important biological role as the top grazer in its habitat.

Year round, tortoises can be seen grazing on the surrounding vegetation, or wallowing in muddy
banks or in a small red-coloured pond (impressively coloured by surface red pond-weeds). The
area is teeming with life: chirping vegetarian-, small-tree, large-tree and woodpecker finches,
mockingbirds and flycatchers, as well as ducks, herons and gallinules make this an exciting
morning visit.
After lunch (included) and exploring the tortoise reserve, we continue our road south across the
island to Puerto Ayora, the Galápagos’ most populous town, where we board the hotel’s fibre
glass boat (called a “panga”) for the short hop across to the “German Neighbourhood”. This
part of Puerto Ayora can only be reached by boat and there are no cars. A short walk along a
path takes us to the hotel. Welcome to the Finch Bay Eco Hotel! After checking in, guests are
free to enjoy the hotel’s attractions: the pool and bar area, the white coral beach in front of
the hotel, or swing in their hammock. In the evening, dinner includes the delicacies of local and
international gastronomy.
7 nights Finch Bay, Standard Room, Half-board
– www.finchbayhotel.com
– All included activities on Santa Cruz are on a shared basis
The cost of the Galapagos National Park Fee and the Ingala Card for 2 people are included in
this quote.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Days 11 – Galapagos

Days at leisure to relax and enjoy the hotel and the island.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 11 – Sea Lion Yacht Experiences: Santa Fe Island

The day starts with an early breakfast served at 06:30, before departing the hotel at 07:45 for
the municipal dock of Puerto Ayora where we will board the Sea Lion yacht. Remember that,
before leaving the hotel, you can ask reception for motion sickness pills and walking sticks.
Once on board the yacht, you’ll set off for Santa Fe Island, around 2 hours away. During the
journey, you will be able to enjoy the view and the gentle sea breeze on the second floor of the
yacht or sunbathe on the loungers that you will find at the bow.

Studies suggest that the island of Santa Fe is, in fact, one of the oldest in the entire
archipelago, mainly because its underwater rock formations date back approximately 4 million
years. Its relatively flat surface (24 km2/ 9.3 mi2), which was caused by tectonic uplift, is home
to two endemic species: the Santa Fe land iguana and the Santa Fe rice rat.
In addition, here you will also be able to appreciate the largest species of opuntia cactus and
the Galapagos hawk (the largest predator on the island), the blue-footed booby, the Galapagos
sea lion, frigatebirds (royal and magnificent) and the marine iguana.

After making a wet landing on the white sand beach of this island, we will be greeted by several
harems of sea lion, inviting us to embark on an exciting walk to search for the resident species
of Santa Fe. Once the walk is over, you will enjoy a refreshing swim in the Encañada, a
beautiful viewpoint on Santa Fe Island. You can also snorkel with the equipment we have on
board the yacht.
A delicious lunch awaits you on the yacht and, after a short rest we’ll start the trip back to
Santa Cruz, arriving back into Puerto Ayora around 16:00.
Please note that daily Galapagos tours are subject to change due to weather conditions,
logistics, security of our guests, or Galapagos National Park guidelines.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 12 & 13 – Galapagos

Days at leisure.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 14 –  Sea Lion Yacht Experiences: North Seymour Island and Las Bachas Beach

After an early buffet breakfast at 06:30, grab your camera, hat, and sunscreen and get ready
for a departure from the hotel at approximately 07:45. From the hotel, we will go to the town
of Puerto Ayora, where we will board a bus that will take us on a relaxing 45-minute trip
through the highlands of Santa Cruz Island to the Itabaca Channel, where we will board the Sea
Lion yacht.
From the Itabaca channel we will depart towards North Seymour, our navigation time will be
approximately 45 minutes, arriving at 10:00 in the morning. Once on the island, we will board a
panga for a dry landing.
As we begin our walk around the island you will immediately notice the difference between
North Seymour and its big sister, Santa Cruz Island. The second presents an irregular terrain,
small mountains and highlands that have a very different vegetation from that which grows on
the coast. Whereas North Seymour Island looks like a flat slab of dirt and stone. In fact, this
island was formed as a result of an uplift of the ocean floor. Not much information exists about
how or why it happened; however, this place became the perfect (and flat) haven for
fascinating wildlife that it is today.
This island is loaded with species that surround its visitors when they walk along its paths. Get
ready to be greeted by adorable sea lions sunbathing on the beach, as well as some of the most
iconic Galapagos birds displaying their beautiful and colourful plumage.

In fact, North Seymour is home to the largest colonies of frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies
in the entire archipelago! If you’re lucky, you may even find blue-footed boobies performing
their courtship dance.
Living harmoniously in the same space, you will also be able to observe the island’s
endemic land iguana and its aquatic relative: the only marine iguana in the world. You can also
find the blue-footed booby’s masked cousin: the majestic Nazca booby.
On North Seymour Island, you can potentially cross off 7 of the 15 species on our iconic species
list, BIG15.
Approximate hours on North Seymour Island: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Next stop: Las Bachas Beach
Around 12:00 pm we will set sail for Las Bachas beach on Santa Cruz Island. This trip will
take approximately 45 minutes. Once we reach the beach, we will make a wet landing.

After World War II, the American military abandoned their ships on this beach. In English, the
term for these boats is “barges”, which the local people transformed into “bachas”; that’s how
this beach was named Las Bachas. Today, this is an important destination which Eastern Pacific
green sea turtles regularly visit to lay their eggs. Located on the north shore of Santa Cruz
Island, this glorious white-sand beach features several brackish lagoons just steps from shore. In
these lagoons we can find several American flamingos feeding together with various wading
birds. Here, you can snorkel in spectacular underwater settings, swim or just relax on the soft
white sand.

Lunch will be served around two in the afternoon. When the time comes, we will invite you to
board the Sea Lion yacht again to enjoy the meal.
Approximate hours at Las Bachas Beach: 01:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Once we have finished our experience here, we will sail back to the Itabaca Channel. This will
take approximately 30 minutes. After arriving at the canal, we will disembark to take the bus
that will take us back to Puerto Ayora (a 45-minute trip). From there, we will return to the
hotel.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 15 – Departure

Shared transfer to the airport on Baltra for the flight back to Guayaquil on the mainland.
Flight times to be confirmed
Collect your luggage and check in for your Transatlantic flight home.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast