Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Quito
You'll arrive at Mariscal Sucre International Airport and get transferred to your hotel in Quito. This gives you time to settle in and adjust to the 9,350-foot elevation before things get going tomorrow.
- Day 2
Old Town to Equator Line
Morning starts with a tour through Colonial Quito, walking the historic plazas and checking out the old churches in the city center. After lunch at a traditional Ecuadorian restaurant, you head north to the Middle of the World monument at the Equator line. The Inti Ñan Museum lets you try experiments right at Latitude 0°00'00", then you continue to the Cloud Forest and settle into your hotel there.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Ecuadorian lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Old Town Quito (Colonial architecture, Plaza Grande, Jesuit church La Compañía, La Ronda neighborhood, Plaza San Francisco and Church)
- Visit to Equator line monument (Middle of the World)
- Inti Ñan Museum (Path of the Sun) with experiments at Latitude 0°00'00"
Landmarks Plaza Grande (Independence Square) La Compañía (Jesuit Church) La Ronda Plaza San Francisco Equator Line Monument (Middle of the World) Inti Ñan Museum (Path of the Sun) 
- Day 3
Mindo
You're up early to watch the Andean Cock of the Rock Lek display in the Cloud Forest. From there it's down to Mindo town for breakfast, then you hike to the waterfalls. Later you'll visit a butterfly farm and orchid garden, see how a local coffee producer works, and head back to the hotel for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning viewing of Andean Cock of the Rock Lek display
- Hiking route to waterfalls in Cloud Forest
- Visit to butterfly farm in Mindo
- Visit to orchid garden in Mindo
- Visit to local coffee producer
Landmarks Mindo - Day 4
Cloud Forest to Cotopaxi National Park
After breakfast you travel toward the Andes, heading to Cotopaxi Volcano and National Park (5,897 meters). A naturalist guide shows you around the natural environment, and you hike around Limpiopungo Lake at the volcano's base. Lunch happens in the park area, then more hiking on the trails before settling into a local hacienda for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Hiking around Limpiopungo Lake at Cotopaxi National Park
- Naturalist guide-led exploration of Cotopaxi flora and fauna
Optional Activities
- Additional trail hikes at Cotopaxi National Park
Landmarks Cotopaxi Volcano and National Park Limpiopungo Lake 
- Day 5
Cotopaxi to Antisanilla Reserve
You head out to search for the Andean Condor at Antisanilla Reserve in the high Andes above 4,000 meters. Horseback riding takes you through steep cliffs and grasslands where you'll spot wildlife across this protected area. After lunch, you transfer to the Puembo area on Quito's outskirts for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Horseback riding through Antisanilla Reserve searching for Andean Condor
- Wildlife spotting in high Andean grasslands (Paramo) at 4,000+ meters elevation
Landmarks Antisanilla Reserve Antisana Ecological Reserve - Day 6
Wild Sumaco Lodge
Early departure gets you to Guango Lodge in the upper Andean Cloud Forest, where you spend time around nature and hummingbirds. From there you continue to Wild Sumaco, one of the most diverse Cloud Forests on the Andes' eastern slopes. The day involves birding on various trails, relaxing at the observation deck, checking out hummingbird feeders, and having lunch at the lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Wild Sumaco Lodge)
Included Activities
- Birding at Guango Lodge
- Hummingbird viewing at Guango Lodge
- Full day birding at Wild Sumaco
- Multiple trails through diverse Cloud Forest ecosystem
- Observation deck visit for bird spotting
- Hummingbird feeders visit at Wild Sumaco
Landmarks Guango Lodge Wild Sumaco - Day 7
Wild Sumaco Lodge
You spend the day exploring the many trails at this unique Cloud Forest ecosystem and looking for wildlife. The observation deck and different forest sections give you plenty of chances to see birds and other animals throughout the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trails and wildlife spotting at Wild Sumaco
Landmarks Wild Sumaco - Day 8
Coca Lodge
Departing from Wild Sumaco Lodge, you head toward the Amazon Rainforest and Coca. After a brief transfer and some refreshments at a private dock, you have a boxed lunch. Then comes a two-hour motorboat ride along the Napo River, followed by a calm canoe trip through a creek to reach the lodge on a lake. You'll spot monkeys and birds along the way, get a welcome drink, and settle into your jungle-view rooms.
- Meals
- Lunch (Boxed lunch)
Included Activities
- Two-hour motorboat ride along Napo River
- Canoe trip through creek to lodge
- Wildlife spotting (monkeys and birds) during boat journey
Landmarks Napo River Coca 
- Day 9
Parrot Clay Licks and Kichwa Interpretation Center
Early morning takes you about an hour and a half to the parrot clay licks. You'll watch five different species including parrots, parakeets, and macaws during their morning activity. Next is the Kichwa Interpretation Center run by local women, where you learn about Kichwa culture and check out local handicrafts. Afterward you visit a second parrot clay lick through Terra Firme Forest for more bird and mammal spotting, return via the main stream for additional wildlife watching, and have dinner at the lodge.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning visit to parrot clay licks (five bird species including parrots, parakeets, and macaws)
- Visit to Kichwa Interpretation Center managed by local women
- Trail to second parrot and parakeet clay lick through Terra Firme Forest
- Return journey via main stream with wildlife observation
Optional Activities
- Purchase of local handicrafts at Kichwa Interpretation Center
Landmarks Parrot clay licks Kichwa Interpretation Center - Day 10
Observation Tower and Forest Exploration
After breakfast you take a sunrise hike to a 36-meter observation tower in the Napo River area, just 30 minutes from the lodge. From this Ceibo tree canopy perch you observe tanagers, macaws, toucans, and monkeys. Following lunch, you hike through terra firme forest looking for golden-mantled tamarin monkeys. Then you explore the lake and streams by canoe hoping for giant otter sightings. A second observation tower above the restaurant offers lagoon views before dinner and a night walk to see insects, reptiles, amphibians, and nocturnal monkeys.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sunrise hike to 36-meter observation tower in Ceibo tree canopy
- Canopy wildlife observation (tanagers, macaws, toucans, monkeys)
- Terra firme forest hike for wildlife spotting (golden-mantled tamarins, fauna)
- Canoe exploration of lake and streams (giant otter spotting)
- Visit to second observation tower above restaurant
- Night walk with flashlights (insects, reptiles, amphibians, nocturnal monkeys)
Landmarks Observation Tower (Napo River area) - Day 11
Forest and Stream Exploration
You walk through terra firme and swamp forests searching for golden-mantled tamarins, capuchin monkeys, and sloths. Back at the lodge you have lunch and can relax. In the afternoon you glide through streams in rowing canoes for more wildlife spotting, getting a real feel for the Amazonian ecosystem from the eco-lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hiking through terra firme and swamp forests
- Wildlife spotting (golden-mantled tamarins, capuchin monkeys, sloths, and more)
- Afternoon canoe exploration through streams
Landmarks Amazon Rainforest (lodge area) - Day 12
Amazon Lodge to Papallacta Hot Springs
Early start as you return to the welcome area for motorboat transfer back to Coca. You check in for the return flight to Quito (timing depends on airline arrangements). Upon arriving in Quito, you continue to Papallacta Hot Springs in the eastern Andes for the perfect finale. The resort there has some of Ecuador's best hot springs, and you'll settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Motorboat journey from lodge to Coca
Landmarks Papallacta Hot Springs - Day 13
Santa Cruz
Early departure from Papallacta Hot Springs takes you to Quito airport for the Galapagos extension. You fly to Baltra with a layover at Guayaquil (you stay on the plane). An English-speaking naturalist guide meets you at Baltra Airport. After crossing the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island, you stop at a highland farm for lunch and visit a tortoise reserve to see giant tortoises in their natural environment. Then you settle into a hotel in Puerto Ayora city.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch at a highland farm)
Included Activities
- Flight from mainland Ecuador to Galapagos (with Guayaquil layover, no disembarkation)
- Channel crossing from Baltra to Santa Cruz Island
- Visit to tortoise reserve with giant tortoises in natural habitat
Landmarks Baltra Airport Itabaca Channel Santa Cruz Island Puerto Ayora 
- Day 14
Island Boat Tour and Snorkeling
You take a boat tour to one of the inhabited neighboring islands: North Seymour, Bartolome, Santa Fe, or South Plaza (each has its own unique natural habitat and wildlife). Snorkeling off the boat is a highlight of the day. You return to Santa Cruz in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat tour to neighboring island (North Seymour, Bartolome, Santa Fe, or South Plaza)
- Snorkeling off the boat
Landmarks North Seymour Island Bartolome Island Santa Fe Island South Plaza Island - Day 15
Bay Tour and Tortuga Bay
After hotel breakfast, you head to Santa Cruz dock for a boat tour around the island's bay. You'll visit Loberia, sharks tunnel, love tunnel, Franklin Bay, and Playa de los Perros. Back in Puerto Ayora for lunch, then you visit Tortuga Bay, walking through a giant cactus forest to a beach where marine iguanas nest. Another beach section surrounded by mangroves has pelican colonies, blue-footed boobies, gulls, and frigate birds to see.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat tour around Santa Cruz bay (Loberia, sharks tunnel, love tunnel, Franklin Bay, Playa de los Perros)
- Visit to Tortuga Bay
- Walk through giant cactus forest to marine iguana nesting beach
- Exploration of mangrove-surrounded beach with bird colonies (pelicans, blue-footed boobies, gulls, frigate birds)
Landmarks Loberia Franklin Bay Playa de los Perros Tortuga Bay - Day 16
Island Boat Tour and Snorkeling
You take a boat tour to one of the inhabited neighboring islands: North Seymour, Bartolome, Santa Fe, or South Plaza (each offers its own unique natural habitat and wildlife). Snorkeling off the boat is a highlight. You return to Santa Cruz in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat tour to neighboring island (North Seymour, Bartolome, Santa Fe, or South Plaza)
- Snorkeling off the boat
Landmarks North Seymour Island Bartolome Island Santa Fe Island South Plaza Island - Day 17
Galapagos to Quito
After breakfast, you depart for the airport to catch your flight back to mainland Ecuador. From there it's a transfer to your accommodation in Quito.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 18
Departure from Quito
You transfer from your hotel to the airport for your international flight, bringing the tour to an end.
