Amazon - Andes - Galapagos 2009
May 26th - June 11th 2009
Land Cost £2,850
(plus int. flight approx £700 - max. 15 passengers)
A 17-day journey that takes us from the high Andes of Ecuador to an award winning rainforest lodge and the unparalleled biological riches of the Amazon then onto Galapagos for an eight day cruise on board our own private yacht visiting some of the most spectacular islands in this remarkable archipelago. The trip will be fully escorted UK by Santiago Bejarano, one of the leading naturalists in the Galapagos together with a team of expert local naturalists. Our own private yacht – The Tip Top II
26 May - Depart from the UK from local airport meeting up with the rest of the group for the onward flight at Amsterdam airport (flying KLM)
27 May Quito - Arrive in Quito early in the morning, in the afternoon a chance to explore the colonial old centre of the city, declaired by UNESCO to be a World Heritage site in 1979 due to its beautiful colonial architectures. We will have a light lunch in the old section. Our hotel is the Hotel Quito, which has spectacular views over the valley of Cumbaya and an outdoor swimming pool. Welcome dinner in a leading local restaurant with live Andean music.
28 May - Avenue of Volcanoes and Indian Market - After breakfast we will drive from the hacienda through Ecuador’s legendary Avenue of Volcanoes, a valley punctuated on either side by spectacular snow-capped volcanoes. Here we will visit the Indian market of Saquisili, one of the largest and most colourful in Ecuador selling an array of local fruit and vegetables and other goods bought by the local indigenous community. Lunch in the historic hacienda of La Cienaga. Overnight Hotel Quito.
29 May - 5 Jun - Galapagos - At 9am the next morning we will take our flight to the Galapagos Islands, arriving to Baltra airport at around noon. From here we will be transferred to our private yacht,
The yacht we will use is a spacious and comfortable motor yacht called Tip Top II.
Fully refurbished in December, 1998, it accommodates 16 passengers in 8 double cabins each with private shower and toilet. There is a bar, dining room, library, sundeck and diving platform. All cabins and public areas are fully carpeted and air conditioned.
Just some of the luxuries you'll enjoy on the yacht's three decks are wall-to-wall carpeting, air conditioning, a TV, a VCR, a full sound system, an inviting dining room, a fully equipped bar, a library filled with a variety of reading materials, a spacious sundeck, and snorkeling equipment. Moreover, each of the craft's nine homey cabins is outfitted with a private bathroom with both hot and cold water, a personal safe, and a wardrobe. To ensure your safety, the vessel is also equipped with the most advanced navigational and safety equipment, all of which meets or exceeds international Coast Guard safety regulations.
We will be visiting the following islands:
South Plaza: A great island with a large population of Land Iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus), the chance to see the Cactus Finch alongside the Small and Medium Ground Finches. Along the cliff we have Red-billed Tropicbirds nesting and a large sea lion colony.
Espanola: Santiago’s and many other visitors favourite island with wonderful seascapes and the chance to see the beautiful Waved Albatross along with Blue Footed Boobies, Galapagos Hawk, Masked Boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Lava Lizards, Marine Iguanas and sea lions . Gardener Bay on the island is one of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago, with sea lions and its own Espanola Mockingbird. This island becomes more active as the afternoon goes on so we extend our stay here as long as possible.
Genovesa: A beautiful island, with the spectacular Darwin Bay, a huge flooded volcanic caldera, hope to Galapagos Fur Seals and tropicbirds. One of the best opportunities to see Red-footed and Masked Booby colonies and a large storm-petrel breeding colony. Here also the resplendent frigate birds nest with more intensity than any other site we will visit.
Bartolomé: The home of a class Galapagos view of pinnacle rock and a population of Galapagos Penguins, which we get the chance to see above the water, and below for those who enjoy snorkelling.
Rabida: A red sandy beach with a population of California Sea Lions and Galapagos Fur Seals, a nesting site of Brown Pelicans and one of the best snorkelling sites in the archipelago with the chance to see Reef Sharks, Yellow-Tailed Surgeon Fish and Sea Lions playing underwater.
Floreana: A stunning volcanic landscape, with lagoons that are home to flamingos, waders and a host of shore birds. Also home to the famous ‘post office bay’.
North Seymour Island: Here we will visit a large Magnificent Frigate bird colony and the Blue-footed Booby colony, alongside California Sea Lions, Marine Iguanas, Lava Herons, Lava Gulls, Brown Noddies and Swallow-tailed Gulls.
Santa Fe: The swimming and snorkelling around this island is wonderful, with sea lions, rays and a host of colourful fish. The island is also home to its own unique species of Land Iguanas (Conolophus pallidus).
Santa Cruz: One of the biggest Islands, here we will visit the Charles Darwin research station, and also the high lands were we will have a chance to see some wild giant Tortoises
5 Jun - Return to Quito in the late afternoon. Afternoon and evening free to relax. Evening meal at the Hotel Quito.
6 Jun - 9 Jun - Amazon Rainforest - After breakfast we will take our flight from Quito to Coca in the Amazon basin. Here we will be met by our local guides and begin our Amazon journey along the River Napo a tributary of the Amazon. The Napo Wildlife Centre, the award winning lodge which will be our home for the next four days. The lodge, which is 100% owned and operated by the local indigenous community, enjoys a beautiful location by the side of a secluded lake, with an incredible bird list of 568 species, spectacular parrot lick's and a network of trails.
One of the highlights of your stay will be the 36 meter high Canopy Tower that gives superb access to the forest canopy, where around half of all life in the rainforest lives. An early morning spent in the tower is an awe inspiring experience, with the chance to enjoy some superb mixed-species feeding flocks of tanagers and cotingas as well as amazing sightings including Black-faced Hawk, Crested Eagle, and Harpy Eagle.
The lodge also offers some wonderful mammal sightings, with upwards of six species of monkey observed from the Dinning Hall tower area in a single afternoon. Giant Otters are also frequently seen and Capybara come into the lodge compound almost every night.
On other excursions you can paddle through exquisite flooded creeks in traditional dugout canoes to observe the biodiversity rich forest. There is also the chance to spend time with the Anangu indigenous community which owns and operates the lodge, where you can join some families on their daily activities, providing an insight into their lives and a unique opportunity to learn from their remarkable knowledge of the forest.
9 Jun - We journey back down the River Napo to the town of Coca for our flight back to Quito. Arriving early afternoon in Quito. The rest of the afternoon to relax before our farewell meal together in a leading local restaurant with live Andean music.
10 Jun - Transfer to the airport for our flight home.
11 Jun - Arrive home
NOTE:
Land cost includes:
- Return domestic flights from Quito to the Galapagos Islands and from Quito to Coca.
- All accommodation meals and soft drinks in mainland Ecuador and aboard the yacht in the Galapagos.
- The price is based on 2 people sharing a double room. If you prefer your own room, there is a Single Supplement Cost of £250 per person for the time in mainland Ecuador.
- All boat cabins must be shared, except by special arrangement.
- The services of expert local naturalists and all transport in mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos.
Land Cost Does Not Include:
- International airfare,
- Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee ($110 per person)
- Departure Tax from Ecuador ($40.80 per person)
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Gratuities
