Cloud Forest, Andes and Galapagos

Summary of Trip

• Specially chartered private yacht in the Galapagos
• Experience some of best and easiest birding in the world
• Led by top guides in Galapagos and Ecuador
• Small group of up to 15 guests

A journey that takes you from the tropical cloud forests literally buzzing with humming birds, to Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes with its dramatic scenery and colorful markets where you stay in a historic hacienda, then onto Galapagos for an eight day cruise on a luxury motor yacht visiting some of the most spectacular islands in this remarkable archipelago. The trip will be fully escorted by Santiago Bejarano, one of the leading naturalists in the Galapagos together with a team of expert local guides including one of the country’s top birding guides.

Details

• Trip begins in Quito and ends in Guayaquil
• 8 days/7 nights on board the yacht, 1 hotel nights in Quito, 2 nights La Carriona, 3 nights Sachatamia.
• All meals included.
• Tour Cost £3,290 per person, excluding international flights Includes all accommodation, guide services, meals, transport, internal flights Quito-Galapagos-Guayaquil, non-bottled soft drinks.
• Flights from the UK to Quito and Guayaquil start at around £850. We can help guests co-ordinate their international flights which are available from local UK airports.

Outline Itinerary
28th April – Arrive in Quito
29th April - 2nd May – Cloud Forest
3rd May – Saquisili – Avenue of Volcanoes
4th May - 11th May – Galapagos
12th May – Arrive Home

NOTE:

Land cost includes:

• Domestic flight Quito-Galapagos-Guayaquil.
• 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.
• $10 Galapagos Migration Card.
• The services of expert local naturalists and all transport in the Galapagos.

Land Cost Does Not Include:

• International airfare
• Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee ($100 per person)
• Departure Tax from Ecuador ($28 per person)
• Alcoholic beverages. Gratuities

Single Supplement:

If you prefer your own room, there is a single supplement cost of £240 per person for the time in mainland Ecuador. All boat cabins must be shared, except by special arrangement.

If you would like any more information or to chat over the details of the trip we would be delighted to help. Telephone 01482 872 716 for more information or email us today.

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Itinerary

28th April We can help book your international flight with KLM – which allows you to fly early morning from your local airport via Amsterdam arriving in Quito the same day. The group will then be met at the airport in Quito and taken to our hotel – Hotel Quito, which has one of the best locations in Quito with beautiful views across the city on one side and the valley of Tumbaco on the other. A light evening meal together.

29th April - 2nd May – Cloud Forest After breakfast we set straight off to the Andes to the west of Quito and the area of Mindo. Approximately 1.30 minute drive, the cloud forest here has some of the best and easiest birding in the world that will thrill both the novice and experienced birders alike! It also has the highest diversity of epiphytes (plants that grow on top of other plants) of anywhere in the world, along with an array of orchids and other stunning tropical flora, including a host of butterflies and moths (which we get to photograph during a visit to a butterfly farm, as well as around the lodge). The forest, boasts some 9,000 species of plant with over 320 bird species recorded in the valley near to our lodge, Sachatamia.

The area around the lodge has lots of easy trails and is literally buzzing with hummingbirds with over 20 different species spotted in a single day. The location of our lodge also allows us to visit some of the best reserves in the area like Mindo, Los Bancos and the Milpe Sanctuaries. For those who wish to we will be visiting a nearby Cock of the Rock lek, with a chance to see and photograph these rare and beautiful birds.

After breakfast on 2nd May we set off to the Equator Monument then onto Quito for a tour of the historical old section of the city. Declared a world heritage site by UNESCO the historical centre of Quito has some beautiful colonial buildings and gives a real taste of Andean culture. In the afternoon we will drive on to a beautiful 200 year old colonial hacienda in the valley of Los Chillos called La Carriona where we spend the night.

3rd May – Avenue of Volcanoes After breakfast we drive south through Ecuador’s Avenue of Volcanoes, with spectacular scenery punctuated by snow capped peaks and onto the Saquisili market, to see their main market day. This market, which is where the Indian communities from the region trade their produce, will provide you with a colourful and fascinating glimpse of Andean culture as they trade everything from llamas and sheep, to pots and pans. We will have lunch in the historic hacienda of La Cienega at the foot of the Cotopaxi Volcano before heading back to La Carriona. Overnight La Carriona.

4th May - 11th May – Galapagos Islands After breakfast we 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 Tip Top III, a spacious and comfortable motor yacht which was fully refurbished in 2008, which has a fantastic friendly crew and is run by one of the oldest families in the Galapagos. The yacht accommodates 16 passengers in 10 double cabins each with private shower and toilet. 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 snorkelling equipment. Moreover, each of the craft's homey cabins is outfitted with a private bathroom with both hot and cold water, a personal safe, and a wardrobe. The vessel is also equipped with the most advanced navigational and safety equipment, all of which meets or exceeds international Coast Guard safety regulations.

Download large jpg version of this map: Detailed Itinerary

4th May – Baltra A small islet that we will fly to, where we will be met by the crew of the yacht and go onboard for lunch.

Santa Cruz – Bachas Beach A beautiful white sandy beach, turquoise water and a great place to practice snorkelling. A fantastic introduction to the islands with Greater Flamingos, Marine Iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions to welcome us!

5th May – James Island – Sullivan Bay A spectacular lava flow built 100 years ago, but looks and feels like just0 yesterday. This gives us a perfect introduction to the volcanic origins of the islands and an understanding of their geology. A great snorkel site, with the possibility of snorkelling with Galapagos Penguins.

Bartolome With its distinctive Pinnacle Rock, superb lava flows and parasitic cones here we see the iconic landscape view of the islands.

6th May – Genovesa One of the most spectacular sights in the archipelago are the thousands of male Great Frigate birds displaying their large red pouch as part of their mating display – our visit takes place at the height of this mating season guaranteeing a fantastic spectacle. Also Red-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, finches, Short-eared Owls.

7th May – James Island A chance to take look at one of the sites visited by Darwin (Buccaneer Cove) where he spent the majority of his land visits in the Galapagos. We also visit Puerto Egas, a beautiful walk along the coast and the best place for Galapagos Fur Seals, plovers, herons and oyster catchers.

8th May – Punta Vicente Roca A fantastic volcanic formation which we will visit by dingy. Located on the north-west side of Isabella Island, it provides a dramatic landscape of a giant collapsed shield volcano. Also great for seeing Brown Noddies, Blue-footed Boobies, Flightless Cormorants and Galapagos Penguins.

Fernandina Together with Genovesa, this is a ‘must see’ place in the Archipelago. Fernandina is the largest and most pristine of the islands and home to the largest population of marine iguanas as well as being the best place to see nesting Flightless Cormorants. It is also a good place to see the Galapagos Snake, Hawk and Lizard.

9th May – Isabella - Urbina Bay A newly uplifted area with colourful land iguanas and lush vegetation on the foot hills of Alcedo Volcano that host the largest population of Giant Tortoises along with a population of Flightless Cormorants, the Galapagos Hawk and finches.

Elizabeth Bay Spectacular mangrove cove that will give us the opportunity to enjoy One of the best breeding grounds of the Galapagos Penguin as well as the chance to see green sea turtles.

10th May – Isabella Island (Puerto Villamil) Our first chance to see Giant Tortoises. The Galapagos has 11 different species of Giant Tortoise with five different species on the island of Isabella. We get the chance to see them at a new breeding site built by the Galapagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station. We will also explore the island in the hope of seeing some Giant Tortoises in the wild. The island is also a great place for Galapagos Penguins and marine iguanas.

11th May – Santa Cruz After an early breakfast we leave the boat to take a bus that will drive us up to the highlands of Santa Cruz, were we will have another chance to look for Giant Tortoises in the wild, and see the amazing forests of Scalacia (giant daisies!) before we go back to Baltra for our flight back to mainland Ecuador.

We arrive in Guayaquil on Ecuador’s coast early afternoon. Chance to go to the hotel Grand Hotel Guyaquil to freshen up and have our farewell meal together before returning to the airport for our flight back to the UK

12th May Arriving in England in the afternoon.

Please note: Itineraries are unlikely to change significantly but are subject to change. Weather, wildlife breeding, instructions from the Galapagos National Park, specific abilities and interests of passengers as well as operational matters may cause your guide or captain to change the times or nature of your visits. Your guide will always endeavour to have the best itinerary for you within these constraints.

Download a PDF of this Itinerary - Cloud Forest, Andes and Galapagos Itinerary

If you would like any more information or to chat over the details of the trip we would be delighted to help. Telephone 01482 872 716 for more information or email us today.

Accommodation

If you would like any more information or to chat over the details of the trip we would be delighted to help. Telephone 01482 872 716 for more information or email us today.