Embark on an extraordinary journey to immerse yourself in the heart of nature’s wonders. You will connect with two of the world’s most iconic ecosystems—Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest and the Galápagos Islands, their culture and unique wildlife

You will enjoy tailored experiences, from guided hikes to extraordinary birding & wildlife encounters, and fantastic photo opportunities, ensuring a deep connection with these remarkable destinations: The Amazon & Galápagos

Upon arrival transfer from airport to hotel, overnight in Quito

Destination the Amazon - Heading to the Amazon lowlands – program of 5 days/4 nights. Domestic flight Quito – Francisco de Orellana – Yasuní National Park

Napo Wildlife Center, the only lodge within Yasuní National Park. In this part of the trip we will have 2 main excursions each day, including night outings, visiting at least 2 canopy towers, trails, parrot and macaw clay licks, navigating along creeks and lake area, for birding and exploring this biodiverse territory. 

On day 6 we have a domestic flight from Francisco de Orellana – Coca back to Quito, arriving approximately at around 1 pm in the afternoon. You will have leisure time in Quito where you can visit the historic center, a World Heritage Site, and other cultural sites of interest, including museums, monasteries with their courtyards and plazas.

The Yasuni National Park and Biosphere Reserve is a uniquely diverse area that covers over 9,800 square kilometers (2 million acres) of pristine amazon rainforest. The Park was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1989 by UNESCO; it is a true hot spot of biodiversity where amphibian, bird, mammal, and vascular plant diversity reach their maximum levels within the Western Hemisphere. 

This region registers over 600 bird species and beyond 190 species of mammals. Here you'll experience a show of sounds and colors as your reach one of the most accessible parrot clay licks in Amazonia; hundreds of these are scattered all over the Amazon rainforest. You'll arrive just before the parrot activity kicks off. 

Five different species of parrots frequent this clay lick: Dusky-headed Parakeet, White-eyed Parakeet, Blue-headed Parrot, Yellow-crowned Amazon Parrot, and the Mealy Amazon Parrot. After this you’ll take a trail and hike through a terra-firme forest trail for about 30 minutes towards the second parrot clay lick. This one becomes active around 10 am. Some of the species that regularly visit this clay lick are: Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Orange-cheeked Parrot, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet and the extraordinary Scarlet Macaw. 

The whole process is fascinating; upon arrival to the clay lick, the birds can be heard high up in the trees, over time the sound gets louder as they fly down and get closer to the ground, to the place where they can get the clay enriched with mineral salts, which also helps them to neutralize certain toxins that they ingest with their food.  

Today we arrive to Galápagos via domestic flight – Quito – Guayaquil – Galápagos Archipelago & National Park, for a navigable program: of 8 days / 7 nights 

For the expedition boat, we present the Fernandina Itinerary – sample program. Starts: Baltra / Ends: Baltra - Duration: 8 days / 7 nights 

From day 8 to day 14:

Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Station

The second-largest island of the Galápagos group with all seven vegetation zones included across its expanse. The largest human population lives on this island, mainly in Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the archipelago. 

Many urban features are found here: banks, ATM machines, souvenirs, art, restaurants and bars. Wildlife highlights: Darwin's finches, giant tortoises, Galápagos mockingbirds, vermillion flycatchers, herons, egrets, ducks, stilts.

Unique features: giant tortoises in the wild, giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station (young & adult), vegetation of the highlands including the giant daisy tree of the Scalesia genus

Day 8 – second day in Galápagos - Sombrero Chino – Chinese Hat Island

This small island offers a spectacular snorkel, swimming by a channel of shallow water, nursery of thousands of marine species and a small colony of penguins. Less than a quarter of a square kilometer in size, the tiny island of Chinese Hat gets its name from its appearance. 

Wildlife highlights: Visitors will get a glimpse of American oystercatchers in action, along with marine iguanas, lava lizards, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Unique features: Starting from a crescent-shaped and white sandy beach, this 400-meter (1,312-foot) long trail provides some wonderful landscapes to view. Good swimming and snorkeling opportunities in the cove area will see visitors swimming amidst whitetip reef sharks and tropical fish.

Rábida Island: Is a small, central island exposed to the western upwelling- marine currents. Rabida's impressive distinct red color is due to the oxidation of iron-rich volcanic material. A fine visitor site with great snorkeling. Wildlife highlights: sea lion colony, brown pelicans, Darwin´s finches, Galápagos mockingbirds, doves, warblers, coastal and arid zone vegetation. Unique features: seasonal nesting colony of brown pelicans, excellent snorkeling site.

Day 9 – third day in Galápagos -  Isabela - Pto Villamil & Sierra Negra

One of the archipelago's western islands and the largest of all. It is made of six large shield volcanoes fused into one island - Ecuador, Wolf, Darwin, Alcedo, Sierra Negra, and Cerro Azul. The highest point in Galápagos is found at Wolf Volcano (1,707 m; 5,600 ft.). Wildlife highlights: Galápagos Penguin, Flightless Cormorant, Sea Turtles, Marine Iguanas, volcanic landscape.

Day 10 – thrid day in Galápagos – Isabela - Pta Moreno & Elizabeth Bay

Day 11 – fifth day in Galápagos – Isabela - Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove

Day 12 – sixth day in Galápagos – Fernandina - Pta Espinoza

Day 13 – seventh day in Galápagos - Santiago Island - Pto. Egas 

This former large shield volcano looks more like a mountain range with hills, valleys and plenty of parasitic cones. An Ecuadorian group settled here within the 1960s for a salt-mining related business. The island is now uninhabited and provides a great visitor site at Puerto Egas, which combines a visit along the rocky shoreline with time on its dark-colored sandy beach, and at Sullivan Bay with its fascinating lava. 

Wildlife highlights: the most diverse shorebird activity occurs here; Galápagos fur seals, Galápagos sea lions, hawks, Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and marine iguanas. Unique features: a rugged and well-eroded coastline made of tuff stone lies above a dark black lava flow. Such tuff stone was probably the result of a gigantic phreatomagmatic explosion (abrupt contact of water and magma) that even included base surge. Within the actual coastline, the most incredible habitat will host intertidal life, next to Galápagos fur seals. 

Bartolome Island: A rather small island teeming with fantastic landscapes and wildlife, Bartolome has one of the most postcard-worthy views in the archipelago. This small island offers plenty of exciting activities, too, such as snorkeling! Wildlife highlights: As a young island, only pioneer species have been able to thrive here, the most iconic of which is the Galápagos penguin. 

Unique features: Up at its viewpoint, visitors are rewarded with panoramic views of the island's concave peninsula, Pinnacle Rock, and neighboring Santiago Island.

Day 14 – eight day in Galápagos - North Seymour / Baltra, end of the expedition boat program

North Seymour: A small island but packed with interesting creatures and views, created from geological uplift, and covered with typical arid vegetation; mainly prickly pear cactus and "Palo Santo" trees. 

Wildlife highlights: Nesting colony of magnificent and great frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, blue-footed boobies. 

Breeding colonies of Galápagos sea lions and marine iguanas. Unique features: Land iguanas, white coral heads along the shore, endemic "Palo Santo" trees.

Highlight bird specialties in the Galápagos Islands program 

Isabela Island - Galápagos Penguin, Lava Gulls, Gray Blue Heron, American Oystercatcher, Lava Heron, Small and Large Ground Finches, Yellow Warbler, Galápagos, Wedge rumped, Band rumped Storm Petrels and Galápagos Shearwaters. 

Darwin´s – Little vermillion flycatcher, Dark billed Cuckoo, Galápagos Hawk, Galápagos Rail, Paint Billed Crake, Galápagos Flycatcher, Dark Billed Cuckoo, Galápagos Mocking bird, Short eared Owl, Small and Large Ground Finches, Yellow Warbler, Black Necked Stilt, White Chicked Pintail, Warbler Finch, Great Flamingo, Baird’s Sandpiper - among others.

Santa Cruz Island - Woodpecker Finch, Galápagos Rail, Paint Billed Crake, Dark Billed Cuckoo, Vegetarian Finch among others

Rabida Island - Yellow Warbler, Galápagos Dove, Brown Pelican, Rabida Mockingbird, pintail ducks, Common Stilt, Great Flamingo, Blue footed and Nazca Boobies

Fernandina Island – Espinoza Point - Galápagos Hawks, Flightless Cormorant, Blue footed Boobies, Galápagos Penguin