Galapagos & Ecuadorian Rainforest Experience

Charles Darwin “On the Origin of the Species” was borne of the culmination of work from the 1831 voyage to the Galapagos. Aboard your superb luxury catamaran cruise boat relive that experience across these magical islands. Expert naturalist guides unearth the treasures of these lands. Giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, land and sea iguanas and a multitude of others that journey unabated in this heavenly tropical paradise of mother earth.

Onward from the Galapagos fly inward to Ecuador a voyage to the rich cloud-forest of Ecuador. Here nestled in the hillside of the forest you will find one of the most amazing lodges on the planet Mashpi Lodge. Here you can enjoy the spectacle of 500 species of birds, trees and frogs unique to the planet amidst cascading waterfalls and diverse flora. The perfect end to the journey of a lifetime.

Galapagos & Ecuadorian Rainforest Experience Itinerary

Day 1 - Quito

Arrival Quito airport and transfer to your luxury hotel accommodation in downtown colonial Quito.

Day 2 - Quito

Quito city has one of the best-preserved colonial centres in all South America, and its integrity was assured in 1978 when the United Nations declared Quito a World Cultural Heritage site. We will walk through the main plaza, where you will see the Government Palace, La Compañía, and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries, including the San Francisco Monastery which was started 5 days after the founding of the city in 1534. Then we will visit the city’s famous La Ronda street, where we will learn about traditional work in Colonial Quito. For our last stop, we will also be visiting the ‘Panecillo’, the hill that dominates the South of the city, and where we will be able to admire the famous statue of Our Lady of the Panecillo and enjoy spectacular views of Quito.

Days 3 – 7 - Galapagos Islands

Today you will be taken to the airport where you will fly to the famous Galapagos Islands. You will spend 5-days cruising around the Galapagos Islands aboard the Infinity yacht.

Day 3 - Morning - Baltra Island Airport: Arrival and Transfer to the boat; Afternoon Santa Cruz Island: El Chato

Day 4 - Morning - Santa Cruz Island: Dragon Hill; Afternoon Santa Cruz Island: Bachas Beach

Day 5 Morning - Floreana Island: Post Office Bay; Afternoon Floreana Island: Cormorant Point or Devil's Crown

Day 6 Morning - Española Island: Suarez Point; Afternoon. Española Island: Gardner Bay

Day 7 - San Cristobal - Quito

After spending the morning on San Cristobal Island visiting the Interpretation Centre, you will then be transferred to San Cristobal Airport for your flight back to Quito. Upon arrival you will be taken to your accommodation.

Day 8 - Quito - Ecuadorian Rainforest

Today you will be transferred by road, a journey taking around 3 ½ hours, to Mashpi Lodge in the Ecuadorian rainforest. The road passes along the western flank of the Andes next to the “Middle of the World” (“La Mitad del Mundo”) which marks the equatorial line. On arrival you will be greeted by your hosts and can choose at your will from the comprehensive range of lodge tours. Perhaps after lunch even start with Dragonfly aerial cable car ride and follow with an adventurous night walk in the cloud forest. You can seek out the local frogs, snakes, insects and even tarantulas!

Day 9 - Ecuadorian Rainforest

After breakfast you can visit the wonderful Life Centre’s butterflies project and then take a guided hike out by the cascading waterfall to see the Hummingbird Gardens. After lunch you can have your first ever Sky Bike air cycle across the cloud forest. You then embark upon an ascent of the Observation Tower to gain a panoramic vista of the reserve and watch the sun descend behind the clouds as the evening sky fades to black. We round off the night with some options of lecture presentations by our naturalist guides about the local Choco Reserve.

Day 10 - Ecuadorian Rainforest - Quito

Today you have your final morning at Mashpi and you can choose some different trails before returning for your road transfer to Quito leaving at 11.00 hrs.

Day 11 - Quito

Today you will be collected from your hotel for you transfer to Quito airport for your onwards journey

Galapagos & Ecuadorian Rainforest Experience - When to Travel

The Galapagos offers year-round travel without exception, but early booking is strongly advised to secure the best cruise options. Mashpi Lodge in Ecuador has two seasons one rainy and the other less rainy! This is to be embraced in a cloud forest. The drier season is June to November with November to May the wet season which still has typically dry mornings.

CONTACT

Contact the Luxury Safari Club for more information or to book the Galapagos & Ecuadorian Rainforest Experience