Ecuador, Western Amazon, & Galapagos

Feb 22nd-Mar 11th, 2012

Hosted by 

Colin & Dianne Markusson

& 

Laurie & Betty Cone 

Day 1 – Wednesday, February 22nd - Fly to Quito, Ecuador
 Depart Canada for Quito, Capital of Ecuador at 10,000 ft (2850 m) altitude and 22 miles from the Equator. There are no temperature extremes due to altitude. Quito is a mixture of colonial history and modern enterprise. Late evening arrival. Meet guide, transfer to hotel: Dann Carlton (Review) or similar. (D)

Day 2 – Thursday, February 23rd – Quito: City Tour
 In Centro Histórico, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site 1978, enjoy panoramic view of Alameda Park and the Basilica of the National Vow .Walk down the street of the Seven Crosses.

Basilica of the National VowStroll from Independence Square to view the presidential palace, main cathedral, gold-plated La Compañía Church, San Francisco Church and San Francisco Plaza. 

Equator Line - At midday, head north to the equator to visit the Monument at Middle of the World. Choice: Tour Ethnographic or Inti Ñan Museums, both located near site of  the monument. Enjoy a traditional Ecuadorian lunch. After seeing incredible sites, drive back to Quito hotel. (B/L)

Day 3 – Friday, February 24rd – Jungle Lodge Adventure

 Transfer to airport for flight to Coca. Checked luggage limited to a weight of 30 lbs/person. Transfer by Chiva (open bus) to a dock. Board motorized canoe for transport to Sacha Lodge (Review). Arrive 4:00 pm. Refresh from ecuatorial heat with a swim in Lake Pilchicocha (black waterlake with fish and animals), or at mini tower, observe local bird species near lodge, and matchsun setting.

  ButterfiesVisit butterfly house with a naturalist Guide and relish the brilliant colors of different species. After dinner, join a naturalist guide on a
night walk through the rainforest. View animal species found only at night or silently paddle
canoes on the lake viewing spectacled and black caimans with their glowing orange eyes. (B/L/D)

 Day 4 – Saturday, February 25th – Jungle Lodge Adventure
Dusky Titti MonkeyActivities begin 6:00-7:00 am (full day and boxed lunch). Hike Trail Liana Chica, arrive at canopy walk for spectacular views of rainforest canopy with vibrantly colored birds. Walk Liana Grande through terra firma and igapo forest habitats. Native guides explain use of medicinal plants in the culture. Along Trail Higueron, pass through pristine primary forest with huge, towering Kapok and Fig trees. Arrive at Finca for prepared lunch, then hike leisurely  along  Rio Napo, or try a more challenging hike on trail Leoncillo to try spotting elusive dusky tit monkey. Continue to main boardwalk for final hike and canoe ride back to the lodge. (B/L/D)

Day 5 – Sunday, February 26th – Jungle Lodge Adventure
Hike trail Lagartococha to learn about native people’s relationship with the forest. Discover trees where native people believe spirits of ancestors live, and mysterious “dwende” or devil-man of the forest. At Lake Lagartococha, ride a canoe through the tranquility of a natural swamp, home to anacondas, caimans, and capybaras. Walk on the opposite side of Largatococha to spot capuchin or squirrel monkeys playfully jumping through trees. After lunch, a native guide provides fishing instructions for razor-toothed piranha. At 4:00 pm, Three Toed Slothbegin a best trail at Sacha. Take a silent canoe ride through flooded Amazonian forest encircled by squirrel troops, capuchin and howler monkeys. Keep looking for the shy and elusive river otter, and the well camouflaged three-toed sloth! Arrive at Sacha’s 135-foot wooden tower built around an ancient Kapok tree. There, observe vibrantly colored birds through powerful scopes, watch the sun setting behind amazing Mount Sumaco (a volcano) and view Andes’ snow-covered caps! The mesmerizing canoe ride back through flooded forest at night is an awe-inspiring experience: listen to symphony of frogs and insects, keep eyes open for caimans, watch several species of bats flying overhead, listen to eerie nighttime calls of nocturnal birds. Return to Lake Pilchicocha and Sacha lodge. (B/L/D)

Day 6– Monday, February 27th– Jungle Lodge to Quito
After breakfast depart the lodge with one last walk on the boardwalk to the river, canoe back to Coca and return flight to Quito. Arrival at Quito around noon.  Transfer to hotel for free time.  Accommodations: Dann Carlton Hotel or similar (B)

Day 7- Wednesday, February 29th– Quito-Otavalo-Quito
This morning you will leave Quito with your tour guide, heading to Otavalo, the town famous for its weekly artesian market.  Enroute to on the Panamerican Highway we will stop at Calderon, a town where the famous masapan dolls are made, continuing on through Guayllabamba town where you can sample its typical fruit the cherimoyer.  We will also stop on the highway to admire the beautiful landscape and snow-capped mountains in the area.  We continue on, making a short stop at San Pablo Lake before arriving in Otavalo.  Here we will Otavalo Market Goodsvisit the textile market located at the “Plaza of Ponchos”; this is one of the most famous markets in South America. Here you will find all kinds of handcrafts including tapestries made on the Spanish weaving loom as well as the indigenous backstrap loom. Later, you will enjoy some free time for bargaining and buying with the friendly Otavaleños.  After a full day spent in Otavalo we will return to Quito late afternoon/ early evening and you will be taken to your hotel.
Accommodations: Dann Carlton Hotel or similar (B/L)  

Day 8- Tuesday, February 28th– Quito
Quito: Free Day – Explore, shop, relax in this unique city. (B)                                     
                                       

Day 9- Thursday, March 1st– Quito- Galápagos
Onboard M/V Galápagos Legend

 
Map of the Galpagos IslandsAfter early breakfast, transfer with guide to Quito Airport. Fly to Galapagos Islands (flight approx 2 ½ hours / Boeing 727). Arrive at Baltra. Pass through inspection point to ensure that no foreign plants or animals enter the islands. Meet guide, ride bus to harbour. Motorized rafts, ‘Pangas’ transport you to board M/V Galapagos Legend where the crew welcomes you. After departure and lunch, visit the first island: Bartolomé - Dry landing. View volcanic formations: lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. Hike to summit to view surrounding islands, including Pinnacle Rock’s eroded tuff cone. During hike to summit, colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla, and various cacti are often seen. Snorkel and see Galapagos penguins, sea turtles and white-tipped reef sharks from a safe distance. (B/L/D)

(M/V Galapagos Legend: 100 passengersNovember 2007, Legend was reconstructed and refurbished as a 5 star, expedition style, motor vessel. With 2,746 GRTs, the Legend  offers all the amenities of a larger cruise liner,yet she has the intimate feel of family- style cruising)

Day 10- Friday, March 2nd- Cruise Urbina Bay (Isabela)

Wet landing. Visit fossil beach and coral area, perhaps observe giant tortoises, land iguanas and  flightless cormorants. Walk, then snorkel. 

Marine IguanaFernandina (Espinosa Point). Dry landing. See the largest marine iguanas mingling with  red sally light-foot crabs, and flightless cormorants at nesting sites, Galapagos  penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions. Locate brachycereus cactus, "pa-hoe-hoe"lava and "AA" lava formations. Mangrove beds extend to sea. (B/L/D)

Day 11- Saturday, March 3rd- Cruise Santiago (Egas Port)
Wet landing on dark sand beach. Most landscape is tuff-Stone layers and lava flows. Observe hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, yellow crowned night herons, oyster catchers. View marine iguanas grazing on algae beds alongside red sally light-foot crabs See a colony of fur seals swimming in deep cool-water pools. Swim, snorkel, find octopuses, sea horses Fur Sealsand star fish.

Rábida (Jervis). Wet landing. Volcano-formed dark red beach, frequented by sea lions, is  considered the ‘geographic center of Gapagos’-  it has the most diverse volcanic rocks on the Islands. Hike to salt water lagoon. At times, one finds flamingos, brown pelicans nesting in salty bushes, Bobeéis and 9 species of Darwin’s finches. Ride along reefs in dinghy, snorkel. (B/L/D)

Day 12- Sunday, March 4th- Cruise. Santa Cruz
Charles Darwin Research Station
Visit Charles Darwin Research Station where  international scientists conduct biological research and  Inside a Lava Tubeconservation projects. Admire giant tortoises, prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Free time to walk around town, shop for souvenirs. (Santa Cruz Highlands). Trek through highlands of Santa Cruz, visit Cerro Chato, to observe famous giant tortoises. Walk inside dormant lava tubes. (B/L/D)

Day 13- Monday, March 5th- Galápagos- Guayaquil Blue Footed Booby
Wet landing on white sand beach located on north side of Santa Cruz Island, encounter sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles and swim. Return to Galapagos Legend for check out. Transfer to Baltra’s airport for return flight to Guayaquil. Transfer to hotel: Oro Verde ( Review) or similar. (B)

Day 14- Tuesday, March 6th- Guayaquil-Salinas
Transfer to Salinas beach on southwest Pacific coast. Free time.  Overnight: Barcelo Colon Miramar Hotel (review)or similar. (B/L/D)

Day 15- Wednesday, March 7th- Salinas
Day at Leisure at beach resort. (B/L/D)Salinas beach

Day 16- Thursday, March 8th- Salinas- Guayaquil
Morning at Leisure. Transfer to Guayaquil. Hotel: Oro Verde or similar. (B)

Day 17- Friday, March 9th- Guayaquil– City Tour & Historic Park
Today after breakfast your guide will take you on a full day tour of the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city.  The city tour will start with a visit to the Administration Plaza and  the Malecon 2000 (Integration Plaza, Olmedo Plaza, Rotonda Monument). After the visit to the Malecón, we will go to the Peñas Malecon 2000neighborhood.  This is the oldest part of the city, where you will have the opportunity to climb to the Cerro Santa Ana where you will have wonderful views of Guayaquil and the river Guayas. Finally we will end our tour at Guayaquil’s historical park located in Canton Zamborondón, only 30 minutes away from the city.  It is one of the biggest parks in the country and here you get the opportunity to learn more about the culture, history and tradition of the city. Accommodation:  Oro Verde Hotel or similar.  (B/L/D)

Day 18-Saturday,March 10th-Guayaquil–Rodeo Grande Hacienda
Tour banana farm, Skipper: 275 acres of bananas, Dole contract, produces 270,000 boxes of bananas a year. Visit adjoining 3000 acre cattle farm on Ecuadorian coastal plain, 10 meters above sea level.

Farm worked by cowboys in The Ecuadorian Coasttraditional way caring for 1500  cattle and buffaloes that coexists with wildlife: birds, ostrich, sloth, iguanas, squirrels, turtles, snakes, plus flowering trees in vivid colours. Tour: 8 hours.

Evening Wind-up banquet before transfering to Guayaquil Airport for overnight flight towards Canada (B/L/D)

Day 19-Sunday, March 11th- Return to Canada
Return home this afternoon to Canada with Amazing memories. (B)

Image Credits: Sea Lion Pupby dagpeak on Flickr. Clock tower at the Basilicaby Pictures from Heather on Flickr. Ecuadorian Rainforest: Butterfly houseby jrubinic on Flickr. Dusky Titi Monkey (Callicebus moloch)by cliff1066™ on Flickr. The photo of the three-toed sloth was released into the public domain by its author, Tauchgurke on Wikimedia Commons. Mitad del Mundo - Middle of the earthby Fred Hsu on Flickr. They're looking at you..!(the owl crafts) by kaibara87 on Flickr. The map of the Galapagos Islands was released into the public domain by its author, Indolences on Wikimedia Commons. DSC_3988(M/V Galapagos Legend) by nik z32 on Flickr. IXS_5377(Pinnacle Rock) by acme on Flickr. Sally Lightfoot Crabby Mike Weston on Flickr. Yellow-crowned Night Heronby kansasphoto on Flickr. IMG_0086.JPL(blue-footed booby) by Tim Blair on Flickr.NOAA Photo Library. Lava Tubeby mdove64 on Flickr. Salinas, Ecuadorby Rinaldo W. on Flickr. Banana tree, Rarotonga, Cook Islands by g-hat on Flickr. Landscape(mountains) by Pictures from Heather on Flickr. Grass-green Tanagerby Michael Woodruff on Flickr. Wanted Llamaby L.Marcio_Ramalho on Flickr. Photo of Opuntia littoralis var. vaseyi at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Berkeley, California, taken April 2007 by User:Stan Shebs.Marine iguana from Philip Greenspun's Weblog: Marine Iguana. Unless otherwise noted, all photos on this page are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus), Picture taken at Cape Cross, Namibia, Dec. 2003 by bries.Martin Zeise, Berlin