Galapagos & Amazon Journey tour itinerary & highlights
Galapagos & Amazon Journey 11 day itinerary
The below itinerary is based on a 4 day Amazon river cruise on board the Manatee Amazon Explorer and a 4 day Galapagos cruise departure on board the Galapagos Journey I (tour departs weekly, every Wednesday). Other itinerary options (4 and 7night Galapagos cruises or a 4 night Amazon cruise) and departure dates are available both on the Galapagos Journey fleet and the Manatee Amazon Explorer.
The right hand column explains alternative cruise itineraries
Day 1 Wednesday: Quito
Arrive on your international flight. Greeting at the airport by a Latin Trails English speaking representative. Assistance and transfer to your hotel. Accommodation at Swissotel or similar in Quito.
Day 2 Thursday: Quito
Quito City tour - Colonial plazas, buildings and churches display a bizarre and fascinating mix of Spanish and indigenous styles as you walk the best preserved colonial downtown in South America. Visit an art gallery and the Panecillo hill (winged virgin) lookout for a wonderfull view of downtown Quito and its colorful rooftops. Entrance fees to churches are included. Middle of the world: Visit the Equatorial Monument straddle the Equator line and get a picture with a foot on each hemisphere and Intiñan Museum where you get to experiment with 0 Latitud and learn about the indigenous cultures of Ecuador.
Transfer to your hotel and accommodations.
(B)
Day 3 Friday: Quito - Francisco de Orellana airport, Amazon
Francisco de Orellana arrival
Depart from Quito in the morning (11:00), flight to Francisco de Orellana (Coca), arriving to Coca at around 12:00. Transfer to the Napo River port then the motorized canoe ride downstream will be approximately one hour and 30 minutes. Once aboard the Manatee Amazon Explorer will start navigating downstream. The courteous crew will attend to your needs and the guides will introduce you to the surprising Amazon world, its people, more than 600 species of birds, and hundreds of botanical wonders. The Manatee sails along different ecosystems and important natural reserves such as the Yasuní National Park and the Limoncocha Biological Reserve.
(B,L,D)
Day 4 Saturday: Parrot lick and the Limoncocha Biological Reserve
Early departure by motor canoe to visit a very special corner of the jungle, the clay banks of the river where different species of parrots gather daily to eat this clay that helps them digest the seeds they feed on, it is quite a sight, colorful and noisy! Then, back aboard the Manatee to sail upriver and reach one of the tributaries of the Napo to observe the flora and fauna, the surprising pygmy monkeys and then a trek to the facilities of what used to be South America's Summer Institute of Linguistics in Limoncocha, currently the only Biological Reserve of Ecuador. Upon reaching the Limoncocha Lake, we will board a canoe and travel along the banks of this marshy ecosystem, where over 470 species of birds have been recorded. There is a possibility to fish for piranha, and for a short walk. At night, it is possible to observe the black caimans that inhabit the lagoon; quite an experience... Late return to the Manatee for dinner and overnight.
(B,L,D)
Day 5 Sunday: Culture / The Amazonian man / Giants of the Forest
The adventure today begins with a visit to the Museum of Pompeya, a small archaeological sample with Amazonian funeral urns that date back several centuries, as well as utensils and ways of life of the ancient denizens of the rain forest, which can still be seen today. We will also have the opportunity to see the giant trees of the Amazon, like the kapok, which rises over the forest canopy to more than 80 meters high, with huge, protrading roots. Guests can also try rowing the canoes on a tranquil tributary of the Napo River up to the house of a native family, to share a moment with them and learn their ways of life. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Monday: Francisco de Orellana / Quito
The Return While the Manatee navigates upriver, the guides wrap up our knowledge of the great Amazon region. Then transfer to the airport for the flight to Quito. Transfer in and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon free. Overnight
(B)
Day 7 Tuesday morning:
Quito - Baltra airport, Galapagos Islands
The flight from Quito (via Guayaquil) to the Galapagos is approximately 2 ½ hours on a Boeing 727. Upon arrival at Baltra travelers pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands and to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless prepaid). Guides will meet you, collect your luggage and escort you on the short bus ride to the Itabaca channel. From the channel it is a short 5 minute ferry ride to Santa Cruz. Here we will board a bus and travel to the Santa Cruz highlands were we will be able to enjoy a delicious lunch at a ranch.
Tuesday afternoon: Santa Cruz Island - Highlands
The highlands of Santa Cruz are an agricultural zone, near the National Park boundary, the Miconia Zone and then goes to the Fern and Sedge zone. With clear weather (unpredictable) this area affords beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round. Here you will be able to find the giant Galapago tortoises in the wild, they roam freely around farms and the Galapagos park reserve. After close encounters with the gentle giants we head towards Puerto Ayora, here we will have time to visit town. We board the Journey I and after a safety briefing we enjoy a welcome dinner and our first lecture introducing us to a unique learning experience.
(B,L,D)
Day 8 Wednesday morning:
Chinese Hat
Chinese hat is a tiny Island just off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island is less than a quarter of 1 sq km in size. It is a fairly recent volcanic cone, which accounts for its descriptive name, it has the shape of a down-facing Chinese hat. The hat shape is best appreciated from the northside. Opposite Sombrero Chino, on the rocky shoreline of nearby Santiago, Galapagos penguins are often seen.
A 400 mt. trail goes around the cove and through a sea lion colony - marine iguanas cover the landscape. The volcanic scenery is attractive, and there are good views of the cone. There are snorkeling and swimming opportunities in the cove.
Wednesday afternoon: Santiago Island - Puerto Egas
Wet Landing. James Bay at the western end. Puerto Egas with its black sand beaches was the site of small salt mining industry in the 1960s. A hike inland to the salt crater is an excellent opportunity to sight land birds such as finches, doves, and hawks. A walk down the rugged shoreline, especially at low tide, will turn up many marine species. Iguanas bask on the rocks and sea lions laze in the tide pools. At the end of the trail there is a series of grottoes or sea caves where fur seals and night herons are found resting on shady ledges.
The wet landing on the dark sands of Puerto Egas, James Bay leads to one of the more rewarding visits in the Galapagos. First, a trail leads inland to the remains of a salt mining operation, one of several largely unsuccessful attempts to commercialize the Galapagos. Some groups will make the 1 hour round trip to the Sugarloaf Volcano (about 1000 ft elevation). But it is the Fur Seal Grotto that produces the most pleasure for visitors. Here one can get very close views of both fur seals and sea lions in a series of rocky pools. For many, this is the only opportunity to see the Galapagos fur seal, once thought to be on the verge of extinction. In addition to the fur seals. James Bay offers the best opportunity for tide-pooling in the Galapagos.
(B,L,D)
Day 9 Thursday morning:
Santiago Island - Bahia Sullivan
This visitor site provides a unique opportunity to view a recent lava flow of approximately 100 years old. The East Side of James Island is known to have barren volcanic landscapes, dominated by black pahoehoe (ropy) lava flows of very young age. On the surface of the lava is possible to observe some tree that was carried down by the flow of the fresh lava. It is also interesting to see how some Mollugo plants are starting to colonize the small lava fissures.
Thursday afternoon: Bartolome Island
A small barren island, located across Sullivan Bay off James Island, Bartholomew has two visitors’ sites. At one of them it is possible to climb to the summit of the island, from where visitors can observe a variety of volcanic formations, spatter and tuff cones, lava flows and lava tubes. The moon like landscape provides the most scenic panorama in the archipelago. At the other site, the visitor may swim and snorkel from a beautiful beach or walk across the isthmus to another beach that faces south, where swimming is prohibited. Multi –coloured fish and occasionally penguins may be seen at the base of the tall pinnacle rock, which dominates Bartholomew’s landscape.
(B,L,D)
Day 10 Friday morning:
Santa Cruz Island - Bachas Beach - Baltra airport - Quito or Guayaquil
These two small beaches are found to the West of Turtle Cove. Their sand is made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, making it a favourite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches there is a small brackish water lagoon, where occasionally is possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. The other beach is longer, but it has two old barges that were abandoned during the Second World War, when the USA used Baltra Island as a strategically point to protect the Panama Channel.
After your visit to Bachas, transfer to the airport in Baltra. Flight back to Quito or Guayaquil. Greeting and transfer to your hotel. Accommodation.
(B)
Day 11 Saturday morning:
Quito or Guayaquil - Trip extension or homebound
Transfer out by Latin Trails representative to the airport for your international flight or to join your trip extension.
Note: Itineraries are subject to variations due to weather conditions, captains discretion or Galapagos National Park regulations. B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner.
Alternative cruise itineraries
Below are a list of alternative cruise itineraries and departure days, 4 and 7 nights boarding both the Galapagos Journey I and II and 4 nights boarding the Manatee Amazon Explorer.
Galapagos Journey II, 4 night Galapagos Islands cruise & Manatee Amazon Explorer, 4 night Amazon cruise (program starts Monday)
Day 1: Quito, arrival & transfer in
Day 2: Quito city tour
Day 3 - 7: Galapagos Islands cruise (Journey II)
Day 8-12: Amazon river cruise (Manatee Amazon Explorer)
Day 13: Quito, transfer out
Galapagos Journey I, 7 night Galapagos Islands cruise & Manatee Amazon Explorer, 3 night Amazon cruise (program starts Wednesday)
Day 1: Quito, arrival & transfer in
Day 2: Quito city tour
Day 3 - 6: Amazon river cruise (Manatee Amazon Explorer)
Day 7-14: Galapagos Islands cruise (Journey I)
Day 15: Quito, transfer out
Galapagos Journey II, 7 night Galapagos Islands cruise & Manatee Amazon Explorer, 4 night Amazon cruise (program starts Sunday)
Day 1: Quito, arrival & transfer in
Day 2: Quito city tour
Day 3 - 10: Galapagos Islands cruise (Journey II)
Day 11-15: Amazon river cruise (Manatee Amazon Explorer)
Day 16: Quito, transfer out
