Call Of The Wild

The Trip

Day 1: Quito – Arrive Quito / Patio Andaluz
Day 2: Quito – City tour with local guide / Patio Andaluz
Day 3: Otavalo – Explore the indigenous market / Hacienda Cusin
Day 4: Otavalo – Free day to explore. Optional Condor Park / Hacienda Cusin
Day 5: Quito – Transfer back to Quito / Patio Andaluz
Day 6: Amazon – Fly to Coca and canoe to Lodge / Napo Wildlife Centre
Day 7: Amazon – Activities in the Amazon / Napo Wildlife Centre
Day 8: Amazon – Activities in the Amazon / Napo Wildlife Centre
Day 9:  Quito – Fly back to Quito / Patio Andaluz
Day 10: Galapagos – Fly to the Galapagos and board the yacht / Galaxy
Day 11: Galapagos – Punta Suarez & Gardner Bay / Galaxy
Day 12: Galapagos – Post Office Bay, Punta Cormorant and Devil’s Crown / Galaxy
Day 13: Galapagos – Santa Fe and South Plaza / Galaxy
Day 14: Guayaquil – Research station and fly to mainland

Colonial gem

Arrive in this mountainous capital and stay at the Patio Andaluz in the heart of the Spanish colonial centre, now a UNESCO cultural World Heritage site. You will be in walking distance of gold encrusted baroque churches, historic museums, delightful plazas and panoramic hills.

Our local guide will take you on a private city tour taking in the city’s main sights including the famous Virgin Mary statue on Panecillo Hill.

Andean volcanoes and Indian markets

Head through the Andes to the famous market town of Otavalo, located in the shadows of volcanoes Imbabura and Cotacachi. Here you will have the opportunity to wander through this colourful market and meet and barter with the local indigenous people who bring their wares from all over the region.

Our guide will show you volcanic craters, the beautiful Lake Cuicocha, artisan workshops and you will have a day to explore the countryside on your own, perhaps by bike or horse. You will stay at the charming Hacienda Cusin, a country inn with delightful gardens.

Amazon headwaters

After returning for another night in Quito, take a scenic flight over to the Amazon port town of Coca. Jump into a motorized dugout and head down the Napo river. This pleasant introduction to the Amazon brings you in contact with much wildlife including exotic birds like the swallow-tailed kite.

After landing and a short walk, the forest opens to reveal an enchanting lake and the Napo Wildlife Centre lodge on the far bank. The next few days are spent with our naturalist and local native guides exploring the rainforest. You will walk beneath the huge kapok trees, climb up towers to the canopy to watch for sloths, harpy eagles on the hunt or watch myriad parrots and macaws in the sunset. You will meet the local indigenous people to learn about their way of life and head out on night canoe rides in search of caiman alligators and the ever changing sounds of frogs and nightjars.

For those who like to take things easy you can lie in your hammock on your private porch overlooking the lake, sipping on a beer and swapping stories.

The enchanted isles

Lastly and surely the highlight of this trip is a visit to the Galapagos Islands. Nothing can prepare you for your first landing in the here. From the airport it looks like barren cactus-covered lava rock. But gradually you see them come alive with dark iguanas, lazy sea lions and comical boobies. You will spend four nights aboard the comfortable motor yacht Galaxy.

During the course of the five days you will visit some of the archipelagos best islands and sights including Punta Suarez and Gardner Bay. You will watch the hilarious mating dance of the blue footed booby and albatross, swim with playful sea lions, snorkel with Galapagos turtles and get up close to some of the most fascinating wildlife on the planet.