Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Quito
Evening arrival in Quito and transfer to hotel. Rest of the evening is on your own. Overnight at Patio Andaluz or similar.

Day 2 – Yasuni National Park and Napo Wildlife Center
After breakfast, transfer to airport for 30 minute flight over the Andes mountain range to Coca. Boat transfers (motor boat and canoe) to Napo Wildlife Center. Along the way, keep an eye out for wildlife at the river’s edge. Afternoon arrival to Napo Wildlife Center (NWC) followed by dinner, introductory briefing and an optional night hike. Overnight at Napo Wildlife Center. (B,L,D)

Day 3 – Napo Wildlife Center
Today you’ll have an early wake-up call to prepare for your visit to best parrot clay lick in Ecuador. Eleven species of parrots and macaws visit the clay lick. After lunch, hike to the community of Añangu where you can mingle with the locals before visiting a second clay lick. Overnight at Napo Wildlife Center. (B,L,D)

Day 4 – Napo Wildlife Center
Set out for a morning visit to a canopy tower where you’ll have a bird’s eye view of the rainforest. This is the best canopy experience in Ecuador. Flocks of colorful birds fly past, monkeys and toucans search for fruit, and sounds of the forest surround you. Afternoon hiking and dugout canoe tour near the lodge. Overnight at Napo Wildlife Center. (B,L,D)

Day 5 – Quito and Bellavista Cloud Forest
After an early breakfast, head back to the Coca airport for your flight to Quito. En route to Bellavista, you’ll stop at the site where the 18th Century Royal Geodesic Mission took place and the equator (0°, 00′, 00″) was determined. As you continue to Bellavista, you’ll pass rivers, waterfalls, and deep valleys. Overnight at Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge. (B,D)

Day 6 – Bellavista Cloud Forest
Today, you have the full day to explore the trails of Bellavista. The trails of the reserve are teeming with enchanting bromeliads and orchids, tropical birds, and mammals like the endangered spectacled bear and elusive puma. Overnight at Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 7 – Bellavista and Quito
The morning is yours to enjoy Bellavista before your transfer to Quito. On the way to Quito, you’ll stop at archaeological pools of Tulipe. You also have the option of stopping at the Mitad del Mundo (“Middle of the World”) Monument or Museo Intiñan where you may conduct scientific experiments on the equatorial line. Afternoon city tour of Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight at Patio Andaluz. (B)

Day 8 – Antisana Ecological Reserve and Papallacta Hot Springs
Morning visit to the Antisana Ecological Reserve surrounding the Antisana Volcano. The reserve is comprised of six life zones and resident wildlife are abundant. The reserve is home to the spectacled bear, Andean wolf, and Andean condor. After touring Antisana, continue on to Termas Papallacta where you will spend the night. (B)

Day 9 – Papallacta
Free day to relax at the spa and enjoy the hot springs on site. If you’re up for a more active day, you can choose an optional excursion to the nearby Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve. Overnight at Termas Papallacta. (B)

Day 10 – Guayaquil and Manabi
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred back to the airport in Quito for your flight to Guayaquil. You’ll be met at the Guayaquil airport and transferred to Atamari on the Pacific Coast. Overnight at Hosteria Atamari. (B)

Day 11 – Isla de Plata
Travel 24 km offshore to Isla de la Plata, an island with similar species as those found on the Galapagos. The island is home to nesting colonies of waved albatrosses, frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions. Humpback whales use these waters from June through September for mating and groups of up to 10 individuals may be seen at one time. Overnight at Hosteria Atamari. (B,L)

Day 12 – Machalilla National Park
You will start the day with a guided hike at Machalilla National Park. The park preserves marine ecosystems, as well as tropical dry forest and archaeological sites on shore. After the park, you’ll have lunch at Frailes Beach and then off for a visit to the Agua Blanca Archaeological Museum with artifacts from the Manteño civilization. Overnight at Hosteria Atamari. (B,L)

Day 13 – Manabi and Quito
Today, you can explore the area on your own before your transfer back to the Guayaquil airport and flight to Quito. Overnight at Patio Andaluz. (B)

Day 14 – Flight Home or Optional Galapagos Extension
Morning transfer back to airport for flight home or continue your Ecuadorean exploration with a tour of the famous Galapagos Islands. (B)

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