Compare Galapagos Discovery by Intrepid Travel vs Amazon Rainforest Adventure by Adventure Unbound
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
4.5 | Great
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 9 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 2,174 | $ 920 |
| Price Per Day | $ 242 | $ 131 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Basic | Standard |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
|
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included | N/A |
4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches and 4 Dinners |
| Description |
Take in the highlights of the unique flora- and fauna-rich islands of the Galapagos on this eight-day adventure. From rubbing shoulders with giant tortoises to gazing up in wonder at the spectacular blue-footed boobies’ synchronised fishing technique, the Galapagos offers the chance to see an abundance of rare creatures at close range. We’ll show you the best islands, coves and natural wonders, and give you plenty of time to explore (with local advice!) so you can spend your time the way you want. Snorkel with sea lions, swim with sea turtles and relax in paradise. |
There are several wonderful lodges in Ecuador which lie in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, known as “El Oriente.” Each is slightly different and we are here to help you choose the one that will match your interests and style of travel best. We have chosen these particular lodges in large part because they both are responsible eco-tourism projects that support the local population while also promoting conservation. A couple of them are also community-owned lodges. They are excellent choices in terms of the experience, activities and facilities provided. We have visited all of these lodges and our adventure consultants are here to guide you in choosing the one that will best meet your expectations and desires. |
Day 1 Quito
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Quito, Ecuador. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive with some time to spare before the meeting, consider exploring the city on an Urban Adventure like the Quito Market Discovery.
Day 2 Isla San Cristobal
Transfer to the airport and board your flight around midday (an Intrepid representative will provide detailed flight times on the evening of Day 1 during the welcome meeting). Arrive in Isla San Cristobal and meet your leader at the arrivals lounge. Meet the travellers who began their journey in the Galapagos Islands and get straight into it with a visit to the Interpretation Centre to learn about the human and natural history of the archipelago. Afterwards, go for your first snorkel at Tijeretas, a small cove where you can swim with sea turtles, rays, and sea lions!
Day 3 Isla San Cristobal
Enjoy a free day on Isla San Cristobal. You may also like to take an optional boat ride to Kicker Rock or Isla Lobos – one of the most recommended activities. You'll be able to observe the famous Galapagos marine life along the way as well as the opportunity to go snorkelling with sea turtles, eagle rays and the harmless Galapagos shark, just to name a few.
Day 4 Isla Santa Cruz
Early in the morning, take a 2.5-hour public speed boat ride to Isla Santa Cruz. On arrival, have breakfast and settle into the hotel before a mid-morning visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station's visitor centre and museums contain information about the islands and the conservation efforts being made to preserve the unique ecosystem here. It's also a great place to have close encounters with giant tortoises. In the afternoon, head to the higher part of the islands to observe these giants roaming in their natural habitat.
Day 5 Isla Isabela
Today you’ll travel to Isla Isabela where you’ll check-in to the hotel and enjoy breakfast. The island is the largest in the Galapagos and one of the most volcanically active places on earth. You have a free day here to explore at your own pace. A worthwhile optional activity today is an excursion to Las Tintoreras, where white-tipped sharks rest during the day and marine iguanas nest.
Day 6 Isla Isabela
Start the day with a visit to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre for a close encounter with these placid giants. Here you can see tortoises in different stages of development as well learn about the preservation program of this unique species. Take a bus to the highest part of Isabela Island where Sierra Negra Volcano is located. Weather permitting, go for a hike up to the crater to enjoy spectacular views and the possibility of sighting the rare vermillion flycatcher. The challenging 17-kilometre hike takes between 5—6 hours, but at the top you'll be able to enjoy spectacular views. After the hike, make your way back to town in the late afternoon for some free time to curl up with a book or venture down to the water for a relaxing swim before dinner.
Day 7 Isla Santa Cruz
Travel back to Santa Cruz in the morning and enjoy some free time. Consider taking part in some of the optional activities available, such as an excursion to Tortuga Bay, an immaculate natural paradise where you can go kayaking, observe marine iguanas and birds or swim with harmless sharks in an alcove. After lunch (own expense), jump on a boat to La Loberia where you can swim in the waters that the area’s sea lions call home. Then, it’s off to Punta Estrada to observe birds like blue-footed boobies and pelicans. Finally, visit Playa de Los Dogs to see a large number of iguanas, the only sea-going lizard in the world that lives in these volcanic landscapes.
Day 8 Quito
Say goodbye to these enchanting islands and your Galapagos leader. The flight back to Quito leaves at midday and stops in Guayaquil en-route to Quito. You should arrive in Quito in the early evening (4-5pm). A representative from Intrepid will take you from the airport to your hotel. Enjoy a free evening in Quito.
Day 9 Quito
There are no activities planned for the final day. If you want to spend more time in Quito, speak to an Intrepid booking agent to secure extra accommodation (subject to availability). You can get to know the city on an Urban Adventure. See urbanadventures.com for details.
Day 1:
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
This is a sample itinerary. The lodges we use are all in the same vicinity, so this itinerary gives you an idea of the incredible Amazon adventures that await! Also, the majority of our trips to the Amazon are customized to the guest, so please call to create a trip perfect for you.
Depart from Quito
(30 minute flight to Coca over the eastern Andes mountain range)
Upon arrival mid-morning, a short ride will put us at the local port for an exciting two hour cruise along the Napo River. Seated comfortably in your covered motorboat, enjoy a boxed lunch en route as you meander merrily past herons, kingfishers and other beautiful birds.
Once we reach our destination dock, there will be time for a quick break before boarding our dugout canoes for a blissful one hour float down a nearby narrow creek. Scores of trees form a canopy overhead, where it's not uncommon for playful primates to turn branches into real life "monkey bars". Meanwhile, macaws, toucans, parrots and other awe-inspiring avians dart through the sky.
Early evening will find us at our gorgeous lakeside lodge. Join the group for a welcome drink before an astounding included dinner.
Later, if you're feeling adventurous, why not make your way outside the lodge and around the lake for a spectacular cayman (alligator) viewing. Observing these guys up-close and in their natural environment is sure to be a thrill.
Day 2:
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
An early start to the day grants you the incredible opportunity to witness the best parrot clay lick spot in all of Ecuador. Thought to neutralize the toxins from their seed-heavy diet, it is here you'll see a rainbow of birds licking the earthy walls like popsicles. Eleven species in all can be found feasting on the sodium-rich clay, from parrots to parakeets.
Next we'll embark on a trek and pay a visit to the Quichua community for a lesson on local culture. After that, another short hike will put us at our second clay lick of the day for another round of unique viewing. We'll get a chance to check out the observatory and enjoy a box lunch before heading back to our lodge for a low-key evening.
Day 3:
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Following a spectacular morning meal, it's off to tour the community of the Kichwa of Añangu. It's a fascinating opportunity to see how local folk maintain a traditional way of life.
A riverside stroll will then find us within the boundaries of the impressive Amazon, a heaven and haven for creatures of all kinds. Your expert guide will inform you with facts on everything from plants to pigmies.
A trip to a nearby school and village of the natives is next on the agenda. You'll discover how the community has evolved over the years for the better, developing leaps and bounds in areas such as health care and education. Again you'll be afforded the opportunity to commune with a local family, sure to be an experience you'll treasure.
After a hotel-brought lunch, we'll forge back into the forest towards the pristine Añangu lagoon. While we're walking the walk, we'll be talking the talk... of the dizzying variety of flora that surrounds us. Many of the delights we'll encounter are useful for medicines and other purposes.
We'll arrive back at the lodge in the early evening for a good dinner and good night's rest before tomorrow's adventures.
Day 4:
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning we'll rise early for our return paddle by way of the Napo River. As we canoe away from this awesome area, otters, monkeys and rare bids will be around to bid us farewell.
Once at the docking station, there will be time for a bathroom break before we embark back onto the boat that saw us here. We'll review the group's flight details on our return journey to Coca.
Day 5:
Meals: Breakfast
There are plenty of optional activities at hand for you to fill your last hours in Ecuador. A multitude of different trails, creeks, licks and workshops are available for your last-minute exploration and entertainment.
NOTE: The above itinerary serves as a guideline only and is subject to alterations from the weather and group interest. Wherever possible, your experience will be enhanced to maximize animal viewing and outdoors enjoyment. You can also opt for a tour with a customized itinerary to better suit your travel needs and desires.
