Compare Galapagos Kayaking Expedition by Adventure Unbound vs Ecuador Cuyabeno Adventure 6 Days Tour by Guidecuador

Day 1: Arrival to Guayaquil  (2018 trips start and end in Quito)

Accommodation: Wyndham Hotel Guayaquil

Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city and the ideal gateway to Ecuador with frequent flights and a conveniently-located airport.  All flights to the Galapagos stop here, so our tour is designed to take advantage of this convenience.  Once you arrive, you are met by a ROW Adventures representative and transferred to your hotel.  If you arrive early in the day, enjoy your time exploring the waterfront area of Guayaquil, settling in and recovering from your flight. You will receive a welcome letter at the hotel which will let you know the time to meet your guide and the rest of your group the following morning for your flight to the islands.

Day 2: Flight to Santa Cruz, Visit Giant Tortoise Farm, Kayak - Beach Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Mainao

A representative will meet you and the rest of the group in the lobby of the hotel to transfer you to the airport for your two-hour flight to the islands.  Upon arrival on the island of Baltra we will meet our tour leader and have a short orientation to answer any last minute questions and from there we will take a short bus transfer, then a 10-minute ferry ride across the Itabaca canal.  We continue by bus to the highlands on Santa Cruz Island to a private farm to see the giant Galapagos tortoise.   Perhaps no animal creates a more iconic image of the Galapagos than these fascinating animals.  You get an intimate view of these lumbering, peaceful-looking creatures, sure to be a highlight of your visit.  While on the farm we also have a delicious lunch of local specialties, then continue on to see one of the more intriguing geological features of the island, the “lava tunnels.”  Created as flowing magma cooled down, these bigger-than-a-subway tunnels are accessed via a stairway and their fascinating formation is explained by your guide.

We will then check-in at our hotel and get ready for our kayak experience. Academy Bay in Puerto Ayora is the perfect point of departure for an exciting sea kayaking expedition. Blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas can be observed resting as we paddle from the beach at Finch Bay to reach our final destination: Punta Estrada. Punta Estrada is a calm and beautiful bay where you can kayak close to magnificent mangroves, home to golden cow rays, sally light foot crabs, and lava herons. The kayak trip will take you down a tranquil canal with prickly pear opuntia cactus sprawling from solid rock and common noddy birds nesting nearby. We continue our travels on Santa Cruz Island, one of the 13 main islands of the 61 islands and islets that comprise the Galapagos. By late-afternoon, we check in to our hotel and enjoy a peaceful dinner.

Day 3: Trapiche Visit – Garrapatero Beach

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Mainao

In the morning, we will drive through the town of Bellavista, before we reach the beautiful El Garrapatero Beach, there is a farm that specialized in the production of sugar and they do so the old fashioned way. They also produce sugar cane and coffee, unique throughout the region. One of the family members will demonstrate the farming process for coffee and sugar cane, and show us the process for the extraction of the sugar cane juice. We will learn about the distillation process that leads to the final product, the “Galapagos Moonshine”. In the process, we will be able to taste the fruit of the coffee plant in its natural state. From here we will continue to El Garrapatero beach where we will have the opportunity to relax on the beach, swim in the ocean or kayak to explore the nearby mangroves. For a unique experience, today, we will have a special dinner with a local fisherman. He will provide us with deeper insights into the flavor and native lifestyle of Ecuador, as his family prepares a special dinner for us.

Day 4: Puerto Ayora, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Darwin Bay

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Blue Marlin Hotel

One thing you will quickly notice about being on the equator is that day and night each last 12 hours.  We rise early and after breakfast we catch the 7am boat to the island of San Cristobal and the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno where we check into our hotel and have lunch in a local restaurant.  After lunch we choose from a couple of options based on the weather and sea conditions.  We may walk to Cerro Tijeretas where those who desire may swim and snorkel.  Or we may go to La Loberia which is a sea lion colony, to observe the sea lions and swim in the water with them.  Either way, we observe various birds and wildlife, including frigate birds and their antics. Frigates are deservedly known as ʻpirates of the seaʼ because of their behavior of stealing food from unassuming boobies.

After a full and wonderful day, we return to our hotel to freshen up and then enjoy dinner in town.

Day 5: Kayak Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Manglecito

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Manglecito Beach Camp

Rise and join breakfast as we prepare for our longest paddle yet.  We head north along the coast several miles, with low-lying hills and the central mountains of San Cristobal in our view.  As we paddle, we are likely to be sharing the waters with sea turtles as well as sea lions which observe us and may even follow along for a spell.   Birds circle overhead while fish swim underneath, and plummeting boobies that come up with fish in their beaks add to the natural show all around.

We paddle roughly 7.6 miles today passing Isla Lobos on the way.  By late afternoon we arrive at our lovely beach camp with time to settle in.  This is a magical place and camping in the Galapagos is a rare treat made possible by our special permits.  Before too long it’s time to take a short stroll to watch the sun set over the magnificent Pacific Ocean.  We dine in camp, watch the stars lighten the sky, and fall asleep to the sound of surf.

Day 6: Snorkeling Kicker Rock

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Manglecito Beach Camp

Immersed in all of the uniqueness of nature in the Galapagos Islands, today is a day to get better acquainted with the underwater marvels.  We board a comfortable motorboat that is the perfect platform for our explorations.  We start with a roughly one-hour cruise to Leon Dormido, or Sleeping Lion, a rock formation named by early sailors for its resemblance to that far-off jungle cat.

Locally it is referred to as "Kicker Rock".

By any name, this dramatic geologic formation that soars out of the sea to the sky, is a superb place for snorkeling.   Descending from our boat, we snorkel between two cliffs of rock in waters teeming with fish.  Sea stars cling to the walls, and it’s not uncommon to have harmless Galapagos sharks join us. We return to our beach camp with more time to stretch our legs, revel in another long-lasting sunset and sit down for dinner to share the memories of the day.

Day 7: Kayak North to Next Beach Camp

Meals Included: B,L,D

Accommodation: Puerto Grande Beach Camp

As the sun rises the activity of birds and lapping waves are likely to wake you.  This is a highlight of actually camping on the Galapagos Islands that just isn’t the same when on a boat.  Truly it is a most magical way to wake and know you are truly immersed in the abundant beauty and life found only here.

A hearty breakfast is served, and then we pack up, don our lifejackets, pick up our paddles and ease ourselves into our kayaks.  Today is another superb paddling day along the coast!  The scenery changes as the island’s mountains come into better view.  As always, frigate birds, gulls, pelicans, and boobies provide entertainment and wonder as we paddle.  With luck we see more sea turtles who periscope up their heads to watch us.

After our exhilarating morning paddle, we arrive at our next camp, here we say goodbye to our kayaks.  We'll unpack a bit with everyone’s help camp will be set up quickly and then it’s time for lunch followed by a relaxed stroll on the beach.  We spend a fulfilling afternoon exploring the beach, snorkeling!  Our view to the west allows for an unobstructed view of an equatorial sunset. Then it’s time for dinner and a restful night's sleep.

Day 8: San Cristobal to Guayaquil

Meals Included: B

Accommodation: Wyndham Hotel

This is our last morning in the islands.  After packing your things, we board our boat to return to town.  No time for breakfast this morning but we will have coffee and cookies available on the boat.  Once we get to town we will have breakfast before heading to the airport for the late-morning flight back to the mainland of Ecuador. There’s some time to explore the city before dinner with the group or on your own.

Day 9: Final goodbye or extend your trip!

Meals Included : B

Transfer to airport provided by the hotel. Fly home or to points beyond for other exploration.

Note: many people add extensions to visit mainland Ecuador, the Amazon or Peru.

Day 1

TRANSPORTATION TO CUYABENO LODGE

This journey starts early in the morning in Quito with a bus ride for 6 hours towards Lago Agrio. Our private bus will pick you up and you will make a 2 hour journey to the town of ‘Tierras Orientales’. This is where the rainforest begins. Here you will be provided with a nice Box lunch.

After lunch, you will step into our motorized canoe for a 2.5 hour journey to Waita lodge. This will be your first opportunity to spot animals such as monkeys, birds, pink dolphins, and much more! You will also enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Cuyabeno.

After your arrival at Waita Lodge, you will have time to unpack and relax. After a delicious dinner, our local guide from the Cuyabeno will share the program of the next days with you. He will give an informative talk about the activities of our tour. Then, you will have to grab your flashlight because our guide will take you on your first night walk! You will be on the look-out for insects, spiders, snakes, and many other animals.

Accomodation at Waita Lodge
Meals: Lunch-Dinner

Day 2

BIRDWATCHING & JUNGLE EXPLORATIONS

Our second day starts with an early activity of birdwatching. We will take our rowing canoe to enjoy the sunrise and incredible landscapes of the Cuyabeno rainforest. We will visit small lakes near Waita lodge to observe different species of birds and mammals. Then, we return to the lodge for a well-deserved breakfast.

After a short rest, our guide will take you on a deep jungle walk of 3 hours. He will explain everything there is to know about the Cuyabeno. This interesting information will give you new insights about living in the jungle. After this wonderful walk, we will return to Waita lodge to enjoy a nice lunch.

In the afternoon at 4:30 pm, we will again take our rowing canoe to the forest flooded by black water. This is a unique place to see microscopic animals and many species of birds. We will then row to a narrow white water river where we can observe birds that can’t be found on the big rivers of the Cuyabeno. When the night begins to fall, we will head back to Waita lodge. However, on our venture downstream, we will take the opportunity to search for caimans and other nocturnal animals such as fishing bats, tree boas, and birds.

Accomodation at Waita Lodge
Meals: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Day 3

BIRDWATCHING, OBSERVATION TOWER - JUNGLE EXPLORATIONS

It’s time to enjoy the Cuyabeno rainforest and its animal life before dawn. At 05:30 am, we will take our motorized canoe for a 1.5 hour trip down the Cuyabeno river. We will enjoy birdwatching and animals spotting. At 07:00 am we will stop at a special place on the river to enjoy the morning rituals of 5 species of parrots and parakeets. After this breath-taking tour, we will head back Waita lodge for a nice breakfast.

After resting, we will take the motorized canoe again to visit the place where 2 rivers meet. This is the perfect place to spot dolphins and once again enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Cuyabeno rainforest. Then, we will return to the lodge for a delicious lunch.

At 04:00 pm, we start our next adventure. We will take our canoe to visit to the Bird Observation Tower. This tower of more than 28 meters high was built around one of the largest trees in the area. Here, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the jungle canopy and observe a great diversity of animal life.

Before returning to our lodge, we will make a short night walk around the tower in search of new species of insects. Then, a delicious dinner will be waiting for us at the lodge.

Accomodation at Waita Lodge
Meals: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Day 4

FULL EXCURSION INTO THE JUNGLE

After an early breakfast at 07:00 a.m, we will take the rowing canoe to add more species to our “check list”. We will row down the narrow white-water river, home to uncommon species, and will try to spot different species of animals.

After a Box lunch, we will enjoy a 3 hours deep jungle walk on the trail of Terra Firme. Our local guide will share more knowledge about the Cuyabeno rainforest, and you will be able to spot more wildlife.

After an exciting day, we will return to our lodge at approximately 16h30. The rest of the night you will enjoy a well-deserved dinner and rest.

Accomodation at Waita Lodge
Meals: Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner

Day 5

TRANSPORTATION TO LAGO AGRIO

On our last day we will take you on our last early activity. This will be a brief excursion into the rainforest or in our canoe to enjoy the awakening of nature. Again, this is a wonderful time for birdwatching and enjoying the final day in the beautiful Cuyabeno jungle.

After breakfast, you will prepare your luggage for the return trip. For the final moments, you will enjoy a 3.5 hour canoe ride back to Tierras Orientales. Here our private bus will take us to the next hotel in Lago Agrio.

Accomodation at Lago Agrio
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6

GETTING TO QUITO

Due to the road permanent damages, we are now recomending all clients to fly back to Quito (EXTRA COST) otherwise the bus ride is 10 hours to Quito Hotel NOT included.
END OF THE SERVICES

Meals: Breakfast