Three-toed Sloth , Amazon
SOUTH SEE PASTEBOARD
& CENTRAL 4 AMERICA REGION
Zodiac raft , Galápagos Islands Kichwa woman , Amazon rain forest
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U . S . • Arrive Quito , Ecuador Fly to Quito , Ecuador , where you ’ ll meet your fellow travelers , including those who took our Best of Peru : Lima , The Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu pre-trip extension .
Mercure Alameda Quito or similar
DAY 2 • Equator Museum • Agave Spirit museum Begin the day at the Inti Nan Museum , which sits directly on the equator , followed by a light Ecuadorian lunch and tasting at Agave Spirit , a museum that preserves the heritage of locally distilled liquors .
Meals : B , L | Mercure Alameda Quito or similar
DAY 3 • Santa Clara market • Quito • Controversial Topic : Sex work in Quito ’ s Old Town
Visit the Santa Clara market before exploring Old Town Quito , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , including Independence Plaza , San Francisco Square , and Quito ’ s oldest street , Calle La Ronda . We ’ ll also discuss the Controversial Topic of sex work in Quito with two locals who have opposing views . Then the rest of day is for independent exploration .
Meals : B , L | Mercure Alameda Quito or similar
DAY 4 • Quito • Fly to Coca • Cruise to Amazon lodge
Fly to Coca , where we transfer by boat to our Amazon lodge in the rain forest .
Meals : B , L , D | Yarina Lodge or similar
DAY 5 • Amazon rain forest • Sapococha Lagoon Enjoy a nature walk in the rain forest , where we ’ ll learn about native medicinal plants and see an example of a primary forest . Then , go for a canoe ride in Sapococha Lagoon .
Meals : B , L , D | Yarina Lodge or similar
DAY 6 • A Day in the Life of Kichwa village • GCF visit • Home-Hosted Lunch
Your A Day in the Life of an indigenous Kichwa village experience begins with a visit to a school supported in part by Grand Circle Foundation . Then we ’ ll meet a local Kichwa family and help prepare a special meal which we ’ ll share during a Home-Hosted Lunch .
Meals : B , L , D | Yarina Lodge or similar
DAY 7 • Coca • Fly to Quito Return by boat to Coca , where you ’ ll catch a return flight to Quito . The remainder of the afternoon is free for independent exploration of this vibrant capital city .
Meals : B , L | Mercure Alameda Quito or similar
DAY 8 • Quito • Optional Papallacta Hot Springs tour
Enjoy a free day in Quito , or join a full-day optional tour to the Termas de Papallacta hot springs in Ecuador ’ s highlands .
Meals : B | Mercure Alameda Quito or similar
DAY 9 • Fly to the Galápagos • Embark ship Fly to the Galápagos via Guayaquil on Ecuador ’ s Pacific Coast . Then , board our ship once we land in the islands .
Meals : B , L , D | Galápagos Small Ship
DAY 10 • Galápagos cruise For the next six days , we ’ ll explore the “ Enchanted Isles ” aboard our small ship , on foot , and during Zodiac excursions . Although wildlife sightings are unpredictable , we may see blue-footed and Nazca boobies , frigatebirds , pelicans , Galápagos doves , swallowtail and lava gulls , Darwin ’ s finches , or herons . We ’ ll also marvel at sea lions and iguanas throughout our travels .
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT
On Days 9-16 , spend 7 nights aboard a 16-passenger catamaran , exploring the ecological wonders of the Galápagos islands
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www . oattravel . com / awg 169