SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA
Amazon rain forest, Ecuador Zodiac excursion, Galápagos Islands
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 Equator 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 • 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 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 • Quito Return by boat to Coca, where you’ ll catch a return flight to Quito. 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 • 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.
Please note: The islands we call upon vary according to seasonal conditions and Galápagos National Park regulations. Meals: B, L, D | Galápagos Small Ship
DAY 11 • Galápagos cruise As we cruise, explore the wildlife of the Galápagos, much of which exists nowhere else on Earth. The absence of human predators makes the animals surprisingly tame, so we
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT
On Day 6, experience A Day in the Life of an indigenous Kichwa village deep within the Amazon rain forest.
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www. oattravel. com / awg 85