QUITO
Arrive Quito, the capital of Ecuador, nestled between two snow-capped peaks in a geographic setting that few cities can match. You will be met at the airport and transferred to the PATIO ANDALUZ, a luxurious colonial boutique hotel in the heart of the city’s historical centre. www.hotelpatioandaluz.com
Welcome drink in the hotel’s private pub this evening to meet your fellow travellers before dinner at a colourful local restaurant.

QUITO & THE EQUATORIAL MONUMENT
Morning scenic tour of Quito’s colonial quarter, a treasury of art and architecture - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our tour starts from our hotel on Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace. Visit the temple of La Compania de Jesus, with its awesome gilded interior and the Monastery of San Francisco, one of the great religious buildings of the New World. Its Baroque interior is influenced by Moorish style, with the Winged Virgin of Quito as its main altar.

After lunch, we continue to the Equatorial Monument, on latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot in each hemisphere. We also visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument.
Return to your hotel. Free for Dinner tonight.

QUITO – GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, BALTRA – SOUTH PLAZAS ISLAND
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Galapagos. Arrive Baltra where your naturalist guide will meet you. Board our privately chartered first class motor yacht the REINA SILVIA, one of the finest vessels of her size in the Galapagos www.reinasilvia.com After settling into your cabin, we have lunch and then cruise to the small island of South Plazas, an ideal introduction to the Galapagos with its abundance of wildlife.It is home to a large colony of sea lions. We will also encounter land Iguanas, a sub species only found in the Galapagos. Along the cliffs we can watch the diving, feeding and breeding activities of a variety of birds such as the swallow tailed gull, red billed tropic bird, boobies and many more.

TOWER (GENOVESA) ISLAND / Darwin Bay Beach / Prince Philip’s Steps
During the night, we cross the Equator, to anchor in Darwin Bay, formed by a submerged caldera of an extinct volcano. Along the trail we will observe colonies of frigate birds, red footed boobies and swallow tailed gulls, the only nocturnal hunting gulls in the world. We sometimes see short-eared owls, which hunt the thousands of storm petrels along the cliff edge. Lava gulls, pintailed ducks, herons, whimbrels and other birds feed on the shores of the tidal lagoon. A dinghy ride along the walls of the crater reveals the variety of birds and animals that find shelter in the crevices and on the ledges of the lava. There will be daily opportunities for swimming and snorkelling.

FERNANDINA / Punta Espinosa – ISABELA / Tagus Cove
We visit Fernandina, the most western island of the Galapagos. The scenery is impressive as we go ashore in a mangrove-lined bay to explore small inlets. On the west coast of Isabela, lies Tagus Cove, once a favoured anchorage for pirates and whalers. From our dingy we can closely observe a great variety of sea birds. A path leads to a salt lake with magnificent views of our yacht at anchor.

SANTIAGO (SAN SALVADOR or JAMES) – BARTOLOME ISLAND
Today’s first destination is James Bay, on Santiago Island. We walk along tthe shore to the famous fur seal grotto, the best place to observe these elegant animals. In the afternoon, arriving at Bartolome Island, we climb through moon landscape to the lookout point with the impressive view of Pinnacle Rock, perhaps the most photographed scenery in the islands.

SANTA CRUZ / Puerto Ayora / Estacione Charles Darwin / Highlands
Morning visit to North Seymour, famous for its sea bird breeding colonies. See blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. The rocky coast is a favourite sunbathing site of marine iguanas and sea lions. Our next stop is the island of Santa Cruz, one of only four inhabited islands, where we take a bus to the Highlands to look for tortoises. After lunch on a farm in the Highlands, visit the Charles Darwin Station to learn more about the conservation efforts in the islands and to see the giant tortoise breeding project.

FLOREANA / Punta Cormorant / Champion Island / Post Office Bay
At Punta Cormorant on the island of Floreana, we land on a green olivine sand beach, where we may observe green turtles on the beach and sting rays in the shallow water. In the lagoon we see flamingoes sifting the sediment of the salty water in a constant search for food. Our dinghies take us to Champion Island and/or Devil’s Crown – a snorkelling paradise with its crystal clear waters.
After lunch we visit Post Office Bay, where we find the wooden barrel, used by whalers, yachtsmen and tourists as a post office. The treat tonight will be a BBQ dinner on the Black Beach.

ESPANOLA (HOOD) / Gardner Bay / Punta Suarez
Morning visit to Gardner Bay on Espanola Island, the southernmost of the islands, where we anchor in a protected bay with a white sandy beach populated by numerous basking sea lions and curious mocking birds.
Punta Suarez, on the western coast of the island, is one of the most attractive places in the Galapagos. Sea lions, marine iguanas and many bird colonies are found next to the trail. A colony of red coloured marine iguanas sunbathe on the rocks.
The operator reserves the right to change the cruise itinerary without warning due to weather conditions, National Park regulations and unforeseeable circumstances.

BALTRA – QUITO
Today we return to the harbour of Baltra, from where we say goodbye to the islands and take a flight back to the mainland.
On arrival in Quito, transfer to the Hotel PATIO ANDALUZ for overnight. Free for dinner.

QUITO - Cotopaxi
Our adventure starts with an exciting journey aboard the CHIVA EXPRESS, a brightly coloured one coach train. A highlight of the trip is to “ride the roof” with panoramic views of the stunning Andean region of Ecuador. A short stop is made at a hacienda for a mid-morning snack. The Chiva Express ride ends at the station of Tambillo where our bus will pick us up to take us to the Cotopaxi National Park, an attractive ecological sanctuary of 88,920 acres with the typical vegetation of the Andean moorlands or paramo. After lunch and an introductory briefing, we continue to the Limpiopungo Lagoon to observe a variety of birds, the flora and occasionally, wild horses. On clear days, the Cotopaxi Volcano, the highest in Ecuador, is an awesome backdrop. Return to Quito by bus. Free for dinner this evening.

QUITO – OTAVALO
Today we set off to discover Imbabura, the Province of the Lakes with its beautiful landscapes, artisans, handicrafts, Indian culture, colonial haciendas and great gastronomy. Drive north to Calderon, a small town where bread dough figurines are made. Travel through valleys with dairy farms and rose plantations. Lunch at a local hacienda, with an afternoon visit to San Antonio de Ibarra, famous for its woodcarvings.
Dinner and overnight for the next two nights at the HACIENDA PINSAQUI, one of Ecuador’s oldest colonial haciendas. www.haciendapinsaqui.com 

OTAVALO
Today we visit the market of Otavalo, piled high with ponchos, woollen goods, tapestries, the original “Panama” hat, sweaters, Indian jewelry and many handicrafts. Free for lunch where you can eat at one of several restaurants around the market square. In the afternoon, visit the Indian town of Peguche, where textiles are woven in old-fashioned shuttle looms. Dinner at the hacienda.

OTAVALO – QUITO
After breakfast, visit the town of Cotacachi, an entire town dedicated to fine leather products. Continue to Cuicocha Lake for a short hike around the lake. After a light lunch at the lake, return to Quito. Overnight at the PATIO ANDALUZ. (or similar). (The order of visits may be changed during this excursion to Imbabura province.)

QUITO - AMAZON JUNGLE
Transfer to the airport for the flight to the small town of Coca, for the start of your four night Amazon rainforest adventure at LA SELVA JUNGLE LODGE. This outstanding Amazon lodge offers an exceptional diversity of animal and bird life.
On arrival at Coca, board a covered motor boat for an exhilirating ride on the Napo River. Two hours later, after passing primitive huts and riverine landscapes, you arrive at La Selva’s dock. Then a half mile (800 mt) boardwalk of bamboo slats keeps you above a vast mysterious palm swamp as you make your way to Garzacocha Lake where paddle canoes (complete with paddlers) await you to take you across the lake to the lodge. Guests are provided with rubber boots and rain ponchos.
Accommodation at La Selva, of a native design, is rustic, authentic and comfortable. The 17 bungalows are made entirely of secondary rainforest materials and designed to blend with the jungle. Each bungalow has a private bathroom, a hammock and a mosquito net for each bed. The lodge has a grand dining room under a gigantic thatched roof and a spacious bar with wrap-around views of the beautiful lake. www.laselvajunglelodge.com After-dinner briefing of tomorrow’s activities.

AMAZON JUNGLE
The programme at La Selva is flexible. In consultation with your English speaking naturalist guide, you can decide on your preferred activities. These include swimming in the lagoons and lakes that make up Lake Garzacocha and its surroundings; fishing for local piranha; hiking and trekking the surrounding jungle; or simple taking in all the surrounding noises and views as you unwind in your hammock! For those looking for a bit of an adventure, there will be opportunities to do some canoeing in the local waters and tributaries. La Selva is a bird watcher’s paradise and offers some of the very best bird watching in South America.

AMAZON JUNGLE
If you awaken early, you have a good chance of seeing a variety of wildlife including monkeys or wild boar. Paddle down a primeval stream, climb up to the high forest or to the top of the observation tower. The expert guides will accompany you on walking trips, paddling trips or trips that combine both.

AMAZON JUNGLE
A last day to enjoy some of the many activities on offer at the lodge. A trip to Piranha Lake might be in order. Start early in the morning for an all day excursion up the Piranha river arriving at the lake by lunch time. Fish for them, swim with them if you like!

USD 9300.00 per single
(only 2 single cabins aboard the Reina Silvia)

USD 10,596.00 per single in twin cabin

SUPPLEMENT FOR OWNER'S SUITE ABOARD THE REINA SILVIA
USD 2,800 for double or single occupancy

Cost of domestic flights subject to change without notice.
Price subject to possible increase in fuel levy aboard the Reina Silvia

PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICES ARE BASED ON 14 PASSENGERS TRAVELLING TOGETHER. LOWER NUMBERS MAY BE SUBJECT TO AN INCREASE IN PRICE.