GT-161- QUITO & THE AMAZONIA

161

From $1,876.00

FEATURING LA SELVA ECO LODGE AND SPA
Seven Days / Six Nights including Four Day/Three Night La Selva Program
A SAVINGS OF $250 PER PERSON IN THE FOLLOWING DEPARTURES!!

2015 ARRIVAL DATES IN QUITO FROM USA
May 6, May 13, May 20 & May 27; June 3, June 10, June 17 & June 24; September 2, September 9, September 16, September 23, September 30; December 2 & 9

Please check with us for additional savings on last minute booking!!

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Please note that rainforest itineraries might vary slightly so as to maximize wildlife sightings, depending of the reports of our naturalists guides, your main interests and weather conditions.

DAY 1: Arrival in Quito

Assistance and transfer from airport to hotel for overnight
Overnight accommodations at Hotel Boutique Hotel Anahi

DAY 2: Quito city tour

Breakfast at the hotel. Combined city tour of colonial and modern Quito
Overnight accommodations at Hotel Boutique Hotel Anahi (B)

DAY 3: Quito / La Selva Eco Lodge

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will provide a transfer from your hotel to the Quito International Airport where you will be met by a La Selva representative in the National departure area in order to assist you.
After a 30 minute commercial flight to Puerto Francisco de Orellana “El Coca, transfer by private transportation (10 minute) will bring you to the dock of the Hotel La Mision on the shore of the Napo River. Our representative will take care of your luggage and will provide you with life vests and pure water bottles.

An amazing fluvial journey of two and a half hours in a motorized canoe with the assistance of a high quality English speaking naturalist guide will be the beginning of a great experience in the tropical rainforest. A delicious boxed lunch will be included. At the end of the motorized canoe ride, you will be dropped off on the main river port of La Selva Lodge. After using the facilities and putting mosquito repellent on, a short 15 minute jungle walk will lead you to a creek where small fiber glass canoes will be taken to enjoy an unforgettable 20 minute paddle canoe ride across “Garzacocha” (the heron’s lagoon) in order to reach the lodge area. Once you arrive at the lodge, our resident manager will welcome you with a refreshing drink and snacks. A short briefing with information about the lodge and your schedule of activities will be provided by a naturalist guide. Rubber boots will be provided and accommodations assigned.

MATAPALO TRAIL: This trail was named with the Spanish name of the famous Strangler fig (Ficus sp) one of many remarkable trees that you will find during this short introductory walk, where your native and naturalist guides will start to share with you part of their knowledge about flora and fauna of the tropical rainforest.

After dinner enjoy a night walk. A flashlight and a camera will be the most important tools you will need to enjoy all of the insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals that you might see during an hour walk in the darkness of the forest.
Overnight La Selva Eco Lodge (B/L/D)

DAY 4: La Selva Eco Lodge

Wake up call followed by breakfast.
OBSERVATION TOWER: To reach the tower you will need to leave the lodge and follow a trail of approximately 20 minutes. A platform located at 135 ft. on the top of a kapok tree will let you enjoy an enchanting view of the rainforest canopy. Several different species of birds with bright colors and symphonic calls, besides canopy mammals like red howler monkeys, white fronted capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, might be part of this experience, lasting approximately 2 hours.

It is time to continue with a walk in the forest. A visit to the TUCANETA TRAIL will let your guides share with you more information about flora and fauna. The main characteristics of the tropical rainforest and the behavior of insects, frogs, toads, reptiles, birds and mammals might be part of this walk.

After lunch, GARZACOCHA LAKE: canoe ride around Garzacocha Lake, waiting for the chance to spot: herons, flycatchers, birds of prey, the famous Hoatzin, troops of squirrel monkeys, red howler monkeys perched on the top of the highest trees, among other interesting fauna you might see during your lake trip. Do not forget your binoculars and your camera.

After dinner join us in a night canoe ride. With the help of a spotlight, your guides will take you in a paddle canoe around the lagoon looking for caimans, boas, bats, owls, night mammals and more nocturnal wild life. If the sky is clear, we might have the chance to do some star gazing.
Overnight La Selva Eco Lodge (B/L/D)

DAY 5: La Selva Eco Lodge

Wakwe up call followed by breakfast.
PARROT CLAY LICK: Visit the most biologically diverse spot on Earth, the Yasuni National Park. A 20 minute canoe ride plus a 15 minute walk will bring you back to the Napo River. A motorized canoe ride lasting 10 minutes will let you enjoy one of the most amazing displays of the wild world. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets will approach the treetops and later come down to a clay bank to eat the soil rich in minerals. It is essential to have binoculars to enjoy the experience.

After lunch we will visit the butterfly farm. Here learn about the biology of these amazing butterflies. Our farm will show you each of the different stages of the butterfly complemented with interesting information provided by your naturalist guide. You will not want to leave the butterfly flying area without taking your best photos of our colorful butterflies.

Dinner followed by departure briefing. Your naturalist guide will provide all the necessary information for you departure to Coca and flight back to Quito.
Overnight La Selva Eco Lodge (B/L/D)

DAY 6: La Selva Eco Lodge / Quito

In accordance with your last night briefing, you will have an early wake up call, breakfast and departure from the lodge. The staff of the lodge will assist you with your checked luggage. Motorized canoe ride upstream to go back to Coca, where our representative will take you to the airport to help you with your checked luggage and boarding passes. Upon arrival in Quito transfer to your hotel for overnight
Overnight accommodations at Hotel Boutique Hotel Anahi (B)