Detailed Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival in Quito - City tour
Arrival in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, which lies at 2.800 m above sea level. We pick you up from the airport and take you into the Hotel Casa Aliso close to the Mariscal. After a short break you get to explore this big city and learn something about its turbulent history. You will see the Plazas Santo Domingo, Independencia and San Francisco which are in the colonial section in the South of the city. Due to its many historical architectural monuments the UNESCO declared the old part of town a world heritage site in 1978. From the Panecillo hill in the South of the old part of town, where the high monument of the Virgen of Quito stands at with 43 m, you have an impressing prospect. From here you have wonderful views over the red clay tile roves of the old part of town, the skyline of Quito in the North, as well as the surrounding Andean cordilleras range with its outstanding snow-covered mountain giants. -/L/-

Day 02: Quito – Casa de Suizo
In the morning you will be picked up from the hotel and taken to the Casa de Suizo where you will arrive in the afternoon. For the next days you can organize your program from different options of morning, afternoon or full day activities. The programs begin after an early breakfast and will be led by both native and bilingual guides. At all times theses guides will be on the lookout for tropical birds and point out important aspects of the surrounding vegetations. B/-/D

Day 03: Jungle Activities
Today you could visit for example butterfly farm which is about 15 minutes from the lodge. It is designed as a live exhibition conservatory; it is now successfully breeding nearly 20 local different species of butterflies. You could also do a walk through primary and secondary forest trails along which it is possible to observe distinct species of birds and insects as well as a great variety of trees and medicinal plants. B/L/D

Day 04: Casa de Suizo – Sacha Lodge
After breakfast you will board a motorized canoe for the journey down the Napo, taking you farther and farther from the Andes and deeper into the pristine Amazon Rainforest. Druing this 3 hours ride it is easy to spot handsome shore birds such as herons, kingfishers, spoonbills and ospreys between the scattered native huts as the river slowly widens to a kilometer across. At a little more than halfway you will stop along the riverbank for a break and enjoy a box lunch before continuing on to Coca. At Coca, there will be a short stop in order to get the Marine permissions to get deeper into the Amazon; you will board a larger motorized canoe for the last 2 hours ride to Sacha Lodge. Upon arrival at the Sacha Lodge you will take your first walk along a raised boardwalk through dense flooded palm forest where several species of monkeys are often sighted. This path leads to Pilchicocha lake, a black water paradise where you would least expect to find any sign of people, but dugout canoes (and even paddlers) await to carry you across the lake to the lodge. The cries of tropical birds lead you to your final destination which magically materializes out of the jungle at the last possible moment. You will arrive with time to settle in, bird-watch, swim, or take a walk under the canopy before dinner. B/L/D

Day 05-06: Jungle Excursions
Once you arrive at Sacha you will be divided into small groups and the naturalist guides will organize an itinerary to fit to each group’s specific interests and physical abilities. A typical day at Sacha begins at sunrise or earlier and each group may decide on its own wake-up and breakfast times. In the afternoon visits begin between 15:00 and 16:00 and oftern continue into the evening when the nocturnal insect and frog chorus begins. Activities are spread out over ad wide area and allow visitors to explore several distinct but equally fascinating habitats. A favorite activity is to paddle dugout canoes along tannin-rich black-water creeks and lakes where luxuriant lianas, bromeliads and palm trees thrive. Wherever an outing may lead the possibility of spotting animals from the tiny pygmy marmoset to the feared ocelot or puma are endless. There is also a 43 meter observation tower and a canopy walk. For adventurous souls the day does not necessarily end with dinner. Night walks and canoe trips with the aid of flashlights often reveal creatures such as caimans (of the alligator family) that are seldom seen during daylight. B/L/D

Day 07: Return to Quito
After breakfast you will walk back out to the Napo River along the boardwalk where with some luck the local wildlife may appear to see you off. The motorized canoe will be waiting at the shore of the Napo for the trip to Coca and from here it is a 30-minutes flight back to Quito. Transfer to the hotel Casa Aliso. B

Day 08: Otavalo Indio Market
In the morning you will be picked up from the hotel. Then you will drive to the north to the Otavalo Indio Market which is famous for its collection of richly coloured textiles. After exploring the colourful market quarters for arts and crafts and all kinds of souvenirs you will eat in a typical restaurant in Otavalo at midday. Then you will return to Quito and taken to the hotel Casa Aliso. B/L/-

Day 09: Transfer to the airport
According to your international flight time you will be taken to the airport in Quito.

B= Breakfast; L= Lunch; D= Dinner

Minimum 2 participants

Not included in the price:
Beverages, extra charge for single rooms, national park entrance fees Yasuni USD 25.- per person, international airport tax (Quito USD 43.-), personal items, tips, travel insurance and luggage.