A TASTE OF ECUADOR, QUITO & AMAZON JUNGLE 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS

Flight to Coca and transfer to Napo Wildlife Center

Departing from Quito, a 30 minute flight to Coca over the eastern Andes mountain range. After landing, about mid-morning, 5 min transfer will take you to “La Mision” Port, where you will embark onto a comfortable covered motor boat. Here we start a canoe ride along the Napo River for about 2 hours, box lunch and coffee is provided in route.

Along the way, birds like herons, kingfishers and others can be spotted. After arriving at NWC’s entry dock we disembark for restroom then take a majestic and peaceful 2 hours paddle canoe ride surrounded by trees, paddling along a narrow creek that connects to the lake where the lodge is located.

Chances to spot some species of monkeys as well as large birds like toucans, parrots or even macaws. Late afternoon arrival to Napo Wildlife Center with an overwhelming view of the Añangu Lake, welcome drink followed by a briefing of the local manager.

Accomodation: Napo Wildlife Center - Yasuní
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Jungle expedition

After early breakfast, we leave the lodge to experience an amazing view of the rainforest from a 36m. tall canopy tower, a great way to see the life above the ground of the forest.
This is the second tower at the Napo Wildlife Center (the first is attached to the dining hall and allows great views of the lake).

The tower is located about 30 minutes from the lodge deep within the terra firme forest. As you ascend the 12-floor tower, you pass through different levels of the forest and emerge on top of a huge Ceiba tree.

Here you cross onto a wooden platform that is actually built into the tree and experience the view formerly reserved only for the birds. The metal tower itself was constructed to the highest standards, galvanized, and carefully inspected by engineers. Safety is the priority. The platform at the top of the tree was constructed by tree platform specialists as well. From top to bottom, there is no finer canopy experience in Eastern Ecuador.

Flocks of colorful tanagers pass right through the canopy of the tree, Blue-and yellow Macaws fly past, in nearby trees Spider Monkeys search for fruit, two species of large toucans call in the early mornings and afternoons, and the life of the forest canopy opens before you. Birds that are virtually impossible to see from the forest floor far below are suddenly right beside you, oblivious to your presence. The canopy tower opens a whole new world to guests of the Napo Wildlife Center!! Lunch served at the lodge. Afternoon visit to a terra firme trail, hike along primary forest to discover the forest interior, possibilities of finding lizards, colorful manakins or the unique and endemic Golden mantle tamarin monkeys. After the hike, explore the lake and creeks by dugout canoe with great possibilities of running into a Giant otter family on the way.

Accomodation: Napo Wildlife Center - Yasuní
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Visit to Quito Old Town & Middle of the World Monument (equator)

After breakfast, we will visit one of the largest and best preserved colonial centers in South America, Quito’s “Old Town” area was declared the first “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO, in 1978. The tour of historic Quito will start with a panoramic view of the city from El Panecillo Hill with “Virgin of Quito” monument on the top. This visit will give you a chance to appreciate Quito from above, and – if the weather permits – to catch a view of the spectacular “Volcano Avenue,” two parallel mountain ranges containing eight of the country’s ten highest peaks.

We will continue on to the always vibrant Plaza Grande (“Independence Square”), which is surrounded by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace.
We will pass through the San Francisco which is the oldest and most significant religious site in Ecuador. The vast complex includes 13 cloisters, three churches, a plaza, more than 3,500 works of religious art, and a library holding thousands of books and historic documents.

From here, we will continue our journey 15 miles north of Quito to the Mitad del Mundo (“Middle of the World”), the monument on the equator that was built to commemorate the French scientists who in the 1830s made history by determining the shape of the planet thanks to their studies at this location.

The highlight of this visit is the equatorial line running along latitude of 0° 0’ 0.” Here, you will be able to stand with one foot in each of the earth’s hemispheres – a great photo op! We will also visit the Intiñan Solar Museum, where you will have the opportunity to perform various unusual experiments like balancing an egg on a nail, losing weight in a second, or straddling the equatorial line that separates the two hemispheres. After the visit, we will drive you back to your hotel.

Accomodation: Hotel in Quito
Meals included: Breakfast - Lunch