- International & domestic flights
- Meals and drinks other than those mentioned
- Tips and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Optional tours and experiences
- Any items not mentioned
Upon arrival at Quito Airport, private transfer to selected hotel.
Through this formidable tour, real experiences will be obtained, by involving all five senses: Taste, Touch, Hear, Sight and Smell, but also adding the “Sixth Sense” that is “Love”. All the love that our Artisans put into the productive process of a variety of high quality products and delicacies, where our guests can participate in the process of manufacturing these products.
You start on San Juan Hill by visiting the Cobo family’s pastry shop; at this small bakery, you will learn the process of making the traditional Quesadilla, one of Quito’s favorite desserts. You will get a chance to taste this delicacy and other original treats.
Your second stop is a surprise visit to the ancient location of the temple of the moon; here you will experience “El Torno”, an exclusive attraction that takes us into the city’s past while affording expansive views of the amazing domes and rooftops that furnish the skyline.
Your route takes us through the street of the seven crosses; you will enjoy views of the facades of old colonial homes and churches on the way to the central plaza.
Your next experience will take you to the very origin of the golden seed “Cacao”, you will visit the workshop of the world’s best Chocolate Bar: “Pacari”! Chocolate boasts several gold medals at global competitions. Before you get a taste of this unique delicacy, you will be introduced to the process of making your truffles, you get a chance to be a chocolatier for a day and mix up exotic fruits, herbs, and spices with the famous “Arriba” cocoa beans. All this while learning the entire process from the bean to the bar.
As you continue through these historic streets, you get a chance to meet a local family that makes their living by creating traditional sweets called Colaciones!
You will walk deeper into the heart of Quito, passing by historic buildings made of volcanic stones; the stunning views of the sculpted Compania Church will leave you longing for a visit to its interiors. To learn more about this and other churches you will make your way to the workshops of the master craftsmen from “The Escuela Quiteña”, these artists keep the secrets of colonial art in Quito’s churches and museums, they are the people who have been in charge of restoring the altars and painting in these historic gems. They will share their secrets with you and allow you to try your artistic skills to create your very own crafts.
Your final experience is at the handmade hat workshop; you will get a briefing on the traditional hats from Quito’s historic timeline as well as the distinctive headwear from the different ethnic groups that make up Ecuador’s live culture. You take part in the hat-making process.
Lunch is not included.
This morning take a short flight from Quito to the town of Coca, lasting about half an hour. A short drive from the airport to “La Mision”, the main port of Coca, will bring you to “the gateway to the Amazon” where Francisco de Orellana set sail in 1541.
Your method of transportation will now be a comfortable covered canoe powered by twin outboard motors where you can enjoy a box lunch and coffee provided en route. This craft will take you downstream on the Napo River for about 2.5 hours to the Napo Wildlife Center (NWC) welcome station.
Here take a short break and make use of the facilities before transferring to smaller canoes that are used instead of motorized vehicles to maintain the pristine landscape and habitats. Over the next couple of hours, paddle up Añangu Creek to the NWC lodge, which is situated on the bank of a tranquil lake amid a vast tract of primary rainforest where hunting is prohibited. On this canoe ride, you have high chances of spotting wildlife! Various species of monkeys, as well as large birds like toucans, parrots, and even macaws, can be seen.
After a buffet breakfast, experience life above the forest floor by visiting the 36-meter canopy tower. This tower is located about 30 minutes from the lodge and deep within the forest. Get an excellent sample of the 600+ species of birds recorded so far, with a close look at colorful tanagers, macaws, toucans, flycatchers, and even spider or howler monkeys feeding themselves on the nearby trees. The canopy tower opens up a whole new and exciting world to the guests of the Napo Wildlife Center.
Return to the lodge for a typical Ecuadorian lunch. After lunch, there are many options to choose from for your afternoon activity. Climb the central tower for birdwatching, go kayaking, or simply relax in your hammock if that’s more your speed.
You may choose to hike through the marvelous Terra Firme Forest to discover the ecology and the role of plants in the complex world of the Tropical Rainforest. Vines, ancient trees, bromeliads, and orchids stand out in this impressive natural garden. After the hike, explore the surrounding lake and creeks for the chance to run into a Giant otter family. A delicious dinner waits for you in our lodge restaurant at 7:30 pm.
This morning, visit the best parrot clay licks in Ecuador!! An early start will allow you to see different creatures while paddling downstream on the Añangu Creek as far as the welcome area. Then, take the motorboat for a 10-minute ride for a beautiful view of thousands of parrots such as the amazon-mealy, blue-headed, and orange–cheeked, among others who land at the natural river-side formation to eat some clay.
Later, return to the welcome area and start a short hike to the parakeets’ clay lick. Here hundreds of cobalt-winged parakeets remain crowded in the trees waiting for the most confident members of the flock to decide it’s the best time to get minerals from the clay. Marvel as they all take turns landing at this clay lick in a flurry of color and sound.
Lunch at Napo Cultural Center. In the afternoon, visit the interpretation area to learn about the traditions of the ancestral Kichwa community of Añangu through song, dance, and conversation. Then head back to the lodge late in the afternoon. You will be welcomed back with a refreshing fruit drink, and dinner following at 7:30 pm.
This morning you will hike along the Tiputini trail. Enjoy the mixture of Terra-Firma and swamp forests while searching for more wildlife such as golden-mantled tamarins, white-faced capuchin monkeys, two and three-toed sloths, pigmy squirrels, and maybe even a carnivore’s tracks on the forest floor.
Return to the lodge for lunch and a well-deserved rest. In the afternoon, paddle canoes will take you deeper into areas of the surrounding creeks with more possibilities of seeing unique wildlife like the hoatzin. After dinner, you can all discuss and share your experiences of the community and Napo Wildlife Center.
Early breakfast and last excursion canoeing back to the Napo River. The creek may reveal new sights of giant otters, monk saki monkeys, black-capped Donacobius, and other birds.
The motorized canoe will take you back to Coca for the flight back to Quito, to connect then with your flight back home.
Get more information about “Colonial Quito and Amazon Napo Wildlife”.