- 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.
The experience begins with a hotel pick-up and a visit to Santa Clara Market, one of Quito’s most vibrant and authentic local spaces. Amidst colorful stalls of flowers, fresh produce, handwoven baskets, and ceramics, the atmosphere reflects the daily rhythm of life in the city. A freshly prepared juice adds a refreshing start, while an optional traditional limpia (energy cleansing) with a local healer offers a unique cultural connection through ancestral Andean practices.
The morning continues with a stop at La Basílica, the largest neo-Gothic church in Latin America. Its intricate architecture and towering spires provide an extraordinary setting, with sweeping views of Quito from its upper walkways offering a memorable perspective on the city’s blend of history and modern life.
Further into the historic center, the cobbled streets of La Ronda open into a world of creativity and tradition. Once a gathering place for artists, poets, and musicians, the neighborhood remains a cultural cornerstone. Inside a metalworking studio, pre-Columbian techniques—passed down through generations for over 11,000 years—are brought to life as local artisans guide the crafting of small artistic pieces. When available, the experience continues at a leather or inlay workshop, where traditional methods used in making classic bargueños are showcased.
At Casa de la Negra Mala, also known as the “Murcielagario,” the city’s culinary roots take center stage. Inside this historic colonial home, a cooking session led by Vicky, the owner of a celebrated Quito eatery, highlights the flavors of the region. Traditional empanadas de morocho are prepared together, served with fresh naranjilla juice and locally roasted coffee.
The journey continues along the Street of the Seven Crosses, where two iconic churches reveal the contrasts in Quito’s history and architecture. La Compañía de Jesús, with its lavish baroque design covered in gold leaf, reflects the wealth and artistic ambition of the Jesuits. In contrast, the nearby San Francisco Church, the oldest in the city, embodies a more austere and spiritual Franciscan style—highlighting two distinct eras and philosophies in Quito’s colonial past. Nearby, in a beautifully preserved colonial home, a chocolate tasting features premium dark chocolate paired with wine or hot cocoa, followed by a rich, handmade brownie.
In Plaza Grande, the city’s central square, centuries of learning and legend converge. San Gregorio Magno, Quito’s first university and now home to the National Library, stands as a testament to its academic legacy. Inside the Archbishop’s Palace, the storytelling continues with tales such as the legend of Father Almeida, complemented by traditional sweets including mistelas, caca de perro, maní, and dulce de leche.
Before returning to the hotel, an optional stop can be made at a traditional bakery for a final taste of freshly baked Quito-style bread and a warm cup of local coffee.
Additional experiences—such as entrance tickets or specialized workshops—may be added at an extra cost, extending the total duration of the tour. All elements can be adapted or tailored based on guest preferences.
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”.