Walk among colonial cities, ancient ruins, and wild animals in the deep Amazonian rainforest
9 days / 8 nights
From $2,151 per person, double occupancy for 2011

Day 1: Quito
Arrival in Quito and transfer to the Cafe Cultura, a colonial style hotel. Set off with your private guide for an afternoon city tour.

Day 2: Quito – Kapawi (Friday departures)
You will be picked-up at your hotel and transferred to the airport for departure to Shamentza. You'll set off in a motorized dugout canoe for a two-hour ride down the Rio Pastaza and up the Rio Capahuari to Kapawi Lodge. Kapawi's flexible programs lets you tailor your excursions to your particular interests, and the number of optional field trips is overwhelming. Opportunities for birding, botany, hiking, herpetology, canoeing, photography, relaxing and swimming at Kapawi Lodge are endless. (BLD)

Day 3 and 4: Kapawi
The local Achuar community is evident in every field trip, and all excursions are accompanied by an English-speaking naturalist guide and a Spanish-speaking Achuar guide. Your Achuar guide will educate you about the local communities and make sure you do not break local taboos. (BLD)

Day 5: Kapawi – Quito
Fly back to Quito. Afternoon at leisure. Accommodations at the Cafe Cultura. (B)

Day 6: Quito – Riobamba
Pass the slopes of the volcano Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano on earth at 19,347 feet. Savor this beautiful alpine landscape, with exquisite dwarf wild flowers and a varied and interesting bird life. Tour the provincial town of Riobamba. Overnight accommodations will be at a local hosteria. (BLD)

Day 7: Riobamba - Cuenca
Continue through the small market towns and terraced countryside of the Avenue of Volcanoes. Board the train and set off on one of South America's truly memorable rides as you pass from the highlands towards the lowlands through the narrow Devil's Nose canyon. Then explore the walls, unique chambers and strange bathtub carvings in the cliffs and stones of Inca fortress of Ingapirca. Overnight in Cuenca. (BLD)

Day 8: Cuenca – Quito
After breakfast, take a tour of Cuenca. This beautiful colonial city is renown for charming flower boxes on iron-scrolled balconies, silvery domes, white adobe walls, tile roofs, wedding-cake churches and cobblestone streets. You may enjoy one of the many handicraft shops or stroll with your guide through the markets where Panama hats and a wealth of folkloric items and crafts are available. Fly back to Quito. Overnight at Café Cultura. (BL)

Day 9: Int'l departure
Hotel check-out and transfer to the international airport. (B)

Ask about dates for Kapawi specials! Sale prices occur frequently for set dates.