3 night M/Y Coral cruise, 3 nights Kapawi Ecological Reserve
11 days / 10 nights
From $2,719 per person, double occupancy for 2011

Day 1: (Saturday) Quito
(Lost World Adventures can help arrange discounted international flights for you). Overnight accommodations at Hotel Alameda. The hotel has air conditioning and central heating, a restaurant, and a bar. Named because of its location on the equator, Ecuador has 12 million people and one of the most varied topographies in all of South America. Quito, originally an Incan city, lies at the foot of the Pichincha volcano and is within 15 miles of the equator. It is the second highest city in South America at an elevation of over 9,260 ft. Day- and nighttime lengths are almost equal throughout the entire year.

Day 2: (Sunday) Quito - Galapagos
Fly to Galapagos and board your ship, the M/Y Coral. As you cruise through the waters, look for dolphins, whales and perhaps a hammerhead shark. The boat is also likely to be accompanied by tiny Audubon's shearwaters and playful sea lions. The island of Santa Cruz, also known as Indefatigable, is the second largest and the most populated of the archipelago. The Charles Darwin Research Station is located in Puerto Avora. Another visit takes you to the highlands located about 12 km. from Bellavista. To get there you pass through the xerophitic vegetation into the scalecia, miconia and fern-sledge areas. You may visit the undergroung tunnels, or "lava tubes," which are over 1 km. in length and are formed by solidification of lava flow. (B,L,D)

Day 3: (Monday) Española (Hood)
This 61 square km. island is the southernmost in the Galapagos and includes visitor sites of Punta Suarez and Gardner Bay, a beautiful, white sand beach. There is good swimming and snorkeling here, usually among local sea lions. Find masked and blue footed booby colonies, marine iguanas and waved albatross colony. Just beyond the colony incoming waves force water spouts nearly 30 meters into the air through a natural blow hole. (B,L,D)

Day 4: (Tuesday) San Cristobal (Chathan)
San Cristobal is home of the Archipelago’s capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Just one hour north by boat is the tiny, rocky "Isla Lobos" which is the location of the main sea lion and blue-footed booby colony. Punta Pitt is home to one of the endemic species of lava lizard. Kicker Rock is a volcanic cinder formation where blue-footed and masked boobies can be found among frigates and other seabird species. (B,L,D)

Day 5: (Wednesday) North Seymour - Quito
On this island you might come across sea lions waddling on the beach, frigate birds displaying their red throat pouches, and colonies of blue-footed boobies about. In the late morning, you will transfer to the airport for your return flight to Quito. Overnight accommodations are at Hotel Alameda. (B)

Day 6: (Thursday) Quito City Tour
Today set off with your private guide for a drive around one of the most charming cities in all of Latin America. Enjoy the colonial center of Quito, and the stone-carved facade of Ecuador’s House of Congress depicting scenes from Ecuadorian history. The tour ends with a trip to the Panecillo Hill, which commands a striking view of Quito, the surrounding valley and the snow-capped mountains beyond. (B)

Day 7: (Friday) Quito - Kapawi Ecological Reserve
Access to this remote region is complicated, and getting there can depend on weather and other operational factors. You may depart Quito by domestic and charter flights or overland and charter flight. Upon arrival at Shamentza, set off in a motorized dugout canoe for a two hour ride down the Rio Pastaza and up the Rio Capahuari Kapawi Lodge. En route, keep your eyes out for flocks of green-winged and yellow-and-blue macaws returning to their roosts in the late afternoon. Kapawi Lodge accommodates 40 guests in single and double luxury cabins. All the buildings were constructed in the Achuar Indian architectural styles. As a result, not one metal nail was used and fast-growing forest products make up the roof, floors and walls. But far from roughing it, you will be provided with the comforts you would expect of a first-class hotel such as modern bathrooms with hot running water and flush toilets, large rooms with views of the rainforest and excellent international cuisine that incorporates delicious tropical fruits of the region. The Lodge’s flexible programs let you tailor your excursions to your particular interests. Options include birding, hiking, herpetology, canoeing, photography, relaxing and swimming. The local Achuar community is evident in every field trip, and all excursions are accompanied (B,L,D)

Days 8 – 9: (Saturday, Sunday) Kapawi Ecological Reserve
Days spent exploring Kapawi through guided excursions. (B,L,D)

Day 10: (Monday) Kapawi - Quito
Transfer to Sharamentza for your return to Quito. Overnight accommodations at Hotel Alameda.

Day 11: (Tuesday) Quito - US
Departure. (B)

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