Explore the Amazon rainforest, the Undiscovered Pacific Coast and the Andean Mountains

Sunday, 22 June 2025

Fly to Quito 

Fly to Quito, arriving the same evening. Our guide will meet you take you to your hotel, for a 4 night stay, as well as providing guidance and advice on your itinerary so you are well prepared for the adventures ahead.

---

Monday, 23 June 2025

Guided tour of Quito

Today enjoy a full day tour of Quito, with all its art and architectural treasures. The colonial quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We stroll in the independence Plaza, visit the temple of La Compania de Jesus and its awesome gilded interior, the Monastery of San Fransisco and the Inca Gold Museum. 

---

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Visit Otavalo market

We take a trip to the Andean town of Otavalo to visit its magnificent market, where men and women with long plaited hair, dressed in their traditional clothes, sell all types of weavings, handicrafts and homegrown produce. There is a wonderful, authentic atmosphere here.

---

Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Quito - choice of optional excursions

Today free to further explore Quito at your own pace or perhaps take an optional excursion visiting Cotopaxi volcano, Mindo or Termas de Papallacta.

Thursday, 26 June 2025

Fly to Coca, embark the Manatee Amazon Explorer

Transfer to the domestic airport and fly to Coca, from where we travel by motorised canoe for 90 minutes to embark the Manatee Amazon Explorer for your 4-night cruise on a full board basis including all excursions led by knowledgeable local guides. After a welcome from the captain, safety briefing and dinner, you will take an evening Amazon forest walk to observe the unique and slightly surreal nocturnal activity - a memorable experience.

 

---

Friday, 27 June 2025

Yasuni National Park and pink river dolphins

Morning visit to Yasuni National Park, a pristine and relatively undisturbed region of the Ecuadorian Amazon and home to the legendary pink river dolphin. In this area we can also find anacondas, river turtles and various primate species, as well as the colourful Hoatzin, a unique bird that is known locally as the “Stinky Turkey”. 

In the afternoon, enjoy canoeing in a blackwater lake, home to giant otters and the magnificent, albeit elusive manatee. We also take a pleasant hike in the Riparian Gallery Forest, where we might spot the intricate organisation of a colony of leaf-cutter ants by the “Giant Fig Tree”, a truly majestic tree that is home to an abundance of wildlife. 

---

Saturday, 28 June 2025

Quechua family and canoeing 

Morning visit to an authentic Quechua family located on the banks of the Napo River, where we learn directly from members of the local community about their way of life in this remote pat of the world. After lunch on board M/V Manatee Amazon Explorer we sail upstream on the Napo River.  Enjoy a cooking class with the ship's expert chef who will share recipes and techniques for preparing exquisite traditional Ecuadorian food that you can replicate at home. 

---

Sunday, 29 June 2025

Rainforest trek and observation tower

After a short period cruising the Napo River, we explore the nearby forest for a walk to discover a myriad of different animals and plant species that can only be found in the Amazon basin. In the afternoon, we visit a canopy tower, built against a giant Kapok tree. The perspective at the top of this observation tower is truly glorious, looming above the lush treetops and providing a view of the sheer vastness of the Amazon Basin.  After dinner, we venture on a canoe to search for black caimans with the help of flashlights - a truly memorable end to your Amazon adventure. 

Monday, 30 June 2025

Machalilla National Park

Disembark the Manatee Explorer after breakfast and transfer by motorised canoe to Coca airport from where we fly to Quito. On arrival, we will take you to a nearby hotel where you can rest before taking a flight to Manta from where we drive to Machalilla National Park. We travel on the stunning coastal road in the district of Manabí and arrive at Mantaraya Lodge where we stay for 4 nights on a full board basis. After dinner, enjoy a talk about Machalilla National Park and the activities for the next day. 

 

---

Tuesday, 01 July 2025

Exploring Machalilla National Park

Today we explore the wonders of Machalilla National Park, including the village of Agua Blanca with its archeological remains of the once powerful Salango Chiefdom, which was part of the Manteño culture. Here you can choose from a range of optional activities:

- Visiting the Agua Blanca archeological museum including a walk in the company of a knowledgeable native tour guide admiring different species of flora and fauna that are part of the deciduous tropical dry forest. 

- For the more adventurous, explore the San Sebastian fog forest on a horse. This tour offers you the opportunity to observe tropical birds, plants, insects, reptiles and occasionally mammals at different altitudinal levels. This also an excellent tour for bird lovers.

A box lunch and water is provided today. We also stop at the fishing town of Puerto Lopez and stroll through the “Malecón” along the beach with magnificent views, a lovely way to end a fascinating day of exploration. 

 

---

Wednesday, 02 July 2025

Whale watching or a visit to Isla de la Plata

Between the months of June and September the coastal region of Puerto Lopez and la Isla de la Plata become home to humpback whales. They have left the cold Antarctica and travelled thousands of miles in search of warmer waters. We take a boat trip from Puerto Lopez to see these gigantic mammals dive, play, court and compete for females attention. You can witness the close relationship between a mother and its calf that frolic and swim together - a quite unforgettable experience.

We continue to Isla de la Plata, where we hike with our specialist guide learning about the natural, geological and cultural history of La Plata. There is also plenty of time to go snorkelling and observe an interesting marine ecosystem around Drake’s Bay. You can also swim and relax on the beach. A box lunch and water is provided today. In the afternoon, we return to Puerto Lopez and back to Mantaraya Lodge. 

If you are interested and qualified in scuba diving, please let us know in advance. Isla de la Plata has excellent locations for divers where you may book an optional dive to see coral reefs, rays, and occasionally sharks. 

---

Thursday, 03 July 2025

Los Frailes Beach

Today we visit the unspoiled white sandy beach of Los Frailes, a protected part of Machalilla National Park. Here, observe the nesting of of sea turtles (carey and green turtles) between January and May. You can walk through a natural trail along 3 beaches offering an exceptional coastline views and observing different species of flora and fauna that inhabit the coastal scrub. Once in Los Frailes, you can relax, swim in the warm equatorial waters and snorkel. After lunch  we visit the small fishing village of Salango with its  interesting museum included ceramics over 5,000 years old. You can also try your hand at fishing.  

---

Friday, 04 July 2025

Ayampe River Rainforest

We travel south to the Ayampe River Rainforest, a quite unique experience where the Ayampe River meets the sea. Village life has changed here little, with bamboo houses with thatched roofs, few tourists, abundant wildlife and stunning coastal views. In the afternoon, we continue Guayaquil for a 1 night stay. 

 

---

Saturday, 05 July 2025

Guided tour of Guayaquil and departure to UK

Morning guided tour of Guayaquil and its historical park, centennial park, gothic Metropolitan Cathedral and new Malecon waterfront featuring historical, cultural and entertainment areas. Transfer in the afternoon to the airport for your overnight flight home to the UK. 

---

Sunday, 06 July 2025

Arrive in the UK

Arrive in the UK in the morning.