Combine two of the planet's greatest natural spectacles with a luxury Amazon and Galapagos cruise. Spend five days in the rainforest wilderness, encountering tribes and exotic birds as you head up the Napo River. Then fly to a sublime archipelago for four nights, cruising to the enchanting islands of the Galapagos. Your destinations are only accessible by water, and you're completely immersed in an untouched and untamed wildlife world.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Ecuador
Land in the capital and there's an immediate sense of Ecuador's natural splendor. The city is nestled beneath the spine of the Andean Mountains, where the landscape tumbles down from snowy summits to green slopes. You'll be greeted at the airport and transferred to a five-star hotel in the new part of the city. From your room, there are glorious views down into the valley and Old Quito. Relax after the flight and choose from a range of onsite restaurants. With ten days of cruising to come, today is about a gentle introduction to the country.
What's Included:
Day 2
Beautiful Journeys Along the Napo River
Day 3
Intimate Encounters in the Heart of the Amazon
Day 4
Meeting Jungle Communities and Spotting Monkeys
Day 5
Sublime Wildlife in Limoncocha Biological Reserve
Day 6
Spa Relaxation in the Old Capital
Day 7
Walking Tour of the Heritage City
Day 8
A Giant Tortoise Welcome to Your Galapagos Cruise
Day 9
Sea Lion Encounters and Surreal Sea Birds
Day 10
The Bird Colonies of North Seymour
Day 11
Volcanic History and Incredible Marine Worlds Around Bartolome
Day 12
Fond Farewells
Trip Highlights
- Journey deep into the Amazon Basin with a 5-day luxury cruise along the Napo River
- Spend five days exploring the peculiar and wonderful Galapagos Islands aboard one of the archipelago's finest vessels
- Fully immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the jungle by journeying through the vast Yasuni National Park
- Enjoy intimate encounters with the great wildlife of the Amazon, including hundreds of exotic birds, various inquisitive monkeys, and river greats like the pink dolphin and anaconda
- Soak up the culture of Quito and marvel at Latin America's most complete colonial city
- Discover endemic Galapagos wonders like giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and flamboyant seabirds
- Explore a rich marine world that includes sea lions, reef sharks, manta rays, and Galapagos penguins
- Walk across dramatic landscapes of volcanic red and wander alongside vast colonies of nesting seabird
Detailed Description
The world's greatest natural spectacles remain uninterrupted by roads or modern development. They continue to be wild and untamed, as pure now as they have been for millions of years. Accessing these great wildernesses is done on water on this luxury Amazon and Galapagos cruise itinerary: a river journey through the Amazon and a Pacific trip around the Galapagos Islands. Both cruises immerse you in the natural realm, and there's always a hypnotic view from the deck. Monkeys swing across the canopy and whales breach beneath the boat. Land excursions get you closer to the endemic worlds; basking sea lions on pristine beaches, tropical birds making echoed calls, iguanas that rest along the walking trail. Sometimes the waterway narrows, and you must continue by kayak, whereas other places provide lingering views into the vast scale of the ocean or jungle.
Your two five-day cruises are connected by two nights in the capital city Quito, a World Heritage Site that offers a relaxing dose of culture to the itinerary. The Amazon cruise travels along the Napo River, going through Yasuni National Park until you're on the border with Peru. River turtles and pink dolphins are amongst the sites, as you discover barely explored sections of the Amazon basin. Spend a day with a small jungle community and learn about the tribes that inhabit isolated parts of the wilderness. Then enjoy the bounty of the Limoncocha Biological Reserve, including looming views of the Amazon's gargantuan scale. All meals and guided excursions are included and the boat offers various social areas for watching the rainforest roll by.
By day eight you're in the Galapagos Islands, cruising in one of the archipelago's finest boats. It's a very different cruising experience to the Amazon, as you've swapped the thick engulfing canopy for uninterrupted ocean. Watch dolphins and whales from the spacious sundeck and feast your senses on gourmet food from the opulent restaurant. The boat's itinerary connects the premier destinations of the central Galapagos Islands cruises. Stand in a field covered with 500-pound giant tortoises on Santa Cruz, kayak alongside sea lions, admire flamingos wading through lagoons, walk across volcanic islands, and discover the eclectic wonder of the archipelago's wildlife. Incredible encounters with nesting seabirds are found on North Seymour Island while a range of activities allows you to fully explore the marine world. Choose to snorkel, take a glass-bottomed boat, or kayak amongst this oceanic beauty. Or simply sit back and enjoy the second of your unique cruises.
Starting Price
$14,700 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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