Quito & the Ecuadorian Amazon Cruise

Ecuador is history, fascinating indigenous cultures, slow winding rivers and lush tropical forests, spectacular snow capped volcanoes and some of the most exciting wildlife on earth. Today's private-guided tour of the Middle of the Earth begins just 30 minutes north of Quito. Your guide will first take you on a brief journey to visit the Pululahua volcanic crater for a peek into the crater floor where patchwork fields gleam far below. Later you will visit the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, a group of buildings designed to explain the significance of the Ecuadorian equator, as well as the Intiñan Museum, located directly on the Equator. Here you will have the chance to plant your feet in two hemispheres at the same time, try to balance an egg on the head of a nail, and see the unique water dynamics that occur! Back in Quito and after lunch, you will visit the city's impressive colonial center. Quito was the first city to be named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations (alongside Krakow, Poland in 1978), and touring the historic core highlights why it is so widely lauded. First on the agenda is a walk through the Main Plaza, the Plaza de la Independencia, where you will see the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries, including the San Francisco Monastery, a building begun only five days after the founding of the city. Winding down, you'll enjoy a chocolate tasting experience in the old town at Yumbos; a small artisanal chocolate factory that uses fine Ecuadorian cocoa. During the visit, you will be able to learn the secrets behind making fine chocolate, and soon after, you will be returned to your hotel.

Your adventure begins in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. After a 30-minute flight from Quito to the Amazonian city of Coca, you and fellow travelers will transfer to the dock and board a motorized canoe for a 90-minute journey down the river, taking in the beauty of the Amazon, until you reach the Manatee Amazon Cruise to receive a warm welcome aboard. On the Manatee, you will be joined by expert local naturalist guides, who will provide you with a brief, informative introduction to the Ecuadorian Amazon; afterwards, explore the cruise ship and admire the rainforest landscape while gliding down the Napo River. After a delicious dinner, take a nighttime forest walk to hear the sounds of the rainforest and observe the nocturnal wildlife.

In the morning, set out to explore the lower part of the Napo River, where you will spot different bird species such as eagles, oropendolas, and the celebrated woodpeckers. In the afternoon you will visit Yasuni National Park, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and home to the legendary pink dolphin. This is the perfect opportunity to participate in the Manatee’s pink dolphin conservation program, which they are involved in together with the Martinica community in the Cocaya area, providing a safe haven where dolphins can live and feed without the risk of being hunted. The Secoyas people, a minority ancestral culture, live near Yasuni and will show you how to prepare traditional cassava bread during a community visit.

Begin the day by visiting an authentic Kichwa family on the banks of the Napo River, where you will have the opportunity to learn directly from members of the local community about their lifestyle. You will then board the Manatee and participate in a cooking class with our expert chef, who will demonstrate how to prepare exquisite traditional Ecuadorian fare. Guests are also invited to try their hand at traditional hand-crafting or to take in the magnificent Amazon environment from the vessels open-air hot tub, to enjoy cocktails at the Bar and Lounge, or delight in some nighttime stargazing from the Observation Deck. More active guests will have the opportunity to explore nature in this area by kayak.

Your day starts with a visit to an observation tower built in a giant millenary kapok tree, where guests can marvel at the impressive 360° view from the top overlooking the treetops of the forest canopy and contemplate the sheer vastness of the Amazon. In the afternoon, explore the remarkable primary forest and spot the different plant and wildlife species endemic to this ecosystem. You can also - with luck - find the strange and unique bird known as the hoatzin, or as it’s known locally, the “stinkbird”.

Today, your Amazon adventure comes to a close! But first, you will enjoy the return to Puerto Providencia where you will disembark the Manatee and ride back to the city of Coca in the motorized canoe. After returning to Coca Airport, you will board a flight with onward service to Quito.

Found just 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the capital Quito, the Cayambe-Coca Reserve is well-served by tourist infrastructure, and is a favourite with visitors attracted by its many fascinating features: the high latitude grasslands and hot springs, the wildlife, and the area's multitude of pristine lakes. Papallacta, located just outside the southern border of the park, is surrounded by some 60 lakes. It also has an abundance of hot springs, whose source is the Antisana Volcano, which are best enjoyed after taking one of the many hikes into the Reserve to see waterfalls, birds and other local wildlife. Today, your private guide will bring you to this incredible area for a day highlighted by a moderate trek, a tasty local lunch, and a dip in the nearby thermal baths. After a day enjoying Papallacta, your guide will drive you back to your hotel in Quito.

After meeting your guide in the lobby of your hotel, set out to visit the Quitsato Sundial, a cultural site located on the equatorial line near the Cayambe Volcano, where you will learn about the astronomical knowledge of the region's pre-Hispanic cultures. You will then head to the town of Otavalo, truly one of the most interesting towns in Ecuador, where the local Kichwa indigenous culture is not only plainly visible, but on the rise. The town's famous craft market is one of the most visited sites in Ecuador, and with good reason. The market is filled with interesting, colorful and sometimes rare objects and crafts. The market is held every day in one of the town squares at the foot of the majestic Imbabura Mountain. To help you navigate, you will be given a short explanation of the area and be provided with a map, then will be encouraged to explore on your own and at your own pace. Your day soon continues with a visit to the workshop of master weaver Miguel Andrango, in the village of Agato. Miguel's art has taken him abroad, mainly to exhibitions and fairs in the United States, where the quality of his work is widely acknowledged. In the small store in the courtyard of his Tawantinsuyo workshop, the walls are covered with bright designs, most with an indigenous motif; the designs are based on Inca patterns but are the work of Miguel and his family. The workshop uses only pure wool and Alpaca, and the weavers card and spin it themselves, then dye it with natural inks made from mosses (for yellow) or seeds such as achiote (for red). In the afternoon, you'll drive to the Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve for a visit to the interpretation center and an outstanding view of the Cuicocha Lagoon, a deep-blue crater lake on the lower southern flanks of Cotacachi Volcano. After this hike, you will stop in the picturesque colonial town of Cotacachi, famous for its leatherwork, then return to your hotel in Quito.