Galapagos Coca Cusco

Our 5 day/4 night trip begins in Quito with our first destination visiting the enchanted Galápagos Islands. We begin our Galapagos adventure at the Baltra Airport located on the island of Santa Cruz. From here our visits include two different islands which will take us 5 days/4 nights, arriving in Quito on the fifth day.

There are over 58 species of birds residing in the Galapagos, of which 28 are endemic, while the remaining birds migrate here during colder climates in the northern/southern hemisphere. While a high percentage of wildlife can be spotted on the uninhabited islands of the Galapagos, a large number of birds may be seen by just looking outside your window! Look for the Galapagos Penguin, Red-footed Boobies and of course the infamous Galapagos Tortoise, sea lions, Iguanas, Whale Sharks during your Galapagos adventure.

Upon our return to Quito, we relax during the evening and prepare ourselves for the next adventure of this trip where we will take a 35 minute flight to the Ecuadorian Amazonian town of Francisco de Orellana or as it is more commonly known, Coca. From the airport we travel a short distance to the mighty Napo River, one of the largest tributaries of the Amazon River. Here, we board our motorized boat which will take us east 2½ hours down the Napo to a lodge belonging to the Kichwa community of San Isla or a ½ further down stream to the Napo lodge belonging to the community of Añangu (located in Yasuni National Park). Which ever trip you decide to choose, you will not be disappointed. (Please see map)

Both the community lodge options listed above have a length of 5 days/4 nights and the birdwatching promises to be amazing.

On the tenth day of this adventure expedition, we board another motorized boat which will take us to Peru. After completing border proceedings in Ecuador (Nueva Rocafuerte) and in Peru (Pantoja) we continue our trip traveling east, down the Napo River. We will camp in tents along its shores and/or share a home with the indigenous peoples of the region. This is the route that Francisco de Orellana traveled in 1541 before discovering the Amazon River.

Three days later we arrive at the Amazonian town of Iquitos, located on the shores of the Amazon River. We spend a night here after the 14 day trip we just completed and then board a plane for Lima, the capital city of Peru. From Lima we continue our travels by air to Cuzco and begin the Andean part of our adventure. This part of the trip is more cultural/historical in nature but some interesting sidetrip expeditions may be organized in Cuzco and Machu Picchu.

During our stay in the mysterious capital of the Incan Empire Cuzco, located 3,360 meters above sea level, we travel back in time experiencing historic architecture and monuments that have to be seen to be believed. We then travel to the city of Aguas Calientes before reaching our final destination by train, the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu.

The Incan Emperor Pachacútec built a city in the clouds on the mountain known as Machu Picchu (old mountain). This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, deep in the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River.

Our trip ends in Machu Picchu but do not hesitate to ask us for suggestions as to what you may do next.