This holiday visits the places ticked below. You can design your own itinerary by adding destinations. Select the destinations you would like and click the red button to see full details of the holiday you have chosen.
We offer two jungle itineraries, one staying in a lodge and one cruising the river. Both itineraries include 4 nights in the jungle and offer the opportunity to follow jungle trails, visit lakes, see the wildlife and get an insight into the jungle way of life. You can see the deail of both of these options in the itinerary details below.
Day 1 (Wednesday) Quito Fly from UK to Quito. You are met at the airport and escorted to your hotel (2 nights).
Day 2 (Thursday) Quito Enjoy a free day in Quito or take the optional Colonial Quito excursion. This half day excursion takes you to the colonial heart of Quito; you visit the main square, Plaza San Francisco, the church of La Compañia, and Panecillo for magnificent views of Quito.
Jungle Lodge Itinerary | Jungle Cruise Itinerary
Manatee Amazon Explorer Jungle Cruise
A comfortable 30 passenger river boat sailing on the Napo River. Cabins have lower berths and air conditioning.
Day 3 (Friday) Jungle Morning flight from Quito to Coca, from where you take a motorized canoe ride to the Manatee. The boat navigates downriver as the guides explain the Amazon’s ecosystem (3 nights).
Day 4 (Saturday) Jungle Visit the river banks, where different species of parrot gather at a clay lick. After lunch, explore a black water system, where you may see turtles, herons and caimans. Visit a 30-meter high canopy tower for impressive views of the forest. In the evening, search for caimans on Lake Chaullacocha.
Day 5 (Sunday) Jungle A canoe trip on the Piranha River gives the chance to see pink river dolphins and squirrel monkeys. Nearby Piranha Lake is flooded by white waters, making it the perfect home for the piranha and white caimans. In the afternoon, spot wildlife on a forest walk.
Day 6 (Monday) Jungle A canoe ride back to Coca before flying to Quito(1 night).
Sacha Jungle Lodge
A superior lodge on an oxbow lake with hot water showers and electricity. There is a 275-metre canopy walkway.
Day 3 (Friday) Jungle A morning flight to Coca, then a two-hour motorized canoe ride down the Napo River to the lodge on Pilchicocha lake, arriving in time for a swim. Visit the butterfly house and the mini-tower to observe birds and watch the sun set. After dinner, take a walk to explore the forest after dark (3 nights).
Day 4 (Saturday) Jungle A morning visit to the canopy walkway to observe the jungle canopy and the vibrant colourful birdlife. Walk through an igapo forest, where native guides explain the medicinal use of many plants. After lunch, continue through the forest, perhaps seeing the dusky titi monkey.
Day 5 (Sunday) Jungle Take a canoe ride on Lagartococha lake, home to anacondas, caimans and capybaras. After lunch, fish for piranhas, then take a silent canoe ride through the fooded forest, looking for sloths. Climb the wooden tower built around an ancient kapok tree to get splendid sunset views. Return to the lodge by canoe, taking an amazing ride through the night-time fooded forest, accompanied by the chorus of frogs, bats and nocturnal birds.
Day 6 (Monday) Jungle A canoe ride back to Coca before flying back to Quito (1 night).
Day 7 (Tuesday) Riobamba You drive south of Quito, passing the majestic Cotopaxi volcano, to the town of Latacunga. After visiting the interesting local market, carry on to Chimborazo National Park, driving to the refuge at 4,800m on the highest mountain in Ecuador. You can take an optional walk up to the second refuge at 5,000m. After lunch, continue to Riobamba (1 night).
Day 8 (Wednesday) Cuenca Depart in the early morning from Riobamba, and drive to Alausi which is an exciting journey with stunning views. Heading south, you pass through beautiful countryside and traditional villages before arriving at the town of Alausi. From Alausi, you board the train as it begins its descent down the Devils Nose, a series of switch backs, as the train descends from 2350m to 1850m. You will have some a few minutes at the bottom, before returning to Alausi. From here, continue on the beautiful road to Cuenca, visiting the Inca site of Ingapirca if time allows (2 nights).
The Devil’s Nose railway track is undergoing maintenance, and some parts of the train journey are not possible. Currently, the train is operating from Alausi down the Devil’s Nose and back to Alausi. The section from Riobamba to Alausi is not possible. It is possible that the sections undergoing maintenance may change. However, we are unlikely to know the exact situation until very close to departure.
The railway track is undergoing maintenance in 2010, and some parts of the train journey are not possible. This may extend into 2011. However, we are unlikely to know the exact situation until very close to departure. If part of the railway journey is not possible, this part of the journey will be made by road. However, the descent of the Devil’s Nose is only possible by rail.
Day 9 (Thursday) Cuenca In the morning, take a short tour of colonial centre of Cuenca, including a visit to a Panama hat factory. The city is full of beautiful squares and churches, and the city was declared a world heritage site in 1999. Afternoon free, perhaps visit the nearby Cajas National Park, or visit the vibrant flower market in central Cuenca.
Day 10 (Friday) Quito
Enjoy a free day in Cuenca to explore the city’s markets and plazas, or maybe just watch life go by in one of the many cafes. The city has 2 cathedrals both which are located on the main square; the 19th Century new cathedral dominates the skyline, with beautiful sky-blue domes which are visible from much of the city. Fly back to Quito in the afternoon (2 nights).
Day 11 (Saturday) Quito A free day in Quito. Take an optional excursion to the Bellavista Cloud Forest. This full day excursion departs early from Quito, before arriving at the Bellavista Lodge in the cloud forest. After breakfast, take a guided walk to explore the forest. You then have the rest of the day free to explore at your own pace. You arrive back into Quito in the late afternoon. If you would like to extend your stay Ecuador then you can take our 2 Day Bellavista Cloud Forest excursion. As you have almost 2 full days you have more time to explore some of the longer trails. All meals from lunch on the first day to lunch on the second day are included at the lodge. Alternatively you can take the Papallacta Springs & Spa 2 Day excursion. This excursion begins with a 90 minute journey from Quito to Papallacta. You can take a beautiful 3 hour walk through the high altitude forest. After returning to your hotel, enjoy a calming soak in the springs before dinner (included). On the second day you have a free time with the entry to the Spa included on this day. You return to Quito in the late afternoon.
Day 12 (Sunday) Overnight flight to UK.
Day 13 (Monday) Arrival in the UK.
Please note, jungle excursions may vary due to weather conditions.
Board
Quito: Bed and Breakfast
Jungle: Full board
Riobamba: Bed and Breakfast; lunch is included on Chimborazo volcano; a packed lunch is provided for the Devil's Nose train.
Cuenca: Bed and Breakfast