Highlights of Peru and Ecuador

We depart the mountain tops of Peru this morning for the historic centre of Quito, Ecuador. The capital of Ecuador, Quito has one of the best preserved historic centres in the Americas. Our tour explores the relatively unchanged historic centre of Quito including the La Basilica Gothic church for a panoramic overview of the city.  The historic La Plaza Grande and surrounding areas are filled with unique adventures that your guide will assist you in discovering. A highlight of the day is a visit to the gold covered church of La Compañía. The day is finished with a sunset viewing from one of the many rooftop restaurants or iconic buildings.

Hotel: Patio Andaluz, Quito (Upgrade Option: Casa Gangotena, Quito)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ecuador’s location on the equator provides year round warmth that’s great for exploring the Amazon rainforest. This natural wonderland takes up only seven percent of the planets land mass yet is home to half the earth’s plant species. The next three nights are spent at the stunning Amazon Sacha Jungle Lodge. The Amazon might seem like a world away, but your home away from home is easily accessible from Quito. After an easy 25-minutes flight from Quito and a two-hour journey speeding up the Napo River leaving civilisation far behind, by lunchtime you will be in a hammock listening to the chatter of the tamarind monkeys.

A typical day at Sacha begins at sunrise or earlier, taking advantage of the cool morning hours when the rainforest’s animals are most active. Wherever the destination, our excursions proceed slowly in order to appreciate the fascinating details that our guides point out around you.

You might begin the day paddling dugout canoes along tannin-rich black-water creeks and lakes, where luxuriant lianas, orchids, bromeliads and palm trees thrive, always with the possibility of spotting animals, from the tiny pygmy marmoset to the feared ocelot or puma. Later, you could board the motorized canoe for a short ride along the Napo River to visit the Providencia Community of Yasuní. Here you’d be learning about their jungle way of life and testing out their cooking techniques, stopping to watch the parrot disco of the clay lick along the way.

Days at Sacha Lodge do not end with the fading of the light, or even with dinner. Night walks and canoe trips, with the aid of flashlights, often reveal creatures seldom seen during daylight. Caimans (of the alligator family) and giant insects rule the jungle after sunset. Do you dare search for them?

Hotel: Amazon Sacha Jungle Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner daily (excluding last day)

We fly out of the Amazon and back to the capital of Ecuador where your land package concludes, but your adventure doesn’t have to end here. We include a night’s accommodation in Quito to allow you time to re-discover this beautiful city. A popular tour extension is to visit the stunning Galapagos Islands on either a land or cruise package. As with all our holiday programs, this itinerary is a sample of what your tour of Peru and Ecuador could look like. Get in touch with us to see how we can tailor this tour to your needs.

Hotel: Patio Andaluz, Quito (Upgrade Option: Casa Gangotena, Quito)
Meals: Breakfast.