16-DAY GALAPAGOS & YASUNI AMAZON CAMPING
16-DAY GALAPAGOS & YASUNI AMAZON CAMPING
16 DAYS
Trip type
Activity Level
Service Level
Small Group Departure
TRIP OVERVIEW
Unique Experiences:
- Camp along the river shore in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and explore the jungle in the dark through an amazing night hike.
- Snorkel with sea turtles, sea lions and hummer head sharks at Kicker Rock, the best site in the Galpagos islands.
TRIP ACTIVITIES
Unique Experiences:
- Camp along the river shore in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and explore the jungle in the dark through an amazing night hike.
- Snorkel with sea turtles, sea lions and hummer head sharks at Kicker Rock, the best site in the Galpagos islands.
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 6:00 pm.
Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city in America – declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano.
Depending on your arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00 hours. At this time we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.
Meals included: none.
Today we get ready to explore the most amazing archipelago on the Pacific coast and the place where Charles Darwin based his theory of the evolution of species. We will board a morning flight from Quito to the island of San Cristobal. Once we arrive, we have a transfer to the hotel in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and a short briefing about the next days, before the adventure begins.
In the afternoon we will head to “La Loberia ”, which is a home beach for large Galapagos sea lions. We can spot them while snorkeling, as they are very curious and approach to swim next to you underwater. They may also be lazing over rocks or just lazy dozing in the sand. We also get to see yellow warbler birds, frigate birds, and several species of Darwin’s finches along the beach. In between the rocks we can find marine iguanas, which you can only see in Galapagos. We also have the time to go for a refreshing swim, explore the waters with our snorkel equipment and enjoy the beach.
Meals included: Breakfast.
In the morning, we will take a boat to Kicker Rock, located off the coast of San Cristobal, also known as the Sleeping Lion (Leon Dormido) because of some resemblance. This is the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea, two vertical rocks rising 500 ft (150 m) above the ocean form a small channel that is navigable by small boats. This Galapagos Island’s natural monument has become a spectacular site due to the many tropical birds, frigate birds and boobies that fill the sky in this area. Beneath the sea, the crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful fish, such as rainbow fish and sharks, like the hammerhead and white tip. After lunch, we will spend some time on the beach and travel back to the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
IIn the morning, hop to Isabela Island, the largest island in the archipelago, and where the most of the volcanic activity in the Galapagos is reported. The island was formed by six shield volcanoes, Alcedo, Cerra Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra and Wolf; five of them are still active which makes the island one of the most volcanically active places on earth.
In the afternoon, we will explore the beautiful coastline on an exclusive trail on our bikes, taking us through an incredible ecosystem with a wide variety of wildlife including flamingos, marine iguanas and giant tortoises. We start with a visit to the Wall of Tears, a massive wall built with lava rocks. This site dates back to the 1950s, when Isabela was used as a penal colony and prisoners were forced to build the wall to keep them from going mad, because of the isolation they experienced.
As we continue our ride along the coast, we will explore pristine, white sand beaches, mangrove forests and lagoons. This area is filled with a plethora of bird life, including American oystercatchers, herons, flamingos, finches and many other shore birds, as well as the ubiquitous sea lions and marine iguanas.
Before dinner we can enjoy a breathtaking sunset on the beach of Puerto Villamil.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Explore the amazing formations of lava created by the last eruptions of the volcanic island along the seashore. This magical place has historically been filmed by BBC and National Geographic for their documentaries. It is a labyrinth of lava arches made of crystal clear water full of sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, sharks and more. The turtles navigate their own highway from the mangroves to the open sea through “Los Tuneles”. Here, we will have the best snorkeling opportunity with all these beautiful animals, including the curious Galapagos penguins playing around.
This will be the best snorkeling opportunity with all these beautiful animals, including the curious Galapagos penguin playing around. Before or after the trip, you can enjoy some optional activities such as snorkeling at “Concha de Perla”, biking or just relaxing on the exotic white-sand beaches of Isabela Island. We recommend you to take some time to visit the giant tortoise breeding center located walking distance from the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
After driving up from Puerto Villamil to the trail head, we will prepare our backpacks for the hike into a young forest ecosystem, a world of recent geological history. Our destination is the rim of Sierra Negra Crater, an active volcano which last erupted in October 2005.
Upon arrival, we take in breathtaking views and explore the circumference of the massive, lava-filled crater, a caldera that is over six miles across at its widest point. If we feel energetic enough, we can continue our hike to Volcan Chico, a secondary crater that has a wild landscape of puffing fumaroles and colorful lava formations; great examples of the dramatic geological events that have formed the Galapagos Islands over millennia. In the afternoon we will visit Tintoreras Islet, located at a short distance from Puerto Villamil and home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos Penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches, surrounded by mangroves, is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
In the morning, traverse from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel. We will then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about many of the endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands. In the afternoon, we will head to the ‘El Chato’ reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to the famous Galapagos tortoises. Hiking through El Chato’s beautiful landscape with these lumbering giants is an unforgettable experience! We will also see other highland wildlife such as pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches and frigatebirds, which gather to wash the salt off their feathers at a freshwater lake. Afterwards, return to Puerto Ayora to spend the evening in Galapagos’ most populous town.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Meals included: Breakfast.
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Island and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra’s airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Today will be a morning City tour in the UNESCO old town of Quito and a free afternoon to explore the city on your own or take an optional day tour. Adventure Journeys can help you to organize a day trip or city tour.
In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel for a welcome briefing and there will be plenty of time to discuss details and answer any questions you may have regarding your Yasuni rainforest adventure.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Let’s board a morning flight or super early drive by car to the town of Coca town to begin our adventure. We’ll take a scenic drive to the Shiripuno River, at the entrance of the YASUNI National Park. While the guides prepare our gear, we’ll enjoy a riverside picnic. Our first expedition will be canoeing down this gorgeous river surrounded by complete nature and wildlife. Along the way, we will have opportunities to spot river turtles, monkeys, caiman, and many species of birds like the oropendola, caciques, kingfishers, macaws, toucans, parrots, and more.
We will finally arrive at a local Huaorani family where we will spend our first night in the deep amazon.
The Huaoroai tribe is definitely one of the most unique groups in the entire Amazon rainforest and it is known to be the last contact by the western society. This special group of people continues to depend on the forest for its survival and its customs have been kept alive until now. In our visit we will learn very much about local living manners and traditions.
Accommodation: Camping in Yasuni Park by a local family.
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner.
We wake up in the morning with the sunrise to be part of a local activity with the family walking in the forest to collect some leaves from palms in order to manufacture the most useful natural fiber. We will also learn about the plants that are more used in the daily bases, including a deep knowledge with medicinal plants.
After spending a cultural morning, we will enjoy lunch with the family and continue with the kayaks down the river heading deeper into the jungle. Every day in the Amazon is a new adventure: the more we paddle, the more pristine and wilder the jungle becomes with new exciting opportunities to encounter more wildlife, such as different types of monkeys, capybara, tapir, swallows, flycatchers, herons, sandpipers and hawks. Late afternoon, we arrived at our campsite, located on the Shiripuno riverside. Our chef will prepare a special taste dinner for us tonight.
Accommodation: Shiripuno basic lodge in Yasuni Park.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
After a delicious breakfast we will start early in the morning kayaking by canoe down the Shiripuno river to reach the entrance to the Amarun – Cocha, which means Anaconda Lagoon in the native language. This is located in the most pristine forest in the area and with luck, we may see the biggest and most beautiful snake on the planet. We will also enjoy breathtaking landscapes with incredible dark and clear waters in a flooded forest. Over here we will discover the mythic piranhas, caimans, boas, and more. Later we will canoe back to the camp site and after a nice break at the hammocks, we will go on a night exploration to view insects, frogs, and possibly some snakes.
Accommodation: Shiripuno basic lodge in Yasuni Park.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
In the morning we will take a hike in the pristine forest to the clay lick the earliest possible. It is one of our best adventures in the jungle, visiting the Lamederos or Saladeros (Animal clay lick) where there is a big concentration of different species animals such us peccaries, deer, rodents and some colorful birds such us; parrots, macaws, and sometimes few predators surrounding the area. They come to feed on the clay from the mineral-enriched ground, which helps them digest and detoxifies from the poisons of their main diet. Such places are unique in the Amazon rainforest; because they offer a great chance to see a wide range of Amazon wildlife species.After lunch we will take a hike in the pristine forest this time to learn about the rich flora of the area and how important are the medicinal plants in the local life, and all its different uses in daily life. On the way back we can enjoy some piranha fishing.
Later we will board the canoe to navigate a couple of hours to spend our last night with a local Huaorani family.
Accommodation: Camping in Yasuni Park by a local family
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
This early morning we will start our navigation back from the deep Amazon up to the river by canoe for around one hour to the Shiripuno bridge in order to take our transportation back to Coca for 2 hours. On the way, we will have our last chances for spotting amazing wildlife especially the early starters such as birds and riverside creature. Later we will return to Coca and take the flight back to Quito.
Meals included: Breakfast.
What’s Included?
- Transportation: Airfare Quito – Galapagos – Quito round trip, airfare Quito-Coca round trip, airport transfers (national flights), one way flight San Cristobal-Isabela, sea transportation Santa Cruz – Isabela islands, private and comfortable land and sea transportation, motorized canoe, dugout canoe.
- Accommodation based in double occupancy: 5* hotel in Quito, 3+ star hotels in Galapagos, comfortable camping in Yasuni National Park.
- Meals: 14 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 5 dinners.
- Activities: Snorkeling at Kicker Rock and Isla de los Lobos, trekking to the top of Sierra Negra active volcano in Isabela Island, snorkeling in Lava Tunnels, kayaking in Tintoreras, biking to the Wall of Tears, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, hiking in Santa Cruz highlands, kayaking Tiputini River, visiting the untouched zone in Yasuni National Park, hiking to the animals clay lick (Saladero), visiting the Quichua communities in the intangible zone of Yasuni National Park, piranha fishing, wildlife spotting, jungle night hikes.
- Gear: Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest, mountain bikes, dugout canoe with outboard motor, rubber boots, Eureka tents, air mattresses, bathroom tent, portable toilet, social kitchen.
- Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure Trip Leader and naturalist local guides in Galapagos National Park.
What is not included?
- My Own Room & Tent supplement: $839.
- International flights.
- Airport transfer (international flights).
- Travel insurance (mandatory).
- Meals not described in the itinerary – estimated budget USD $300 USD.
- INGALA transit card: USD $20 per person, cash only (subject to change).
- Galapagos National Park fee: USD $100 per person, cash only (subject to change).
- USD $10 pier-use fee at Puerto Villamil.
- Wetsuit for rent: USD $10.
- Personal expenses.
- Tips.
ITINERARY
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 6:00 pm.
Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city in America – declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano.
Depending on your arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00 hours. At this time we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.
Meals included: none.
Today we get ready to explore the most amazing archipelago on the Pacific coast and the place where Charles Darwin based his theory of the evolution of species. We will board a morning flight from Quito to the island of San Cristobal. Once we arrive, we have a transfer to the hotel in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and a short briefing about the next days, before the adventure begins.
In the afternoon we will head to “La Loberia ”, which is a home beach for large Galapagos sea lions. We can spot them while snorkeling, as they are very curious and approach to swim next to you underwater. They may also be lazing over rocks or just lazy dozing in the sand. We also get to see yellow warbler birds, frigate birds, and several species of Darwin’s finches along the beach. In between the rocks we can find marine iguanas, which you can only see in Galapagos. We also have the time to go for a refreshing swim, explore the waters with our snorkel equipment and enjoy the beach.
Meals included: Breakfast.
In the morning, we will take a boat to Kicker Rock, located off the coast of San Cristobal, also known as the Sleeping Lion (Leon Dormido) because of some resemblance. This is the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea, two vertical rocks rising 500 ft (150 m) above the ocean form a small channel that is navigable by small boats. This Galapagos Island’s natural monument has become a spectacular site due to the many tropical birds, frigate birds and boobies that fill the sky in this area. Beneath the sea, the crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful fish, such as rainbow fish and sharks, like the hammerhead and white tip. After lunch, we will spend some time on the beach and travel back to the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
IIn the morning, hop to Isabela Island, the largest island in the archipelago, and where the most of the volcanic activity in the Galapagos is reported. The island was formed by six shield volcanoes, Alcedo, Cerra Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra and Wolf; five of them are still active which makes the island one of the most volcanically active places on earth.
In the afternoon, we will explore the beautiful coastline on an exclusive trail on our bikes, taking us through an incredible ecosystem with a wide variety of wildlife including flamingos, marine iguanas and giant tortoises. We start with a visit to the Wall of Tears, a massive wall built with lava rocks. This site dates back to the 1950s, when Isabela was used as a penal colony and prisoners were forced to build the wall to keep them from going mad, because of the isolation they experienced.
As we continue our ride along the coast, we will explore pristine, white sand beaches, mangrove forests and lagoons. This area is filled with a plethora of bird life, including American oystercatchers, herons, flamingos, finches and many other shore birds, as well as the ubiquitous sea lions and marine iguanas.
Before dinner we can enjoy a breathtaking sunset on the beach of Puerto Villamil.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Explore the amazing formations of lava created by the last eruptions of the volcanic island along the seashore. This magical place has historically been filmed by BBC and National Geographic for their documentaries. It is a labyrinth of lava arches made of crystal clear water full of sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, sharks and more. The turtles navigate their own highway from the mangroves to the open sea through “Los Tuneles”. Here, we will have the best snorkeling opportunity with all these beautiful animals, including the curious Galapagos penguins playing around.
This will be the best snorkeling opportunity with all these beautiful animals, including the curious Galapagos penguin playing around. Before or after the trip, you can enjoy some optional activities such as snorkeling at “Concha de Perla”, biking or just relaxing on the exotic white-sand beaches of Isabela Island. We recommend you to take some time to visit the giant tortoise breeding center located walking distance from the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
After driving up from Puerto Villamil to the trail head, we will prepare our backpacks for the hike into a young forest ecosystem, a world of recent geological history. Our destination is the rim of Sierra Negra Crater, an active volcano which last erupted in October 2005.
Upon arrival, we take in breathtaking views and explore the circumference of the massive, lava-filled crater, a caldera that is over six miles across at its widest point. If we feel energetic enough, we can continue our hike to Volcan Chico, a secondary crater that has a wild landscape of puffing fumaroles and colorful lava formations; great examples of the dramatic geological events that have formed the Galapagos Islands over millennia. In the afternoon we will visit Tintoreras Islet, located at a short distance from Puerto Villamil and home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos Penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches, surrounded by mangroves, is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
In the morning, traverse from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel. We will then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about many of the endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands. In the afternoon, we will head to the ‘El Chato’ reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to the famous Galapagos tortoises. Hiking through El Chato’s beautiful landscape with these lumbering giants is an unforgettable experience! We will also see other highland wildlife such as pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches and frigatebirds, which gather to wash the salt off their feathers at a freshwater lake. Afterwards, return to Puerto Ayora to spend the evening in Galapagos’ most populous town.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Meals included: Breakfast.
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Island and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra’s airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Today will be a morning City tour in the UNESCO old town of Quito and a free afternoon to explore the city on your own or take an optional day tour. Adventure Journeys can help you to organize a day trip or city tour.
In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel for a welcome briefing and there will be plenty of time to discuss details and answer any questions you may have regarding your Yasuni rainforest adventure.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Let’s board a morning flight or super early drive by car to the town of Coca town to begin our adventure. We’ll take a scenic drive to the Shiripuno River, at the entrance of the YASUNI National Park. While the guides prepare our gear, we’ll enjoy a riverside picnic. Our first expedition will be canoeing down this gorgeous river surrounded by complete nature and wildlife. Along the way, we will have opportunities to spot river turtles, monkeys, caiman, and many species of birds like the oropendola, caciques, kingfishers, macaws, toucans, parrots, and more.
We will finally arrive at a local Huaorani family where we will spend our first night in the deep amazon.
The Huaoroai tribe is definitely one of the most unique groups in the entire Amazon rainforest and it is known to be the last contact by the western society. This special group of people continues to depend on the forest for its survival and its customs have been kept alive until now. In our visit we will learn very much about local living manners and traditions.
Accommodation: Camping in Yasuni Park by a local family.
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner.
We wake up in the morning with the sunrise to be part of a local activity with the family walking in the forest to collect some leaves from palms in order to manufacture the most useful natural fiber. We will also learn about the plants that are more used in the daily bases, including a deep knowledge with medicinal plants.
After spending a cultural morning, we will enjoy lunch with the family and continue with the kayaks down the river heading deeper into the jungle. Every day in the Amazon is a new adventure: the more we paddle, the more pristine and wilder the jungle becomes with new exciting opportunities to encounter more wildlife, such as different types of monkeys, capybara, tapir, swallows, flycatchers, herons, sandpipers and hawks. Late afternoon, we arrived at our campsite, located on the Shiripuno riverside. Our chef will prepare a special taste dinner for us tonight.
Accommodation: Shiripuno basic lodge in Yasuni Park.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
After a delicious breakfast we will start early in the morning kayaking by canoe down the Shiripuno river to reach the entrance to the Amarun – Cocha, which means Anaconda Lagoon in the native language. This is located in the most pristine forest in the area and with luck, we may see the biggest and most beautiful snake on the planet. We will also enjoy breathtaking landscapes with incredible dark and clear waters in a flooded forest. Over here we will discover the mythic piranhas, caimans, boas, and more. Later we will canoe back to the camp site and after a nice break at the hammocks, we will go on a night exploration to view insects, frogs, and possibly some snakes.
Accommodation: Shiripuno basic lodge in Yasuni Park.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
In the morning we will take a hike in the pristine forest to the clay lick the earliest possible. It is one of our best adventures in the jungle, visiting the Lamederos or Saladeros (Animal clay lick) where there is a big concentration of different species animals such us peccaries, deer, rodents and some colorful birds such us; parrots, macaws, and sometimes few predators surrounding the area. They come to feed on the clay from the mineral-enriched ground, which helps them digest and detoxifies from the poisons of their main diet. Such places are unique in the Amazon rainforest; because they offer a great chance to see a wide range of Amazon wildlife species.After lunch we will take a hike in the pristine forest this time to learn about the rich flora of the area and how important are the medicinal plants in the local life, and all its different uses in daily life. On the way back we can enjoy some piranha fishing.
Later we will board the canoe to navigate a couple of hours to spend our last night with a local Huaorani family.
Accommodation: Camping in Yasuni Park by a local family
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
This early morning we will start our navigation back from the deep Amazon up to the river by canoe for around one hour to the Shiripuno bridge in order to take our transportation back to Coca for 2 hours. On the way, we will have our last chances for spotting amazing wildlife especially the early starters such as birds and riverside creature. Later we will return to Coca and take the flight back to Quito.
Meals included: Breakfast.
What’s Included?
- Transportation: Airfare Quito – Galapagos – Quito round trip, airfare Quito-Coca round trip, airport transfers (national flights), one way flight San Cristobal-Isabela, sea transportation Santa Cruz – Isabela islands, private and comfortable land and sea transportation, motorized canoe, dugout canoe.
- Accommodation based in double occupancy: 5* hotel in Quito, 3+ star hotels in Galapagos, comfortable camping in Yasuni National Park.
- Meals: 14 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 5 dinners.
- Activities: Snorkeling at Kicker Rock and Isla de los Lobos, trekking to the top of Sierra Negra active volcano in Isabela Island, snorkeling in Lava Tunnels, kayaking in Tintoreras, biking to the Wall of Tears, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, hiking in Santa Cruz highlands, kayaking Tiputini River, visiting the untouched zone in Yasuni National Park, hiking to the animals clay lick (Saladero), visiting the Quichua communities in the intangible zone of Yasuni National Park, piranha fishing, wildlife spotting, jungle night hikes.
- Gear: Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest, mountain bikes, dugout canoe with outboard motor, rubber boots, Eureka tents, air mattresses, bathroom tent, portable toilet, social kitchen.
- Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure Trip Leader and naturalist local guides in Galapagos National Park.
What is not included?
- My Own Room & Tent supplement: $839.
- International flights.
- Airport transfer (international flights).
- Travel insurance (mandatory).
- Meals not described in the itinerary – estimated budget USD $300 USD.
- INGALA transit card: USD $20 per person, cash only (subject to change).
- Galapagos National Park fee: USD $100 per person, cash only (subject to change).
- USD $10 pier-use fee at Puerto Villamil.
- Wetsuit for rent: USD $10.
- Personal expenses.
- Tips.