Once you land in the lively city of Quito, our designated driver will be there to greet you. He will be holding a sign with your name for easy recognition. He will then escort you to your hotel, where you can relax and get settled.

Pick Up: 9:00 am from your hotel’s lobby.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Quito, a city where the divine and the delicious intertwine. This exclusive tour offers you private transportation and the insights of a knowledgeable English-speaking guide, making it a seamless exploration of Quito’s architectural splendor and culinary richness. Your adventure starts with visits to the most awe-inspiring churches in the city—La Compañía, known for its stunning Baroque gold interiors; San Francisco Church, a site steeped in history and beauty; the Basilica, with its remarkable neo-Gothic architecture; and the Iglesia Museo Catedral Primada, a museum-cathedral that tells the spiritual story of Quito. Each stop reveals layers of history, art, and devotion, showcasing the city’s deep cultural roots.

The tour then transitions from historical exploration to a delightful culinary experience at a mystery location. Here, with a skilled local chef, you’ll dive into Ecuadorian cuisine, learning to prepare traditional dishes that reflect the country’s diverse flavors and cooking techniques. This interactive cooking class fills your day with fun and flavor and culminates in a delicious lunch where you can savor the dishes you’ve created, sharing stories and impressions with your fellow travelers.

As the day winds down, you’re transported back to your hotel, leaving you with a rich tapestry of experiences from Quito’s holy sites to its hearty cuisine. This half-day tour is more than just a glimpse into the city’s landmarks; it’s an intimate encounter with the soul of Quito, designed for those who seek to understand the essence of places through their history, art, and flavors.

Transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Coca. Our representative will meet you at the lobby of your hotel.

The meeting point is at Latam Counter – Quito Aiport with our dispatcher. He will give you the boarding pass, he will be holding a sign SACHA LODGE

Transfer from Coca to the Lodge.

After arriving at Sacha Lodge around lunchtime and meeting your guide – who stays with you for the entirety of your trip – you will take your first excursion into the forest. Once you have returned and had dinner, you will set out for your first nighttime adventure: snake spotting in the jungle or canoeing among caimans on the lake.

SAMPLE DAY

A typical day at Sacha begins at sunrise or earlier to take advantage of the excellent morning hours when the rainforest’s animals are most active.

Each group agrees on a wake-up time when their guide will knock on their door for a rude awakening! Breakfast will begin half an hour after that.

Wherever the destination, our excursions proceed slowly to appreciate the fascinating details 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. Then, you could board the motorized canoe for a short ride along the Napo River to visit the Providencia Community of Yasuní, 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.

You will return to the Lodge in the late morning, in time for a 1 PM lunch. Between lunch and your afternoon adventure, you can enjoy the Lodge, lounging on sun chairs with a book on the Balsa, or cooling off in the Lake Pool. Activities begin again between 3:00 PM and 4:30 PM and often continue into the evening when the nocturnal insect and frog chorus begins. An afternoon excursion might see you trekking through pristine Terra Firme forest, where 150-foot kapok trees tower above, and roots form massive buttresses to give trees support, your guide pointing out the crest owl territory and calling to the howler monkeys. You could then climb 94 feet (30 meters) up to the Canopy Walk, a 940-foot (275-meter) bridge across the treetops from where you can spot dozens of animals and birds.

Days at Sacha Lodge do not end with the fading of the light or even with dinner. With flashlights, night walks and canoe trips 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?

*Please note: activities are subject to weather, though Forest Walks, the Kapok Tower, and Canopy Walk are the keystones of the Sacha Lodge experience.

SACHA LODGE ACTIVITIES

Adventure is given at Sacha Lodge, and all guests, from those happy to relax in their comfort zone to the most courageous, will reap tremendous rewards from our spectrum of activities. The water is the thread that links each experience: you’ll become an expert at hopping in and out of the canoe and manning the oars and will come to love the surreal peacefulness of paddling down streams through virgin wilderness. Expedition groups are never larger than six and are always accompanied by a naturalist and local guides. We strive to match guests with others of similar ages, interests, and abilities in expedition groups.

CANOPY EXPLORATION CRANE

Guests may now ride 150 feet (45 meters) above the ground to explore the rainforest canopy in an elevator-like metal basket suspended from a 150-foot-long boom. Our guides, via remote control, will move throughout 2 acres of forest to find and drop in on birds and monkeys from above as they do their daily business. The Canopy Crane offers safety sensors to keep you from bumping into trees, so your canopy exploration will be as safe as thrilling.

CANOPY WALK

Imagine crossing the rainforest across a bridge 94 feet (36 meters) high over the treetops. This 940-foot (275-meter) sturdy walkway is fixed to the ground by three metal towers. It offers an astounding opportunity to spot dozens of animals and epiphytes seldom seen from the ground, immersed in the canopy. You might even follow along with troops of monkeys as they forage through the forest canopy. And if you don’t see them, you’ll almost certainly hear them: howler monkeys roaring through the sunset like true jungle kings.

KAPOK TOWER

You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world on our 135-foot (43-meter) observation tower, a platform built on the highest branches of a giant kapok tree. From here, magnificent, panoramic views of the forest unfold all around, while the 500 species of birds registered in the area, including rainbow-coloured toucans and parrots, become easy to spot. Climb onto the crows’ nest for the 360-degree experience, the captain of the Amazon.

YASUNI PARROT LICK *on Wednesdays and Sundays only*

A short distance from Sacha Lodge is Ecuador’s most accessible parrot lick, an exposed clay riverbank where technicolored parrots of several species gather in the early morning. In ideal conditions (sunny and dry) hundreds of parrots will perch on and eat the exposed clay in a spectacular show of sound and colour! The lick is located on the edge of Yasuní National Park, accessible from Sacha by a short canoe trip down the Napo River.

THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE

Sacha Lodge is home to one of the largest butterfly farms in Ecuador. Designed as a live exhibition conservatory, the Butterfly House is now successfully breeding nearly 40 local butterfly species. Guests will be shown how these beautiful insects are bred and raised and may roam through ‚” the flying room,” where hundreds of colorful butterflies flutter from flower to flower. Transparent glass-wing butterflies, spectacular blue morphs, striking tiger longwings, bright yellow swallowtails, and giant nocturnal owl butterflies are only a few of the species you’ll encounter here, up close and personal.

FOREST WALKS

Creeping along the jungle paths through the spotlights of sun filtering down through the canopy, careful not to tread on an army of marching ants, your nature guide will point out plants and insects and the fascinating symbiosis between them. He might take you through the territory of the crested owls or red howler monkeys, expertly mimicking the creatures’ call to win their trust and coax them out of hiding. When darkness falls, have your flashlight ready to spot creatures of the night, from tarantulas and boas to stick insects and frogs.

CREEK PADDLING

Besides being your means of transport between expeditions, creek paddling in dug-out canoes is a fabulous adventure, with the bonus that it requires little physical exertion. Paddling down the streams is like entering a tunnel leading to a lost world. Birds call in surround sound, and vast families of monkeys leap from branches overhead, a show to coincide with the sun’s setting.

CAIMAN SPOTTING BY NIGHT

A night-time expedition to look for caiman on the lake is perhaps the most magical experience of an adventure already filled with wonder. Under cover of darkness, you will take a canoe out onto the water, your way lit by glittering stars. The eyes of the caiman glow ghoulishly red in the torchlight as the amphibious creatures float along the swampy shallows.

BIRDWATCHING

Of the incredible 1,600 bird species registered in Ecuador, 600 (37 percent) have been seen at Sacha Lodge. That’s almost 7 percent of the species found worldwide!

For avid birdwatchers, we can provide specialist bird guides who know the best spots for hard-to-find species and can quickly identify species by sight and sound. Oscar Tapuy, our local expert who has been with Sacha since 1995, estimates that he spots 60 species daily on average. Your guide will lead you through various habitats where mixed flocks are common and generally begin before sunrise to take full advantage of the morning peak. Our guides carry telescopes and have become dab-hands at taking photos with your camera or phone through the lens!

LEARN ABOUT THE COMMUNITY’S DAY-TO-DAY *on Wednesdays and Sundays only*

Our visit takes us to the Shipati Warmi project, an initiative run by and benefiting the women of the Providencia community of Yasuní. Through a hidden dialogue, we learn about their day-to-day lives: how they dry clothes in the jungle and the challenges of getting to school before helping to prepare and try traditional food. It’s an intimate, unique experience in which we discover the differences and similarities between our culture and another. The Shipati Warmi project asks that each guest donate $10

LAKE POOL

The Lake Pool is the only one in the Amazon region that is ideal for families. The plunge pool, protected by a mesh cage, allows you to cool off and relax in the black shallows of Pilchicocha Lake without the fear of encountering the unknown. You could even spot caiman and giant otters swimming by the other side of the net.

Wake Up Call

Breakfast

Departure to Coca: According to your briefing the night before, you will have an early wake-up call, breakfast, and departure from the lodge.

The lodge staff will assist you with your checked luggage, and the motorized canoe ride will head upstream back to Coca. Our representatives will then take you to the La Selva office to use the restrooms.

After a short break, they will take you to the airport and help you with your boarding passes and checked luggage.

Once you land in  Quito, our designated driver will greet you. He will be holding a sign with your name for easy recognition. He will then escort you to your hotel, where you can relax and get settled.

Flight Information:

Our professional driver will pick you up directly from your hotel, assisting with your luggage as needed.

Upon arrival at Quito Airport, our driver will conveniently drop you off at your designated terminal. From there, you’ll continue independently to your selected airline’s check-in area. Follow the instructions provided by the airline for a smooth and efficient check-in process. Safe travels!

PM: MOSQUERA
Mosquera is a large white sand bank with rocky areas between Baltra and Seymour. You can walk along the entire beach and enjoy the play of the sea lions in the waves while the adults rest on the sand. Often, you can also see the scarce lava gull flying over the island in search of food.
Snorkeling: Depending on the swell, snorkeling can be done at the north end of the islet or one of the smaller, sheltered beaches.
Attractions: Galapagos sea lions, lava gulls, oystercatchers, shorebirds

AM: SULLIVAN BAY
This visit is a journey to the geological origins of the islands. The hike takes you over a perfectly preserved Pahoehoe lava flow. At first glance, the landscape seems devoid of life, but if you look closely, you will find pioneer plants and lava lizards. On the coast, you may see penguins and other seabirds.
Snorkeling: You can snorkel from a small coral sand beach or the pangas. In either case, the goal is to swim with penguins and see blue sharks, turtles, and large schools of fish.
Attractions: Pahoehoe lava, Galapagos penguins, oystercatchers, Galapagos hawks.

PM: BARTOLOMÉ
This island has some of the most emblematic landscapes of the Galapagos. It is also one of the few places outside Isabela and Fernandina where Galapagos penguins can be seen. From the island’s top, you will have a spectacular view of Pinnacle Rock, Sullivan Bay, and numerous nearby islands.
Snorkeling: Snorkeling is available from the beach at the foot of the pinnacle. This area has a well-deserved reputation as an excellent snorkeling spot due to its precise, calm waters, a massive variety of fish, sea lions, and blue sharks, and the possibility of swimming with penguins.
Attractions: Galapagos penguins, volcanic landscapes, Pinnacle Rock, beach, sea lions, blue sharks

AM: THE RAVINE
Also called “Prince Philip’s Staircase,” this trail is located on the southern part of the island, at the entrance to the bay. The cliffs are heavily fissured, making them an ideal place for a massive colony of storm petrels, attracting large numbers of short-eared owls, which try to hunt them in broad daylight. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and frigate birds are also common and nest along the trail. Fur seals can be seen at the base of the cliffs, looking for cool places to rest.
Snorkeling: You can snorkel along the cliffs, where you will see lots of fish and, with some luck, sea lions and rays.
Attractions: Nesting frigate birds, red-footed and Nazca boobies, herons, short-eared owls, storm petrel colony, and Darwin’s finches.

PM: DARWIN BAY
Genovesa is deservedly considered a “birdwatcher’s paradise”. From the moment you set foot on the island, you will be amazed by the sound of hundreds of frigate birds, boobies, and gulls flying overhead, perching in the bushes or nesting on the sandy ground. This trail offers an authentic wildlife experience, as there is wildlife everywhere: wolves on the beach, iguanas on the rocks, herons, mockingbirds, finches, turtledoves, and many more.
Snorkeling: The bay offers several excellent dive sites, from deep water along the cliffs to shallow water near the beach. In either case, there are plenty of fish and chances to see sea lions, turtles, and rays.
Attractions: Nesting frigate birds, red-footed and Nazca boobies, night gulls, herons, sea lions, endemic Darwin’s finches, and mockingbirds.

AM: INTERPRETATION CENTER
Located on the city’s outskirts, this center is dedicated to the human history of the Galapagos. From the time of the first Spanish explorers to the present day, including whalers and illustrious visitors such as Charles Darwin, this permanent exhibition will take you through the dangers and hardships that early settlers had to endure to survive in the harsh environment of the Galapagos Islands.
Attractions: Endemic plants and human history exhibit.

After this last visit, transfer to the airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.
Assistance and farewell at the airport.

Once you land in Quito, our designated driver will greet you. He will be holding a sign with your name for easy recognition. He will then escort you to your hotel, where you can relax and get settled.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding has been a Plaza family tradition for over a hundred years. Hacienda Zuleta is known for its beautiful Zuleteño horses – a unique mixture of the Spanish-Andalusian, the Thoroughbred, and the American Quarter Horse. The outcome of this crossbreeding is a robust and noble Andean horse with the perfect disposition for trail-riding. The rider can explore the stunning Andean countryside on different trails from 9,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level. You will be safe with our knowledgeable, friendly local guides, or we can provide a bilingual speaker for an extra charge. All rides include a tasty snack complemented with our homemade fruit juice. Full-day rides include a delicious picnic with a luxury option for an additional charge on specific routes.

For your convenience and security, we provide a complete Andean saddle (very similar to the Western saddle) with a deep seat and comfortable sheepskin lining. You are also given a rain poncho, rubber boots or half chaps, and a helmet.

Embroidery Class

Every stitch is a piece of my soul; even if I can’t go abroad, my embroidery goes for me. – Teresa Casa, famous local embroidered. Become part of the famous creative tradition of Zuleta and try your hand at embroidery with the help of our friendly local experts!

We are thrilled to welcome you on an extraordinary adventure that breathes new life into the age-old tradition of navigating reed kayaks on the serene waters of San Pablo Lagoon (Imbacocha). This distinctive journey, steeped in authenticity and cultural significance, allows you to engage directly with the heritage of the Andean people.

The expedition, extending around 1 hour and 45 minutes, is not just a tour but an immersive experience. You’ll be enveloped in the rich tapestry of Andean traditions as you glide across the calm lagoon, cradled in the craftsmanship of the reed kayak beneath you.

This unique opportunity provides an intimate understanding of the Andean worldview and its people. Through this journey, you will witness and actively participate in the revival and celebration of a practice that has shaped the lives of generations. So, prepare for an unforgettable voyage that transcends the commonplace, taking you back to the heart of Andean culture.

After this fantastic experience, we will continue to La Compañia de Jesus Hacienda for lunch and the experience of a rose plantation—drop off at Quito Airport.