Highlights
- Explore Yasuní National Park with its rich biodiverse environment and wildlife
- Learn about the culture and cuisine of Indigenous Amazon communities
- Hop between Galápagos islands to mingle with sea lions and marine iguanas
- Snorkel, swim, and relax on sandy beaches with clear turquoise waters
- Sail to uninhabited islands and spot rare, endemic wildlife
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Quito, Fly to Coca, Transfer to Yasuní National Park | Yasuní National Park |
| Day 2 | Kichwa Añangu Community Visit & Hike, Rainforest Cooking & Dinner | Yasuní National Park |
| Day 3 | Parrot Clay Lick, Community Project & Observation Tower Climb | Yasuní National Park |
| Day 4 | Sacred Wayusa Ritual, Fly to Quito | Quito |
| Day 5 | Fly to Isla San Cristóbal & the Galapagos | Isla San Cristóbal |
| Day 6 | Snorkel at Kicker Rock | Isla San Cristóbal |
| Day 7 | Day Trip to Isla Española | Isla San Cristóbal |
| Day 8 | Day Trip to Isla Lobos | Isla San Cristóbal |
| Day 9 | El Junco Lagoon, Galapaguera Colorado Hill & Puerto Chino Beach | Isla San Cristóbal |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Isla Santa Cruz by Speedboat, Kayak on Tortuga Bay | Isla Santa Cruz |
| Day 11 | Explore an Uninhabited Island | Isla Santa Cruz |
| Day 12 | Visit the Santa Cruz Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station | Isla Santa Cruz |
| Day 13 | Transfer to Isla Baltra, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Quito, Fly to Coca, Transfer to Yasuní National Park
Welcome to Ecuador! Upon arrival in Quito, you'll catch a quick 40-minute flight south to Puerto Francisco de Orellana, also known as Coca, where your adventure begins. From here, guides will take you along the Río Napo in motorized and paddle canoes to reach your base for the next three nights: a comfortable rainforest lodge in Yasuní National Park. The Equator, Andes, and Amazon biomes meet within the park, creating one of the most biodiverse places on earth—home to thousands of species of mammals, plants, insects, reptiles, and amphibians.
Once you're settled at the lodge, start your Amazon exploration off with a visit to the Napo Cultural Center. Here you'll have the chance to step into the territory of the Indigenous Kichwa Añangu community and meet its members, who will welcome you with a traditional wayusa (an energizing herbal infusion). In the afternoon, take a hike to catch your first glimpses of rainforest wildlife, or opt for a short kayaking excursion to experience the sight of a sunset over the Río Napo. Head back to your cabin, and after a rest, enjoy a well-deserved dinner. Tonight you'll fall asleep to the relaxing sounds of the Amazon.
Day 2: Kichwa Añangu Community Visit & Hike, Rainforest Cooking & Dinner
Following breakfast at sunrise, an exciting day in the Amazon awaits. You'll start with a visit to some sustainable community projects, where you'll meet with more of the local Kichwa community and learn more about their daily life and their committed guardianship of the rainforest. Join your hosts for a walk as they point out ceiba trees, strangler, bamboo cane, and medicinal plants endemic to Yasuní.
After lunch, go for a paddle through a distinctive blackwater-flooded stream. Seasonally, fresh rainwater floods the forest, creating a temporary world where trees rise out of the still water and animals, such as the rare giant otter, visit looking for fish. Spot monkeys jumping from tree to tree in the canopy above, and keep your eyes peeled for caimans, small alligator-type reptiles that thrive in the rainforest waterways.
Day 3: Parrot Clay Lick, Community Project & Observation Tower Climb
Today starts with a 30-minute hike along a nearby trail to reach one of the highlights of Yasuní National Park—the parrot clay licks. Hundreds of parrots and parakeets flock here to eat the mineral-rich soil and create one of the most captivating displays in the bird-watching world. Make sure to bring your binoculars and camera lenses to capture the 11 species of parrots and parakeets that frequent the cliffside, and keep an eye out for the other animals like howler monkeys, tapirs, and peccaries that come here to drink.
Stop by the intercultural interpretation center of Kuri Muyu next to meet the women of the Kichwa community as they share stories about their crafts, customs, and traditional use of natural resources. Then it's time to ascend into the rainforest canopy with a one-hour climb up the Cury Mullo Observation Tower. Reaching 114 feet (35 m) into the treetops, this incredible platform provides the perfect vantage point to spot howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, toucans, parrots, and sloths.
After dinner back at the lodge, you'll spend your final evening in the rainforest aboard a traditional catamaran, cruising silently down the river at twilight as you enjoy grilled snacks and listen to Kichwa stories, legends, and chants.
Day 4: Sacred Wayusa Ritual, Fly to Quito
As the Amazon portion of your adventure draws to a close, mark the occasion with a traditional Kichwa ritual. Wake up at 04:30 am and drink some wayusa, prepared from the leaves of a sacred tree in the equatorial rainforests. Listen to songs in the local language, meditate, and interpret dreams as you experience some of the harmony and peace that the Indigenous people of Yasuní draw from their rainforest home.
After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye and board a motorized canoe back to Coca. Catch a flight back to Quito, where a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the city. This high-altitude, culturally-rich capital is packed with attractions, from impressive archaeological museums to soaring hilltop viewpoints. This evening, perhaps explore some of Quito's UNESCO-listed historic center, an atmospheric wonderland of cobbled streets, colonial mansions, and gilded churches dating back to the 16th century.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Fly to Isla San Cristóbal & the Galápagos
Get ready for a change of scenery as you transfer to the airport and catch a flight to the Galápagos Islands. Located about 620 miles (1,000 km) off Ecuador's coast, this storied archipelago is made up of 13 large islands and countless volcanic outcroppings and islets. You'll land on the easternmost island of San Cristóbal, where Darwin first dropped anchor on the HMS Beagle's seminal 1835 expedition.
Upon arrival, your driver will take you to your hotel, and you'll have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to settle into the rhythms of island life. Take a stroll through town and spot the sea lions and other wildlife that frequent the docks and waterfront areas. At sunset, head over to Playa Mann for incredible views over drinks.
Day 6: Snorkel at Kicker Rock
Kick off your first full day in the Galápagos with a trip to Kicker Rock, one of the best-known spots in the archipelago. Ride there on a comfortable speedboat that will navigate you along the coast of San Cristóbal as you sit back and enjoy the views. Created from volcanic ash, Kicker Rock towers almost 500 feet (152 m) up from the ocean floor and splits into two above-surface structures connected below the surface, with a channel running between them. The rock is home to many endemic birds, including tropicbirds, frigatebirds, Nazca boobies, and blue-footed boobies.
You'll be meeting the wildlife under the water as well as diving in and snorkeling in the area's crystal-clear waters. As well as schools of tropical fish, look out for sea turtles, marine iguanas, and four species of ray. Enjoy lunch on the boat, then head to a pristine beach nearby for some time to relax and warm up in the sunshine.
Day 7: Day Trip to Isla Española
Today's destination is Isla Española, one of the archipelago's most isolated islands. A two-hour boat trip takes you to its shores, where you'll make landfall and set off on a guided hike. As you explore the rugged terrain, keep an eye out for some of the Galápagos' most unique and plentiful wildlife, including endemic species like the Española mockingbird, waved albatross, and Española lava lizard.
Back on the boat, have your snorkeling gear ready as you head for the white sands and gentle waters of the island's famous beauty spot of Gardner Bay. Watch seal pups basking on the beach and snorkel alongside colorful fish and marine iguanas. When you finally tear yourself away from the underwater wonders, lunch will be served on the boat, and you'll set off back to San Cristóbal for the afternoon.
Day 8: Day Trip to Isla Lobos
Another island excursion is on the cards today as you set off for Isla Lobos, located about 6 miles (10 km) north of San Cristóbal. This "Island of the Sea Lions" is packed with wildlife, including scores of its playful namesakes, and its sheltered bay is a perfect snorkeling spot due to its calm waters. Groups of sea lions will likely welcome you at the landing spot, and keep an eye out for the distinctive red chests of male frigatebirds in the trees and shrubs along the beach.
Go for a dip and watch the sea lions showing off their swimming skills while turtles and rays cruise along the ocean floor. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the colorful Sally Lightfoot crab. After a day of sun, swimming, and wildlife spotting, the boat will take you back to San Cristóbal, where you'll have the rest of the afternoon free.
Day 9: El Junco Lagoon, Galapaguera Colorado Hill & Puerto Chino Beach
Venture into the lush highlands of Isla San Cristóbal today, starting at El Junco Lagoon, one of the few permanent freshwater lakes in the Galápagos. Here you can see frigatebirds shower in the freshwater to remove salt from their feathers and admire the surrounding miconia vegetation and tree ferns. It's on to the giant tortoise breeding center of La Galapaguera next to observe the most iconic creature of the archipelago in its various stages. The reserve aims to restore populations of the threatened San Cristóbal tortoise, and you'll get the chance to watch (and photograph) the species in its semi-natural habitat.
Afterward, continue to the southeast of the island to reach Puerto Chino Beach. The fine white sand here offers plenty of space to stretch out and sunbathe, while the calm water is excellent for swimming. A thicket of mangroves lies just behind the sand, where you'll often spot rare and endemic finches, while the rocky outcrops to the left and right of the beach are home to boisterous colonies of sea lions.
Day 10: Transfer to Isla Santa Cruz by Speedboat, Kayak on Tortuga Bay
Say your goodbyes to San Cristóbal today as you catch a three-hour speedboat to Isla Santa Cruz. The second-largest of the Galápagos Islands, it lies at the center of the archipelago and is home to the tourism hub and main town of Puerto Ayora. Upon arrival, a driver will take you to your hotel, where you can get settled in and grab some rest before heading out on this afternoon's adventure.
Begin with a 45-minute hike from Puerto Ayora to the postcard-perfect Tortuga Bay, famed for its soft white sands and spectacular scenery. Here you'll take a kayak out onto the turquoise water to see marine life and admire the coastline from a different perspective. Look for colonies of marine iguanas and exotic birds, as well as mangroves, cacti forests, and fascinating flora. Pelicans and finches are local to the area, and near the salt lagoon that backs onto the mangroves, you even may spot flamingoes. After kayaking, sunbathe on the beach or snorkel below the waves before returning to Puerto Ayora.
Day 11: Explore an Uninhabited Island
After a very early breakfast, embark on a memorable day trip to discover one of the Galápagos' uninhabited islands. Humans have settled in four of the 19 islands here, not counting the islets, and this trip is a rare chance to connect with nature as it once was. Depending on the weather, scheduling, and permissions granted by the national park, you'll visit either Santa Fé, Plaza Sur, Bartolomé, or Seymour Norte. Disembark and follow trails to explore the island's remarkable natural wonders and native species.
Santa Fé and Plaza Sur are home to endemic land iguanas, while Bartolomé is known for its lava fields. On Seymour Norte, look for frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies. In the afternoon, you'll explore the surrounding waters by boat, enjoying a tasty lunch onboard before diving underwater in snorkeling masks. In the evening, you'll return to Puerto Ayora for some free time.
Day 12: Visit the Santa Cruz Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station
The penultimate day of your trip takes you into the highlands of Santa Cruz, where you can see giant tortoises roaming peacefully in their native habitat. Follow your guide to a local highland farm, where dozens of giant tortoises reside, and wander around the grounds snapping photos and quietly observing. Your visit concludes with a delicious lunch, after which you'll return to town.
There are more tortoises in store this afternoon as you head to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where scientists from all over the world meet and work together on environmental projects such as water analysis and animal protection. This is the most famous place to see giant tortoises in the Galápagos, where the animals are raised at the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center before being released into the wild. See how their tortoiseshell shapes have evolved differently to match the terrain and vegetation of each island, and learn more about the efforts to protect this iconic species.Day 13: Transfer to Isla Baltra, Depart
Do some last-minute souvenir shopping or take a last stroll through Puerto Ayora this morning before bidding the Galápagos a final farewell. At the designated time, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Itabaca Channel, which you'll cross by ferry to reach Isla Baltra. For the last part of your trip to the airport, you'll take the public shuttle bus to the terminal to catch your return flight to the mainland and onward connection. Safe travels!
More Great Galápagos Islands Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to the Galápagos? Check out these other Galápagos itineraries, explore other ways to spend 13 days in the Galápagos, and discover the best time to visit the Galápagos.
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