Compare Amazon Wilderness Experience - Independent (5 days Sacha Lodge) by Peregrine Adventures vs Taste of Ecuador: Slow Food Experience by Great Value Vacations
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4 | Great
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| Duration | 5 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 2,117 | $ 1,954 |
| Price Per Day | $ 423 | $ 326 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Self-guided tour | Self-guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
This exceptional jungle experience takes you into the very heart of Ecuador’s Amazon Basin. The remote, pristine setting of Sacha Lodge is a haven for nature lovers, birdwatchers, scientists and adventure seekers. The lodge provides quality accommodation, first class meals and expert guides in order for you to fully enjoy the wonders of the tropical rainforest. There is a wide range of activities to pick from including jungle walks, dugout canoe safaris and canopy walks, whilst a real highlight is the camouflaged, 43-metre high observation tower. This is the Amazon at its very best! Independent Experiences Independent travel, without the stress. Peregrine’s Independent Experiences are a range of short ‘mini tours’ that you can add to other Experiences or as an extension to a longer tour, to craft your perfect holiday itinerary. Independent Experiences are for 1-3 travellers, come accompanied by local guides and generally depart daily. /experiences |
Take it slow on this 5-night culinary journey in Ecuador. Slow Food is a global organization helping to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, and the grassroots movement reached Ecuador in 2007. Ever since, Ecuadorians try to protect their unique culinary heritage and preserve the environment according to the three basics of the Slow Food concept: good, clean and fair. Today, many Slow Food association members in Ecuador export their homegrown goods to the USA and Europe. Begin and end in the capital of Quito. In the high-altitude Andean city, experience centuries-old history from the Incas to the Spanish colonial rule. Take photos in San Francisco Square, taste some of the best chocolate in the world and visit a market where you'll pick up ingredients for a cooking class. In Otavalo, located about 56 miles north of Quito, you'll experience this unique town that holds one of the most famous markets in Latin America. Dating back to pre-Incan times, Otavalo market is a vibrant daily affair where you can pick up fragrant spices, woven textiles and even a live goat or two! Helpful links for travel to Ecuador: |
Day 1 Quito - Amazon Jungle Lodge
Welcome to Quito, Ecuador. The joining point for this trip is the Quito hotel of your choice. Please ensure you give your booking agent the details of your hotel at least 15 days prior to this trip's starting date. Alternatively, we can also assist you to book additional accommodation in Quito if needed. The evening before this trip starts, you'll be met at your hotel by your Peregrine representative by 6 pm. Your Peregrine representative will provide you with vouchers and extra information that you'll need for the next four days. If you arrive after 6 pm, this information will be left in an envelope at the hotel's front desk. If you have any questions in this regard, please contact the emergency number provided in the Essential Trip Information. At 7 am on Day 1 of this trip, you'll be met by your transfer driver in the lobby of your hotel, who will then drive you to the airport. The flight over the Andes to the river port town of Puerto Francisco de Orellana (Coca) will take approximately 45 minutes. From here, a local guide will meet you and transfer you to the town docks, where a covered, motorised canoe will take you on a two-hour journey down the Napo River to the Sacha Lodge (or Napo Lodge - refer to 'Other Information' for more details). Upon arrival, walk along a raised boardwalk for around 30 minutes through dense forest to Pilchicocha Lake, where dugout canoes await to take you to the lodge - arriving in the afternoon at around 4 pm. There's time this afternoon to take a walk, a swim or to explore the surrounding jungle and its wildlife. After dinner tonight you may want to accompany your naturalist guide into the jungle for a night walk or perhaps a canoe ride on the lake (great for spotting the glowing eyes of caiman).
Day 2 Amazon Jungle Lodge
Rise early this morning and begin activity between 6 and 7 am. Take the walking trail of Liana Chica (approximately 30 minutes) and arrive at the canopy walk for spectacular views of the rainforest canopy and various species of exotic birds. Designed to be a self-standing, rigid suspension canopy walk, it's one of only a few in the world. Two of the three towers have observation decks every 12 metres, making towers accessible for everyone. The canopy walkway is set at 36 metres high and 275 metres long, giving guests a panoramic view of the rainforest. After the canopy walk, h through terra firma and igapo forest habitats where native guides will explain many different species of medicinal plants that have been being used in their culture for hundreds of years. Liana Grande will turn into the trail Higueron, which will take you through primary forest with huge Kapok and Fig trees towering hundreds of feet above your head. After lunch, you may choose to take a leisurely hike along the Rio Napo, or choose a little more challenging hike on the trail Leoncillo to try and spot the elusive dusky titi monkey. Either way, the trails will lead you back to the main boardwalk for your final hike and canoe ride back to the lodge.
Day 3 Amazon Jungle Lodge
Leaving the lodge after breakfast, begin your hike on trail Lagartococha. This trail offers you the chance to learn more about the native people and their relationship with the forest. Learn about the trees where native people believe the spirits of their ancestors live, and the mysterious “dwende” or devil-man of the forest. After arriving at lake Lagartococha, take a tranquil canoe ride through a natural swamp, which home to anacondas, caiman and capybaras. After the canoe ride, a walk on the other side of Largatococha may give you the opportunity to spot capuchin or squirrel monkeys. Return from the walk or canoe ride and head back to the lodge for a refreshing dip in the lake, or a nice relaxing nap in your personal hammock on your private balcony. After lunch, your native guide will teach you how to fish for the infamous razor-toothed piranha. Keep in mind that piranhas will never attack a person and swimming at the same time is perfectly safe. In the afternoon you will begin what many think is the best trail at Sacha, a silent canoe ride through the flooded Amazonian forest. Keep your eyes peeled for the shy and elusive river otter, as well as the camouflaged three-toed sloth. After your ride through the flooded forest, arrive at Sacha´s 135-foot wooden tower that's built around an ancient Kapok tree. Spot wildlife and watch the sunset, with an amazing view of Mount Sumaco. A canoe ride back through the flooded forest at night is unforgettable. Watch for several species of bats flying over your heads and caiman in the water below.
Day 4 Amazon Jungle Lodge
Leaving Sacha Lodge at 6 am, you'll head to the clay licks this morning for the chance to see four different species of parrots. Take a 30 minute motorised canoe ride down the Napo river to Yasuni National Park, arriving at the licks for around 7.30 am. Once there, you'll be able to get close up views of the parrots eating the clay to neutralize the acids, which they get from eating their many different types of fruits and leaves. Arriving back at the lodge around 11 am gives you plenty of time to swim or relax before lunch is served. Visit the butterfly house once again to make sure you've captured the right image. For your afternoon activity, Pantano is the trail to take, offering you several different types of rainforest habitats. An excellent trail for monkeys and birds in the afternoon, your naturalist and native guides will intrigue you with their knowledge of the jungle and its inhabitants.
Day 5 Quito
Today you'll be transferred by boat back to Coca for your flight to Quito, where your trip ends upon arrival at Quito Airport. Flights usually arrive back in Quito at around 1 pm, but there's always the likelihood of your flight being delayed. This being the case, you may wish to book an additional night's accommodation in Quito and also a transfer from airport to hotel at an additional cost. These should be booked at the same time you book your trip. If you're planning to depart Quito today, we advise you not to book a departure flight until at least 4 pm. At Peregrine we're always looking for ways to improve our trips and your feedback is invaluable to us and to our tour guides. It tells us what we're doing right, what you believe could be done better and what improvements you feel could help future travellers choose and enjoy Peregrine. At the end of your trip we ask that you to take a few minutes of your time to complete our on-line feedback form. We’d love to hear what you have to say!
Day 1 Welcome to Quito!
Arrive in Quito and enjoy a transfer to your first accommodation. Set at the foot of the volcano Pichincha and surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Quito is easy on the eyes. The city is known for its colonial churches, monasteries, paintings, sculptures and the magnificent blend of Spanish, Flemish and Moorish architecture. Quito has 86 churches and monasteries, giving it the name of the “Convent of America. >Spend your first night in Quito trying the local cuisine like hornado (roasted pork) or for the more adventurous eaters, cuy (guinea pig)!
Day 2 Quito
Wake up and enjoy a tour of Quito's cultural and religious highlights including San Francisco Square and the cathedral. Later, head to Calle La Ronda - one of Quito's oldest streets - for a walk and a chocolate tasting! In the evening, head to Plaza Santo Domingo to watch the street performers along with quitenos (as Quito's residents are known). This plaza is absolutely breathtaking in the evening!
Day 3 Quito
Ever wanted to stand right on the equator? Now's your chance, because today you will visit "La Mitad del Mundo" (Middle of the World), just outside Quito. You'll also visit the Intiñan Solar Museum focusing on the native tribes and interactive activities like balancing an egg on a nail! Later, visit a food market and use the bounty you've bought in a cooking class. Sit down to your homemade lunch and taste Ecuador on a plate. For spectacular views over Quito's mountainous landscape, hop aboard the sky tram known as TelefériQo, which takes you on a 10-minute ride to the top of Cruz Loma.
Day 4 Quito - Otavalo
Leave Quito today and take an approximately 2-hour bus ride to Otavalo, a town in the Andes which hosts a famous crafts market dating back to pre-Incan times. Before arriving in town, stop at Mishky Huarmy organization to learn about their mission of empowering local women through the making of a dietary supplement from the agave plant. Once in Otavalo, visit the traditional Indian market and be amazed at the colorful textiles, clothing and more on display!
Day 5 Otavalo - Quito
Spend the morning continuing to explore Otavalo, then head to the town of Kawsaymi for another cooking class! Feel immediately at ease as you're greeted by a family, then help prepare a three course meal. After this culinary adventure, you will return to Quito. Cap off an unforgettable journey with an included farewell dinner in a typical Ecuadorian restaurant.
Day 6 Depart Ecuador
Squeeze all your souvenirs into your bag and enjoy a comfortable transfer to the airport. Board your plane and spend your relaxing flight home dreaming about your next adventure.
