Unique Experiences

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Item 5068

Metropolitan Touring, Casa Gangotena, Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador

Discover Ecuador for Two

www.metropolitan-touring.com
www.casagangotena.com
www.mashpilodge.com

Your Ecuador exploration begins in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with an overnight stay at Casa Gangotena, with “Quito coffee time” and breakfast, included.
Situated in a newly-restored historic mansion overlooking Plaza San Francisco, the three-story Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel is a showcase of style, contemporary design, antiques, fine furnishings, modern technologies and quintessential comforts.
Beautifully and eclectically appointed, the hotel invites its guests to relax, whether in the dining room, glassed-in patio, garden, wood-paneled library, or atop its panoramic third-floor terrace.
From Quito, you’ll journey to Mashpi Lodge, a luxury rainforest bio-diversity reserve, located three hours northwest of Quito, for a three day, two night stay, meals included.

This new, sophisticated and strikingly-contemporary lodge is designed as the ideal springboard for exploring the bio-diverse world of its reserve. A hideaway in the clouds only accessible to guests, and located on a high plateau, Mashpi Lodge offers views of the forested mountains and forest through its floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

The Lodge, built with the latest techniques in sustainable building, is designed to blend beautifully with its surroundings. It features contemporary, minimalist decor, mixing warm earth tones, notes of bright color, clean lines and striking angles and vistas.
The Lodge is surrounded by a profusion of plant species, from ferns and bromeliads to hundreds of orchid species, many newly-discovered. A staggering 500 species of bird are estimated to inhabit the forest. Monkeys, peccaries and even puma make their homes inside the Reserve.
Your stay will be in a spacious “Wayra” room. Your room has floor-to-ceiling glass windows, designed to immerse you in the cloudforest.
Mashpi is an exciting place for photography and botany (particularly orchids). There are nature trails, night walks, an observation tower and waterfalls.

At the Life Centre, a place for learning and discovery, guests can relax in hammock, read a book and learn about the 200 species of butterflies that inhabit the region. Most of the interpretation at the Centre will be by local guides or people involved with the project from local communities.

Near the Centre, there is an area for growing medicinal plants - and beyond, many varieties of bushes and fruit trees, including banana and plantain, manioc, cacao, tobacco, coffee, coca, bread fruit and heart of palm. Located close to the hotel, the aerial bicycle makes for an original and exciting way to explore the forest canopy up close.

On the fourth day of your adventure, you’ll return to Quito for another overnight stay at Casa Gangotena. The next day, you’ll board a flight to the Galapagos Islands for your five day voyage on the Santa Cruz, all meals included.
You’ll sail to the island of North Seymour, a great introductory site to the islands and their wildlife. Overnight, you’ll sail around Isabela Island to Punta Vicente Roca and  Fernandina Island’s wild and pure Punta Espinosa. You’ll continue your exploration of Isabela at the beautiful pirate bay of Tagus Cove and then on to the uplifted seabed at Urbina Bay. From there, you’ll sail round to Santa Cruz to visit the world-famous Charles Darwin Research Station and spend the afternoon enjoying a range of activities. The following day brings you to Floreana, exploring both Post Office Bay and Punta Cormorant.
The Galapagos Travel Team consists of a Chief Naturalist and seven Naturalists, along with an Underwater Naturalist. You’ll enjoy natural history explanations, on-deck talks, and lectures regarding natural history. Multimedia presentations and recaps will complement the day's activities.
From the Galapagos, you’ll return to Quito for an overnight stay at Casa Gangotena before your return to the U.S.
Casa Gangotena includes: Breakfast, Quito coffee time (4 – 6pm). Airport transfers in and out, tips, are not included.
Mashpi Lodge includes: Shared transfers in and out, all meals and activities within the reserve. Alcoholic beverages, Spa treatments, tips and extras are not included.

Galapagos includes: All meals, guiding, briefings, snorkeling equipment, transportation to/from airport in Galapagos. Airfare ($497 per person, subject to change), park entrance fees ($110 per person, subject to change); beverages, wetsuits, wifi, tips are not included.
Valid April 21, 2014 through April 15, 2015.  December 15 – January 15, excluded.