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Sani Lodge, Yasuni

Quito

Galápagos - separate page

itinerary

Sani Lodge

Hoatzin

Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin)
Family: Opisthocomidae (hoatzin)
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon R5

Hoatzin

Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin)
Family: Opisthocomidae (hoatzin)
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Hoatzin

Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin)
Family: Opisthocomidae (hoatzin)
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 23, 2024
Canon R5

Oh, Dona

Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapilla)
Family: Donacobiidae (Donacobiuses)
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Jacana

Wattled jancana (Jacana jacana)
Family: Jacanidae (jacanas)
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Jacana

Wattled jancana (Jacana jacana)
Family: Jacanidae (jacanas)
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Sani ani

Greater ani (Crotophaga major)
Family: Cuculidae (cuckoos)
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Pootoo

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Great tinamou

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon R5

Spotted-thighed poison frog (Allobates femoralis)
Family: Aromobatidae (cryptic forest frogs)
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
Olympus Tough TG-6

Zimmermann's poison frog (Ranitomeya variabilis)
Family: Dendrobatidae (poison dart frogs)
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Zimmermann's poison frog (Ranitomeya variabilis)
Family: Dendrobatidae (poison dart frogs)
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Poised

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Frog on hat

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Baby on board

Howler Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Squirrel monkey

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 20, 2024
Canon R5

Squirrel monkey

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 20, 2024
Canon R5

Going bananas

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 20, 2024
Canon R5

Capuchin

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 20, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Village, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Tower, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Bat on trunk

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Caiman eyes

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

>

Turtle

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

If turtles had wings

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 23, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 23, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 23, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Tick

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
Photo take at Arcadia Place, Palo Alto
June 22, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Dragon of Sani

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon R5

Shag carpet caterpillar moth (Prothysana felderi)
Family: Apatelodidae
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Millipede

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 20, 2024
Canon R5

Millipede

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 20, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Mushroom

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 20, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 19, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 20, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 20, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 20, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon R5

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon R5

Welcome fruit owl

Owls
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 19, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Towel swan

Towel art
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 19, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Canopy bed with towel swan

Towel art
Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 19, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Canoe

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 19, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Napo River, Ecuador
June 19, 2024
Canon R5

Man on canoe

Napo River, Ecuador
June 19, 2024
Canon R5

Bridge

Coca, Ecuador
June 19, 2024
Canon R5

Sani sharks

Sani Village, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Clouds reflected in napo river

Napo River
Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Cecropia leaf

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 21, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Pig towel

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 22, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Bullet ant on fern

Sani Lodge, Ecuador
June 20, 2024
Canon R5

Quito 2024

Hotel Quito with Mauricio and Tayson

Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Architectural spiral squares

Hotel Quito
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Balloons

Hotel Quito restaurant
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Hotel pool

Hotel Quito
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

The swimmer

Hotel Quito
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon R5

Mural of face

Murals
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Mural of face

Murals
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Casa Gangotena door card and view

Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Colored buildings

Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon R5

Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas

Universidad Central del Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Bob and Mauricio by hoatzin mural

Murals
Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas
Universidad Central del Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II
PC - Tayson

Hoatzin mural

Murals
Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin)
Family: Opisthocomidae (hoatzin)
Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas
Universidad Central del Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Detail of Quito mural - Gonzalo Endara Crow

Murals
Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin)
Family: Opisthocomidae (hoatzin)
City Hall (el hall del Palacio Municipal)
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Quito mural - Gonzalo Endara Crow

Signs
City Hall (el hall del Palacio Municipal)
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Chicken littles

City Hall (el hall del Palacio Municipal)
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Hat

Plaza de San Francisco
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2024
Canon R5

Cafe

Plaza de San Francisco from Hotel Gangotena
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2024
Canon R5

Parting the pigeons

Plaza de San Francisco from Hotel Gangotena
Quito, Ecuador
June 24, 2024
Canon R5

The virg of night

From Hotel Gangotena
Quito, Ecuador
June 25, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Equator

N

The equator
Quito, Ecuador
June 26, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Group shot

The equator
Quito, Ecuador
June 26, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

Llama

El Crater Restaurant
Quito, Ecuador
June 26, 2024
Canon 7D Mark II

The Trip Itinerary - June 18 - July 10, 2024

June 18, 2024 Tuesday - SFO to Houston to Quito Airport

Wendy dropped off Tayson and me at SFO

SFO to Houston

Houston to Quito Airport

Hotel shuttle to Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel

June 19, 2024 Wednesday - Quito Airport to Coca to Sani Lodge

Wyndham

Early wake-up

Hotel shuttle to domestic terminal

Fly to Coca - Aeroregional - - extra bag $40

Met by Eddie

Cab to dock

Inspection

Transfer to motorized canoe

Walk through jungle to second smaller canoe

Canoe to Sani Lodge

Hoatzins en route

Welcome towel, drink, snack

Take stuff to our cabin - Pishna

Canoe around lake

Dinner at Lodge

Sani Lodge

June 20, 2024 Thursday - Sani Lodge

Breakfast at Lodge

Canoe to canopy tower

Hike up tower

Dinner at Lodge

June 21, 2024 Friday - Sani Lodge

Breakfast at Lodge

Canoe to National Park

Parrot clay lick

Dinner at Lodge

June 22, 2024 Saturday - Sani Lodge

Breakfast at Lodge

Canoe to canopy tower

Hike up tower

Laundry for Tayson and me

Dinner at Lodge

June 23, 2024 Sunday - Sani Lodge

Breakfast at Lodge

Motmot walk to village

Dinner at Lodge

June 24, 2024 Monday - Sani to Coca to Quito

Early breakfast at Sani

Motor boat to Coca

Taxi to airport

Coca to Quito - Aeroregional - extra bag $40

Met by Metropolitan rep

Casa Gangotena on Plaza de San Francisco

Dinner at Casa Gangotena with Tayson in the lobby

June 25, 2024 Tuesday - Quito

Breakfast at the hotel

Picked up by Mauricio

Hotel Quito

Lunch at hotel restaurant - Techo del Mundo - with Tayson and Mauricio

Walk around campus to see architecture and mural of hoatzin

Mauricio dropped us back at the hotel

Walk with Tayson to the main square to find and take photos of the hoatzin mural

Dinner at Casa Gangotena with Tayson, Hannah, Kob, and Matt in the lobby

Stay at Casa Gangotena

June 26, 2024 Wednesday - Quito - Casa Gangotena

Breakfast at the hotel

Met group and welcome talk

For the kids - what are you most excited to see - June 26, 2024 morning at the end of the welcome orientation (Quito - Casa Gangotena Salon Rojo)

Walking tour of Colonial Quito - Independence Plaza, the presidential palace, and the monastery of San Francisco

Bus to resaturant near equator

Lunch at El Crater

Bus to Mitad del Mundo

Tour

Group photo

Bus back to Casa Gangotena, Quito

Sources of enchantment: the Galápagos in Time and Space - late afternoon before reception (Quito - Casa Gangotena Salon Rojo)

Welcome reception

Welcome dinner

Early turn in

Casa Gangotena

June 27, 2024 Thursday - Quito to Baltra to La Pinta to South Plaza

Very early wake-up

Bus to Quito Airport

Latam to Guayaquil to Baltra without deplaning in Guayaquil

Bus to dock

Panga to La Pinta

Expedition briefing for next day

Dinner on board La Pinta

June 28, 2024 Friday - Aboard La Pinta - Santa Fe Island / San Cristobal

Wake up

Breakfast on ship

Wet landing and walk on Santa Fe Island

Lunch on ship

Dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Bus to Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado tortoise reserve

Time in town

Pangas to ship

Lecture #2 “Tales of Enchantment for Adults and Kids” - 6:30 p.m. in the lounge.

Dinner on ship - 7:45 p.m.

June 29, 2024 Saturday - San Cristobal Island - La Pinta

Breakfast on ship

Wet landing and walk at Punta Pitt, San Cristobal

Sunset

Circumnavigate Kicker Rock

Group photo

Family Olympics / Trivia

Expedition briefing for next day

June 30, 2024 Sunday - Española Island

Breakfast on the ship

Dry landing - Punta Suarez (Española Island)

Blow hole "Soplador"

11:15 a.m. lecture #3, “Tales of Enchantment, Part II” in the lounge

Lunch on the boat

Deep water snorkeling

Back on board

Gardner Bay - wet landing

Farewell cocktail and expedition briefing

Dinner on the boat - 7:15

July 1, 2024 Monday - Santa Cruz Island

Charles Darwin Station

Presentations by Maria Jose and Carter

Goup met briefly with Arturo Izurieta - outside of Galapagos National Park

Rest of the day - free - lunch and dinner

Finch Bay

July 2, 2024 Tuesday - Santa Cruz

Breakfast at Finch Bay

Lecture #4 “The Future of Enchantment: Galápagos Conservation and Threats,” - 9:00 a.m. under the pergola (next to the pool)

Walk to water taxis

Taxi across and meet buses by the dock

Drive Rancho Manzanillo.

Lunch at Rancho Manzanillo.

Bus back to town

Water taxi

Back to Finch Bay

Sing evolution song

Slide show

Closing Dinner

Finch Bay

July 3, 2024 Wednesday - Puerto Ayora - Finch Bay to Angemeyer Waterfront Inn

Breakfast at Finch Bay

Accompany the group to the water taxis and boarding the buses

Say goodbye to the group and to Tayson

Taxi back to Finch Bay, finish packing

Transfer luggage to Angemeyer Waterfront Inn

ATM near docks

Walk to Charles Darwin Station to attend open house

Meet up with Rakan Zahawi in his office

Overnight at Angemeyer Waterfront Inn

July 4, 2024 Thursday - Hotel Angemeyer, Puerto Ayora to Floreana

Early breakfast at hotel - excellent

Water taxi with all my stuff to docks

Water taxi to Luna Azul (boat)

Inter-island ferry to Floreana - 8 am $40

Met Leonela and her daughter (from Costa Del Sol) on the boat

Met by Karen from El Pajas

Black Sand Beach >dd>Met Çağlar Akçay and Alper Yelimlies

Walk to Loberia

Ran into Leonela and family again they they told me where to get the best views

Walk back to Pajas and then into town

3 pm "bus" to Highlands

Dinner at the Pizza Place

Night walk - looking for owls (none) and scorpions (tons) with black light

July 5, 2024 Friday - Floreana

Walk to the pond - Sendero los Pulpos

Karen did a small load of wash for me

High driver to take us to the Highlands with Karen and her cousin

Climb Cerro Allieri around dusk with Karen and her cousin

Listen to the arousal of the Galapagos petrels - not much to see because it was pretty dark

Driver stayed/returned to drive back to El Pajas

Saw a petrel in the ditch beside the road on the way home

Got out to take photos

Park Service was called and took it away in a cardboard box

Dinner at El Pajas - at with Karen and the kids (her nephew and niece)

July 6, 2024 Saturday - Floreana to Puerto Ayora

6 am taxi to highlands

Hike up Ruta Historica Cerro Allieri - solo

Late Breakfast at El Pajas

Meet

Walk to the pond - Sendero los Pulpos

Water taxi to Luna Azul

Luna Azul to Puerto Ayora - 3 pm $40

Met by Leonela and her son - help transport luggage to guest house

Costa del Sol Guest House

Meet up with Paola Diaz at Muelle de Darwin

Dinner with Paola and her son at Midori Sushi Pub

July 7, 2024 Sunday - Santa Cruz

Switch rooms at the request of Leonela

ATM near docks

Breakfast at Cafeteria above grocery store by the dock

Walk to Station

Snorkeling at Charles Darwin Station beach

Met up with Carter as he was leaving, borrowed his mask and snorkel

Costa del Sol Guest House

July 8, 2024 Monday - Santa Cruz - Puerto Ayora

5:40 am pick-up, driver Fernando

Highlands with Carter in search of Galapagos rail

Our guide was Darwin

Breakfast at Terramar

Explore property wtih Darwin - lots of tortoises, rail near the pond

Climb to top of hill for view

Lunch at Terramar

Explore long lava tube with Darwin

Dinner with Arturo, Alejandra, and Carter at Anka Resataurant

Arturo dropped me back at the guest house

Costa del Sol Guest House

July 9, 2024 Tuesday - Puerto Ayora to Baltra to Quito

Breakfast at the Rock

Shopping in town

Cab from hotel to Itabaca Channel - driver Fernando

Water taxi to Baltra

Bus to airport

Baltra to Quito Airport - stop in Guayaquil but do not disembark

Taxi to Hilton Quito Airport

Room 110 right above the conference hall

Asked to move because of the noise - relocate to 325 (quiet)

Went to dinner at the restaurant but the World Cup was blaring so lou on every TV that I got room service