Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You'll arrive in Quito and check into your hotel. If timing works out, there's time to wander through Old Town and see some of the 30 churches scattered throughout. Later, around 5 or 6 pm, you'll meet your local leader and other travelers, then head to a small local restaurant for dinner with traditional Ecuadorian food.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Ecuadorian cuisine at a small local restaurant featuring dishes like locro (traditional potato soup), quinoa, pork and vegetable dishes cooked with herbs, lemongrass and rich sauces sourced from local farms)
Included Activities
- Welcome meeting with local leader and group
- Dinner at local restaurant with traditional Ecuadorian cuisine
Optional Activities
- Explore Quito's Old Town
- Visit churches in Old Town (30 available)
Landmarks/POIs Quito Old Town - Day 2
Quito to Isla Santa Cruz
This is an early start heading to the Galapagos. You'll transfer to Mariscal Sucre International Airport with a boxed breakfast, then fly to the islands. Once you arrive, a naturalist guide meets you, and you'll take a bus to the ferry before crossing the Itabaca Channel to Isla Santa Cruz. After driving to Puerto Ayora, you board the M/Y Queen Beatriz by dinghy. Following lunch on the boat, you travel through the highlands, passing through agricultural regions and misty forests where you might spot Galapagos giant tortoises and vermillion flycatchers.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Boxed breakfast on the way to airport), Lunch (Lunch on board M/Y Queen Beatriz)
Included Activities
- Transfer to Mariscal Sucre International Airport
- Flight to Galapagos
- Bus ride to ferry terminal
- Ferry crossing - Itabaca Channel
- Private vehicle drive to Puerto Ayora
- Dinghy transport to M/Y Queen Beatriz
- Lunch on board M/Y Queen Beatriz
- Isla Santa Cruz - Highlands visit (1.5 hours) - Dry Landing
Landmarks/POIs Isla Santa Cruz Puerto Ayora Itabaca Channel - Day 3
Isla Santa Fe and Plaza Sur
The day splits between two islands. You start at Isla Santa Fe, where sea lions hang out and snorkeling is excellent with chances to see hawks, land iguanas, finches, mockingbirds, marine turtles, frigatebirds, doves and lava lizards. After snorkeling, there's a coastal hike into the opuntia forest. Then you sail to Plaza Sur and walk past one of the largest land iguana populations, moving through colorful volcanic landscapes. Keep an eye out for tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls, and the sea lions gathered on the southern cliffs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Isla Santa Fe - Snorkeling
- Isla Santa Fe - Panga ride (45 mins)
- Isla Santa Fe - Walk (1.5 hours) - Wet Landing
- Isla Plaza Sur - Walk (2 hours) - Dry Landing
Landmarks/POIs Isla Santa Fe Plaza Sur - Day 4
Isla Espanola
You wake on Espanola, the southernmost and most remote island, home to nearly all the world's waved albatrosses. Trails here let you see sea lions bathing and marine iguanas heading to water through booby colonies. At Punta Suarez, you'll get clifftop views of boobies and frigatebirds soaring overhead, then watch albatrosses use the cliffs as their runway, powered by southeast winds. The day finishes on white sandy Bahia Gardner beach with excellent snorkeling among reef sharks, turtles, sea lions and tropical fish.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Isla Espanola - Trail walk to sea lion and marine iguana viewing
- Isla Espanola - Punta Suarez - Walk (3 hours) - Dry Landing
- Isla Espanola - Bahia Gardener - Snorkel (1 hour)
- Isla Espanola - Bahia Gardener - Walk (1 hour) - Wet Landing
Landmarks/POIs Isla Espanola Punta Suarez Bahia Gardner - Day 5
Isla San Cristobal
You explore Isla San Cristobal starting at Punta Pitt on the eastern end, climbing a volcanic hill for broad views and sightings of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. After that, you sail to Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), a 150m basalt crater, and circumnavigate it to see tropicbirds, marine iguanas and sea lions. Later, you visit tiny Isla Lobos off the coast to watch sea lions play in shallow waters while spotting blue-footed boobies, frigate birds and marine iguanas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Isla San Cristobal - Punta Pitt - Walk (2 hours) - Wet Landing
- San Cristobal - Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) circumnavigation
- Isla San Cristobal - Isla Lobos - Walk (1 hour) - Dry Landing
Landmarks/POIs Punta Pitt Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) Isla Lobos - Day 6
Isla San Cristobal to Quito
An early start gets you the most out of your last island day before mid-morning flights back to the mainland. You visit the San Cristobal Interpretation Center to learn about the archipelago's volcanic origins, human history, discovery and colonization, plus current conservation challenges. From there, you head to the airport for your flight back to Quito. In the evening, you can join your group for a farewell dinner if you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Isla San Cristobal - Interpretation Center Visit (1 hour) - Dry Landing
- Flight to Quito
Optional Activities
- Farewell dinner with group in Quito
Landmarks/POIs San Cristobal Interpretation Center - Day 7
Quito
There are no activities planned today. Your trip winds down after breakfast. You're welcome to stay longer in Quito and explore the city on your own if you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extended stay in Quito (arrange additional accommodation through booking agent)
