Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You'll arrive in Quito today. Depending on when your flight lands, you can either walk around the UNESCO Old Town or take it easy at your hotel. Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby at 6:30 pm to go over what's coming up on the tour and answer any questions you might have.
Optional Activities
- Explore Quito's Old Town (UNESCO heritage site)
- Full day in Quito or surroundings (can be arranged in advance)
Landmarks/POIs Quito's Old Town - Day 2
Santa Cruz Highlands
Early start to Quito's airport for your flight to Baltra in the Galapagos. From Puerto Ayora, you'll head into Santa Cruz's highlands where Scalesia forests and lava tubes dominate the landscape. The main stop is Los Gemelos (Twin Craters), formed when underground fissures collapsed, and the views from up there are really something.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet Breakfast), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit lava tunnels
- View wild turtles
- Visit tortoises breeding center
- View Los Gemelos (Twin Craters)
Optional Activities
- Hike (1.5 miles/2½ km)
Landmarks/POIs Los Gemelos Puerto Ayora - Day 3
Moreno Point and Elizabeth Bay
Two different areas on Isabela Island today. At Moreno Point, you'll take a dinghy and hike through lava formations, checking out tide pools and mangroves. It's good for spotting birds. Then Elizabeth Bay has more dinghy work around small islets where you can see penguins and boobies, plus the snorkeling water is clear and full of marine life.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet Breakfast), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Dinghy ride at Moreno Point
- Hike through lava rock formations at Moreno Point
- Birdwatching at Moreno Point and Elizabeth Bay
- Dinghy ride at Elizabeth Bay
Optional Activities
- Snorkeling at Moreno Point
- Hike at Moreno Point (1.2 miles/2 km)
Landmarks/POIs Moreno Point Elizabeth Bay - Day 4
Urbina Bay and Espinoza Point
Urbina Bay is first, where land rose up dramatically during a 1954 uplift and left sea creatures stranded on the shore. You'll see the largest land iguanas in the islands here. After that, Fernandina Island's Espinoza Point shows off flightless cormorants and marine iguanas in one of the most untouched places around, all under La Cumbre volcano.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet Breakfast), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Dinghy ride and hike at Urbina Bay
- Snorkeling at Urbina Bay
- Hike at Espinoza Point
Optional Activities
- Short trail at Urbina Bay (0.6 miles/1 km)
- Long trail at Urbina Bay (1.9 miles/3 km)
Landmarks/POIs Urbina Bay Espinoza Point Alcedo Volcano La Cumbre Volcano - Day 5
Tagus Cove and Vicente Roca Point
Tagus Cove dates back to the 1800s as an anchorage point, and trails from here lead to Lake Darwin with ridge views. From there, Vicente Roca Point on the northwestern coast has two coves with seahorses, sea turtles, and the rare Mola mola sunfish showing up in the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet Breakfast), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike at Tagus Cove
- Dinghy ride at Tagus Cove
- Snorkeling at Tagus Cove
- Dinghy ride at Vicente Roca Point
- Snorkeling at Vicente Roca Point
Landmarks/POIs Tagus Cove Lake Darwin Punta Tortuga Vicente Roca Point - Day 6
Espumilla Beach and Egas Port
Espumilla Beach draws marine iguanas, and Sally Lightfoot crabs attract hunting herons in a predator-prey display. Later, Egas Port (James Bay) has Galapagos hawks, lava lizards, tide pools, and Galapagos fur sea lions relaxing on the rocks. The grottos here are worth checking out.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet Breakfast), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Snorkeling and swimming at Espumilla Beach
- Snorkeling at Egas Port
- Hiking at Egas Port
Landmarks/POIs Espumilla Beach Egas Port - Day 7
Rabida Island and Chinese Hat Islet
Rabida Island has a distinctive maroon sandy beach and nine finch varieties plus other rare birds like large-billed flycatchers and hawks. The snorkeling is good here. From there, Chinese Hat Islet near Santiago Island shows off unique lava tubes and flows in its formations.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet Breakfast), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Snorkeling at Rabida Island
- Dinghy ride and short hike at Rabida Island
- Hike and snorkeling at Chinese Hat Islet
Landmarks/POIs Rabida Island Chinese Hat Islet - Day 8
Bachas Beach and South Plaza Island
You'll swim and walk around Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz's north shore with flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and sea turtles. Old U.S. World War II structures are still visible. Then South Plaza Island has dramatic cliffs and colorful yellow and red land iguanas, plus one of the biggest sea lion colonies.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet Breakfast), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Swimming at Bachas Beach
- Hike at South Plaza Island
Landmarks/POIs Bachas Beach South Plaza Island - Day 9
Interpretation Center
The Interpretation Center opened in 1998 as part of an environmental education project. You can go through exhibits on natural history, human history, and conservation work in the Galapagos. There's an outdoor stadium and audio-visual shows about the islands and their wildlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet Breakfast), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Interpretation Center
- Short walk and exploration of exhibitions
Landmarks/POIs Interpretation Center
