Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You'll arrive in Quito today. Depending on when your flight lands, you can spend time walking through the Old Town (it's a UNESCO heritage site) or head back to rest at your hotel. Your tour guide meets you at 6:30 pm in the lobby to go over what's coming up on the tour and answer any questions you have.
- Start point
- Hotel Ibis Quito, La Pradera, Quito, Pichincha 1705, Ecuador (Meeting at the hotel , 18:30)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ibis)
Optional Activities
- Full day tour of Quito or surrounding areas (can be arranged in advance)
Landmarks Quito's Old Town - Day 2
Quito to San Cristóbal, Galápagos
An early morning flight gets you from Quito to San Cristóbal Airport in the Galápagos. After checking into your hotel, you'll head out on a kayak tour to Tijeretas Hill, where Darwin first landed. There you can see Frigate birds and Blue-footed Boobies up close. Later on you'll relax at Playa Man beach where sea lions hang out, watch the sunset, then head back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Algarrobos)
Included Activities
- Kayak tour to Tijeretas Hill
- Visit to Playa Man beach with sea lions
Landmarks Tijeretas Hill Playa Man 
- Day 3
Española Island
You're spending the full day exploring Española Island, one of the most remote islands in the Galápagos. The wildlife here is unique to this place. Marine iguanas shift color when they're breeding, and you'll see Hood Mockingbirds along with lots of different birds like masked boobies, blue-footed boobies, Galápagos doves, red-billed tropicbirds, and waved albatrosses.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Arena Blanca)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Española Island
Landmarks Española Island 
- Day 4
San Cristóbal to Isabela Island
A short 30-minute flight takes you to Isabela Island, followed by a 30-minute bus ride to Sierra Negra Volcano. You'll hike up to the caldera and look for endemic plants and birds there. Weather permitting, you can see the volcano landscape and the damage from the July 2018 eruption. The afternoon is yours to relax on the beach, catch the sunset, or walk through the wetlands.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Volcano)
Included Activities
- Hike to Sierra Negra Volcano caldera
Optional Activities
- Beach time
- Sunset viewing
- Wetlands walk
Landmarks Sierra Negra Volcano - Day 5
Isabela Island - Los Túneles
Start with a bike ride to the Tortoises Breeding Center and the famous wetlands where Flamingos, Finches, and marine iguanas live. At 11:30 am you board a speed boat for an hour heading to Los Túneles on Isabela's southwest side, passing Cerro Azul volcano and Union Rock. You'll walk around lava formations and spot bobbies, pelicans, and frigate birds. Lunch is served on board, then you snorkel in different waters where you might see sea turtles, sea horses, marine iguanas, sea lions, and more.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical lunch on board)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Volcano)
Included Activities
- Bike tour to Tortoises Breeding Center
- Visit to wetlands
- Speed boat tour to Los Túneles
- Walk around lava formations
- Snorkeling at Los Túneles
Landmarks Los Túneles Cerro Azul Volcano Union Rock - Day 6
Isabela Island to Santa Cruz Island
A 2-hour speed boat ride brings you to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. After checking into your hotel, you'll visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, the main research center for the whole Galápagos. You'll have time to walk around town and grab lunch. In the afternoon, head to a Tortoise Ranch in the highlands of Santa Cruz to see large wild land tortoises in their natural state, then come back to town for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Red Booby)
Included Activities
- Speed boat transfer to Santa Cruz
- Visit to Charles Darwin Research Station
- Visit to Tortoise Ranch in the highlands
Optional Activities
- Dinner at Quioskos street for fresh lobster and seafood
- Night visit to the Pier to see baby sharks, rays, and other animals
Landmarks Charles Darwin Research Station Puerto Ayora 
- Day 7
Bartolomé Island
You leave town early and take a bus to Itabaca Canal where you'll board a yacht. This full-day trip includes sightseeing, hiking, snorkeling with gear provided, and lunch on board. Bartolomé is a small volcanic island with Pinnacle Rock, one of the most photographed spots in the Galápagos (you can even see old bullet holes from WWII military practice). You'll explore volcanic formations in red, orange, green, and black, swim in twin half-moon beaches, and look for Galápagos penguins. You'll return to Puerto Ayora for your last night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on board)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Red Booby)
Included Activities
- Yacht excursion to Bartolomé Island
- Hiking on Bartolomé Island
- Snorkeling at Bartolomé Island
- Lunch on board
Landmarks Bartolomé Island Pinnacle Rock 
- Day 8
Santa Fe Island
You sail to Santa Fe, a small island southeast of Santa Cruz. It has a turquoise bay surrounded by cactus and mangroves. From the boat you'll see a white-sand beach packed with sea lions and cliffs covered in giant cacti found only here. Seabirds like pelicans, lava gulls, and blue-footed boobies are around, and you'll spot white-tipped sharks resting near shore plus Galápagos hawks in the mangroves. The animals here don't fear humans, so photos are great. Snorkeling is really good with playful sea lions, sea turtles, manta rays, colorful fish, occasional sharks, and endemic land iguanas.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Red Booby)
Included Activities
- Yacht tour of Santa Fe Island
- Beach visit with sea lions
- Snorkeling at Santa Fe
Landmarks Santa Fe Island - Day 9
Santa Cruz to Quito
You have a free morning until 10:00 am when you check out. Transportation takes you to Baltra Airport for a late afternoon flight back to Quito. Your hotel transfers you when you arrive. The tour ends in Quito, and from there you can stay longer in Ecuador or look into other mainland Ecuador or Peru tours.
- End point
- Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre (UIO), Vía Tababela - Yaruquí Lote 18, Quito, Pichincha 1709, Ecuador (See you off )
Optional Activities
- One additional night in Quito City
- Extended stay in Ecuador
