Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You'll land in Quito, sitting at 9,350 ft in a high valley between the Andes. The city's UNESCO-listed Old Town waits with Spanish colonial buildings and narrow streets. If you have time after settling in, Calle La Ronda is worth a walk through for its shops, cafes, and local crafts along the ancient pedestrianized street.
Optional Activities
- Visit Calle La Ronda ancient pedestrianized street with shops and cafes
- Browse local handicrafts for sale in Calle La Ronda
- Explore Old Town Spanish colonial architecture
- View sparkling city lights spreading across surrounding hills and mountains
Landmarks/POIs Quito Old Town Calle La Ronda - Day 2
Cotopaxi National Park
Start your morning at Sangolqui's open-air market trying Andean food and picking up local handicrafts. Then head 1.5 hours to Cotopaxi National Park for a nature walk around Limpiopungo Lagoon with views of the 19,393 ft volcano towering above. Local chefs prepare lunch in San Augustin del Callo before you head back to the hotel for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional dishes prepared by region's best chefs in San Augustin del Callo), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sangolqui open-air market and sample Andean specialities
- Walk to Limpiopungo Lagoon in Cotopaxi National Park
- Nature walk in Cotopaxi National Park with views of the volcano
- Lunch at San Augustin del Callo prepared by local regional chefs
- Full day Nature Tour to Cotopaxi National Park, including lunch
Optional Activities
- Purchase clothing and handicrafts at Sangolqui market
- Chat with friendly local indigenous stallholders at market
- Spot birdlife including Andean Gull, Hummingbirds, and Condor
- Observe herds of wild llamas roaming the paramo landscape
Landmarks/POIs Sangolqui Open-Air Market Cotopaxi National Park Limpiopungo Lagoon Cotopaxi Volcano San Augustin del Callo - Day 3
Quito to Galápagos Islands
After breakfast in Quito, you'll fly to Baltra Island and board the Santa Cruz II expedition ship. Following check-in and a mandatory safety briefing, grab lunch and meet the Captain. By evening, you're sailing to Mosquera Islet to see one of the region's largest sea lion colonies plus Blue-footed Boobies and Sally Lightfoot crabs along the shore.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Welcome lunch in beautiful ship restaurant with Captain's toast), Dinner
Included Activities
- Mandatory safety briefing on board ship
- Welcome lunch on board ship with Captain's toast
- Expedition boat visit to Mosquera Islet
- View sea lions, seabirds, and Sally Lightfoot crabs at Mosquera Islet
- Easy walk across Mosquera Islet's flat sandy dunes
- Educational guidance from guides on marine and terrestrial ecosystems
Landmarks/POIs Galápagos Ecological Airport Baltra Island Mosquera Islet - Day 4
San Cristóbal Island
You'll visit Galapaguera on San Cristóbal Island's northern coast, where a white sand beach meets a brackish lagoon. Choose between swimming and snorkeling or take an 8-kilometre round-trip power walk to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat around a volcanic cone. Glass-bottom boat rides offer another way to explore the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Galapaguera giant tortoise home on San Cristóbal Island
- Walk and explore beautiful white sand beach
- View shorebirds, waders, and potentially pink flamingos at lagoon
Optional Activities
- Swim at white sand beach
- Snorkel in deep water
- Ride glass-bottom boat
- Power walk 8-kilometre round-trip to see giant tortoises in natural habitat
Landmarks/POIs San Cristóbal Island Galapaguera - Day 4
San Cristóbal Island
From Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, you'll drive 40 minutes to Cerro Colorado to see endangered giant tortoises at the breeding centre. Later, a small expedition boat takes you to Punta Pitt at the island's eastern tip where three boobies species live. You can snorkel, swim, or walk coastal trails with views of the ocean and volcanic landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Cerro Colorado tortoise breeding centre for endangered giant tortoises
- Explore Cerro Colorado's six-hectare forest home to endemic species
- Small expedition boat exploration of Punta Pitt coastline
- Nature walk on land at Punta Pitt with coastal trail views
- Snorkeling and swimming at Punta Pitt
Optional Activities
- Explore coast by small expedition boat at Punta Pitt
- Hike trails at Punta Pitt for spectacular coastal views
- Spot three species of boobies including Blue-footed Boobies
- Observe sea lions performing underwater acrobatics over reef
Landmarks/POIs Puerto Baquerizo Moreno Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve Punta Pitt - Day 5
South Plaza Island
After breakfast, you're heading to Santa Fe Island for a nature walk on white sand with sea lions and endemic Barrington land iguanas visible among prickly pear cacti. Swimming and snorkeling happen before lunch back on the ship. Then you'll sail through turquoise water to South Plaza Island to see land iguanas, marine iguanas, and rare hybrid iguanas in colorful plant growth.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Nice, long lunch rustled up by excellent onboard chefs), Dinner
Included Activities
- Nature walk on white sand beach at Santa Fe Island
- Swimming at Santa Fe Island
- Snorkeling at Santa Fe Island
- Glass-bottom boat trip at Santa Fe Island
- Kayaking at Santa Fe Island
- Nice, long lunch on board ship
- Visit South Plaza Island with flora exploration
- Observe land iguanas, marine iguanas, and hybrid iguanas
Optional Activities
- Glass-bottom boat exploration of underwater world
- Kayaking at own pace on Santa Fe Island
- Relax by swimming at Santa Fe Island
- Snorkeling at South Plaza Island
- Kayaking activities at South Plaza Island
Landmarks/POIs Santa Fe Island South Plaza Island - Day 6
Santa Cruz Island
You'll go ashore to Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station where over 200 scientists work on conservation. See baby tortoises in incubators and the finches Darwin studied. Try a traditional trapiche sugar cane grinder and walk through the Opuntia Cactus Forest before lunch in the misty highlands. Afternoon options include spotting tortoises, mountain biking, kayaking, or hiking to Tortuga Bay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in the highlands), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Charles Darwin Research Station
- View baby tortoises in incubators
- See Darwin's famous finches
- Try traditional trapiche sugar cane grinder
- Bus or bicycle ride to the sugar cane mill
- Explore Opuntia Cactus Forest
- Lunch in the highlands
- View giant tortoises in natural habitat in highlands
Optional Activities
- Mountain biking in highlands
- Kayaking in Tortuga Bay
- Hike 1.3 miles to Tortuga Bay and Playa Brava
- Visit Playa Brava seasonal nesting site for green turtles
- Explore Playa Mansa natural mangrove cove for swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking
- Observe sea lions and marine iguanas at natural sites
- Simply enjoy views from mangrove shade
Landmarks/POIs Puerto Ayora Charles Darwin Research Station Opuntia Cactus Forest Tortuga Bay Playa Brava Playa Mansa - Day 7
Coastal Exploration
You'll explore the coastline by small expedition boat with expert guides spotting marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs on rocky shores. Marine turtles swim in the water around you. Weather permitting, you might see albatross and surfing sea lions on ocean breaks as wildlife appears at every turn.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Coastal exploration by small expedition boat (pangas)
- Guided observation of marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs
- Spotting of marine turtles in waters
- Wildlife observation at every turn
Optional Activities
- Observe albatross bobbing on ocean and flying near water
- Watch sea lions surfing on beach breaks
Landmarks/POIs Galápagos Islands Coastline - Day 7
Española Island
Española Island, one of the oldest islands at four million years old, is a magnet for birders since almost the entire Waved Albatross population breeds here March through January. You'll look for Nazca Boobies, Blue-footed Boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls, red Española lava lizards, and colorful endemic marine iguanas. El Soplador blowhole shoots water 75 ft high, then you'll snorkel or relax at Gardner Bay and Osborn Islet.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lovely and relaxed lunch on board), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Española Island
- Guided observation of Waved Albatrosses and seabirds
- View of famous El Soplador blowhole
- Lunch on board ship
- Visit Gardner Bay coral beach
- Visit Osborn Islet
Optional Activities
- Relax and observe sea lions, Mockingbirds, and finches at Gardner Bay
- Snorkel at Gardner Bay or Osborn Islet
- Kayaking activities at Gardner Bay
- Dip in water for swimming
Landmarks/POIs Española Island El Soplador Gardner Bay Osborn Islet - Day 8
North Seymour
Morning snorkeling happens at Eden Islet, a volcanic cone where you might spot Galápagos green turtles, rays, and reef sharks in clear shallow waters. Glass-bottom boat or kayak options exist if you prefer. After lunch on board, you'll visit North Seymour to walk through silver-grey Palo Santo forest and watch Blue-footed Boobies, Frigatebirds, Swallow-tailed Gulls, sea lions, and marine iguanas in their colonies.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Well-deserved spot of lunch aboard the ship), Dinner
Included Activities
- Snorkeling at Eden Islet
- View of Galápagos green turtles, rays, and reef sharks
- Optional glass-bottom boat trip at Eden Islet
- Optional kayaking at Eden Islet
- Lunch on board ship
- Visit North Seymour Island
- Explore Palo Santo forest on North Seymour
Optional Activities
- Glass-bottom boat exploration at Eden Islet
- Kayaking along coast of Eden
- Observe Frigatebirds with red throats on shore
- Hike North Seymour trails to observe seabird and marine mammal colonies
Landmarks/POIs Eden Islet North Seymour Island - Day 9
Departure
Your expedition ends as you disembark at Baltra Island and transfer to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil. A representative will help with international flight connections. You can also request at booking to fly to Quito instead if that works better for your international departure.
Optional Activities
- Continue from Guayaquil to Quito (must be requested at time of booking)
- Join optional post-program to Ecuadorian Amazon and Napo River with lodge stay
- Join optional post-program to Mashpi Reserve Cloudforest Lodge with 3-night stay
- Add extra days to explore more of Ecuador with optional post-programs
Landmarks/POIs Baltra Island Guayaquil
