Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You'll arrive in Quito at 9,350 ft elevation, so take it easy as you adjust to the altitude. The Old Town is your main stop, and there's a lot to see here with colonial buildings, plazas, and churches throughout the area. If you've got energy after settling in, walk down Calle La Ronda in the evening. This pedestrian street has shops, cafes, and local craftspeople selling handicrafts, so it's a good spot to grab dinner and get a feel for the city.
Optional Activities
- Visit Calle La Ronda pedestrianized street with shops and cafes
- Browse handicrafts along Calle La Ronda
- Optional 4-day Pre-Program to Lima and Machu Picchu
- Optional 4-day tour to Cloudforest Lodge in Mashpi Reserve
Landmarks/POIs Quito Old Town Calle La Ronda - Day 2
Cotopaxi
Head to the Sangolqui market early and wander through the handicraft stalls, grabbing samples of local food while you browse. After that, it's a drive out to Cotopaxi National Park where you'll hike to Limpiopungo Lagoon at 12,800 ft. The trail here is manageable and you'll probably see llamas, hummingbirds, and if you're lucky, an Andean Condor. Local chefs prepare lunch on-site, and you're back at the hotel by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch prepared by local chefs at Cotopaxi National Park), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sangolquí open-air market
- Walk to Limpiopungo Lagoon in Cotopaxi National Park
- Wildlife spotting including llamas, Andean Gulls, hummingbirds, and Andean Condor
- Lunch at Cotopaxi National Park
Landmarks/POIs Sangolquí Open-Air Market Cotopaxi National Park Limpiopungo Lagoon Cotopaxi Volcano - Day 3
Galápagos
You'll fly to Baltra Island and transfer to the MS Santa Cruz II expedition ship. Once aboard, spend the afternoon at Cerro Dragon on Santa Cruz's north shore. The walk takes you past a brackish lagoon where shorebirds and American Flamingos hang out, and from there you get views across the bay. Land iguanas are often spotted here too, so keep your eyes open.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flight to Baltra Island
- Transfer to MS Santa Cruz II
- Exploration of Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill)
- Walk past brackish water lagoon
- Wildlife spotting - land iguanas, shorebirds, American Flamingos
Landmarks/POIs Baltra Island Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) Santa Cruz Island - Day 4
Isabela and Fernandina Islands
Start at Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island's northwestern tip with a dinghy ride along the coast. Your naturalist guide talks through the geology while you look for flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, and boobies. If conditions allow, you'll snorkel near the cliffs and see green sea turtles, oceanic sun fish, and fur seals. After lunch, move to Fernandina Island in the afternoon where marine iguanas are everywhere, plus sea lions, Sally lightfoot crabs, hawks, and penguins.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Dinghy exploration of Punta Vicente Roca
- Guided exploration of dramatic geology with naturalist guides
- Wildlife spotting - flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins, boobies
- Snorkeling alongside cliffs
- Marine wildlife spotting - green sea turtles, oceanic sun fish, fur seals
- Exploration of Fernandina Island
- Wildlife spotting - marine iguanas, sea lions, Sally lightfoot crabs, hawks, penguins
Landmarks/POIs Punta Vicente Roca Isabela Island Fernandina Island - Day 5
Santa Cruz Island
You'll land at Puerto Ayora and head to the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the giant tortoise breeding center and the prickly-pear cactus forest filled with land birds. The station runs all the scientific conservation work happening in the archipelago, so your guide can explain a lot about what they're doing. Lunch happens up in the cooler highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The afternoon gives you some choices depending on what your Expedition Leader suggests, then it's back to Puerto Ayora to rejoin the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in the cooler highlands of Santa Cruz Island), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Charles Darwin Research Station
- Tortoise breeding centre tour
- Prickly-pear cactus forest exploration
- Land bird spotting
- Lunch in Santa Cruz highlands
- Afternoon activities in Santa Cruz highlands (options to be determined with Expedition Leader)
Landmarks/POIs Charles Darwin Research Station Puerto Ayora Santa Cruz Island - Day 6
Floreana Island
Start your day with a dinghy ride through Floreana's north shore channels, then head to Baroness Cove for the views. You'll land at Post Office Bay to check out the historic barrel that's been serving as a post office for over 200 years. After lunch, snorkel around Champion Islet, which is one of the best spots in the archipelago for underwater life. Later, walk at Cormorant Point from an olivine-crystal beach inland to a brackish lagoon where American Flamingos and Pintail Ducks hang out.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Dinghy ride among Floreana's north shore channels
- Views from Baroness Cove
- Visit historic Post Office Bay barrel
- Snorkeling around Champion Islet
- Glass-bottom boat exploration of Champion Islet
- Walk from Cormorant Point olivine-crystal beach to brackish lagoon
- Wildlife spotting - American Flamingos, Pintail Ducks, birds
Landmarks/POIs Floreana Island Baroness Cove Post Office Bay Champion Islet Cormorant Point - Day 7
Baltra and Santa Cruz
This is a slower day on the water while anchored off Baltra Island. After four days of exploring, you need a breather, so take advantage of the ship's library, books, and gym. In the afternoon, a boat takes you to Las Bachas beach on Santa Cruz Island for swimming or snorkeling in the turquoise water. Flamingos and sea turtles are often around. There's an expedition briefing before dinner where your guide covers what's happening the next day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Access to onboard facilities - library, gym
- Landing at Las Bachas beach
- Swimming at Las Bachas beach
- Snorkeling at Las Bachas beach
- Wildlife spotting - flamingos, sea turtles
- Expedition briefing for following day
Landmarks/POIs Baltra Island Las Bachas Beach Santa Cruz Island - Day 8
Santiago Island
Santiago Island is your destination for the day, and there's plenty to do with pristine beaches and water activities. Check out Buccaneer Cove on the northwest coast where you'll see marine birds and sea lions. Rock formations like Elephant Rock and The Bishop stand out along the coastline. By afternoon, head to Puerto Egas to see a fur sea lion colony and various birds. You can also snorkel along the rocky shores where marine turtles often appear.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Buccaneer Cove
- Water activities exploring rock formations
- Visit to Puerto Egas
- Fur sea lion colony viewing
- Exotic birdlife observation
- Swimming at Puerto Egas
- Snorkeling at Puerto Egas
- Marine turtle spotting
Optional Activities
- Water activities at rock formations
- Choice between wildlife excursion or swimming/snorkeling at Puerto Egas
Landmarks/POIs Santiago Island Buccaneer Cove Elephant Rock The Bishop Puerto Egas - Day 9
Rábida and Bartolomé Islands
Start at tiny Rabida Island off Santiago's southern shore and take a dinghy ride along the coast or explore the red-colored beach on foot. You'll spot sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, Yellow Warblers, and Darwin's Finches around the island. After lunch, sail to Bartolome Island with its iconic Pinnacle Rock and golden sand beach. Swim or snorkel off the beach and look for Galapagos Penguins, colorful marine life, and fur seals. The hike to the summit gives you views across the islands.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Dinghy ride along Rábida Island coast
- Exploration of red-colored beach
- Sea lion colony viewing
- Marine iguana spotting
- Mockingbird, Yellow Warbler, and Darwin's Finches observation
- Visit to Bartolomé Island
- Swimming at Bartolomé Island
- Snorkeling at Bartolomé Island
- Glass-bottom boat exploration
- Galápagos Penguin spotting
- Hike to Bartolomé Island summit
Optional Activities
- Choice between dinghy ride or beach excursion on Rábida Island
Landmarks/POIs Rábida Island Bartolomé Island Pinnacle Rock - Day 10
Marchena Island
Marchena Island is known as one of the archipelago's best scuba diving locations, though today you'll snorkel at two visitor sites. Head to Punta Espejo on the eastern coast for snorkeling and panga rides along the volcanic shoreline. The northern coast's Playa Negra offers more snorkeling and panga opportunities where you might spot shy fur sea lions, diving boobies, frigate birds, and learn some local history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Snorkeling activities at Marchena Island
- Visit to Punta Espejo on eastern coast
- Panga rides at Punta Espejo
- Exploration of volcanic shoreline
- Visit to Playa Negra on northern coast
- Panga rides at Playa Negra
- Wildlife spotting - fur sea lions, boobies, frigate birds
Landmarks/POIs Marchena Island Punta Espejo Playa Negra - Day 10
Genovesa Island
Genovesa Island starts with a steep but short 90 ft climb up steps to a rocky plateau. Once up there, you'll walk and see large colonies of Nazca Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, Great Frigatebirds, and Storm Petrels. If you prefer, kayak around instead or do both. Later, land at Darwin Bay's beach for a swim. Afterward, stroll along the shore watching hundreds of island birds, or just relax swimming, snorkeling, or paddling in the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Climb to rocky plateau at Genovesa Island
- Wildlife viewing - Nazca Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, Great Frigatebirds, Storm Petrels
- Kayaking at Genovesa Island
- Landing at Darwin Bay beach
- Swimming at Darwin Bay beach
- Snorkeling at Darwin Bay beach
- Kayaking at Darwin Bay beach
- Island bird observation
Optional Activities
- Choice between hike or kayaking in morning
- Choice between bird watching or swimming/snorkeling/kayaking in afternoon
Landmarks/POIs Genovesa Island Darwin Bay - Day 11
Departure
This is your final morning, spent on Santa Cruz Island's north shore. After breakfast, staff transfer your luggage to the airport while you visit the Tortoise Reserve. A dry landing at the passenger wharf and a bus ride inland takes you to see giant tortoises in the wild in the lush highlands. You'll walk through forests with Galapagos daisies, orchids, bromeliads, and endemic birds. Then it's transfer to Baltra Airport for your flight to Guayaquil, or head to Quito for more adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Tortoise Reserve on Santa Cruz Island
- Giant tortoise viewing in the wild
- Exploration of Santa Cruz Island highlands
- Viewing of Galápagos daisies, orchids, and bromeliads
- Endemic land bird observation
- Transfer to Baltra Airport
Optional Activities
- Optional continuation to Quito for post-programs
- Optional Napo River 3-night Amazon lodge post-program
- Optional Mashpi Reserve 3-night Cloudforest Lodge post-program
Landmarks/POIs Tortoise Reserve, Santa Cruz Island Santa Cruz Island Baltra Island
