Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Quito
You'll land at Mariscal Sucre International Airport and meet your driver for the 20-minute drive to your hotel in Puembo, a quiet area just outside the city. The property has a colonial style with gardens and a pool, so it's a peaceful spot to settle in. If you get there early enough, you can arrange a taxi into downtown Quito to walk around and get a feel for the city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Rincon de Puembo), Hotel (Hotel Rincon de Puembo (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Taxi to downtown Quito (available if arriving early)
Landmarks Pichincha Volcano Mariscal Sucre International Airport - Day 2
Quito to Galapagos Islands
An early transfer gets you to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos, with a quick refueling stop in Guayaquil (no time to leave the plane). Once you land at Baltra, your guide helps with luggage, then you take a short bus and a taxi boat to Santa Cruz Island. You'll check out the Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre to see giant tortoises being raised to help repopulate the islands, including the well-known Lonesome George. Later in the day you'll board the Treasure catamaran, which will be your home for the next week.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos), Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre with observation of giant tortoises and Lonesome George
Landmarks Galapagos National Park Baltra Airport Santa Cruz Island Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre Puerto Ayora - Day 3
El Eden and Dragon Hill
You head to El Eden, a tuff cone islet off Santa Cruz's west coast, where land iguanas and sea lions hang around the shoreline. The water's clear and calm, so snorkeling here shows you tropical fish, rays, and sharks up close, and kayaks are on hand if you want them. After lunch back on the boat, you sail to Cerro Dragon on northwest Santa Cruz, a great spot for watching birds with flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas in the area. A short walk takes you up the hill for views over the bay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos), Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos (or similar))
Included Activities
- El Eden islet visit with snorkeling activities
- Kayaking at El Eden
- Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) visit with guided walk and birdwatching
Landmarks El Eden Whale Bay Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) - Day 4
Tintoreras and Isabela Island
You'll explore Tintoreras, a group of small islets off Isabela Island where wildlife is concentrated in one area. From a vantage point you can spot herons, Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and whitetip reef sharks in the tidal channels. You'll also see a marine iguana breeding colony. After lunch on the boat, you visit the Arnaldo Tupiza tortoise breeding centre with hundreds of giant tortoises at different ages, then walk through Puerto Villamil's 'Wall of Tears' and the nearby wetlands where flamingos sometimes show up. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the village and relax on the beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos), Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos (or similar))
Included Activities
- Tintoreras islets visit with wildlife observation
- Arnaldo Tupiza tortoise breeding centre visit
- Puerto Villamil village exploration with The Wall of Tears historical site
Landmarks Tintoreras Isabela Island Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Centre Puerto Villamil The Wall of Tears - Day 5
Moreno Point and Tagus Cove
You walk to Moreno Point on Isabela's north coast between two large volcanoes. The trail crosses hardened lava flows and passes through coastal lagoons filled with birds around the water and mangroves. Later you sail toward Tagus Cove through Bolivar Channel, seeing how volcanic activity shaped the landscape into its horseshoe formations. A dinghy takes you along the cliffs where Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants appear. A 30-minute hike up to the cliff top shows Darwin Lake (a very salty uplifted lake) and several volcanoes, plus old graffiti carved by pirates and whalers centuries ago.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos), Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos (or similar))
Included Activities
- Moreno Point walk along lava flows to coastal lagoons
- Tagus Cove dinghy tour along cliffs
- Approximately 30-minute hike to cliff top with Darwin Lake and volcano views
Landmarks Moreno Point Sierra Negra Volcano Cerro Azul Volcano Tagus Cove Bolivar Channel Darwin Lake Volcan Ecuador - Day 6
Fernandina and Vicente Roca Point
You visit Punta Espinoza on Fernandina, the youngest island in the Galapagos, where a large marine iguana colony lives alongside unique flightless cormorants with adapted wings and feet for swimming, showing evolution in action. Various trails take you along the beach and across lava flows in one of the least-crowded parts of the islands. After lunch on the boat, you sail to Vicente Roca Point on Isabela Island. Small panga boats take you into a dark cave beneath a dramatic arch, then you see the collapsed volcanic amphitheatre of Volcan Ecuador. The protected coves have cold water but great snorkeling with sharks, penguins, puffer fish, and seahorses.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos), Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos (or similar))
Included Activities
- Punta Espinoza visit with marine iguana colony and flightless cormorant observation
- Multiple trails exploration on Fernandina across lava flows and beach
- Vicente Roca Point cave exploration by panga boat
- Volcan Ecuador collapsed amphitheatre viewing
- Snorkeling at Vicente Roca Point coves
Landmarks Punta Espinoza Fernandina Island Vicente Roca Point Volcan Ecuador - Day 7
Egas Port and Rabida Island
You see the striking black-sand beach at Egas Port on Santiago Island with its massive lava formations. Very few plants grow in this harsh spot with its relatively young lava. In the afternoon you check out Rabida with its red sand beaches, a lagoon, and a group of male sea lions hanging together. The area has lots of different birds including pelicans, white-cheeked pintails, and boobies. You can choose between a short walk to a saltwater lagoon or a longer route through the interior past palo santo trees. Snorkeling here shows many fish species and marine life, and you might spot white-tip sharks and sea lions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos), Berth / Cabin (Treasure of the Galapagos (or similar))
Included Activities
- Egas Port visit on Santiago Island with giant lava formations observation
- Rabida Island visit with lagoon and bachelor sea lion colony
- Rabida trails exploration through lagoon areas and palo santo trees
- Snorkeling at Rabida with fish and marine life
Landmarks Egas Port Santiago Island Rabida Island - Day 8
Bachas Beach and Return to Quito
You spend time at Bachas Beach, where white sand made from coral bits is where sea turtles nest. Behind one of the bays sits a small lagoon with brackish water where flamingos and coastal birds like black-necked stilts hang out. You'll see a historical site with two old barges left from World War II when the US had a military presence on Baltra. After this last stop, you head to the airport for your flight back to Quito and transfer to your hotel in Puembo.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Rincon de Puembo), Hotel (Hotel Rincon de Puembo (or similar))
Included Activities
- Bachas Beach visit with sea turtle nesting site observation
- Lagoon exploration with flamingo and coastal bird observation
- World War II historical site exploration with abandoned barges
Landmarks Bachas Beach Baltra Island - Day 9
Departure from Quito
You have breakfast at the hotel in Puembo and that wraps up your trip. There's nothing scheduled for the day, so you can leave whenever works for you. The hotel will confirm your pickup time for Mariscal Sucre International Airport with you locally. If your flight is later in the day, the hotel can store your luggage.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Additional nights in Quito at Puembo hotel or downtown Quito
- Four-night Amazon extension package (trip code: AE)
