Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You'll arrive at Quito airport where your English-speaking guide will meet you for the transfer to your hotel in the city. The rest of the day is yours to explore on your own and get settled in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Independent exploration of Quito
- Day 2
Quito to Galápagos
Head back to Quito airport for a short flight to Baltra in the Galápagos. After meeting your guide, you'll take a bus across the Itabaca Channel to a private ranch in the Santa Cruz highlands for lunch. Walk through a lush fern forest looking for giant tortoises, then check out the lava tunnels. Later you'll board the M/C Anahi catamaran in Puerto Ayora where you'll get a welcome drink and dinner to start your 14-night cruise.
- Meals
- Lunch (At private ranch in Santa Cruz highlands), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Santa Cruz highlands ranch
- Forest walk through ferns and miconias with giant tortoise viewing
- Lava tunnel exploration
- Yacht orientation and welcome reception
Landmarks/POIs Santa Cruz Island highlands Itabaca Channel Puerto Ayora - Day 3
Genovesa Island
Visit Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island with its 600-meter wide crater shield volcano. Follow a trail of coral sand and lava slabs spotting nesting colonies of common frigates, Nasca boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls. See red-footed booby nests from the largest pelagic bird nesting colony in the Galápagos plus abundant Great Frigate birds. In the afternoon, head to El Barranco in southern Darwin Bay and hike the 1.5-kilometer/0.9-mile volcanic rock trail past fragile lava cliffs ideal for nesting Storm Petrels. Spot two petrel species in cavities and holes, plus fur seals during panga rides along the cliffs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Darwin Bay guided trail with seabird colony viewing
- El Barranco guided hike with Storm Petrel viewing
- El Barranco panga ride with fur seal viewing
Landmarks/POIs Darwin Bay Genovesa Island El Barranco - Day 4
South Plaza and Santa Fe Islands
Explore South Plaza Island home to roughly 1,000 sea lions and several hybrid iguanas formed from male marine iguanas and female land iguanas. These unique iguanas stand out with their black or gray color, land iguana crest but marine iguana face and tail. Visit Santa Fe Island this afternoon to see more endemic iguana species. Find six endemic rats species unique to the Galápagos, with one species on Santa Fe Island. Look for giant tunas in the local waters.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- South Plaza Island guided tour with sea lion and hybrid iguana viewing
- Santa Fe Island guided exploration with endemic species viewing
Landmarks/POIs South Plaza Island Santa Fe Island - Day 5
San Cristóbal Island
Explore Punta Pitt at the east end of San Cristóbal Island. Follow a trail past an olivine beach then climb a volcanic tuff hill with great viewpoints. This unique spot is the only place in the Galápagos where three booby species and two frigates nest together, with sea lions present. After lunch, visit Leon Dormido Rocks, remains of a lava cone with two 500-foot vertical rocks forming a navigable channel. See tropic birds, frigates, and boobies overhead and colorful tropical fish below. Explore Lobos Island with blue-footed boobies and two sea lion species. Spot brown pelicans and shorebirds from pangas, with chances to snorkel with juvenile sea lions, manta rays, and sea turtles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Punta Pitt guided hike with booby and frigate viewing
- Leon Dormido Rocks panga cruise
- Leon Dormido Rocks snorkeling
- Lobos Island guided exploration
Optional Activities
- Lobos Island snorkeling
Landmarks/POIs Punta Pitt San Cristóbal Island Leon Dormido Rocks Lobos Island - Day 6
San Cristóbal Island
Visit the Galápagos Tortoise Breeding Centre in southeast San Cristóbal Island. Learn about giant tortoises on this island and conservation efforts tackling threats from introduced animals. The San Cristóbal tortoises are one of 11 populations. After lunch, head to San Cristóbal's Interpretation Centre to explore the island's history through nature, people, and conservation. End with a scenic walk up Tijeretas Hill for island views and an inlet for snorkeling. The hill is one of only a few spots where two frigate bird species nest in the same colony.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Galápagos Tortoise Breeding Centre guided tour
- San Cristóbal Interpretation Centre guided visit
- Tijeretas Hill scenic walk
- Tijeretas Hill inlet snorkeling
Landmarks/POIs Galápagos Tortoise Breeding Centre San Cristóbal Interpretation Centre Tijeretas Hill - Day 7
Quito Departure
Your tour arrangements end after breakfast and hotel checkout.
- Meals
- Breakfast
