Itinerary

Day 1:
Fly to Quito, Ecuador. Board your flight to Quito. Your flight to South America arrives late this evening and will be met by your Local Host.

Day 2:
Quito. An included sightseeing tour showcases Quito’s treasures: the historic stone murals of the LEGISLATIVE PALACE; Independence Plaza and the 16th-century SAN FRANCISCO MONASTERY; the Jesuit’s LA COMPANIA CHURCH with its stunning golden altars; and the impressive paintings at the WORKSHOP AND MUSEUM of Oswaldo Guayasamin. Have your photo taken in front of the EQUATORIAL MONUMENT, “the center of the world.” This evening, enjoy a WELCOME DINNER at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 3:
Quito–Baltra–Galápagos Islands (Embarkation)–Cruising. Fly to Baltra, one of the remote Galápagos Islands. Upon arrival, board the La Pinta yacht for an exciting eight days of CRUISING among various Galápagos Islands. (B,L,D)

Please note: The ship’s itinerary will vary according to the Galápagos National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, and seasonal changes to create the perfect cross-section of sites visited.

Day 4:
Galápagos Islands. Travel ashore each day to the remote islands with your expert naturalist who introduces you to the unique fauna living free and fearless of man. Each cruise will visit the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION, established to help conserve the Islands’ natural habitat. On the last night of your cruise, your Tour Director hosts a FAREWELL DINNER, ending an unforgettable experience. (B,L,D daily)

Day 5:
Galápagos Islands. Travel ashore each day to the remote islands with your expert naturalist who introduces you to the unique fauna living free and fearless of man. Each cruise will visit the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION, established to help conserve the Islands’ natural habitat. On the last night of your cruise, your Tour Director hosts a FAREWELL DINNER, ending an unforgettable experience. (B,L,D daily)

Day 6:
Galápagos Islands. Travel ashore each day to the remote islands with your expert naturalist who introduces you to the unique fauna living free and fearless of man. Each cruise will visit the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION, established to help conserve the Islands’ natural habitat. On the last night of your cruise, your Tour Director hosts a FAREWELL DINNER, ending an unforgettable experience. (B,L,D daily)

Day 7:
Galápagos Islands. Travel ashore each day to the remote islands with your expert naturalist who introduces you to the unique fauna living free and fearless of man. Each cruise will visit the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION, established to help conserve the Islands’ natural habitat. On the last night of your cruise, your Tour Director hosts a FAREWELL DINNER, ending an unforgettable experience. (B,L,D daily)

Day 8:
Galápagos Islands. Travel ashore each day to the remote islands with your expert naturalist who introduces you to the unique fauna living free and fearless of man. Each cruise will visit the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION, established to help conserve the Islands’ natural habitat. On the last night of your cruise, your Tour Director hosts a FAREWELL DINNER, ending an unforgettable experience. (B,L,D daily)

Day 9:
Galápagos Islands. Travel ashore each day to the remote islands with your expert naturalist who introduces you to the unique fauna living free and fearless of man. Each cruise will visit the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION, established to help conserve the Islands’ natural habitat. On the last night of your cruise, your Tour Director hosts a FAREWELL DINNER, ending an unforgettable experience. (B,L,D daily)

Day 10:
Galápagos (Disembarkation)–Guayaquil. Depart the Galápagos today for Guayaquil. Enjoy time in Guayaquil or relax at your hotel before your late-evening homebound flight departs. (B)

Please Note: Homebound flights may be booked for any time this day; accommodations are not provided this evening.

Day 11:
An early morning arrival is ideal for making homebound connections.

Dates & Prices

QUITO
Sightseeing with a Local Guide, Legislative Palace, San Francisco Monastery, La Compania Church, Workshop and Museum of Oswaldo Guayasamin, Equatorial Monument, welcome dinner.

GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
Seven nights cruising the Galápagos National Park aboard the La Pinta, Charles Darwin Research Station, guided sightseeing each day with a local naturalist, and a special farewell dinner.

ALL INTRA-TOUR FLIGHTS

Examples of Islands visited:

NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND:
Nesting colonies of magnificent frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas.

HOOD ISLAND:
Most southeastern island featuring eroded lava terrain. See Galápagos sea lions, lava lizards, Nazca boobies, and the only island with a Waved Albatrosses colony (May-December). Also see the famous blowhole!

FLOREANA ISLAND:
See flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts, and sandpipers. Great snorkeling provides close-up views of the marine life like sea lions, rays, sea turtles, and possibly the Galápagos penguin. This island is also the site of Post Office Bay where you learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers.

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND:
The second-largest island boasts the largest human population, giant tortoises in the wild, and the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION. The highlands are great for birdwatching, walking through a Scalesia forest and seeing the twin pit craters Los Gemelos.

TOWER ISLAND:
Due to its northern isolation and the effect of northern currents, this island’s ecosystems are quite different from others. Possessing the most seabird diversity, you will find frigate birds, red-footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches, mockingbirds, and the short-eared owl. Good snorkeling is found here too—along with hammerhead sharks!

ISABELA ISLAND:
On the northwest of Isabela, secluded Tagus Cove was in past centuries a favorite anchor for pirates and whalers old graffiti can still be found. The vegetation in the area includes the unusual Palo Santo trees—these white-barked trees are leafless and look dead most of the year. A walk takes you to the back of Darwin Crater, filled with salt water and one of Isabela’s six volcanoes. Galápagos penguins, flightless cormorants, sea turtles, marine iguanas, and wild, giant tortoises are a few species that call this island home.

FERNANDINA ISLAND:
The youngest of all islands is home of continuous volcanic activity and recent black lava flows. Considered by many to be one of the most pristine islands in the world due to the absence of introduced mammals. Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant.

BARTOLOMÉ ISLAND:
The most photographed view of islands in the Galápagos is seen here with Pinnacle Rock. A great place for swimming and snorkeling with its numerous schools of tropical and subtropical fish, sea lions, sharks, rays, sea turtles, and Galápagos penguins.