Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Wednesday: Miami/Quito
Flight from Miami to Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival in Ecuador’s capital city of Quito, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 2, Thursday: Quito City Tour and The Equator
The tour begins with a great view of Orellana’s way and Guapulo Sanctuary (XVII Century). We will continue towards the downtown, where we will take a walk visiting the Independence Square, surrounded by historically important buildings, such us the Cathedral (XVI Century), the Presidential Palace, El Sagrario Church (XVII Century), and one of the most beautiful baroque churches in South America, La Compañia de Jesus (XVII Century). After some stops to take pictures or just to take your breath back, we will visit the Church and Monastery of San Francisco built few months after the Spaniards arrival (XVI Century). Visit to the Panecillo Hill where the Virgin of Quito, (the only winged virgin) is located. From this perspective you will be delighted by the spectacular view of Colonial Quito mainly. Lunch at a local restaurant is included.
Continue this amazing tour, we will drive 15 Km. north of Quito, towards the Middle of the World. Here you will have two options, either to visit the Ethnographic Museum, located inside the Equator Monument, which shows a display of the main cultures of Ecuador. This monument was built to commemorate the Geodesic Scientific Mission, which came to Ecuador, during the 19th century, in order to study and measure the Earth Meridian. Or, visit the Inti Ñan Museum, a scientific and cultural Museum, located in the exact place where the Equator Line crosses and where you will be shown with different scientific experiments that you are truly stand on the 0° Meridian.
Day 3, Friday: Quito/Galapagos
Morning transfer to the airport to take the flight to the Galapagos, upon arrival you transfer to the dock to board the Santa Cruz. You will have Cabin assignment and introductory welcome talk.
North Seymour Island
Afternoon disembarkation (dry landing) for a walk along the coast and the interior of the island, observing bird colonies of blue footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. Next day’s expedition plan and dinner.
Day 4, Saturday: Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)
This morning brings us to the youngest island, Fernandina. Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness with lots of wildlife. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. Lunch on board.
Punta Moreno (Isabela Island)
Punta Moreno has a low-lying rocky shoreline surrounded by black and red mangrove lagoons, and abundant shore birds. It offers close views of volcanoes Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. It has a desolate and pristine landscape of impressively immense black lava flows and an extraordinary and unusual arid-zone vegetation. Darwin's finches, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, penguins, cormorants, brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies can be seen. Next day’s expedition plan and dinner.
Day 5, Sunday: Post Office Bay, Champion Islet (Floreana Island)
Possibility to snorkel from the pangas around Champion Islet or a ride on the glass-bottom boat. Return on board and navigate to Post Office Bay. Wet landing at the historic barrel that served as a post office, to learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. Lunch on board.
Punta Cormorant (Floreana Island)
Disembark at Punta Cormorant (wet landing) for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts, sandpipers, etc. Return to the beach and possibility to swim; there is great snorkeling at this site or kayak from the beach. Next day’s expedition plan and dinner
Day 6, Monday: Rabida Island (Jervis)
Morning disembarkation at Rabida Island (wet landing) on a red-colored beach, due to the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. A gratifying stroll along the beach of this small island (1.9 sq. mi.) allows the observation of a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwin’s Finches. Very close to the beach, hidden behind a strip of green saltbush, is a salt pond where at times Greater Flamingos migrate to. This is a great place to snorkel from the beach, both for beginners as well as for experienced snorkelers, due to the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. During navigation to our next island, we will keep our eyes open for dolphins. Lunch on board.
Las Bachas (Santa Cruz Island)
The sand at Las Bachas is made of powdered coral, which makes it white and soft, and a favorite site for nesting sea turtles. The Sally Lightfoot crabs are abundant on the lava rocks along the water's edge. Flamingoes, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and whimbrels can be observed. Next day’s expedition plan and Welcome cocktail.
Day 7, Tuesday: Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
After breakfast, disembark (dry landing) to visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, an Scalesia forest and the twin pit craters geology formation, Los Gemelos. From December to mid-April a visit to see the giant tortoises in the wild may be included, if weather conditions are good. Lunch at one of the farms in the highlands.
Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station
Afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Then a stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora before embarking on Yacht La Pinta. Next day’s expedition plan and dinner.
Day 8, Wednesday: Sullivan Bay (James Island)
Sullivan Bay is on the east coast of Santiago just across Bartolome Island. We land on a white coral sand beach and begin our walk over lava that flowed less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of Galapagos. This site is most interesting for the geography of the lava flows, the intricate squiggles, cracks, and designs of the liquid lava as it solidified. After 110 years, life is starting to return to the flows, with occasional tufts of grass and cactus growing in the cracks. Optional panga ride, Glass-bottom boat or snorkeling is possible. Lunch on board.
Puerto Egas (James Island)
Wet landing for a mid-length walk. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. This is a great opportunity to see land and marine birds. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and there is a colony of Galápagos fur seals. Opportunity for snorkeling and swimming from the beach. Next day’s expedition plan and dinner.
Day 9, Thursday: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal (Chatham) Island)
Disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. This small attractive port is the provincial capital of the Galápagos Islands (population 4,000), along a crescent-shaped bay. Visit the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center, located in a natural setting, where visitors can obtain information that will help them understand more the natural history of the Galápagos, with a great emphasis on human history and conservation. Later this morning visit the breeding center for tortoises (La Galapaguera) at Cerro Colorado, including a 45-minute bus ride. Seeing the semi-saddle back shape of the tortoises can be a great way to understand adaptation to dry-tropical environments. The rewarding fauna of this island may not only be the giant tortoises, since many island-specific endemics are found here. It includes mockingbirds, lava lizards, and the vermilion flycatchers. Return to Yacht La Pinta for lunch.
Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal Island)
In the afternoon, A dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers will bring us to Cerro Brujo for a wet landing at a white coraline beach. The beach is a great open walking area, with rewarding birdwatching. There are seabirds like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds, and some shore birds. Also, look for Galapagos sea lions. Highlights ashore include the Chatham (San Cristobal) Mockingbird, Chatham Lava Lizard; both species are endemic to this island, and seen nowhere else in Galapagos. We may also spot Yellow Warblers, Galapagos flycatchers.These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835, as San Cristobal was the first island where he set foot in the Galapagos. Farewell cocktail and departure briefing.
Day 10, Friday: Baltra Island/Guayaquil
After breakfast, disembark from the boat and transfer to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil. Upon arrival in Guayaquil, transfer to your hotel.
Day 11, Thursday: Guayaquil/Miami
Transfer to the airport for your international departure flight.
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Air transportation from Miami to Quito, Quito to Galapagos, Galapagos to Guayaquil, Guayaquil to Miami, coach class - (departures from other cities available for a surcharge)
- Round-trip airport/hotel transfers
- 7 nights cruise on the Yacht La Pinta, Galapagos Park Entrance fee is included; all meals and shore excursions
- Hotel accommodation including breakfast daily and taxes
- Guided tours in English including all entrance fees
- Meals as per itinerary
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Ecuador
Romantic Venture
Island Vacation
Wildlife Viewing
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