Itinerary

1. Day 1: Quito Arrival Day

   • Welcome to Quito! The largest best-preserve colonial city in America - was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano.
   • Depending on your arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. We can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel´s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00 hours. At this time, we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.

   Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel or similar 

   Meals included: In-flight 

2. Day 2: Arrive in Galapagos

   • You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Island of Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. On arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to Santa Cruz, a nearby island, crossing the narrow Itabaca channel by ferry. 
   • From here, we will continue by car to our first stop in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The highlands are home to the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Here, you will visit a private ranch where you will enjoy lunch before heading out for a walk in search of the giant tortoises. During this visit, you will also visit some lava tubes, which are formed when the surface of a lava stream solidifies. 
   • After this tour, you will continue to your hotel by private vehicle. Here, you will have a meet and greet with your local guide, who will explain the following day’s itinerary to you. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to relax and introduce yourself to this beautiful Island. 

   Accommodation: La Isla Hotel or similar 

   Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

3. Day 3: Bay Tour Excursion

   • After breakfast, you will enjoy a half-day tour of Academy Bay. Be sure to pack everything you need for this trip. Optional snorkel equipment will be provided free of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. During the tour, you will take a boat to Academy Bay, where you can swim and snorkel with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, as well as the famous sea lions; they are very curious animals and like to swim next to you underwater. Here you can also see the sought-after blue-footed boobies. 
   • Afterwards, climb to a nearby viewpoint, and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below. Afterwards, walk along the Playa de los Perros, where many sea iguanas are found basking in the sun. The enormous cacti, the deep, red color of the rocks and the turquoise, sparkling ocean make for great photo opportunities. 

   Accommodation: La Isla Hotel or similar 

   Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

4. Day 4: Charles Darwin Research Station

   • In the morning, we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about many of the endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands.
   • In the afternoon, you will travel by speedboat to San Cristobal Island. Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel.

   Accommodation: Blue Marlin Hotel or similar 

   Meals included: Breakfast

5. Day 5: Isla Lobos Excursion

   • After breakfast, you will be met and transferred to a dock, where you will take a quick boat ride to the nearby Isla Lobos. During this boat trip, observe many marine animals before setting foot on the island. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour where you will have the chance to observe frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, manta, sea lions, and sometimes sharks that all inhabit the island and its surrounding waters. The white coral beaches of San Cristóbal are great to walk around, relax and swim in before you return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

   Accommodation: Blue Marlin Hotel or similar 

   Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

6. Day 6: Flight Back to Quito

   • Enjoy some more free time this morning before transferring to the San Cristóbal airport. From here, you will take a flight back to Ecuador’s mainland. 
   • Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for one more evening of leisure before saying goodbye.

   Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel or similar 

   Meals included: Breakfast

7. Day 7: Departure

   • Our trip will end today, and you will have your International departures. Take your memories and photos with you and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a “buen viaje”!

   Meals included: Breakfast