Itinerary:
21 November – Quito
Arrival at Quito International Airport where you are met by our local guide and transferred by private vehicle to our hotel, Casona la Ronda.The rest of the day is at your leisure. Enjoy the vibrant and sophisticated culinary scene.
22 November – Quito – (B)
Your tour of Quito starts in the Colonial centre of South America’s oldest capital (close to 500 years old), with its narrow streets and hanging balconies. The tour includes: Independence Plaza flanked by the presidential and archbishop palaces; La Compania Church, considered the most beautiful church in the Americas; and El Panecillo Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the ‘Virgen de Quito’, the only Madonna with wings. The tour finishes 15 miles north of Quito to the Equator Memorial at latitude 0, where you will visit the Ethnographic Museum and demonstrations of the effects of being on the Equator.
23 November – Quito – Galapagos – (B,L,D)
You are transferred by hotel shuttle for your flight to the Galapagos, where you board the MV Beluga and begin your cruise. First stop is to the Highlands of Santa Cruz, where giant tortoises can be seen in the wild. Afterwards, visit the Charles Darwin research facility and National Park information centre, which houses a giant tortoise and land iguana breeding program.
24 November – Sombrero Chino & Rábida Islands – (B, L,D)
You will visit Sombrero Chino, a small volcanic island just off the southeast tip of Santiago. The name Sombrero Chino, meaning “Chinese Hat”, describes the shape of the island. There you will see Sea lions, marine iguanas and the Galapagos penguin.
25 November – Isabella Island – (B,L,D)
The largest of the Galapagos Islands, Isabella Island was formed by five active volcanoes fused together. Wolf Volcano is the highest point in the entire Galapagos at 1707m. You will explore Volcano Sierra Negra, which has a caldera 10kms in diameter; and Puerto Villamil, a charming small town with a white sandy beach and a Tortoise Breeding Station and flamingo lagoon. You may also visit the Tintoreras or Los Humedales, conditions permitting.
26 November – Isabela Island – (B,L,D)
Your first stop today is Punto Moreno in the central southwestern coast of Isabela Island. From there you will enjoy spectacular views of Volcanoes Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. Next you head to Elizabeth Bay by dinghy, where you can see penguins on the small islets in the bay. The bay is also home to 3 species of mangroves and sea turtles and rays can usually be seen in the waters surrounding.
27 November – Isabella Island – (B,L,D)
Your first stop today is at Urbina Bay at the foothills of Alcedo and Darwin Volcanoes. Geologically speaking, this is a fascinating place. Urbina Bay was formed by an up-lifting of the seafloor that occurred in 1954. Here you will see colourful land iguanas and giant tortoises. Afterwards, you head to Tagus Cove, a natural harbour where whalers and pirates left their ship’s names painted or carved on rocks years ago. Your naturalist will take you uphill to Darwin’s Crater saltwater lake.
28 November – Isabella-Fernandina Island – (B,L,D)
Today you explore the youngest (and still active) volcanic island, Fernandina. Visit Punta Espinoza, a place famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas as well as the habitat for unique species of birds like the flightless Cormorant, Galapagos penguin, and Galapagos hawk. Afterwards, dinghy rides along the cliffs allow you to see the partially sunken cave at the water’s edge of Punta Vicente Roca. Here you can find resident Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies and flightless cormorants.
29 November – Santiago and Bartolome Islands – (B,L,D)
Santiago Island is known for its wide variety of sea lions, marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs and fur seals. We will take a walk along the rocky coastline of Puerto Egas to view some of the Galapagos best tide pools. Once the site of a salt mine, you can still see some ruined buildings and rusty equipment. The mine itself is in a volcanic cone which has a small shallow lake that fills up with saltwater and houses flamingos. Later, we visit the small island of Bartolome (or Bartholomew). Situated in the centre of the archipelago, more than 10 islands can be spotted from the viewpoint at the top on a clear day. Sea lions and penguins caper around Pinnacle Rock, and there is a lovely golden-sand beach for swimming and snorkelling.
30 November – North Seymour Island – Quito (B)
Your last Galapagos visit will be to North Seymour, a small island formed by an uplift of submarine lava thousands of years ago and covered by low bushy vegetation. home today for native Palo Santo trees, colonies of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed doves and frigates.
Your guide will then accompany you back to Baltra for your return flight to Quito. There you can enjoy the lively city at your leisure.
01 December – Departure home
Hotel transfer to the airport for international flights home.
