Galapagos Islands Express

Quito, Baltra, Santa Cruz Island & Isabela Island plus Quito optional extension

Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, airline taxes and fees, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more. *

Overview

Itinerary at a Glance Galapagos Islands Express
Day	Destination
1	USA/Quito
2	Quito, Baltra, & Santa Cruz Island
3	Santa Cruz Island & Isabela Island
4	Isabela Island
5	Isabela & Santa Cruz
6	Santa Cruz Island & Quito
7	Quito/USA
Quito Extension
7	Otavalo Excursion
8	Quito/USA

Departs	Miami (MIA)
Highlights	Quito, Baltra, Santa Cruz, Isabela Island, Las Cuevas de Sucre, & Muro de Las Lagrimas plus optional Quito extension
Included Features	Round trip flights from Miami via LAN Airlines, including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees All ground transportation and transfers First class accommodations with private bath at Sebastian Hotel Quito Tourist class accommodations with private bath at the Santa Cruz Divers Lodge and Isabella Divers Lodge 14 lavish meals, including 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners Comprehensive sightseeing tours with a naturalist guide on the Galapagos Islands Galapagos National Park Fee ($100) & Transit Control Card ($10) Optional post-tour to Quito

Come with us to tour the Galapagos Islands in style. Ecuador is one of South America's jewels, with a remarkable collection of landscapes, animals, plants, people, volcanoes, cloud forests, and most amazing of all, the Galapagos Islands. More than 600 miles offshore in the Pacific, these islands are home to fascinating species of birds and animals such as marine iguanas, giant tortoises, blue and red-footed boobies, pelicans and even a few penguins.

These are the legendary islands that inspired Charles Darwin to propose his theory of evolution. They've inspired us to create this incredible Galapagos Island tour package, which includes flights, first-class hotels and island lodges, most meals, National Park fees, and a truly fascinating program of exploration on Santa Cruz and Isabela Islands. The package also includes a 1-night optional stay in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Don't wait a moment to book our new Galapagos Island Express. Space is truly very limited, and at these prices, you won't find a better value-for-money vacation anywhere.

Other packages you might like:

• Ecuador & Galapagos Islands: 8 days from $3214*
• Exotic Ecuador: 8 days from $1299*
• Galapagos Islands Wildlife Discovery: 8 days from $2799*
• Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands: 17 days from $4899*

Dates, Prices & Options

Coming from somewhere else? Unfortunately, we don't offer departures from cities that are not listed, but you can book your own connecting flights separately.

Want to stay longer? We may be able to arrange for you to extend your stay later than the scheduled dates, subject to availability. Contact us about dates, prices and restrictions.

We must receive photocopies of your passport(s) in our offices within 24 hours of your reservation being completed. If we have not received this information, your reservation will be subject to a higher airfare and/or cancellation.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: USA/Quito, Ecuador. Your exciting tour to the Galapagos begins today as you depart for Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Sebastian Hotel or similar

Day 2: Quito, Baltra & Santa Cruz Island. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra on the Galapagos, where you'll be assisted and transferred via ferry to nearby Santa Cruz Island.

Check in at the Santa Cruz Divers Lodge in the early afternoon. After lunch at Aventura Lodge, take a short 25 minute bus ride to Garrapatero Beach. The bus will drop you off in front of an easy trail that is only a 15 minutes walk to the beach. This beautiful white sandy beach is known for its flamingos and finches and a place where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. This is one of Santa Cruz's most peaceful and tranquil settings, the 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) of sand that compose El Garrapatero Beach is a tropical paradise. It is about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) northeast of Puerto Ayora.

Surrounded by beautiful mangrove trees, the beach is home to an incredible array of birds, most notably, flamingos and mockingbirds. You can also find marine iguanas, shrimp, Galapagos penguins, oystercatchers, and patillos amongst the white sands and clear blue water. There's also a freshwater lake nearby that is home to even more tropical animals, such as herons, grebes, and many shore birds.Enjoy the wonderful swimming and snorkeling opportunities. In the evening there will be a briefing followed by dinner at the Aventura Lodge. Red Mangrove Santa Cruz Divers Lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Santa Cruz Island & Isabela Island. After breakfast, you'll set out on short, easy hike to Los Gemelos (The Twins), two enormous collapsed lava chambers - an awe-inspiring visual reminder of the power of nature. The path to the lava chambers a wonderful introduction to the great biodiversity of the Santa Cruz Highlands, teeming with endemic flora and fauna, including the remaining Scalesia Forest draped in liverwort, large and small tree finches, the adorable Vermillion Flycatcher and more.

Afterward, drive by truck through a 600-acre private reserve where giant Galapagos tortoises freely roam, graze and sleep. Feel free to mingle with these gentle giants. As prehistoric as these creatures look, wait until you hear what they sound like! Galapago is Spanish for tortoise, and the islands were named for these amazing creatures. There will be a selection of field boots for your use if conditions are muddy.

Next, you'll have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the remnants of an illuminated lava tunnel. Created by lava flows, this tunnel is 1350 feet long with a ceiling nearly 20 feet high in most places, adorned with stalagmites & stalactites, mineral-colored walls, and a rippled lava floor.

After lunch at Aventura Lodge,, set sail for Isabela (about 2 hours, weather and tides permitting). As you approach the island, experience a visual feast as you watch sea turtles, sea lions and penguins in the stunningly clear turquoise water below. Arrive at your lodge for check-in. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to relax at your lodge. You may stroll the area known as Conca de Perla or stop at a nearby sea turtle "cleaning station" and time permitting a chance to snorkel. Red Mangrove Isabela Divers Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 4: Isabela Island. After breakfast, board a smaller craft to head out across the port, and if they are present, slow down to view the blue-footed boobies and Galapagos penguins sharing the rocky sunbathing space, before docking nearby.

Walk through a jagged lava field, passing abundant colonies of marine iguanas, to see a small canal with resting white-tipped reef sharks, called "tintoreras" in Spanish. At low tide, they may be as close as 2 feet below the surface. Take in the breaktaking views of black lava field, the emerald green sea and the forest green mangrove against the backdrop of the cloud-capped volcanoes—a sight to remember.

Back at the dock, you can choose to snorkel in the warm, shallow bay, for an opportunity to see the white-tipped reef sharks, sea lions and penguins.

After lunch at the Isabela lodge, visit Las Cuevas de Sucre, a park of lush green endemic plants. Here you will find the lava tunnels of Santa Cruz, where the ceilings look as if you are walking through a gold mine. Don't forget to bring a flash-light! Next, visit the El Mango Mirador, named after a mango tree planted here by early settlers. On a clear day, from the highest peaks, you can view the entire southern part of Isabela Island and other islands, both near and far such as Floreana and Santa Cruz. Red Mangrove Isabela Divers Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 5: Isabela Island & Santa Cruz Island. After breakfast, drive out of town via Humedales, along the 2 miles of picture-perfect, white-sand, palm-lined to Long Beach, the most beautiful beach in the Galapagos. As you enter the National Park, stop to walk up the stairs for astounding vistas from the top of Cerro Orchilla.

Next, you'll visit the Muro de Las Lagrimas (Wall of Tears), constructed from jagged volcanic rock carried long distances by penal colony prisoners. The path to the Wall of Tears is abundant with lava lizards - large, striped males and red-throated females - and you may see their nests along this trail. After lunch at the Isabela Lodge, set sail from Isabela for Santa Cruz (about 1.5 - 2 hours). Check-in at your lodge.

Enjoy a guided tour of the fascinating Charles Darwin Research Station, and meet the most famous giant tortoise: Lonesome George. Later on, you'll have some free time to browse the shops along Charles Darwin Avenue in Puerto Ayora. Red Mangrove Santa Cruz Divers Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 6: Santa Cruz Island & Quito. This morning bid farewell to the magical islands as you transfer to Baltra Airport for the return flight to Quito. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Hotel Sebastian (B)

Day 7: Quito/USA. Morning at leisure for last minute explorations. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA.

Quito Post-Tour Extension

Day 7: Otavalo Excursion. After breakfast, depart Quito and drive via beautiful San Pablo Lake to Otavalo, whose true beauty comes from its people, the Otavaleno Indians, and their market, undoubtedly one of the best in all of Latin America. Unlike other indigenous people who have given up their traditional dress for jeans and t-shirts, Otavalenos are still easily identified by their distinctive dress: women wear intricately embroidered blouses and a wealth of beaded necklaces, while men have long, braided hair and wear calf-length white trousers, ponchos and sandals.

The market takes place in the main Plaza, but don't hesitate to wander into the side streets, where the goods on display diversify and the prices are lower. Enjoy the cacophony of sounds as Andean pipe music mixes with Spanish and native Quechua voices, complemented by an explosion of color from the many fabric, fruit and other stalls.

Later this afternoon, continue to explore several other nearby villages: Cotacachi, famous for its leatherwork; Peguche, known for its weavings; and San Antonio de Ibarra, where you'll find wonderful carved figures from wood. Return to Quito.

Day 8: Quito/USA. This morning, you'll take a short ride through the north of the city to the Equatorial Monument, Mitad del Mundo. This monument was built as a tribute to the French Geodesic mission of 1736-44, which determined the position of the equator. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, where the colorful way of life of the different ethnic groups of Ecuador is on display. Start all the way at the top, where you'll enjoy a wonderful view, then make your way down through the floors of the monument to see examples of houses, musical instruments, costumes and other cultural artifacts from the various tribes and communities for an excellent overview of life in Ecuador.

Continue to the Intinan Interactive Museum, which shows the different theories of the Incas in determining the middle of the world as well as a number of interactive exhibits demonstrating events that occur only on the equator. Later, continue towards the city's historic district. Visit San Agustin Convent and its historical Sala Capitular. Drive by Independence Square, flanked by the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace and City Hall.

Stroll past El Sagrario Church and marvel at the exquisite stone facade of La Compania Church. Visit the San Francisco Church, built over the ruins of an Inca Palace in the 16th century. Tour the City Museum, which is housed in the old San Juan de Dios Hospital, a restored building from the 16th century. Here you will gain insight into what life was like in Quito, from prehistoric times to the 19th century. Conclude the tour with a ride up the road to the Panecillo for a breathtaking view of Quito. Later this afternoon, drive to Quito airport to check in for your return flight. Arrive in Miami tonight. (B)

Inter-Island Transportation

The Galapagos islands are connected by speedboat taxis that take travelers from one island to another. Unfortunately, most of the boats tend to be small, and the trip from island to island can be choppy. Be patient with this means of transport, as it is not possible to enjoy the incredible experiences found only on these islands without being able to get from place to place via the water taxis. Generally the trips can last from 1½ to 2 hours. While the inter-island trips can be bumpy at times due to rough seas, you'll travel in the relative comfort of our boats, the Marie Anne and the Sol y Mar, which are among the best in the islands. islands. islands.

Booking & Travel FAQs

Important Travelers Notes

Due to the fragile ecosystem on the islands, there are very few roads accessible by motorized vehicles. Some venues within the islands may be accessed by foot &/or horseback only. When touring the islands, you may expect considerable amount of walking, often on uneven terrain. If you are prone to motion sickness, we highly recommend that you bring medication to counter the effects of motion sickness. We strongly recommend that you consult with your physician regarding any concerns

The Red Mangrove hotels on this tour are the finest properties available on the Galapagos, These are small, intimate and unique hotels, with all the necessary amenities, but accommodations are more basic than lavish, as the delicate island ecosystems cannot support large luxury hotels. Click the hotel names above for more details

Beaches: Not all beaches are sandy. In fact, beaches often have sharp, volcanic rock that makes shoes necessary. We recommend that travelers take water shoes for walking on the beaches in order to protect their feet from injury.

Walking and hiking: On some excursions, you will have to walk relatively long distances, and in some cases, the walk can be uphill. While the level of difficulty is considered moderate, if you have difficulty walking or climbing, we suggest you consider opting out of the more strenuous excursions, particularly on Isabela Island where you can hike the Sierra Negra Volcano, the second largest in the world.

Shop & Compare

Our tours may look similar to others you've seen, but we invite you to shop & compare. There are important differences that make Friendly Planet tours the best you can find.

No Compromise on Quality: Despite our extraordinary prices, there are no compromises on our China tours. In all three cities, you'll stay in Superior First Class, centrally located hotels that are noted for their amenities and service.

Included Features: Your transfers as well as all the "must see" places in Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands are all included, not expensive extras as in other tours.

Credit Cards or Cash: Whether you pay by check, money order or your favorite major credit card, your tour price on this tour is the same. No extra cost to charge your dream vacation to China.

Personal Service: Most important of all, the extra ingredient that makes our tours stand apart from others—the wonderful, personal attention you'll receive from our friendly staff in the USA and our representatives in China —is completely free of charge. Compare our China programs to others, feature for feature. You'll see for yourself that ours are the very best value for money you'll find anywhere.

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