Ecuador & Galapagos Cruise

Overview

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Detailed Itinerary

Notice: Effective February 2018, all travelers entering Ecuador are required to present proof of medical and emergency travel insurance. Visitors who do not have a medical and emergency travel insurance coverage during their stay in Ecuador may be denied entry.

Day 1: Depart USA/Arrive Quito

2 nights Hilton Colon, Quito.

• Depart USA on your flight bound for Quito, Ecuador
• Arrive in Quito (9,500 feet above sea level) and transfer to your hotel

Day 2: Quito

Breakfast.

• Panoramic city tour of Quito and Equatorial Monument

Full Day Itinerary: Today, enjoy a panoramic city tour of Quito. Arguably one of the loveliest of all South American cities, Quito enjoys a spectacular setting surrounded by mountains and several snow-capped volcanoes, including the still-active Mt. Pichincha. Begin your walking tour at Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Municipal Building and the Archbishops’ Palace. The next stop, La Compañía de Jesús, has an ornate and richly sculptured facade and interior, with colored columns, 10-sided altars, and gilded balconies. Continue to the Monastery of San Francisco, Quito's oldest church and the largest colonial building constructed in Latin America.

Next, drive 16 miles north of Quito to the Equatorial Monument, the Mitad del Mundo ("Middle of the World"), commemorating the exact place where Charles Marie de la Condamine established the Equator, where you can stand with one foot in the northern and one in the southern hemisphere.

Day 3: Quito, Galapagos Cruise: Baltra & South Plaza Island

4 nights Yacht La Pinta. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island, gateway to the Galapagos
• Continue to the dock to board your yacht, La Pinta
• Settle into your cabin, and enjoy an introductory briefing and lunch
• In the afternoon, arrive at South Plaza Island

Full Day Itinerary: Transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island, gateway to the Galapagos Islands to begin your adventure. Upon arrival, transfer to the dock to board your yacht, La Pinta, your home for the next 4 nights. Settle into your cabin, and enjoy an introductory briefing and lunch.

In the afternoon, arrive at South Plaza Island. The turquoise waters of the channel here contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline, while a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus beyond, populated by yellow-grey land iguanas. Along the coastline you may find sea lion colonies, while sea birds play with the thermals that form along the cliffs of this small but spectacular island.

Day 4: Galapagos Cruise: Sante Fe Island &  San Cristóbal Island

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• After breakfast, take a dinghy to Sante Fe Island
• Snorkel & swim from the beach or take a glass-bottomed boat ride
• Disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island
• Visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Habitat

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, take a dinghy to Sante Fe Island, where you'll find an idyllic sandy white beach populated by many sea lion harems. The endemic land iguana, unique to this island, may be spotted during the morning walk amid the giant prickly pear cactus. Here, you may snorkel and swim from the beach, or explore the water from a glass-bottomed boat.

After lunch, we disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island and drive 40 minutes to the island’s southern shore. At Cerro Colorado, we visit the breeding centre for highly endangered giant tortoises in the midst of a fantastic deciduous forest, home to dozens of bird species, including the San Cristóbal mockingbird, and the San Cristóbal lava lizard, both island endemics.

Day 5: Galapagos Cruise: Punta Pitt & Cerro Brujo

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• This morning land at the eastern tip of San Cristóbal Island
• Enjoy a walk along the shoreline of Punta Pitt
• In the afternoon take a dingy to the white coral beach at Cerro Brujo

Full Day Itinerary: We land at the eastern tip of San Cristóbal Island this morning. The trail that ascends from the beach provides spectacular views of the shoreline; we can observe frigates, plus a colony of bachelor sea lions. After the walk, if conditions are favorable, there is a chance to swim from the beach and snorkel.

In the afternoon following lunch on board, a dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers takes us to Cerro Brujo’s expansive, white coral beach, great for walking, with rewarding bird-watching featuring seabirds and shore birds. Also, look out for Galapagos sea lions. These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835.

Day 6: Galapagos Cruise: Española Island, Punta Suarez & Gardner Bay

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Morning walk at Punta Suarez
• Enjoy the white coral beach of Gardner Bay

Full Day Itinerary: This morning, enjoy an exciting walk at Punta Suarez, to see its colonies of unique sea birds, including waved albatrosses (April-December), Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, and swallow-tail gulls. You'll also see the famous Galapagos "blow-hole," and keep an eye out for the famous marine iguanas with their interesting red, green and black coloration. Return to the ship for lunch on board.

In the afternoon, the picturesque white coral beach of Gardner Bay provides a beautiful setting for observing sea lions, mockingbirds, and finches. Enjoy an opportunity to snorkel or ride aboard a glass-bottomed boat.

Day 7: Galapagos Cruise:  Charles Darwin Research Station,  Baltra Island & Quito

2 nights Hilton Colon, Quito. Breakfast.

• Disembark and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station
• Transfer to the airport on Baltra Island for your flight back to Quito
• Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel

Full Day Itinerary: In the morning, disembark (dry landing) to visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoises within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest, also home to many land birds. The Research Station is the headquarters of scientific exploration, conservation and the National Park administration. Later, transfer via bus across Santa Cruz Island and take a short ferry ride to Baltra Island. Transfer to the airport to take your flight back to the mainland. 

Day 8: Otavalo Market & Quito

Breakfast & dinner.

• Drive along the Panamerican Highway to Otavalo
• Explore the famous market at Otavalo
• Continue to Peguche, a nearby Indian village
• Return to Quito for a farewell dinner and overnight

Full Day Itinerary: This morning, set out on the Panamerican Highway to Otavalo. After driving through dramatic Andean scenery, arrive at the famous Indian fair and the textile market of Otavalo, undoubtedly one of the best in all of Latin America.

The beauty of Otavalo lies in its people, the Otavaleño Indians. Unlike other indigenous groups who have given up their traditional dress for modern jeans and t-shirts, Otavaleños are true to their ancestral cultural heritage, and 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. Stroll by their many stalls filled with ponchos, scarves, blankets, hats, handbags and more, and observe as the Otavaleños barter in silence.

Then proceed to Peguche, a nearby Indian village, where local artisans weave in their homes. Learn about their culture and everyday life. Later, return to Quito for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 9: Depart Quito/Arrive USA

Breakfast.

• Transfer to the airport for your return flight
• Arrive in the USA later today

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• The high altitudes reached on this trip (Quito is at 9,200 feet above sea level) and the amount of walking involved, often on uneven terrain, require that you be in good physical condition to fully enjoy the trip. We strongly suggest that you consult your physician if you have any concerns regarding your ability to handle these conditions.
• Please remember that the exact route and program may vary according to weather and ocean conditions, and the wildlife encountered. There is no guarantee that all the possible species mentioned will be seen.
• Itineraries and program are subject to change without previous notice due mainly to readjustment of the National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes or safety reasons.

Dry landing: guests step from a dinghy onto rocks or a dock.

Wet landing: as a dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee-deep water and wade ashore.

Reviews & Photos

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about Ecuador? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about the Galapagos? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.