DAY 1, TUE, JUNE 25th

WELCOME TO ECUADOR!

Arrive in Quito. Upon clearing Immigration and Customs, transfer to Swissotel. Accommodation will be in 1 Swiss Advantage Room for 2 nights. Breakfast and taxes included.

QUITO

Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, is nestled in the Andes Mountains at an altitude of 2,800 meters (9,000 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest capital cities in the world. The city is known for its colonial architecture, rich cultural heritage, and stunning natural beauty.

The historic center of Quito, known as the Old Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to many of the city’s most significant landmarks. Here, you can find beautiful churches, palaces, museums, and plazas that showcase the city’s colonial past.

One of the most iconic landmarks in Quito is the La Compania de Jesus church, renowned for its baroque architecture and lavish interiors. Other popular attractions include the Plaza Grande, which is the main square of Quito, and the Presidential Palace, which sits at one end of the square.

DAY 2, WED, JUNE 26th

HALF DAY TOUR OF QUITO WITH LUNCH

Enjoy a tour of Quito that is sure to impress! It starts in old colonial Quito in the main square, where the presidential palace, the main cathedral and some other important buildings can be appreciated. Then it continues to Plaza San Francisco, with a quick stop in the way so that you can try the typical sweets of Quito. San Francisco is the oldest church in Quito, and it is full of history and legends.

Our next stop will be a Chocolate Experience, where you will have a chance to discover and taste the finest chocolate in the world! Ecuadorians are very proud of being one of the most important world producers of the finest aroma cocoa seeds and here you will learn the process of turning cacao into creamy chocolate for consumption.

Of final stop will be Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, one of the most beautiful churches in South America, or perhaps the world, truly a treasure. Your Guide will then take you to a traditional restaurant in Quito where you will be able to taste the most traditional dishes.

(B, L)

DAY 3, THU, JUNE 27th

QUITO / GALAPAGOS

Private transfer to the airport you’re your flight to San Cristobal.

Arriving in the Galapagos, passengers are picked up at the airport by our natural guides and taken on a ten-minute bus drive to the pier to board the Galapagos Legend.

Begin your 4-night cruise through Darwin’s “Enchanted Islands”. All cabins are spacious and feature a private bath/shower and air-conditioning. All meals, lectures and shore excursions are included. The excursions and cultural programs are led by category “3” naturalist with years of experience in guiding in the Galapagos Islands.

PM: INTERPRETATION CENTER & TIJERETAS HILL (SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND)

Dry landing in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, capital of the Galapagos Islands. Passengers visit the Interpretation Center, an excellent place to learn about Natural History in the Galapagos. The Museum of Natural History displays information on the volcanic origins of the islands, their remoteness from the continent, ocean currents, climate, the arrival of the different species and their colonization, among other points of interest. The human history is also showcased, chronologically narrating the most significant events related to the discovery and colonization of the islands.

Difficulty level: Difficult

Type of terrain: Rocky

Duration: 1-hour visit

(B, L, D)

DAY 4, FRI, JUNE 28th

CRUISING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

AM: GARDNER BAY (ESPAÑOLA ISLAND)

Wet landing on a beautiful white coral sand beach guarded by a colony of sea lions. There are no trails, so we stay along the shore where we can spot Galapagos hawks, American Oystercatchers, Galapagos Ground Doves, Hood mockingbirds*, Yellow Warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and three species of Darwin’s finches: a subspecies (Geospiza fuliginosa) of the Large Cactus Finch, which is similar to the large ground finch, the Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) and the Warbler Finch (Certhidea Olivacea), another endemic subspecies.

Swimming and snorkeling* offer a great variety of Galapagos marine wildlife: king angelfish, Creole fish, damsel fish, parrotfish, manta rays, and white-tipped reef sharks.

Difficulty level: easy

Type of terrain: sandy

Duration: 1-hour walk, 1-hour snorkeling

PM: PUNTA SUAREZ (ESPAÑOLA ISLAND)

Dry landing. An island of geological interest, we explore volcanic formations and a riveting wildlife: large sea lion colonies and seabirds including the Española mockingbird, Nazca Boobies and the spectacular, Red-billed Tropicbird. You will also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs.

A somewhat lengthy hike will bring you among Nazca and Blue-footed Boobies, * right up to nesting grounds that sometimes overlap the trail. Other birding favorites include Galapagos Dove, Galapagos Hawk, Swallow-tailed Gulls, and the world’s largest colony of Waved Albatross, * an unequivocal highlight during mating season (May-December).

Admire the island’s dramatic backdrop, featuring the famous Soplador, a seaward blowhole that shoots water up to 23 m. (75 ft.) in the air.

Difficulty level: difficult

Type of terrain: rocky

Duration: 2 ½-hour walk approx.

(B, L, D)

DAY 5, SAT, JUNE 29th

CRUISING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

AM: POST OFFICE (FLOREANA ISLAND)

Wet landing. Located on the north side of Floreana, the bay was named because in 1793 Captain James Colnett installed a wooden barrel which served as an informal post office for sailors passing through, who would take letters with them back to their destinations. Today, visitors continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel, hoping that some other traveler, going to the letter destination, will take it back for free. The chances are that the letterposted can take a long time to arrive to its destination. However, there have been cases where it has arrived before the sender.

We may also encounter Darwin’s finches, * Yellow Warbler and Lava Lizards. Great snorkeling opportunities with Green Pacific Sea Turtles. * As well, the island is best known for its endemic vegetation: Scalesia villosa, Lecocarpus Pinnatifidus, and the Galapagos Milkwort. Snorkelers can practice on the main beach among playful sea lions.

Difficulty level: easy

Type of terrain: sandy

Duration: 30-minute walk, 1-hour snorkeling

PM: CORMORANT POINT AND DEVIL´S CROWN (FLOREANA ISLAND)

Wet landing, on an olivine green sandy beach. We hike from the black mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This island features some endemic plants such as Scalesia villosa, white and black mangrove, and holy stick. The trail continues to a beautiful white sandy beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific Sea Turtles. It is important to avoid walking in the water due to the Sting Rays that may be hiding in the sand, which can be dangerous if accidentally stepped on. From the beach, one can spot sea turtles, blue-footed boobies plunging into the water, and small reef sharks floating along the shoreline in the search for food.

This coral-sand beach marks the end of our trail, and we head back to the olivine beach we landed on, to swim or snorkel amongst sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions and, on a good day, white-tipped reef sharks. A small colony of penguins resides on Floreana and can sometimes be observed as well.

(B, L, D)

DAY 6, SUN, JUNE 30th

CRUISING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

AM: DRAGON HILL (SANTA CRUZ ISLAND)

Arriving at a small lava dock our first encounters are with marine iguanas that blend-in perfectly to the dark rock. As we walk past large prickly pear cacti we arrive at one end of a long sickle-shaped beach with Dragon Hill standing in the distance. Our walk takes us on a circular path, past a shallow lake where flamingoes frequently come to feed. Waders such as stilts, turnstones and sandpipers work the muddy edges frenetically looking for food as we continue inland to a dry, forested habitat where land iguanas’ nest and burrow.

Difficulty level: intermediate

Type of terrain: rocky

Duration: 2-hour walk

PM: PUNTA BOWDITCH

Feel the indescribable feeling of being where no one else has. Relax on a powdery beach, snorkel around turquoise water islets and hike beside salt pools and dried white corals. Be one of the first humans to visit Punta Bowditch.

Difficulty level: easy

Type of terrain: sandy

Duration: ½-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling

(B, L, D)

DAY 7, MON, JULY 1st

FLY BACK TO QUITO

AM: HIGHLANDS (SANTA CRUZ ISLAND)

Dry landing. A 45-minute bus ride will take us to the Santa Cruz highlands, located in the northwest of Puerto Ayora, where we will find a natural reserve with giant tortoises. * These enormous and slow-moving reptiles are responsible for the island’s name and therefore approaching them in their humid and forested abode is always an inspiring adventure. They can weigh between 250 and 300 kg and can live up to 200 years. Additionally, travelers can walk inside surprising lava tubes.

Difficulty level: easy

Type of terrain: flat and muddy (depending on season)

Duration: 1½-hour walk

Transfer to Baltra’s airport to take your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil and connect to Lima.

(B)

End of our services.

The Ecuador schedule herein are subject to change without notice and can be operated in a different sequence, depending on operational considerations. Islands visits can be changed according to availability. All hotels are subject to availability and can be substituted for similar hotels.

All payments for custom-designed itineraries are non-refundable in the event of cancelation. We highly suggest TRIP INSURANCE.