Day 1
Quito
Arrive into a small yet vibrant South American gem. Explore its dynamic cities, pristine beaches, and the unique Galapagos Islands. Your journey starts with a meeting tonight at 5 or 6 pm. Feel free to arrive earlier to enjoy Quito's charms, like the San Francisco Monastery, Cotopaxi volcano, the Cloud Forest, local hot springs, or the Equatorial Monument. Early arrival is recommended for those unable to reach the hotel by evening. Additional accommodation can be arranged on request.
Day 2
Quito- Isla Baltra- Las Bachas (Isla Santa Cruz)
Depart early from Quito for your flight to the Galapagos Islands, with a boxed breakfast provided for the 4:30 am start. Upon arrival, meet your guide and board the M/Y Le Grande Daphne. Settle into your cabin, lunch with fellow travellers, and fit your snorkelling gear. Explore Las Bachas on Isla Santa Cruz, a haven for Pacific green turtles, marine iguanas, and a variety of marine life. Enjoy its soft, white sand beaches, excellent snorkelling spots, and a lagoon home to flamingos and herons.
Day 3
Isla Rabida- Punta Albermarle (Isla Isabela)
Sail from Las Bachas to Isla Rabida, renowned for its unique red sand beaches. Explore a trail leading to a lagoon, a prime spot for flamingo viewing, and spot pelicans, marine iguanas, and sea lions. Discover a cactus forest and diverse wildlife, including land iguanas and lava lizards. Enjoy snorkelling amidst sea stars and colourful fish. Later, head to Albemarle in Isabela Island's northeast, a mangrove-filled bay inhabited by sea turtles, penguins, and cormorants. Take another opportunity to snorkel, possibly seeing sea turtles and flightless cormorants.
Day 4
Tagus Cove (Isla Isabela)- Bahia Urbina (Isla Isabela)
Overnight, sail from Punta Albermarle to Isla Isabela's western shores, waking up near Tagus Cove. Spend about 2 hours exploring, with options for snorkelling and viewing ancient graffiti. Observe flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, and the world's most northerly penguins. Trek to a viewpoint overlooking Isabela and Volcan Wolf. Later, visit Bahia Urbina, where seasonal plant life attracts various insects. Spot giant tortoises, land iguanas, and birdlife, including flycatchers and Darwin’s finches, on a short inland trek.
Day 5
Punta Espinosa (Isla Fernandina)- Punta Vicente Roca (Isla Isabela)
Visit Punta Espinosa, a unique blend of lava and sand at La Cumbre volcano's base. Explore its diverse wildlife, including marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Watch for Galapagos hawks and enjoy excellent snorkelling among turtles and sea lions. Observe flightless cormorants on the rocks.
In the afternoon, explore Punta Vicente Roca, perfect for wildlife spotting and snorkelling. Discover underwater caves, home to unique species like the Port Jackson shark, red-lipped batfish, and Pacific seahorses. Encounter schools of barracuda, snappers, and a variety of marine invertebrates in this rich ecosystem.
Day 6
Puerto Egas (Isla Santiago)- Caleta Bucanero (Isla Santiago)
Sail in the morning to Puerto Egas, a black-sand beach on Isla Santiago's northwest, featuring volcanic tuff formations. Wander among marine iguanas, pelicans, finches, and sea lions, exploring tidal pools with diverse marine life. Enjoy snorkelling with Galapagos fur seals. Afternoon visit to Caleta Bucanero on Santiago's northwest, a historical pirate haven. Snorkel and take a dinghy ride, spotting blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and nocturnal seagulls nesting in the cliffs.
Day 7
Isla Bartolome- Isla Sombrero Chino
Start your day on Bartolome Island, known for its dramatic volcanic features and home to Galapagos penguins and lava lizards. Ascend 360 wooden steps to a viewpoint overlooking the iconic Pinnacle Rock, a magnificent formation resembling a tooth. Enjoy panoramic views, possibly spotting a Galapagos hawk. Take the opportunity during the day to snorkel among vibrant marine life. In the afternoon, head to the picturesque Sombrero Chino, near Santiago Island, with its sandy beaches and unique volcanic scenery. Explore the area, encountering sea lions and penguins, and snorkel amidst reef sharks and sea turtles.
Day 8
Isla North Seymour- Charles Darwin Research Station (Isla Santa Cruz)
Begin your day at North Seymour, a popular Galapagos destination. Explore the island, observing blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and the unique nesting dynamics between boobies and frigates. Spot land and marine iguanas, sea lions, and the endemic incense tree. Post-walk, snorkel with diverse fish, possibly seeing white-tipped reef sharks and rays. Later, visit Isla Santa Cruz and the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, a hub for conservation and giant tortoise encounters. Utilize free time to explore the town and find memorable souvenirs.
Day 9
Puerto Ayora- Santa Cruz Highlands- Baltra- Quito
Your final morning in the Galapagos starts early for a mid-morning flight to the mainland. Before departing, explore the Santa Cruz Highlands, witnessing the unique scalesia cloud forest, wild dome-shaped giant tortoises, diverse Darwin finches, and possibly the vermillion flycatcher. Afterward, head to the airport for your 2.5-hour flight back to Quito, with a stop in Guayaquil. Arriving around 4 pm where you'll be transferred to your hotel for the night. A representative may visit for trip feedback.
Day 10
Quito
There are no activities planned for the final day so you can depart from the accommodation at any time, if you wish to spend more time to see what Quito has in store then please speak to our agents.
