Intense Galapagos

This trip includes 7 nights cruising around the Galapagos islands on board the Samba, a 14 passenger tourist motor yacht. You can of course select any other yacht and even cruise length, and we will send you the revised itinerary and prices by email.

Day 1: Arrival in Quito (Sunday)
Upon arrival in Quito transfer to the hotel. Accommodations.

Day 2: Quito
Breakfast at hotel. Around 9am you will be picked up for a tour of Colonial Quito and the Middle of the World (5hrs approx.). Accommodations.

Day 3: Quito - Galapagos
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to the airport to board the flight to Galapagos. The flight from Quito (via Guayaquil) to Baltra airport in Galapagos takes around 2 and a half hours. Arrival at Baltra airport. Transfer by our guide to the yacht. Snack and orientation while traveling to nearby Plazas Sur, large sea lion colonies, land iguanas, opuntia cacti, swallow-tailed gulls, and red-billed tropic birds, etc. Duration of land visit 2-3 hours. Possibly snorkeling.

Day 4: Galapagos - Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Station - Highlands
Am:Puerto Ayora: Charles Darwin Research Station and walk through town (souvenir shopping if desired)
Pm: The lush greenery of the Santa Cruz Highlands is a definite contrast with the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. A point of interest is the famed lava tunnels, a fun and geologically informative visit.

Day 5: Galapagos - Española, Gardner Bay - Punta Suarez
Am: Gardner Bay (Hood Island). Snorkeling at beach and panga ride 2 1/2 hours.
Pm: Punta Suarez: Large colonies of blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, marine iguanas, albatrosses, swallow- tailed gulls.

Day 6: Galapagos: Floreana, Punta Cormorant - Post Office Bay
Am: Punta Cormorant (Floreana). Visit of a lagoon, where we find flamingoes and other birds, beautiful white sand beach where sea turtles nest, snorkeling at Devils crown.
Pm: Post Office Bay (Floreana). Short visit to the historic Post Office Barrel. Early departure to the island Isabela looking for whales and dolphins while we travel.

Day 7: Galapagos - Isabela, Punta Moreno - Bahia Elizabeth
Am: Punta Moreno (isabela) 3 hours walk, lava fields, flamingo lagoons, some cormorants and penguins.
Pm: Bahia Elizabeth: Panga ride, penguins, cormorants, sea turtles, quiet mangrove lagoons.

Day 8: Galapagos - Isabela,Urbina Bay - Fernandina - Punta Espinoza
Am: Urvina Bay: Relatively long walk to see land iguanas and marine iguanas, variety of native and endemic plants, remains of raised seabed exposing corral heads and other marine fossils. Nesting cormorants and sometimes a few Galapagos Tortoises in their natural habitat.
Pm: Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island): Large colonies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants nesting, penguins, baby sea lions, snorkeling.

Day 9: Galapagos - Santiago - Puerto Egas and Bartolome Island
Am: Puerto Egas (Santiago). Coastal walk exploring the great variety of tidal marine life, Galapagos fur seals. Swimming and snorkeling -
Pm. Bartholomew: Walk to get panoramic view of Bartholomew and it is famous Pinnacle Rock. Swimming and snorkeling. Possibility to see more penguins.

Day 10: Galapagos - Quito
Am: Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) - you will get to know the Galapagos green sea turtles that really are green, not black as in the name of the location. Return to Baltra in time for flight to mainland Ecuador. Arrival in Quito and transfer to the hotel. Accommodations.

Day 11: Fly out from Quito
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to airport for your international flight.