Itinerary

Day 1: Quito
Meals: none. Guest arriving today are met at the airport by our Quito guide and transfered to Hotel Patio Andaluz.

Day 2: Quito
Meals: B, L, D A.M: Briefing by our Quito guide, fol- lowed by a cultural walking tour of Quito’s Centro Histórico, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. PM: Afternoon free. Welcome dinner in Theatrum Restaurant.

Day 3: Quito to Galapagos
Meals: B, L, D AM: Early flight to Galapagos Islands. Transfer from airport on Baltra Island to Santa Cruz Island, for a tour to the highlands to see giant tortois- es in the wild. Lunch in a ranch in the highlands. PM: Tour the Charles Darwin Research Station, in Puerto Ayora. Late afternoon, board Reina Silvia and set sail.

Day 4: Floreana Island
Meals: B,L, D AM: Punta Cormorant: beach with greenish olivine crystals, flamingo lagoon, walk to white sand beach with turtles’ nests and stingrays in the shallows. Post Office Bay: site of whalers’ post office barrel and early settlement Champion: fantastic snorkeling site, lots of sea lions. PM: Cruise to Puerto Velasco Ibarra, visit to Pirates’ Caves, with stop at gi- ant tortoise sanctuary en route.

Day 5: Southern Isabela Island
Meals: B,L,D AM: Bahia Elizabeth: Breeding site for Galapagos penguins, the largest concentration in the islands. Panga ride and snorkeling. PM: Punta Moreno: Dramatic lava flows , red mangroves, lava herons

Day 6: Central Isabela and Fernandina Islands
Meals: B,L,D AM: Bahia Urbina: in 1954 this area was uplifted 4 meters by volcanic activity, so it is a geologi- cal wonder. Also the site of the largest land iguanas in the Galapagos. PM: Cruise to Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island: huge heaps of marine iguanas, nesting flightless cormorants, Galapagos hawk.

Day 7: Northern Isabela Island
Meals: B,L,D AM: Tagus Cove: panga ride along the cliffs for good sightings of blue footed boobies, flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins. Dramatic snorkel- ing in rock gardens at the foot of the cliffs – swim with penguins! Hike past salt lake crater and up to top of tuff cone for spectacular 360 degree view. PM Punta Vicente Roca: at the foot of Ecuador Volcano, a panga cruise looking for huge Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) as well as of masked and blue footed boobies on the cliffs; great snorkeling site, lots of green turtles.

Day 8: Santiago Island
Meals: B,L,D AM: Playa Espumilla: Idyllic beach, green turtles, sea lions and good snorkeling. Caleta Bucanero: stunning scenery and interesting bucaneer history. PM Puerto Egas: Fur seals, marine iguanas, yellow crowned night herons and many other shore birds.

Day 9: Santa Cruz & North Seymour Islands
Meals: B,L,D. AM PM: Las Bachas: beautiful sand beach for swimming and snorkeling small lake with flamingos. North Seymour: large land iguanas, nesting frigate birds, blue footed boobies and swallow tailed gulls.

Day 10: Galapagos to Quito
Meals: B,L,D AM: Transfer to Baltra for flight to Quito. Farewell dinner in Alma Cocina (subject to change).

Day 11: Quito to home or onward journey
Meals: B. Transfers to airport for homeward flights. Note: Transfers are not provided for guests leaving after the trip end date.

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