Itinerary

June 26, 2012 – Tuesday - Arrive Quito, Ecuador
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador.  Most flights will arrive in the late evening around 10pm or later.  Group transfer to the Hilton Colon is included and is based on arrival time.  Because it will be too late to hold a group meeting this evening, we will hold our welcome group meeting in the morning over breakfast. Overnight at the Hilton Colon in Quito.

June 27, 2012 – Wednesday - Quito / Baltra / Santa Cruz Cruise – Baltra / North Seymour Island (B,L,D)
Morning transfer to the Quito airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival transfer to the M/V Santa Cruz cruise ship. Welcome introductory briefing and lunch.
North Seymour Island
Afternoon disembarkation (dry landing) for a walk along the coast and the interior of the island, observing bird colonies of blue footed boobies, two species of frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. Opportunity for snorkelling or coastal exploration. Expedition plan for Thursday, welcome cocktail and dinner.

June 28, 2012 – Thursday - Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island) / Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island) (B,L,D)
Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island)
Since there is no landing site at this location, the coastal exploration is by panga, while the naturalist guide explains the dramatic geology of the area with remains of lava flows and tuff stone layers. This is the nesting place for flightless cormorants, the only existing marine birds in the world other than penguins that have changed their condition of flying birds to diving birds. Wildlife here also includes sea lions, Galápagos fur seals, Galápagos penguins, blue-footed and Nazca boobies and noddy terns. Depending on the conditions of the ocean, it will be possible to schedule a snorkelling outing along the cliffs of partly-sunken Ecuador Volcano, near the northern tip of Isabela Island. This area has a very rich marine life, and is seasonally visited by green sea turtles and oceanic sun fish (Mola mola). Lunch on board.
Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)
Afternoon visit to the youngest island of the archipelago, Fernandina. Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk over dark lava. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness and a lot of wildlife. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina boasts a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, sally light-foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. Snorkelling off the shore. Expedition plan for Friday and dinner.

June 29, 2012 – Friday - Tagus Cove (Isabela Island) / Urbina Bay (Isabela Island) (B,L,D)
Tagus Cove (Isabela Island)
After breakfast, dry landing on the northwest of Isabela. Secluded Tagus Cove provided a favourite anchorage for pirates and whalers over the centuries. Old graffiti is still found carved on its walls. The vegetation in the area includes the fragrant palo santo trees. These white-barked trees are leafless and look dead most of the year. They leaf and spring back to life in the wet season. An uphill hike takes guests to the back of Darwin Crater, filled with salt water. The view at the end of the trail is worth the climb. Darwin is one of Isabela’s six volcanoes, a remarkable contrast to the lower islands to the east of the archipelago. We include a panga ride along the volcanic shore of the cove to see boobies, penguins, flightless cormorants, terns, and sea lions. Possibilities to swim or snorkel. There is no beach in the area, so these activities are done from the pangas. Lunch on board.
Urbina Bay (Isabela Island)
After lunch (wet landing) disembark at Urbina Bay, located at the foot of volcanoes Alcedo and Darwin, western Isabela Island, the result of an uplifting of the ocean in 1954. Here you can find corals, shells and many other calcareous organisms exposed above water. This area is also home to large and very colourful Galápagos land iguanas, giant tortoises (occasionally); a good spot to observe Darwin’s finches. Along the shoreline, after the hike, guests may encounter flightless cormorants and see penguins while snorkelling in this beautiful cove. Expedition plan for Saturday and dinner.

June 30, 2012 – Saturday - Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island)/ Highlands of Santa Cruz Island (B,L,D)
Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)
Morning disembarkation (dry landing) to visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, including tortoise celebrities like “Lonesome George” within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest home to many land birds. These are the headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the National Park administration. Lunch at the poolside of the Finch Bay Eco Hotel.
Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
After lunch, a 30-minute bus ride to the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island to enter the famous Giant Tortoise Reserve, and witness the impressive migrations these giant reptiles must endure every year for feeding and reproduction. Santa Cruz hosts one of the largest tortoise populations in Galápagos. The enclosure is framed with lush vegetation and many unique land birds can be seen, such as the rare woodpecker finch, one of the world’s few tool-using species. Return to Puerto Ayora and back on board. Expedition plan for Sunday and dinner.

July 01, 2012 – Sunday - Post office Bay and Baroness’s Tower / Cormorant Point (Floreana Island) (B,L,D)
Post office Bay and Baroness’s Tower (Floreana (Charles) Island)
Morning visit to Post Office Bay. A short walk leads us to the historic barrel where mail can be left for other guests from other vessels to be hand-delivered to its destination. This tradition of over two centuries is unique. Near Post Office Bay, we explore the north shore of Floreana along narrow channels teeming with life. Rays, turtles and sea lions can be seen gently swimming next to our pangas. After a wet landing and a short walk up to a volcanic cone, we reach the Baroness’s Tower, from where the entire northern shore of the island can be seen. Learn more about the fascinating past of this island. Lunch on board
Cormorant Point (Floreana Island)
Disembark at Cormorant Point (wet landing) on an olivine-crystal beach for an easy walk that includes a brackish water lagoon where bird species like greater flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, sandpipers, and others may be observed. This outing also includes a white-sand beach where sea turtles emerge from the sea at night to nest (from December to May). Possibility of snorkelling or a glass-bottom boat ride close to Devil’s Crown. Farewell Cocktail, departure briefing and dinner.

July 02, 2012 – Monday - Baltra Island, Galapagos / Quito (B)
After breakfast, departure to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland city of Quito. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel in Quito. Balance of the day is at leisure. Overnight at the Hilton Colon in Quito.

July 03, 2012 – Tuesday - Quito Center of the World tour (B,D)
Breakfast at your hotel. This morning visit the Equatorial Monument, 25 Kms. (16 miles) North of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the great diversity of Ecuador's native groups. Beside the monument there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops that sell postcards and souvenirs. A certificate for having crossed the Equator is issued to each guest. Afternoon is at leisure with suggestions for things to do from your WTT tour leader and dinner together. Overnight at the Hilton Colon in Quito.

July 04, 2012 – Wednesday - Quito Full day Otavalo tour (B,L)
Breakfast at your hotel. Today’s full day excursion has been designed to provide you with an overall view of the dramatic Andean scenery, to appreciate the activity of the Otavalo Market, visit the town of Peguche and observe the weaving processes at a textile workshop. The Otavalos are a people and culture indigenous to the Valley of Otavalo, in the Province of Imbabura in Northern Ecuador. In 1495 the Otavalo area was conquered by the Inca Empire and in turn conquered by the Spanish Conquistadors in 1535. The Otavalos are a very prosperous community of skilled textile weavers, who gather to sell their products at the market in the city of Otavalo as they have done for centuries, as regional markets have played an important role in Indian life, providing regular gathering places for trade and socializing. Return to Quito. Overnight at the Hilton Colon in Quito.

July 05, 2012 – Thursday - Quito Free day (B)
Breakfast at your hotel. Full day free in Quito. The WTT tour leader will have suggestions for optional activities today.  Overnight at the Hilton Colon in Quito.

July 06, 2012 – Friday - Quito / Guayaquil (B,D)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take the flight to the city of Guayaquil. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel in Guayaquil. Afternoon Scenic tour of Guayaquil. Here the vibe is Caribbean. Guayaquil is Ecuador's natural port, and its largest city with a population of two million. It is also the country's financial and commercial center. Founded in 1547, this tropical city lies on the banks of the Guayas River. Guayaquil's new ravishing waterfront is right next to Santa Ana Hill, its oldest neighborhood, where iguanas roam freely at Bolivar Park in the heart of downtown. WTT Farewell Dinner. Overnight at the Hilton Colon Guayaquil hotel.

July 07, 2012 – Saturday - Departure (B)
Transfers are included from Hilton Colon Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport based on departure times. There is a cash only $30.16 USD Departure Tax (not included and subject to change) collected at the time of departure.

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