Itinerary

DAY 1 :  ARRIVE QUITO
Arrive in Quito and transfer to Patio Andaluz, a 4 star boutique hotel situated in the heart of the refurbished colonial center of Quito. Overnight Patio Andaluz or similar. [Meals on your own]

DAY 2 :  QUITO

We begin our Ecuador vacation with a half-day city tour of colonial Quito, including the bustling Independence Plaza, the dazzling gold-leafed altars of La Compania Church, and the impressive San Francisco Church. Visit the Mitad del Mundo Equatorial marker and ethnographic village and museum. Afternoon and evening are free to explore this beautifully restored city with its busy pedestrian plazas, shops, coffee bars, pubs, and many excellent restaurants. Overnight Patio Andaluz or similar. [B]

DAY 3 :  GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Private transfer in the morning to the domestic airport for the 2 hour flight to the Galapagos. Upon arrival, meet your naturalist guide and transfer to the Eclipse. The ship's crew will greet you on board, take care of your luggage, and run through safety drills. Enjoy fresh fruit drinks as the yacht makes her way to the first site visit. As the sun sets, enjoy a typical Ecuadorian meal, the nightly briefing, and a formal presentation of the captain and crew. During the rest of this week, you will leisurely voyage through the stunning Galapagos Islands, among a varied landscape of diverse flora and fauna. Overnight onboard. [BLD]

DAY 4 :  SANTIAGO & BARTOLOME ISLANDS
After landing this morning at the beautiful black sand beach of Puerto Egas, on Santiago Island, embark on a hike through the dry interior of the island. Keep your eyes out for hawks, doves, and finches before reaching the opposite coastline. Deep aquamarine colored grottos shelter sea lions and night herons, as well as invertebrates such as sea urchins, octopus, and starfish. This is one of the few places in the Galapagos to spot fur seals basking on the black lava rocks. In the afternoon visit Pinnacle Rock on Bartolome Island, where penguins are often spotted. Hike up to the summit of the island for spectacular views of the Rock, the white-sand beaches and the lush mangrove swamps below. Identify various volcanic formations like spatter and tuff cones with your guide, keeping an eye out for pelicans and Galapagos hawks. Overnight on the Eclipse. [BLD]

DAY 5 :  SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) is a newly opened site on Santa Cruz Island featuring re-introduced endemic land iguanas. These reptiles were once part of the Darwin Station's breeding program and are now re-populating this island. From the peak of Cerro Dragon, a magnificent view of the bay opens before you. Rabida is considered to be the geographic center of the Galapagos chain, and features the most diverse volcanic rocks of all the islands. Brown pelicans nest in the mangrove sand and Great flamingos feed at a nearby salt lagoon. Following the hike, you will have great opportunities for snorkeling with sea lions. Overnight on the Eclipse. [BLD]

DAY 6 :   ISABELA ISLAND & ELIZABETH BAY
The largest island in the archipelago, Isabela is made up of five shield volcanoes joined together by eons of lava flows. Each of the ancient volcanoes is home to unique and distinct subspecies of giant tortoises which have evolved here. The rugged coastline features marine iguanas, penguins, flightless cormorants, and great blue herons. The hike to the interior visits a lagoon with flamingos and other seabirds. At Elizabeth Bay, enjoy a panga ride through the mangrove area to see the rays, turtles, sea lions, and, circling overhead, Galapagos hawks. Overnight on the Eclipse. [BLD]

DAY 7 :  FERNANDINA & ISABELA ISLANDS
Fernandina is the youngest and westernmost island in the Galapagos. Punta Espinosa is a narrow stretch of land on the island where some of the most unique Galapagos species can be seen including Sally Lightfoot crabs, penguins, and Marine iguanas, which congregate in larger groups here than on any other island. Watch penguins dive off the rocks into the water, while the panga driver skillfully skirts the reef to reach the landing site near a small mangrove forest. The Marine iguanas are everywhere: basking in the sand, swimming near the shore, grazing on the exposed seaweed in the lava, and blocking the way at the landing dock, one of the few places where you can watch them feed underwater. Then head to Urbina Bay at Isabela Island; this is a perfect place to see the geological activity of the Galapagos Islands. In 1954 sudden movements of the tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface caused a 3 mile long section of the shore's edge to rise 13 feet out of the water, dramatically exposing the marine reef. On the far northwestern tip of Isabela are the remains of Volcan Ecuador, which reaches into the sea at Punta Vicente Roca. The hike will take you to view flightless cormorants and the collapsed caldera of the volcano. Snorkeling off the point is particularly good. Overnight on the Eclipse. [BLD]

DAY 8 :  SANTA CRUZ ISLAND & CHARLES DARWIN STATION
Visit the famous Charles Darwin Station on Santa Cruz Island and learn about current research and conservation initiatives including several breeding programs that hope to reintroduce specific tortoise species back onto the island of their origin. Meet Lonesome George, possibly the oldest resident of Galapagos and the last surviving individual giant tortoise of his Pinta Island sub-species. In the lush green highlands, explore lava tubes and pit craters, and look for wild giant tortoises. Enjoy a typical Ecuadorian lunch at a local restaurant. Overnight on the Eclipse. [BLD]

DAY 9 :  ESPANOLA ISLAND
Relax on the beach with the sea lions at Gardener Bay, Espanola. Snorkeling from shore here, you can find plenty of beautiful fish as well as harmless nurse sharks and gentle sea turtles. Due to its isolation, Espanola has a high number of endemic species found only on this island and you will visit the nesting site of over ten thousand pairs of Waved albatross. At one meter high with a two meter wing span, the Waved albatross is one of the most impressive and comical aerial acrobats in the world. Remarkably, they are found nowhere else on Earth. This afternoon you arrive at Punta Suarez for an outstanding opportunity to see more wildlife including five species of nesting seabirds like the Hood Island mockingbirds, Galapagos doves, and Galapagos hawks. Prehistoric-looking Marine iguanas and giant lava lizards roam the terrain. A short hike leads to the Blowhole, a fissure in the lava cliffs which blasts incoming breakers into geysers over 90 feet high. Overnight on the Eclipse. [BLD]

DAY 10 :  RETURN TO QUITO
Disembark in the morning. Your guide will accompany you to the Galapagos airport for your afternoon flight to the mainland, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Patio Andaluz or similar. [B]

DAY 11 :  DEPART
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home or extend your trip to visit more of Ecuador's natural wonders. [B]

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