Pristine Galapagos
Day 1 : Guayaquil
Arrive in Guayaquil, Ecuador. You will be met by your Tour Director and brought to your hotel, the 5-star Hilton Colón Guayaquil.
Day 2 : Baltra & Santa Cruz Island
Today you fly from Guayaquil to the Galápagos and board Galápagos Explorer II, your home during your Galápagos adventure. This afternoon, cruise to Cerro Dragon on Santa Cruz Island. Remember to bring your binoculars—this is your first encounter with the magnificent and diverse flora and fauna of this legendary place. You might see flamingos in marshland lakes, the famous Darwin finch, hood mockingbirds or lava lizards. The arid climate nurtures species like oppuntia cactus and palo santo. From Cerro Dragon, you can see Rábida Island in the west. On the beach, see the famous marine iguanas, sea lions, American oystercatchers, pelicans and a small colony of nesting blue-footed boobies.
Day 3 : Bartholomé Island & James Island
Set out for Bartholomé Island, a natural wonderland of volcanic formations, whose 350-foot summit offers fabulous 360-degree views. Visit an enchanted cove inhabited by a small colony of Galápagos penguins—the only wild penguins north of the equator. As you wade, swim or snorkel in the clear waters, you may find green sea turtles, penguins and sea lions swimming alongside you. A glass-bottomed boat ride around Pinnacle Peak provides close-up views of a variety of sea life and a rainbow of tropical fish.
Day 4 : Punta Espinosa & Punta Vicente Roca
Spend an exciting morning exploring Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island. Here you might see penguins diving off the rocks into the water, and marine iguanas congregating in the largest groups anywhere in the islands—basking in the sun and swimming in the tides. This afternoon, take a Zodiac inflatable motorboat to Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island, the largest island in the archipelago. Composed of six shield volcanoes merged into a single land mass, the sheer volcanic cliffs along Isabela’s remote and rugged coast are rich in marine species and birdlife including a variety of boobies, terns and gulls. Witness sea lions popping their heads out of the water and Galápagos penguins playfully leaping off the rocks. Also swimming close to the water’s surface are green sea turtles, golden rays and sunfish.
Day 5 : Seymour Norte & Primicias
Enjoy a morning visit to Seymour Norte, a small, flat island with a long sandy beach where sea lions and marine iguanas sunbathe. Back on Santa Cruz Island this afternoon, travel inland by motorcoach through the ever-changing vegetation to Primicias, where you see one of the most famous island species—the Galápagos giant tortoises.
Day 6 : San Cristobal Island & Cerro Brujo
This morning, visit the port town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristóbal Island. Here, visit La Galápaguera, a tortoise breeding facility that prepares giant domed and saddleback tortoises to be returned to their natural habitats. This afternoon, you have time to explore Cerro Brujo. Swim, snorkel, take a walk or simply relax on the beach, keeping an eye open for indigenous birds such as bluefooted boobies, Darwin finches and yellow warblers.
Day 7 : Punta Suarez & Gardner Bay
Travel to Hood Island, southernmost island of the archipelago, to visit Punta Suarez. Here you may view one of the rarest and most brightly colored red-and-green subspecies of the marine iguana. From April to December, you have the rare opportunity to see the magnificent and critically endangered waved albatross, with a wingspan of nearly eight feet. Hike along the cliffs to the blowhole, a fissure in the lava cliffs where seawater jets high into the air. In the afternoon, visit Gardner Bay, with the longest and most magnificent beach in the Galápagos. This beach is home to a large sea lion colony; there are also rays and sea turtles swimming in the knee-deep crystal blue water near the shore.
Day 8 : Santa Cruz Island & Rabida Island
At Puerto Ayora Town on Santa Cruz Island, visit Darwin Station, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to learn about research conducted on the island since the famous naturalist’s time. Here is a Galápagos tortoise breeding and rearing center, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction into their natural habitats. In the afternoon, set out for arid Rábida Island. In addition to exploring the island’s volcanic features, visit a saltwater lagoon known for its flamingos and colonies of sea lions. Take a short walk to the top of the trail, where you can take fabulous photos of the distinctive teal waters, red sands and volcanic peaks.
Day 9 : Santa Cruz Island, Guayaquil & Quito
Start your final morning in one of the world’s perfect paradises—Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz Island—before your return flight to Quito via Guayaquil. Once in Quito, check in to the Hilton Colón Quito and relax before dinner at your hotel.
DAY 10: Quito
After breakfast, enjoy a tour of Ecuador’s historic capital city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site set in the Andes mountains. A short walk takes you to the metropolitan Cathedral, Church of the Companía de Jesus and Church of San Francisco, both excellent examples of the city’s baroque style, a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art. Stroll the spacious plazas of Quito’s historic heart, the best-preserved spanish colonial center in Latin America. Stop for a traditional lunch before visiting El Panecillo with its lovely Madonna statue overlooking the city and wonderful views. Drive into the mountains around Quito before returning to the hotel for some free time before your farewell dinner.
Day 11: Quito
After breakfast at your hotel, we take you to the airport for your flight home.
Or, extend your journey with 6 nights in Peru, where you visit Lima, Cuzco and Machu Picchu.
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