- Day 1: Arrive in Quito
Arrive in Quito and transfer to our hotel. Quito (2788 m / 9,200 feet) is Ecuador's lovely capital city, nestled against Pichincha Volcano high in the Andes.
Overnight in Quito. Meal plan: Dinner, if required.
- Day 2: Today enjoy our city tour in Quito
Today we tour old Spanish Colonial Quito, preserved by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. As we enter the streets of Old Quito we step into the past, surrounded by centuries-old architecture. We stop at the commanding Legislative Palace, whose murals record Ecuador's history. We will see Quito's most beautiful religious buildings, including the cathedral, the Independence Plaza, San Francisco Church, and visit one of Quito's most impressive religious buildings, La Compania church, whose ornate facade and solid gold altars make it one of the most famous of South American churches. We visit the famous Panecillo Hill with its towering winged statue of the Virgin of the Apocalypse with views of north and south of Quito and the surrounding mountains.
This afternoon we travel 22 km (14 miles) north of Quito to the Equator line monument, known as the "middle of the world," where you can stand with one foot in the Northern and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. We also visit the excellent on-site ethnographic museum with exhibits pertaining to the many indigenous peoples of Ecuador.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to logistical reasons, this is a "floating day" that may occur at a different point of our programme.
Overnight in Quito. Meal plan: Breakfast and dinner.
- Day 3: Board our cruise vessel for our exploration of the unique and beautiful Galapagos Islands
This morning we fly from Quito to San Cristibal Island and board our cruise vessel for our exploration of the unique and beautiful Galapagos Islands.*
An archipelago of 12 large and several hundred smaller volcanic islands occupying a 4800 sq km (3,000 sq mile) area about 1000 km (620 miles) west of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands have become one of the world's premier adventure travel destinations. Over the course of your visit, you'll enjoy up-close views of unusual, specially-adapted animals, plants and terrains including sea lions, tortoises, iguanas, land and sea birds, volcanic landscapes, unusual cacti and vegetation. Little has changed about the islands since Charles Darwin's visit in 1835 to "this little world within itself" inspired his first theories of evolution. Nearly the entire archipelago is a natural sanctuary where you'll have thrilling encounters with some of the world's last completely untamed wildlife that has never learned to fear the presence of humans.
We will be navigating the Galapagos on board the M/V Galapagos Legend, a 110-passenger luxury expedition ship totally converted in December 2001. The M/V Galapagos Legend has all-new passenger accommodations with 1800 sq m of social areas and was built with marine certified materials qualifying with Safety of Life at Sea specifications. All cabins are booked in outside 'superior' class with plenty of space for luggage in the wardrobe closet (Junior Suite cabin upgrades available; view cabins on www.gogalapagos.com). Private bathrooms feature hot and cold water, shower, and a hair dryer. Also aboard, a highly trained crew, 24 hour physician, and naturalist multilingual guides. An auditorium for conferences, spacious social areas, dining room, 24 hour coffee bar, swimming pool and sun decks, observation platforms, cocktail bars, long distance calls, fully air-conditioned.
Upon arrival on San Cristobal, you will transfer to the ship, have lunch, and embark immediately for the Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill on San Cristobal (dry landing).
Dry landing in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, capital of the Galapagos Islands. Passengers visit the Interpretation Center, an excellent place to learn about Natural History in the Galapagos. The Museum of Natural History displays information on the volcanic origins of the islands, their remoteness from the continent, ocean currents, climate, the arrival of the different species and their colonization, among other points of interest. The human history is also showcased, chronologically narrating the most significant events related to the discovery and colonization of the islands.
The Tijeretas Hill optional activity involves a high intensity walk amidst beautiful landscapes and a
magnificent view at the foot of a frigatebird nesting colony.
Return to ship for passenger welcome and briefing; there is a presentation of the crew. At this time a safety drill is practiced.
Free time on board. After dinner a guide's briefing on next day activities in the auditorium.
PLEASE NOTE: You may visit www.gogalapagos.com for more information on the cruise and vessel. Most of our trips will be doing itinerary "D" -- exceptions are P29 & P30 in Oct 2012, and tour codes EQ, EP & PQ in October only when the cruise will do itinerary "B." 2013 TBA.
Overnight Galapagos cruise. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Lodging
- M/V Galapagos Legend
- Description
M/V Galapagos Legend, a 110-passenger luxury expedition ship with 1800 sq m of social areas and built with marine certified materials qualifying with Safety of Life at Sea specifications.
- Day 4: Island Tour to Gardner Bay, Gardner & Osborn islets (Espanola)
Wet landing on a beautiful white coral sand beach guarded by a colony of sea lions. There are no trails, so we stay along the shore where we can spot Galapagos hawks, American Oystercatchers, Galapagos Ground Doves, Hood mockingbirds, Yellow Warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and three species of Darwin's finches: a subspecies (Geospiza fuliginosa) of the Large Cactus Finch, which is similar to the large ground finch, the Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) and the Warbler Finch (Certhidea Olivacea), another endemic subspecies. Swimming and snorkeling offer a great variety of Galapagos marine wildlife: king angelfish, Creole fish, damsel fish, parrotfish, manta rays, and white-tipped reef sharks.
Return to ship; the crew will welcome you with canapes followed by lunch.
PM - Dry landing. An island of geological interest, we explore volcanic formations and a riveting wildlife: large sea lion colonies and seabirds including Espanola mockingbird, Nazca Boobies and the spectacular Red-billed Tropicbird. You will also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs.
A somewhat lengthy hike will bring you among Nazca and Blue-footed Boobies, right up to nesting grounds that sometimes overlap the trail. Other birding favorites include Galapagos Dove, Galapagos Hawk, Swallow-tailed Gulls and the world's largest colony of Waved Albatross, an unequivocal highlight during mating season (May-December). Admire the island's dramatic backdrop, featuring the famous Soplador, a seaward blowhole that shoots water some 23 m (75 ft) in the air.
Return to ship; the crew will welcome you with canapes. Free time on board. Guides briefing on next day activities.
Overnight Galapagos cruise. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Lodging
- MV Galapagos Legend
- Description
M/V Galapagos Legend, a 110-passenger luxury expedition ship with 1800 sq m of social areas and built with marine certified materials qualifying with Safety of Life at Sea specifications.
- Day 5: We hike from the black mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon
Wet landing. Located on the north side of Floreana, the bay is so-named because in 1793 Captain James Colnett installed a wooden barrel which served as an informal post office for sailors passing through, who would take letters with them to their destinations. Today, our visitors continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel that should reach their destinations for free. It can take weeks, months, even years, not arrive at all, or even arrive before you!
We may also encounter Darwin's finches, Yellow Warbler and lava lizards. Great snorkeling opportunities with Green Pacific Sea Turtles as well, this island is best known for its endemic vegetation: Scalesia villosa, Lecocarpus pinnatifidus, and Galapagos milkwort. Snorkelers can practice on the main beach among playful sea lions.
Return on board, the crew will welcome you with canapes. Lunch.
PM - Cormorant Point (Floreana). Wet landing on an olivine green sand beach. We hike from the black mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This island features some endemic plants such as Scalesia villosa, white and black mangrove, and holy stick. The trail continues to a beautiful white-sand beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific Sea Turtles. It is important to avoid walking in the water due to the Sting Rays that may be hiding in the sand, which can be dangerous if accidentally stepped on. From the beach one can spot sea turtles, Blue-footed Boobies plunging into the water, and small reef sharks floating along the shoreline in search of food.
This coral-sand beach marks the end of our trail, and we head back to the olivine beach we landed on to swim or snorkel amongst sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions and, on a good day, white-tipped reef sharks. A small colony of penguins resides on Floreana and can sometimes be observed as well.
Return on board, the crew will welcome you with canapes. Free time on board. Guides briefing on next day activities.
Overnight Galapagos cruise. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Lodging
- MV Galapagos Legend
- Description
M/V Galapagos Legend, a 110-passenger luxury expedition ship with 1800 sq m of social areas and built with marine certified materials qualifying with Safety of Life at Sea specifications.
- Day 6: Today we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station in Santa Cruz
El Garrapatero is a wide bay with multiple sandy beaches. Behind the beach is an area with a fresh water lake where you can come across pink flamingos, herons, mockingbirds, White-cheeked Pintail ducks, sally lightfoot crabs, oystercatchers and occasionally marine iguanas can be found.
PM - Dry landing. We visit the Station where the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding program takes place and you will have the opportunity to meet Lonesome George, the last surviving specimen of his species and symbol of our efforts to preserve the fragile Galapagos environment. It is an excellent place for visitors to be photographed with them. Admire a prickly-pear cactus forest and a variety Darwin's finches and other land birds. The Darwin Station also works providing environmental education to communities and schools within the islands, and to tourists visiting the Galapagos Islands. You will also have some free time to visit the town and shop for souvenirs.
Return to ship; the crew will welcome you with canapes. Free time on board. Guides briefing on next day activities in the auditorium.
Overnight Galapagos cruise. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Lodging
- MV Galapagos Legend
- Description
M/V Galapagos Legend, a 110-passenger luxury expedition ship with 1800 sq m of social areas and built with marine certified materials qualifying with Safety of Life at Sea specifications.
- Day 7: From Galapagos we head back to Quito
We circumnavigate the islet of Daphne, an eroded tuff cone formation that was created by successive volcanic activity, for an opportunity to see Darwin's finches, Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Brown Noddies.
Return to the M/V Galapagos Legend, check out* and depart to the airport for our flight to Quito (via a stop in Guayaquil).
* PLEASE NOTE: As an exception to our general policy regarding the inclusion of tips in our tour pricing, gratuities for the ship's crew are NOT included in tour price. (We have found that trying to pre-pay tips on your behalf is not practical, for a number of reasons). Accordingly, we suggest that you allow approximately USD 50 total per passenger for satisfactory service.
Overnight in Quito. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Day 8: Departure
- Departure from Quito.
Buen Viaje! Meal plan: Breakfast.
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