Darwin Cruise

Day 1: Quito

Arrive in Quito (9,200’), the highland capital of Ecuador, where you are met by our Quito staff for a private transfer to our group hotel, the Hotel Hilton Colon, superbly located at the juncture of old and new Quito and near many fine restaurants. Our rooms are on the exclusive Club Floor, with private breakfast buffet, complimentary cocktail hour in the club lounge, and other amenities...Meals on your own

Day 2: Quito

Enjoy a half-day tour of colonial Old Quito, a World Heritage Site, at its most magnificent in the sprawling Iglesia San Francisco church and monastery, built over an Inca holy site, and the ornate La Compañia church, said to have seven tons of gold on its ceilings, walls, and altars. Charming La Ronda, Quito’s oldest street, is here, with its whitewashed colonial buildings, blue-trimmed windows brimming with geraniums, and cafes and artisan shops. The afternoon is at leisure to explore on your own. Lunch and dinner are on your own. Overnight at Hotel Hilton Colon...B

Day 3: Galápagos Cruise / Baltra / Mosquera / Punta Carrion

In the morning, transfer to the airport for the one-hour flight to the Galápagos, 600 miles off Ecuador’s coast. On arrival at Baltra Island in the Galápagos at around 11 a.m., you are met by your Trip Leader and escorted to the Mary Anne for the start of your Galápagos adventure. We set a course for Mosquera Inlet, a small sandy islet near Santa Cruz Island, with lunch en route. At Mosquera, we land at a beautiful white-sand beach inhabited by the largest Galápagos sea lion colony in the islands. We should also see lava gulls and other coastal birds. Continuing to Punta Carrion, we enjoy our first snorkeling opportunity in these amazingly clear waters. We enjoy our welcome dinner tonight. Overnight aboard yacht...BLD

Day 4: South Plaza Island / Santa Fe Island

Sailing to tiny South Plaza, we hike among land iguanas as they nibble on the fruit of prickly pear cactus. South Plaza captivates visitors with its vibrant colors, from green prickly pear cactus to the copper-colored land iguanas. Huge seagoing marine iguanas roam the shores, and swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds are often found here. In the afternoon, we explore the white-sand beach on Santa Fe Island, where Galápagos sea lions laze. This island has its own species of land iguana, the Santa Fe land iguana. We’ll keep an eye out for land birds such as Darwin’s finches and yellow warblers. Overnight aboard yacht...BLD

Day 5: San Cristobal / Cerro Brujo / Punta Pitt

On San Cristobal Island, we land at one of the most scenic beaches in the Galápagos, with the dramatic eroded volcanic cone of Cerro Brujo as a backdrop. This was one of the first places Darwin landed on his visit in 1835 aboard the HMS Beagle with Captain Robert Fitzroy. It’s an ideal place to swim, snorkel, or stroll in the company of Galápagos sea lions. A salt-water lagoon right behind the beach shelters black-necked common stilts and white-cheeked pintail ducks. This afternoon, we head around the island to Punta Pitt, a series of volcanic cones where all three species of boobies—red-footed, blue-footed, and Nazca—can be seen. Landing on a beach, we hike to a viewpoint to watch seabirds riding the thermals. Great frigatebirds are seen in this area, the northeastern-most point in the Galápagos. Overnight aboard yacht...BLD

Day 6: Española / Gardner Bay / Punta Suarez

We sail to fascinating Española, southernmost island in the archipelago, with its long white beaches. This island has a high degree of species differentiation due to its remoteness. We arrive at Gardner Bay, where green sea turtles often rest in the dunes. Galápagos sea lions, marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches, and Española’s endemic mockingbird are found here. This afternoon we head to Punta Suarez for a spectacular walk on a trail lined with marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and Galápagos sea lions. Other major sights on Española include an impressive blowhole that shoots water as high as 90 feet in the air. One of the island’s most spectacular birds is the huge waved albatross, with its seven-foot wingspan. The birds nest here from April through December. Waved albatross are considered endemic not only to the Galápagos but also to this island, where they exist in colonies of about 12,000 pairs. Punta Suarez is also a good place to observe endemic land birds: Darwin’s finches, Galápagos doves, and Galápagos hawks. Overnight aboard yacht...BLD

Day 7: Floreana / Punta Cormorant / Post Office Bay

On Floreana, with its myriad volcanic cones and fascinating human history, we land on Punta Cormorant for a walk to a salt-water lagoon where elegant pink flamingos wade in the shallows. We walk farther to a beach known as “Flour Beach” for its fine white sand where sea turtles nest. If the weather and tides are cooperative, there is some wonderful snorkeling to be had at Devil’s Crown, the remnant of a volcanic crater whose pinnacles rise up from the sandy bottom. Here we can see profuse coral development, a variety of tropical fish, and sometimes rays and sea turtles. In the afternoon, we head to Floreana’s Post Office Bay to visit the historic Post Office Barrel, where in the 18th century, sailors left letters to be posted by passing ships. Tonight we enjoy our farewell dinner aboard the Mary Anne. Overnight aboard yacht...BLD

Day 8: Santa Cruz / Santa Cruz Highlands / Baltra / Quito

Heading to Santa Cruz Island, we land at the town of Puerto Ayora and drive across the lush Santa Cruz highlands, where we look for Galápagos tortoises en route to Baltra. We fly back to Quito, with lunch on board the aircraft, and transfer to the hotel upon arrival. Overnight at the Hotel Hilton Colon...BL

Day 9: Depart

Transfer to the airport for departure on homeward flights or extend your stay with one of our optional extensions...B