Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You'll arrive at Mariscal Sucre International Airport where a representative meets you for the transfer to your hotel in Quito. If your flight gets in early, there's time to walk through the UNESCO-listed old city and check out colonial architecture or climb Cerro Panecillo for Andes views. Around 5pm, you'll gather with your group at the hotel for a welcome meeting.
Optional Activities
- Explore the old city of Quito (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit colonial architecture and local markets
- Climb Cerro Panecillo for views of the city and Andes
Landmarks Cerro Panecillo Pichincha Volcano Mariscal Sucre International Airport - Day 2
Quito to Galapagos Islands
Head out early to catch your flight to the Galapagos via Guayaquil (quick refueling stop). Once you arrive, your naturalist guide meets you at the airport, then you board the Yolita II for your seven-night stay. That afternoon, you'll head to North Seymour Island to see sea lions, marine iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, magnificent frigatebirds, and blue-footed boobies. There's an optional snorkel excursion available if you want to get in the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit North Seymour Island
- Observe sea lions and marine iguanas
- Wildlife observation including swallow-tailed gulls, magnificent frigatebirds, and blue-footed boobies
Optional Activities
- Snorkel excursion at North Seymour Island
Landmarks North Seymour Island Baltra Island Galapagos National Park 
- Day 3
Galapagos Islands
Start your day at Cerro Brujo on San Cristobal, a sandy beach where you'll spot Sally Lightfoot crabs, brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and California sea lions. You can see Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) from shore and possibly sail through the channel depending on conditions. Then it's time to snorkel in this nutrient-rich area before heading to Isla Lobos to walk around and observe blue-footed boobies and playful sea lion families.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Cerro Brujo on San Cristobal
- View Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock)
- Explore Isla Lobos
- Wildlife observation including blue-footed boobies and sea lions
Optional Activities
- Snorkel at Kicker Rock (if conditions permit)
- Snorkel at Isla Lobos
Landmarks Cerro Brujo Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) Isla Lobos San Cristobal Island - Day 4
Galapagos Islands
You'll sail to Gardner Bay for swimming and snorkeling, then move on to Punta Suarez on Espanola Island, the southernmost spot in the archipelago. Hike along dramatic cliffs with great photo opportunities and walk through thick bird colonies where you'll see waved albatrosses (April-December), masked and blue-footed boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, marine iguanas, and sea lions. Visit the impressive blowhole where water sprays 15 to 20 meters into the air. After that, you'll head back to Gardner Bay in the afternoon for more snorkeling with sea lions and tropical fish.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Punta Suarez on Espanola Island
- Hike to cliff top for panoramic views
- Wildlife observation including waved albatrosses, masked and blue-footed boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, marine iguanas, and sea lions
- View the blowhole at Punta Suarez
- Swim and snorkel at Gardner Bay
Landmarks Gardner Bay Punta Suarez Espanola Island - Day 5
Galapagos Islands
After breakfast, you're off to Sante Fe Island to observe iguanas close up. Then continue to South Plaza Island, one of the smallest islands but packed with around 1,000 land iguanas. Walk through a cactus forest and see them sunning themselves or eating opuntia. You'll also spot a large sea lion colony on smooth rocks and look for swallow-tailed gulls nesting on the southern cliffs, plus tropicbirds and Audubon's shearwaters.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Sante Fe Island
- Visit South Plaza Island
- Walk through cactus forest
- Wildlife observation including land iguanas, sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, tropicbirds, and Audubon's shearwaters
Landmarks Sante Fe Island South Plaza Island - Day 6
Galapagos Islands
You arrive in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and have free time to explore the town. The Charles Darwin Research Station is just a ten-minute walk from the center and shows exhibits on volcanic eruptions and endemic species evolution. Then visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center to see Galapagos tortoises and land iguanas, including adults and young tortoise nurseries. In the afternoon, there's an optional chance to head to the highlands and see giant land tortoises in their natural habitat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Charles Darwin Research Station
- View exhibition center with volcanic and evolutionary displays
- Tour Fausto Llerena Breeding Center
- Observe Galapagos tortoises and land iguanas in captivity
Optional Activities
- Visit highlands to see giant land tortoises in the wild
Landmarks Puerto Ayora Charles Darwin Research Station Fausto Llerena Breeding Center Santa Cruz Island - Day 7
Galapagos Islands
You'll explore Floreana Island, which has interesting historical connections from the 1930s baroness saga. Snorkel at Devil's Crown, a coral reef surrounded by an eroded volcanic crater with small sharks, rays, and schools of tropical fish. Later, visit Post Office Bay with its 18th-century whaling history where the original barrel post office system still works for tourists exchanging unstamped letters. Check out the remains of a Norwegian canning factory and hike to a lava cave where you can go down about 80 meters to where the sea enters.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Snorkel at Devil's Crown
- Visit Post Office Bay
- Hike to lava cave
- Explore remains of Norwegian canning factory
Landmarks Devil's Crown Post Office Bay Floreana Island - Day 8
Galapagos Islands
You'll visit Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat), a small island off Santiago's southern tip, named for its cone shape and lava flows. Here you'll observe Galapagos penguins, rays, turtles, and sea lions in this rich marine habitat. In the afternoon, head to Cerro Dragon for good birdwatching opportunities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat)
- Wildlife observation including Galapagos penguins, rays, turtles, and sea lions
- Birdwatching at Cerro Dragon
Landmarks Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat) Cerro Dragon Santiago Island - Day 9
Galapagos to Quito
Start with the mangrove lagoon at Black Turtle Cove in the morning. In the afternoon, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight back to Quito via Guayaquil (refueling stop). Once you reach the mainland, another transfer takes you to your hotel for your last night in Ecuador.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Black Turtle Cove mangrove lagoon
Landmarks Black Turtle Cove - Day 10
Quito
Your tour ends after breakfast. There's nothing scheduled, so you can leave whenever you want. Luggage storage is available if you need it for a later flight. If you're interested, local day trips can be booked or there's an Amazon extension package available (trip code: AE).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional local day trips in Quito
- Amazon extension package (trip code: AE)
