International flight to Ecuador. Upon arrival in Quito, be greeted for airport reception and transferred to the hotel.

The tour begins today with a visit to Independence Square where the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and El Sagrario Church are located. Also visit the Church of La Compania (1605), and enjoy a brief visit to the church and monastery of San Francisco (1535). The oldest Ecuadorian church, the collection of artwork here includes paintings, sculpture and furniture dating back to the 16th century. Leaving the churches, visit the recently restored 24 De Mayo Boulevard, named after the battle which sealed Ecuador´s independence.

Also, visit La Ronda Street in Old Quito. Lined with colonial houses and inspired by painters, poets, musicians and historians, this visit gives a taste of traditional Quito. The tour will then continue 30-minutes outside of Quito, towards the Middle of the World. Visit the main Monument honoring the correct location of the equator and visit the Ethnographic Museum, located inside the Equator Monument. Or, visit the Inti Nan Museum, a scientific and cultural Museum located in the exact place where the Equator Line crosses. ...read less

This morning, transfer to the airport for the flight to the Galapagos. Upon arrival, be received at the airport by the guides and then taken to the pier to join the Santa Cruz.

The Galapagos cruises operate two 5-day itineraries. Depending on one’s dates of travel, one will enjoy either itinerary A or itinerary B. See the various ports of call listed on the day-by-day itinerary accordingly.

In the afternoon, visit Bachas Beach on the northern coastline of Santa Cruz Island, to see the brightly colored flamingo lagoon, and encounter marine iguanas, various sea birds, and sea turtles. This is a good location to swim and snorkel. (A)

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Visit Punta Pitt, an unusual volcanic formation, is located in the northeast of San Cristobal Island. Here one is likely to see tiny lava lizards scurrying around the rocks as well as all three species of the Galapagos booby; Nazca, masked, and blue or red-footed boobies. (B).
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This morning visit Buccaneer Cove on Santiago Island to see where the British buccaneers would anchor their ships for repairs and restocking. The steep cliffs, where hundreds of seabirds perch in front of the dark red sand beach, are a magnificent site. (A)

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Visit Santa Fe Island, home to a cactus forest and a colony of land iguanas that are native to the island. Here one can also see the Galapagos mockingbird, magnificent frigate, brown pelican, and several species of Darwin’s finches. (B).

In the afternoon visit Puerto Egas, once the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960s. Take a walk down the shoreline to grottos where one can see several colonies of fur seals. This location is ideal for watching shorebirds, while land birds are better observed inland. This is a good location for swimming and snorkeling. (A)

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Take to Plazas Sur, originally formed by uplifted lava and the terrain includes an impressive cactus forest. On land, see land iguanas, sea lions and several species of tropical birds. (B).
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AM: Rabida, with its beautiful red sand beaches, is often considered the geographic center of the Galapagos because it has the most diversified volcanic rocks of the islands. Located near the beach is a salt pond that often attracts greater flamingos looking to feed on the brine shrimp in the waters. Here one can enjoy a 2-mile walk along the island’s beach to see a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. This is a good location to swim and snorkel. (A)

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Charles Darwin Research Station, located in Puerto Ayora, displays the efforts and results of the ongoing field work conducted in the name of science. Here, see young turtles being raised in safety until the age of five. (B).

In the afternoon, visit Bartolome Island, perhaps the most photographed location in the entire archipelago, and has several volcanic formations including lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. A walk to the top of the island results in an amazing view of the most famous Galapagos vista: Pinnacle Rock & Santiago Island. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase, but the view from the top is well worth the effort. (A)

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Make a visit to the beautiful Santa Cruz Island (B).
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Start off this morning at Prince Philip’s Steps, on Genovesa Island, with its trail through a Palo Santo forest to an open area full of nesting birds that include masked boobies, frigates, and red-footed boobies. At the end of this trail are thousands of band-rumbed storm petrels nesting in the crevices at the cliff’s edge. See the short-eared owls as they hunt the storm petrels during the daylight hours. (A)

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Punta Suarez on Espanola Island a small rocky point that is home to impressive and varied colonies of Galapagos seabirds. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea affording the visitor spectacular views of soaring birds and of the blow hole where water spouts up to 50-75 feet into the air according to the intensity of the surf. (B).

This afternoon, take to Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island, a collapsed volcano that ships are able to sail into through its large breached caldera and anchor at the foot of the steep crater walls. Genovesa is commonly referred to as ‘bird island’ because it is home to thousands of great frigate birds, red-footed boobies, noddy terns, lava gulls, tropic birds, doves, storm petrels, and Darwin’s finches. (A)

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Gardner Bay, located on the eastern shore of Espanola Island, has a seemingly endless stretch of white sandy beach that is home to large colonies of sea lions. This is a great place to swim, snorkel or kayak. (B).
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Cap off the final day in the islands at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the fishing town on the southwestern coast of San Cristobal, to see the lava fields and desert plants. (A) or spend the morning at leisure (B).

In the afternoon you will transfer to the airport for the return flight to Quito. Upon arrival, be greeted for airport reception and transferred to the hotel.

Today, transfer to the airport to take the international flight back home.