* Visit Quito, Otavalo Indian Market, Cruise around the Islands of Galapagos
* Experienced English tour-guide
* Fare inlcudes air-tickets, land tour breakfasts, sightseeing and show tickets (except optional tours), 4-stars hotel accommodations
* Fare excludes tips to driver and tour-guide, travel insurance, airport tax, other personal expenses
 
 
2010 Departures
May
Jun.
Jul.
Aug.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
22
26
17
21, 28
4, 11
9, 30
20, 27
4, 18
 
Day 1(Sat): Los Angeles - Quito (Ecuador)
Depart from Los Angeles on a mid-night flight to Quito, capital of Ecuador.
Day 2(Sun): Quito (B)
Explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas. Visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compañía (Society of Jesus Church) and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. Drive through the traditional neighborhood of San Juan. Finish the day at the "Panecillo" hillside with its breathtaking views of the old and modern city.
Day 3(Mon): Galapagos (Baltra Airport) For a 8 Days / 7 Nights Cruise – North Seymour Island (B, L, D)
Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra (2 and half flight). Passengers are picked up at the airport by our guides and taken to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

North Seymour
Dry landing. Guests will encounter swallow tailed gulls and sea lions. This site is a major nesting colony of blue footed boobies, and has the largest colony of the magnificent frigate bird. Travelers will also spot both the marine iguanas and land iguanas and will have snorkeling opportunities.
Day 4(Tue): Cruise: Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill or Venice) (B, L, D)
Wet landing. Passengers walk to a saltwater lagoon behind the beach, where on occasion many pink flamingos can be observed. This trail leads up to Dragon Hill, which offers a lovely view of the bay. This is a nesting site for reintroduced land iguanas, and there is also a Scalesia tree forest.

Passengers may opt to take a dinghy to Venice islet and observe the vegetation and marine animals like spotted eagle rays, golden rays, mullets, sharks and sea turtles. Land iguanas have often been observed as well.

Floreana (Cormorant Point)
Wet landing on a greenish colored sand beach. Visitors will hike from the black mangrove beds to a large, brackish lagoon, which holds one of the biggest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. The island is best known for its endemic plants like the Galapagos millwork, passion flower and button mangrove. Novice snorkelers can practice on the main beach with the playful sea lions; experienced snorkelers can roam around Devils Crown. Please keep in mind this is an open-water activity; there is nothing to step on.
Day 5(Wed): Cruise: Española (Suárez Point) (B, L, D)
Dry landing. Visitors will learn more about the lava terrain and cross the inactive lava fields. Besides the sea lion colonies, this is a very important site for bird watching. Many species, such as the hooded mocking bird and red billed tropic bird can be spotted and observed closely. You will also see a large colony of marine iguanas, lava lizards, and rally light foot crabs. After a short trek visitors encounter colonies of masked and blue-footed boobies. The nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. Visitors will also find Galapagos doves, hawks and swallow-tailed gulls and then reach the world’s largest colony of waved albatross. A major highlight is their mating season, from May through December. You’ll visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots into the air about 23 m (75 ft).

San Cristóbal (Interpretation Center or La Galapaguera)
Dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Passengers will visit San Cristóbal breeding center and learn about the National Park’s breeding program with the giant tortoises.

Passengers will observe some animals in their natural environment.
Day 6(Thu): Cruise: Santa Cruz (Carrión Point) (B, L, D)

During this visit you can snorkel and see a variety of fish, rays and perhaps the harmless white tip reef sharks.
From Point Carrion the short navigation is through the beautiful Itabaca Channel with its turquoise waters. Return to the Galapagos Legend.

Bartolomé
Dry landing. Passengers will see volcanic formations like lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. After a hike to the summit you’ll be impressed by the view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. During the hike to the summit, travelers will often see colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla, and various cacti. Visitors will be able to snorkel and see the Galapagos penguin, sea turtles, and white tipped sharks from a safe distance.
Day 7(Fri): Cruise: Urbina Bay (Isabela) (B, L, D)
Wet landing. Passengers will visit the fossil beach and coral area. Depending on the season you may be able to observe giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants. After the walk we will have time for snorkeling.

Fernandina (Espinosa Point)
Dry landing. Visitors will see the biggest marine iguanas mingling with sally-light foot crabs, as well as flightless cormorants nesting sites, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will spot brachycereus cactus, and “pa-hoe-hoe” lava and “AA” lava formations. Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea.
Day 8(Sat): Cruise: Santiago (Egas Port) (B, L, D)
Wet landing on a dark sand beach. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. You can observe hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, yellow crowned night herons and oyster catchers. Passengers will see marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds alongside red sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur-seals swimming in deep pools of cool water. Here you can swim and snorkel and find octopuses, sea horses, star fish.

Rábida (Jervis)
Wet landing. The volcano-formed beach is dark red and frequented by sea lions. It’s considered the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most diverse volcanic rocks on the Islands.
You’ll hike to a salt water lagoon, where flamingos can sometimes be found.
July through September is a good time to observe brown pelicans nesting in the salty bushes. Boobies and 9 species of Darwin’s finches can also be observed.
You can take a dinghy ride by the reefs, as well as snorkel.
Day 9(Sun): Cruise: Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station) (B, L, D)
Travelers will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here you can admire the giant tortoises that are part of the breeding program. Visitors can also admire the prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Later on, you’ll have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.

Santa Cruz (Highlands)
Travelers can trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz and visit Cerro Chato, where you’ll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises. Additionally, travelers can walk inside the dormant lava tubes.
Day 10(Mon): Cruise: Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach) - Guayaquil (B, L)

Wet landing. This beach is located on north side of Santa Cruz Island. Here you will encounter many sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and have the opportunity to swim on the white sand beach. Return to the Galapagos Legend, check out and transfer to the Baltra’s airport. Return flight to Guayaquil. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel where your afternoon is free.
Day 11(Tue): Guayaquil City Tour (B)
In the morning, you will be picked up for Guayaquil City Tour.

The Guayaquil City tour begins with a visit to the 19th-century neighborhood of Las Peñas, panoramic views of the city and the Guayas River. Walk by the beautiful boardwalk of Malecón 2000, past La Rotonda monument built to pay tribute to the heroes of South American Independence, along the banks of the Guayas River. Visit the famous archaeological museum of the Central Bank.

In the evening, you will be transferred to airport for departure to Los Angeles.
Day 12(Wed): Guayaquil - Los Angeles
Arrive in Los Angeles. Conclude the 12 days discovery trip to Galapagos Islands.

This itinerary visits destinations that are at high altitude, which may cause altitude sickness. Please consult your doctor for preventative treatment.

 

Current Quito weather:
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