AM: Transfer Quito (airport – hotel).
Welcome to Quito. A representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. You will have free time to explore the city, relax and settle in.
Accommodation: In the 5-Star GO Quito Hotel / Premium Room
Itinerary B+CCorals
Day 1 – Welcome to Quito Welcome to Quito. A representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. You will have free time to explore the city, relax and settle in. Accommodation: In the 5-Star GO Quito Hotel / Premium Room Day 2 – Quito Old Town Tour & Middle of the World […]
Day 1 - Welcome to Quito
Day 2 - Quito Old Town Tour & Middle of the World
AM: Colonial Quito.
Stroll through the busy streets and squares of the most significant historic center of the Americas: a multi-ethnic, artistic, and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
PM: The Middle of the World.
Afterward, our guide will visit the Middle of the World Complex at latitude 0*0*0. Return to the hotel for the night.
Accommodation: In the 5-Star GO Quito Hotel / Premium Room
Day 3 - Welcome to Galapagos & Santa Cruz Island
AM: Welcome to Galapagos. Departure from either Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island is a 2 1⁄2 hour flight. Upon arrival in the Galapagos, passengers are greeted at the airport by our knowledgeable guides who will accompany them on a short ten- minute bus ride to the pier where they will board the Coral I or Coral II.
PM: Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz Island). Here we can find four species of mangrove in the extensive tidal lagoon system that stretches for almost a mile inland. During our panga ride through the labyrinth we will spot many turtles, herons of several species, sharks and rays. The experience is otherworldly and seems to transport us back to the beginning of time.
Day 4 - Isabela Island & Fernandina Island
AM: Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island). Spectacular site, surrounded by immense cliffs of an eroded volcano. Studded with resting seabirds like brown noddies and Nazca boobies. Superb snorkeling with unique fish species. Swim with penguins and green turtles.
PM: Punta Espinosa (Fernandina Island). Pristine Fernandina, the marine iguana capital. Its desolate volcanic backdrop hosts a massive concentration of these enigmatic reptiles. Surprisingly, Galapagos penguins share the same shoreline. Snorkeling offers an exciting opportunity to witness marine iguanas feeding underwater, alongside penguins, turtles, and unique flightless cormorants.
Day 5 - Isabela Island
AM: Urbina Bay (Isabela Island). At the far end of a long level hike, we arrive at a strange phenomenon where large blocks of coral lie completely exposed after a dramatic geological uplift in 1954. Located at the western base of Alcedo Volcano, we hope to run into a few impressive land iguanas and some volcanoes endemic to Galapagos giant tortoises during the wet season.
PM: Tagus Cove (Isabela Island). Tagus Cove, a historic pirate hideout and anchorage. Visited by Charles Darwin and the HMS Beagle in 1835. Hike past Darwin Lake and stunning volcanic landscape, revealing Isabela island’s dramatic northern volcanoes. Snorkel along a submerged wall with turtles, fish, penguins, and flightless cormorants. Enjoy a panga ride or kayak for added excitement!
Day 6 - Santiago Island
AM: Egas Port (Santiago Island). The black volcanic sand sets this landing apart from most, it’s best known for the dramatic shoreline where we meet a host of species that chose to live between land and sea. Among these are the endemic Galapagos fur seals, which maintain a small colony at the end of our walk.
PM: Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island). It has an extensive features relative to young pa-hoe-hoe lava flows formed during the last quarter of the 19th century. In the middle of the lava flow, older reddish-yellow-colored tuff cones appear. Mollugo plants with their yellow-to-orange whorled leaves usually grow out of the fissures. Walking on solidified lava gives the impression of being on another planet.
Day 7 - Santa Cruz Island & North Seymour Island
AM: Bachas Beach – Named for some wrecked World War II barges whose ribs are still visible in the sand this visitor site offers great swimming, a lovely walk along the shore, and a visit to a lagoon behind the high tide line with wading birds, marine iguanas and sometimes even flamingoes.
Pitt Craters – The Pit Craters, geologically speaking, were not directly formed by volcanic action. They were created as a result of the collapse or sinking of surface materials into cracks or manholes.
PM: North Seymour Island. This flat, uplifting, island is an important spot to see both magnificent and great frigatebird males courting the females and, we will also likely see courting blue-footed boobies too. Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, crashing surf and distant views of the Daphne Islands top off a great visit.
Day 8 - Santa Cruz Island & Mosquera Islet
AM: Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island). Once home to the famous Lonesome George, the last tortoise of the Pinta race. The center is set in the Galapagos National Park Service where various interpretative buildings are available to visit. The grounds, with large stands of native vegetation are one of the better places to spot some of the seldom seen Darwinís finches.
PM: Mosquera Islet. This tiny, low-lying islet, converted into coral sand, is set between the north and south Seymour Islands. It’s home to a group of sea lions that come to laze on the soft white sand, it’s an excellent spot to observe shorebirds, herons, lava gulls, and boobies. Snorkeling or diving here, one can often see sharks, rays, and barracudas.
Day 9 - South Plaza Island & Santa Fe Island
AM: South Plaza Island. Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, and land iguanas are all present at the landing site. The small island is covered with a carpet of a red succulent studded with Opuntia cacti. At the cliff edge, we spend time watching birds like frigatebirds, flocks of Galapagos shearwaters, and of particular note, flights of displaying red-billed tropicbirds.
PM: Santa Fe Island. After a fabulous snorkel in the turquoise waters of the protected bay, we may have enjoyed time with sea lions, turtles, reef sharks and spotted eagle rays. Landing on a sandy beach, we spend time watching the abundant sea lions there with us and . We begin a walk past a forest of island-endemic giant Opuntia cacti and we can watch the Santa Fe land Iguana.
Day 10 - Lobos Island & San Cristobal Airport
AM: Lobos Island. Isla Lobos is approximately 20 minutes by boat from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Once on the island, the trail is about 850 meters and there will be rocky trails and a nice & easy sand trail too. There is a small population of blue-footed boobies and great frigatebirds nests at this site.
San Cristobal Airport. After the visit, passengers will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.
Day 11 - Back to Quito
AM: Transfer to Quito airport.
Transfer to Quito airport, or guests can also extend their stay in Ecuador with other land tours we offer.
Accommodation: In the 5-Star Go Quito Hotel / Premium Room
