Quito to Galapagos Islands

Highlights

• Discover the unique flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands aboard the Galapagos Legend
• Astonish yourself with a biodiversity seen nowhere else in the world.
• Explore Quito’s Spanish Colonial architecture,chaotic narrow streets, lined with colonial churches, monasteries and mansions, radiate outwards from attractive plazas.
• Taste traditional Ecuadorian food at a local restaurant.
• Spend your evening on-deck star gazing without light pollution.
• Custom itineraries available upon request.

Description

The Galapagos Legend is rated as a high-class vessel. This legendary, 100-passenger, deluxe-class vessel offers all the amenities of a large cruise liner without sacrificing the intimacy you would expect on a small sailing craft. Cabins have air-conditioning, wardrobes, private en-suite bathroom, hair dryer, and safe deposit boxes. The facilities and other features include an auditorium for conferences, multiple social areas, special menus and activities for children, a sauna and jacuzzi, massage facilities, Ecuadorian and international specialties at the dining room, creative vegetarian menus (meals can be accommodated for who have special dietary needs), a coffee bar, swimming pool with broad sun decks and observation platforms (for whale and dolphin watching, during inter-island cruising.

The professional team of 55 employees includes 6 multilingual naturalist guides (each speaking an average of four languages), a concierge, a chef who constantly spoils you with inventive combinations of Ecuadorian and international cuisines, and an on-call physician.

Itinerary

Day 1

WELCOME TO QUITO, ECUADOR!

El Sagrario Chapel in Plaza de la Independencia in central Quito in Ecuador, South America

Upon clearing Immigration and Customs, you will have a transfer to the Swissotel.

The capital city Quito, is nestled in the Andes Mountains at an altitude of 2,800 meters (9,000 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest capital cities in the world. The city is known for its rich Spanish colonial architecture, cultural heritage, and stunning natural beauty.

The historic center is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to many of the city’s most significant landmarks. One of the most iconic landmarks in Quito is the La Compania de Jesus church, renowned for its baroque architecture and lavish interiors. Other popular attractions include the Plaza Grande, which is the main square of Quito, and the Presidential Palace, which sits at one end of the square.

Accommodations: Swiss Advantage Room or similar. Other hotels available upon request. Hotel taxes included.

DAY 2

QUITO

Enjoy a half day, guided city tour of Quito starting in the main square in front of the Presidential Palace. Next, onto main cathedral and some other notable buildings. At Plaza San Francisco there is a quick stop to recharge with some typical Ecuadorian sweets.

Our next stop will be a special chocolate experience, where you will have a chance to discover and taste the finest chocolate in the world! Ecuadorians are very proud of being one of the most important world producers of quality cocoa seeds. Watch learn the process of turning cacao into creamy chocolate ready for consumption.

Of final stop will be Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, one of the most beautiful churches in South America. Today’s tour will end with lunch at a traditional restaurant in Quito. Afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Accommodation: Swiss Advantage Room. Breakfast, Lunch, and hotel taxes included.

DAY 3

QUITO/GALAPAGOS

After breakfast there is a transfer to the airport for your flight to San Cristobal. Arriving in the Galapagos, passengers are picked up at the airport by our natural guides and taken on a ten-minute bus drive to the pier to board the Galapagos Legend.

Begin your 4-night cruise through Darwin’s “Enchanted Islands”. All cabins are spacious and feature a private bath/shower and air-conditioning. All meals, lectures and shore excursions are included. The excursions and cultural programs are led by category “3” naturalist with years of experience in guiding in the Galapagos Islands.

PM: INTERPRETATION CENTER & TIJERETAS HILL (SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND)

Dry landing in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, capital of the Galapagos Islands. Passengers visit the Interpretation Center, an excellent place to learn about Natural History in the Galapagos. The Museum of Natural History displays information on the volcanic origins of the islands, their remoteness from the continent, ocean currents, climate, the arrival of the different species and their colonization, among other points of interest. The human history is also showcased, chronologically narrating the most significant events related to the discovery and colonization of the islands.

Difficulty level: Difficult

Type of terrain: Rocky

Duration: 1-hour visit

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included)

Waved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata), Punta Suarez, Espanola or Hood Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

DAY 4

CRUISING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

AM: GARDNER BAY (ESPAÑOLA ISLAND)

Today will begin with a wet landing on a beautiful white coral sand beach guarded by a colony of sea lions. There are no trails, so we stay along the shore where we can spot Galapagos hawks, American Oystercatchers, Galapagos Ground Doves, Hood mockingbirds*, Yellow Warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and three species of Darwin’s finches: a subspecies (Geospiza fuliginosa) of the Large Cactus Finch, which is similar to the large ground finch, the Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) and the Warbler Finch (Certhidea Olivacea), another endemic subspecies.

Swimming and snorkeling*is available today and provides insight to a great variety of Galapagos marine wildlife: king angelfish, Creole fish, damsel fish, parrotfish, manta rays, and white-tipped reef sharks.

Difficulty level: easy

Type of terrain: sandy

Duration: 1-hour walk, 1-hour snorkeling

PM: PUNTA SUAREZ (ESPAÑOLA ISLAND)

Dry landing. An island of geological interest, we explore volcanic formations and a riveting wildlife: large sea lion colonies and seabirds including the Española mockingbird, Nazca Boobies and the spectacular, Red-billed Tropicbird. You will also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs.

A somewhat lengthy hike will bring you among Nazca and Blue-footed Boobies, * right up to nesting grounds that sometimes overlap the trail. Other birding favorites include Galapagos Dove, Galapagos Hawk, Swallow-tailed Gulls, and the world’s largest colony of Waved Albatross, * an unequivocal highlight during mating season (May-December).

Admire the island’s dramatic backdrop, featuring the famous Soplador, a seaward blowhole that shoots water up to 23 m. (75 ft.) in the air.

Difficulty level: difficult

Type of terrain: rocky

Duration: 2 ½-hour walk approx.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included)

Day 5

CRUISING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

AM: POST OFFICE (FLOREANA ISLAND)

Wet landing. Located on the north side of Floreana, the bay was named because in 1793 Captain James Colnett installed a wooden barrel which served as an informal post office for sailors passing through, who would take letters with them back to their destinations. Today, visitors continue the tradition by placing un-stamped postcards inside the barrel, hoping that some other traveler, going to the letter destination, will take it back for free. The chances are that the letterposted can take a long time to arrive to its destination. However, there have been cases where it has arrived before the sender.

We may also encounter Darwin’s finches, * Yellow Warbler and Lava Lizards. Great snorkeling opportunities with Green Pacific Sea Turtles. * As well, the island is best known for its endemic vegetation: Scalesia villosa, Lecocarpus Pinnatifidus, and the Galapagos Milkwort. Snorkelers can practice on the main beach among playful sea lions.

Difficulty level: easy

Type of terrain: sandy

Duration: 30-minute walk, 1-hour snorkeling

PM: CORMORANT POINT AND DEVIL´S CROWN (FLOREANA ISLAND)

Wet landing, on an olivine green sandy beach. We hike from the black mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This island features some endemic plants such as Scalesia villosa, white and black mangrove, and holy stick. The trail continues to a beautiful white sandy beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific Sea Turtles. It is important to avoid walking in the water due to the Sting Rays that may be hiding in the sand, which can be dangerous if accidentally stepped on. From the beach, one can spot sea turtles, blue-footed boobies plunging into the water, and small reef sharks floating along the shoreline in the search for food.

This coral-sand beach marks the end of our trail, and we head back to the olivine beach we landed on, to swim or snorkel amongst sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions and, on a good day, white-tipped reef sharks. A small colony of penguins resides on Floreana and can sometimes be observed as well.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included)

DAY 6

CRUISING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

AM: DRAGON HILL (SANTA CRUZ ISLAND)

Arriving at a small lava dock our first encounters are with marine iguanas that blend-in perfectly to the dark rock. As we walk past large prickly pear cacti we arrive at one end of a long sickle-shaped beach with Dragon Hill standing in the distance. Our walk takes us on a circular path, past a shallow lake where flamingoes frequently come to feed. Waders such as stilts, turnstones and sandpipers work the muddy edges frenetically looking for food as we continue inland to a dry, forested habitat where land iguanas’ nest and burrow.

Difficulty level: intermediate

Type of terrain: rocky

Duration: 2-hour walk

PM: PUNTA BOWDITCH

Feel the indescribable feeling of being where no one else has. Relax on a powdery beach, snorkel around turquoise water islets and hike beside salt pools and dried white corals. Be one of the first humans to visit Punta Bowditch.

Difficulty level: easy

Type of terrain: sandy

Duration: ½-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner included)

Day 7

FLY BACK TO QUITO

AM: HIGHLANDS (SANTA CRUZ ISLAND)

Dry landing. A 45-minute bus ride will take us to the Santa Cruz highlands, located in the northwest of Puerto Ayora, where we will find a natural reserve with giant tortoises. * These enormous and slow-moving reptiles are responsible for the island’s name and therefore approaching them in their humid and forested abode is always an inspiring adventure. They can weigh between 250 and 300 kg and can live up to 200 years. Additionally, travelers can walk inside surprising lava tubes.

Difficulty level: easy

Type of terrain: flat and muddy (depending on season)

Duration: 1½-hour walk

Transfer to Baltra’s airport to take your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil and connect to Lima.

Breakfast included.

End of our services.

The Ecuador Galapagos Island schedule is always subject to change without notice and can be operated in a different sequence, depending on operational considerations. Islands visits can be changed according to availability, tides, safety. All hotels are subject to availability and can be substituted for similar hotels.

All payments are non-refundable in the event of cancellation. TRIP INSURANCE is highly recommended. A written waiver will be required if you do not have insurance.

Pricing: Prices vary based on cabin selection. All prices are in double occupancy. Single occupancy upon request. Prices Starting at: $ 4,750.00 USD per person

Included

• 6 nights of accommodation (double occupancy)
• All meals as mentioned in the itinerary
• Soft drinks, coffee and tea onboard the Legend
• Transfers in Galapagos (Airport – boat – airport)
• Daily excursions
• English speaking Naturalist Guide category III
• The use of snorkeling gear
• Wetsuit rental

Excluded

• International air tickets
• Other soft drinks & alcoholic beverages
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses
• Medical or travel insurance
• Air tickets from Quito to Galapagos and back
• Entrance fee To the National Park $100.00 per person (subject to change)
• INGALA immigration card $20.00 per person (subject to change)

B= breakfast included, L=lunch included, PicL=picnic lunch included, D=Dinner included
All bookings through Voyages GAMSPS Travel, Quebec Licensee.

* Personalized Departure Dates: We can customize any of our trips to begin on a date that is convenient to you. Supplemental charges may apply.

On Board Experience

Inquire about extension tours to the cloud forest or the Andes mountains.