4 night cruise in a Junior Suite, 3 nights Quito with city tour
8 days / 7 nights
From $2,473 per person, double occupancy for 2010

Includes round-trip air Quito-Galapagos, Galapagos Entrance Tax


Day 1: Quito arrival
Airport reception and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at the Patio Andaluz or JW Marriott, breakfast included - 2 nights .

Day 2: Quito
City tour. (B)

Day 3: Quito - Baltra
Fly to Baltra and board the Galapagos Legend M/V. Your accommodations are in a Junior Suite. Arriving at Bartolome Island seems as if you were walking on the moon. The volcanic formations on this island include lava bombs, spatter cones, and cinder cones. On your way to the top you have the possibility of admiring a large colony of marine iguanas and lava lizards. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Isabela and Fernandina Islands
This morning visit Urbina Bay on Isabela Island, which is the largest island in the Galapagos. It was created by the eruption of five volcanoes that flowed together. Graffiti dating back to 1800's is written on the rocky cliff, believed to be done by pirates and buccaneers. The trail leads to Darwin's salt-water lagoon and an excellent view of the lava fields, volcanic formations and the ocean. A Dinghy ride will allow you to see marine life and Galapagos Penguins and flightless cormorants. Visit large populations of giant tortoises, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks and frigate birds. This afternoon, catch sight of the largest colony of Marine iguanas sharing space with sally-lightfoot crabs in Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island. Also to be found are Flightless Cormorants nesting points, Galapagos Penguins, Galapagos Hawks and Sea lions. Among the Flora are Brachycereus cactus and mangroves extending into the sea. Recent lava flows formed by an active volcano are also evident. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Santiago
Morning visit to Espumilla beach, located at the north end of Puerto Egas (James Bay). A wet landing on a large coffee-colored sand beach is just north of a fresh water supply that once attracted pirates and whalers. A short walk inland takes visitors through a mangrove forest normally inhabited by the Common Stilt. Sea turtles also visit these mangroves to nest. Beyond the mangroves is a brackish lagoon where flocks of Pink Flamingos and White Cheeked Pintails can be seen. The trail makes a loop heading over a knob into a sparely forested area then back to the beach. Along the way those with a watchful eye may spot a variety of Galapagos Finches or a Vermilion Fly Catcher. Once back at the beach you may have the chance to swim or snorkel time permitting. Sea turtles often lay their eggs in Playa Espumilla, so be careful where you step. This afternoon visit the dark sand beach at Egas Port during a wet landing. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows, the surrounding area is prime for spotting and observing Hunting Herons, Great Blue Herons, Lava Herons, Oyster Catchers, and the Yellow Crowned Night Heron. Passengers enjoy the sight of Marine Iguanas grazing upon algae beds at low tide sharing space with Red Sally Light-Foot Crabs. There is a colony of Fur-Seal swimming in deep pools of cool water called "grottos". This is an excellent spot for swimming and snorkeling in search of Octopuses, Sea Horses, Star Fish and other sea life caught in the small tidal pools. From a safe distance travelers can admire Moray Eels, Hammerhead Sharks, White Tip and Galapagos Sharks, Golden and White Spotted Eagle Rays, Jacks, Wahoo, Tuna, Groupers, Red-Tailed and Dog Snappers, Sea Lions, and Sea Turtles. All located in the back drop of cold water and warm water corals, fans, and sponge. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Santa Cruz Island
Morning walk to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station contains a National Park Information Center, a baby tortoise house where you can see hatchlings and young tortoises, and a walk-in tortoise enclosure where you can meet these Galapagos giants face to face. The Galapagos owe their name to the Spanish word for the giant tortoise that lives here. Pirates and whalers, who captured them for food, devastated these magnificent animals. Now their numbers are recovering, thanks in large part to a breeding program established at the Darwin Station. Eleven different races are being separately bred here for eventual reintroduction to the wild. After lunch, visit the Santa Cruz Highlands, the foothills of extinct volcanoes. The trails here offer excellent birding, including the vermilion flycatcher and elusive Galapagos rail and paint-billed crake. Observe the twin pit volcanic craters, Los Gemelos and later visit Cerro Chato. In addition, there are paths through arid zone vegetation such as prickly pear and other cacti, saltbush and mangroves. A variety of land birds, including Darwin's finches can also be seen. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Baltra - Quito
Disembark at Bachas Beach (wet landing) on the north of the island. Here you will be met by bodysurfing sea lions, marine iguanas, and sea turtles. You will have the opportunity of swimming in the white sand beach. In the late morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Quito. Airport reception and transfer to your Quito hotel. Overnight at the Patio Andaluz or JW Marriott. (B)

Day 8: Int'l departure
Depart for you international flight. (B)