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✈ 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 A+B
Day 1 – Welcome to Quito 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 Day 2 – Quito Old Town […]
Day 1 - Welcome to Quito
Day 2 - Quito Old Town Tour & Middle of the World
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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.
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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
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✈ Welcome to Galapagos. Departure from Quito 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 Galapagos Legend.
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Highlands Tortoise Reserve (Santa Cruz Island) In the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island, we have our best opportunity to interact at close quarters with totally wild, Galapagos giant tortoises. A short walk among these huge, 600 lb, reptiles will also offer the chance for more highland species, especially several species of the famed finches.
Day 4 - Genovesa Island
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El Barranco Prince Philip’s Steps (Genovesa Island) Be marvel at the variety of sea life that uses the crevices of the lava cliffs for shelter. Red-billed Tropic birds fly overhead, and a small colony of fur seals may be found near the landing site. You will be dropped off at a steep stairway that begins on rocks at the foot of a path that leads through a seabird colony full of Nazca and Red-footed Boobies.
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Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island) From within the flooded caldera of Tower Island, we set foot onto a sandy beach to be greeted by swallow-tailed gulls, often said to be the most beautiful gull in the world. On the trail, we can see nesting red-footed boobies and great frigate birds.
Day 5 - South Plaza Island & Santa Fe Island
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South Plaza Island Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, and land iguanas are all at the landing site. The small island is covered with a carpet of red succulents studded with Opuntia cacti. At the cliff edge, we spend time watching birds like frigate birds, flocks of Galapagos shearwaters, and, of particular note, flights of displaying red-bellied tropic birds.
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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 watch the abundant sea lions there with us and begin a walk past a forest of island-endemic giant Opuntia cacti, and we can watch the Santa Fe land of Iguana.
Day 6 - Santa Cruz Island & Mosquera Islet
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Bachas Beach Named for some wrecked World War II barges whose ribs are still visible in the sand, is a visitor site that 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 flamingos.
Charles Darwin: Research Station We visit the Station where the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding program takes place as part of our efforts to preserve the fragile Galapagos environment.
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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 7 - Santiago Island & Rabida Island
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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 choose 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.
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Rabida Island Lying at the archipelago’s heart, this dramatic island with a distinctive red-sand beach is home to sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, endemic Galapagos doves, and vermilion flycatchers. A walk takes us through a forest of palo santo and cacti to a beautiful overview of the bay.
Day 8 - Isabela Island
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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.
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Tagus Cove (Isabela Island) a historic pirate hideout and anchorage. Visited by Charles Darwin and the HMS Beagle in 1835. Hike past Darwin Lake and the 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 9 - Fernandina Island & Isabela Island
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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.
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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.
Day 10 - Santa Cruz Island & return to Quito
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Highlands (Santa Cruz Island) In the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island, we have our best opportunity to interact at close quarters with totally wild, Galapagos giant tortoises. A short walk among these huge, 600 lb, reptiles will also offer the chance for more highland species, especially several species of the famed finches.
✈ Baltra Island Airport After the visit, passengers will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to Quito.
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Accommodation: In the 5-Star GO Quito Hotel / Premium Room.
Day 11 - Transfer to Airport
Transfer to Quito airport
Transfer to Quito airport or guests can also extend their stay in Ecuador with other land tours we offer.
