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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 C+D
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 & North Seymour 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 10 minute bus ride to the pier where they will board the Galapagos Legend.
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North Seymour Island This flat, uplifting, island is an important spot to see both magnificent and great frigate bird 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 4 - Bartolome Island & Santiago Island
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Bartolome Island Considered the most iconic landscape of the entire archipelago the view from the top of Bartolome Island, overlooking the famous Pinnacle Rock and the austere Santiago Island, Our subsequent snorkel here might put us face to face with Galapagos penguins, white-tipped reef sharks, and playful sea lions.
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Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island) Visitors are always totally enthralled by the amazing beds of pahoehoe lava from the recent flow on the island. It is a landscape and macro photographer’s dream. As we hike over the lava, we will discuss the importance of pioneering plants such as the tiny Mollugo.
Day 5 - San Cristobal Island
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Punta Pitt (San Cristobal Island) This is the only place on the islands where we will enjoy the chance to see all three of the booby species in the same place. The red-footed will be perched on the Cordia lutea and small trees, the Nazca ́s on the ground near the cliff edge, and the blue-footed will be further inland. Frigate birds will be all around and the views are breathtaking.
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Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal Island) From our dinghy ride, as we head to shore, we are first humbled by the immensity of the stunning cliffs of the Sorcerer’s Hill. You can enjoy simply sharing the beach with sea lions, snorkeling from shore, or walking to a hidden lagoon where you might spot black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels, and white-cheeked pintails.
Day 6 - San Cristobal Island
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Cerro Colorado (San Cristobal Island) In the moist highlands of San Cristobal, we will visit the giant tortoise breeding center “La Galapaguera” to witness the archipelago’s most iconic creature in its various life stages. The reserve aims to help restore the threatened San Cristóbal tortoise populations back into the wild. In town, there are shops to purchase local handicrafts and souvenirs.
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Interpretation Center & Frigatebird Hill (San Cristobal Island) The interpretation center is full of interesting information and offers the perfect overview of the formation of the Galapagos. Following a hike to Frigate bird Hill (Cerro Tijeretas), we will have a great look at both species of frigate birds, with the bonus of a beautiful view of the bay below.
Day 7 - Española Island
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Gardner Bay (Española Island) One of the most stunning beaches in the Galapagos. The long, white, sandy beach, lapped by turquoise waters, is home to a colony of Galapagos sea lions. Hood mockingbirds are endemic to this particular island. We can also snorkel here from the beach, in the bay’s shallows.
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Punta Suarez (Española Island) is a naturalist’s paradise. The oldest extant island in the archipelago is our only opportunity to commune with the endemic wave albatross during their breeding season between April and December. With luck, we can watch their complex courtship display.
Day 8 - Floreana Island
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Post Office (Floreana Island) The famous Post Office Barrel. Claimed to have been first set up in 1793 by Captain James Colnett. The system involved whalers and fur sealers would leave addressed letters in the barrel to be picked up by homeward-bound colleagues. Actually, visitors often take letters and hand-deliver them to their home countries.
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Cormoran & Devil’s Crown (Floreana Island) Our walk takes us to a large, shallow lagoon, often inhabited by a variable number of shockingly pink greater flamingos. We arrive at a powdery white beach, a nesting area for green turtles. Devil’s Crown is one of the favorite snorkeling sites on the islands.
Day 9 - Santa Cruz Island
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Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island) Arriving at a small lava dock, our first encounter is with marine iguanas that blend perfectly with the dark rock. Walking past a 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 flamingos frequently come to feed.
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Punta Bowditch (Santa Cruz Island) 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 at Galapagos Legend.
Day 10 - Highlands Tortoise & 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, 600lb, 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.
