Galapagos Islands

Today, you’ll be picked up from your hotel. First, you’ll be driven to the colonial center of Quito. The guide will tell us all about the history of Ecuador and Quito, the Inca Empire, Spanish invasion and the independence period as you pass some of the most famous squares, churches and colonial buildings in the capital. From the foot of the angel on top of the Panecillo hill, you get a fantastic view across the city.

You will then continue to the Mitad del Mundo (centre of the earth). This monument marks the spot that in 1736 Charles-Marie de la Condamine declared to be the equator, according to his measurements. It is possible to see how water drains clockwise on one side of the equator and anti-clockwise on the other. You then drive back into Quito. (B)

Today you see the best of San Cristobal Island, starting with Punta Pitt. From the olivine beach, where many sea lions laze, you follow a trail to the top of a volcanic hill for superb views of the surrounding land- and seascapes. The walk takes several hours and is one of the finest in all the Galapagos. The abundance of food helps support three kinds of booby - blue, red and masked. You see them all – blue-footed boobies nesting in the island’s interior, red-footed ones among bushes and masked boobies making their homes among the island’s cliffs. Two species of frigatebirds can also be seen during the walk. (BLD)

Today you visit Santa Cruz itself, the second largest island in the Galapagos. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic hub of the archipelago and is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station’s visitor centre and museum are essential stops for anyone interested in the archipelago’s natural and human history and keen to learn more about conservation efforts to preserve the unique ecosystems of the Galapagos. It also offers visitors their best chance for close-up encounters with giant tortoises, including ‘Lonesome George’, the last of his sub-species. You also see many newborn and young giant turtles – part of the breeding program to reintroduce them into their natural habitat. Afterwards you take a bus to the Santa Cruz highlands, where the lush humidity makes it seems worlds away from the island’s arid coastal regions. The interior of the Santa Cruz contains inactive volcanic cones, the rich soil home to many crops, miconia bushes and scalesia, a species that has been called ‘the Darwin’s finches of the plant world’. you visit the largest lava tunnels in the Galapagos and observe great local bird life, including the vermilion flycatcher, Galápagos rail, Galapagos dove and paint-billed cake. The highlands are also the natural habitat of the Galapagos tortoise and there's a good chance you may see them here. (BLD)

Lying just to Santiago’s south, Rabida is one of the most volcanically varied islands in the chain. The volcanic rocks are covered with palo santo trees, opuntia cacti and low, scrubby bushes. Sea lions abound on the red sand beach and a short trail leads to a lagoon where flamingos live and brown pelicans nest. There are also boobies and nine species of Darwin finches on the island – see how many you can spot!

Snorkelling is great just off Rabida, with playful sea lions, rays and sharks often seen. You sail southeast for our afternoon visit to Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill), on Santa Cruz’s north coast. From our dry landing, you walk to a brackish lagoon frequented by lagoon birds, including stilts, pintail ducks, sandpipers, sanderlings and occasionally flamingos.

Further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western area of the archipelago. This area is a nesting site for land iguanas, which is constantly monitored and assisted by the Charles Darwin Research Station. The arid-zone vegetation can be a rewarding location for bird watching, with Darwin’s finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, the endemic Galapagos flycatcher and yellow warblers all regulars here. (BLD)

On our final morning you explore one of the Daphne Islands – small islands located north of Santa Cruz. This island is only accessible by small boats and has a rich birdlife, with many nesting boobies in particular. You walk the trails of this volcanic cone, taking in the lava formations and craters where birds make their nests as well as looking out for the spectacular red-billed tropicbird, which also make their home here. You are then transferred back to Baltra where you say goodbye to the amazing Galapagos Islands and take our return flight to Quito.

As you will be leaving the boat today, please remember that if you have enjoyed the services provided by your guide and crew, a tip would be very much appreciated by them. As a guideline you recommend each passenger consider US$10 per day for the crew and US$6 per day for your guide. You can leave tips in envelopes that are placed in your cabin on this last day of your journey. 

On arrival in Quito you are met and transferred to your hotel for you last night. Hotel – 1 night (B)