Quito and Galapagos Cruise Vacation

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Explore Quito with its rich cultural legacy, ornate facades, and dazzling gilt altars. Your first stop will be Independence Square to have a view of the Archbishop’s Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, as well as other buildings that are representative of colonial art and architecture. Drive to the hill of Panecillo for a panoramic view of the city. Then take a short trip to the north of Quito and arrive at Latitude 0´0´0´´ where the Intinan Museum will guide you through the wonderful world of the Andean Cosmo vision, culture and traditions. This is the place where you can stand with one foot in the northern hemisphere and with the other one in the southern hemisphere. (B,L)

An early start will take you north on a beautiful scenic drive to the province of Imbabura, a magic land of lakes and mountains and outstanding beauty. Your first stop will be the Quitsato Sundial, built on an area of 170 ft in diameter, this is a great stone mosaic, in which different lines mark the solstice, the time of the day and the influence of the Center of the World on daily life. The Northern Highlands are the home of the Otavalo Community, well known around the world for their weaving patterns and textiles which pre-date the Spanish conquest. Close by is the town of Peguche. Along with the weaving industry, the community of Peguche is also known for the manufacture of wind instruments: sikus, kenas and charangos. You will have the opportunity to visit a typical house of this region. (B,L)

You will be transferred to the Quito airport to catch your flight to Baltra Island (not included). Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the MV Galapagos Legend. In the afternoon, visit Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz Island with your guide. (B,L,D)

This morning, visit Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island. In the afternoon, land on Rabida Island’s red-colored beach, caused by the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. There, you will find a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. Very close to the beach, a salt pond hosts migrating greater flamingos at certain times of year. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, disembark at Urbina Bay, the result of an uplifting of the ocean in 1954. Here, you can find corals, shells, and many other calcareous organisms exposed above water. This area is also home to large and very colorful Galapagos land iguanas, and occasionally to giant tortoises. Along the shoreline, you may encounter flightless cormorants. In the afternoon, continue to Tagus Cove which provided a favorite anchorage for pirates and whalers over the centuries. An uphill hike takes guests to the rim of a crater, Darwin Lake, filled with salt water. (B,L,D)

This morning, visit Espinosa Point on Fernandina Island. Fernandina which, having no introduced mammals, boasts a very unique environment with a very high density of marine iguanas who share their space with sea lions, Sally light-foot crabs, hawks, penguins, and the flightless cormorants. In the afternoon, return to Isabela Island to visit Vicente Roca Point. (B,L,D)

Tour the highlands of Santa Cruz Island in the morning before transferring to Baltra airport to board your flight back to Quito (not included). Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, consider joining an optional Quito by Night tour with dinner. (B)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Quito airport for your return flight home. (B)