Galapagos Islands Cruise & Colombia Coffee Triangle Tour

On this day, you’ll visit the Historic Center of Quito. This marvelous place was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. On this day, we stroll through Independence Plaza where we’ll see the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace. After that, we visit La Compañia de Jesus and San Francisco Church and Convent with their impressive, gilded and baroque interiors, respectively. Shortly after, we’ll go to the Metropolitan Cathedral to admire the view from up top, along with its magnificent domes. Lunch will be had at the Plaza Grande Café, where you’ll get to savor Ecuadorian cuisine.

You’ll also want to get your senses ready to experience sublime art pieces and the exquisite flavors that reside in chocolate produced by the renowned To’ak brand. You’ll experience all this over at the home of Ecuador’s most famous painter – Oswaldo Guayasamin.

At the end of the tour you’ll be taken back to Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel.

Overnight in Quito.

On this morning, you’ll be transferred to Quito’s airport to board your flight to the Galapagos Islands!

Please note that the following Northern Galapagos Islands Itinerary aboard Yacht Isabela II is one of the many options you can choose for your Galapagos adventure. Ask our Destination Experts about our fleet and available itineraries.

Baltra Island

We land at Baltra Airport and then make our way to the Itabaca Channel. There, we take a ferry across to Santa Cruz Island. A 30-minute bus ride leads to the fascinating, more humid Highlands of the island where we’ll learn about its unique ecosystems and biodiversity. Lunch to be enjoyed at a local restaurant.

Note: Please make sure to bring comfortable shoes and clothes, a small backpack or satchel and any medication you might need. Sunblock, insect repellent, and sunglasses are also recommended. You’ll board our stunning Yacht Isabela II at the end of the excursion.

Santa Cruz Island’s Highlands and Puerto Ayora

After lunch, we drive to a nearby reserve that is one of the best places in the archipelago to enjoy the imposing site of giant tortoises. The tortoises enjoy lumbering around, munching on grass and leaves, and wallowing in small pools and will happily stay still for all your photos! A short bus ride takes us back to board the Isabela II.

Puerto Egas (Santiago Island)

Puerto Egas offers us the opportunity to walk down a black sand beach and the enjoyment of land and marine birds amid a landscape of stunning rock formations and lava flows. At low tide, you can delight with the site of the unique marine iguanas grazing. A nearby colony of fur seals can be spotted down the path.

Chinese Hat Islet

This islet, formed only relatively recently, makes a wonderful afternoon visit as we explore the wildlife along its trail, which begins at a crescent-shaped, white sandy beach. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities amid and the darling site of Galapagos penguins swimming and frolicking near the rocks.

Prince Philip’s Steps (Genovesa Island)

We start off with a scenic ride along the cliffs of “Bird Island” as Genovesa is known, followed by a walk up a stone staircase that takes us into the island proper. From here, the trail winds its way through large colonies of Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, and storm petrels. This is a bird watcher’s paradise! Those who do not wish to disembark and walk within the island can enjoy a longer panga ride along the cliffs, or enjoy some snorkeling and kayaking.

Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island)

We land after lunch at the white beach of stately Darwin Bay. We can enjoy a leisurely walk through the winding path and gaze at the resident birds, which include frigatebirds, red-footed and Nazca boobies, as well as gulls, herons, finches, and mockingbirds.

Santa Fe Island

We take the dinghy over to this idyllic sandy-white beach populated by colonies of sea lions. The stately Galapagos hawks are rather intrepid and may swoop by you from on high or remain perched in a nearby cactus. The Santa Fe land iguana is also a common site as it scampers after fruit or mates. Evening time is a great opportunity for snorkeling and swimming along a natural wave barrier rock formation where Sea Lions can be seen swimming splendidly.

South Plaza Island

In the afternoon, we make our way around to the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island to the eastern mouth of the Itabaca Channel. Boarding the pangas, we navigate alongside this rocky coastline, enjoying the stunning plant life, and rock formations. Then it’s back to the water for some more snorkeling or a ride around in the glass-bottom boat. This is one of the best snorkeling sites in the whole archipelago and we may enjoy a startling array of surgeonfish, angelfish, groupers, hogfish, hawkfish, parrotfish, blenny, and the occasional reef shark or ray.

Baltra Island Airport

The Galapagos journey ends at Baltra Island, where you will take your transfer to the airport to hop on your flight back to the mainland.

Guayaquil

When you arrive in Guayaquil, you will be transferred to the Wyndham Hotel for a well-deserved night of rest.

On this morning, you’ll take your transfer to the airport to hop on your flight to Bogota.

Bogota

Welcome to the capital city of Colombia–Bogota! Our guide will meet you at El Dorado International Airport and you’ll take a transfer to the Sofitel Hotel. After assisting you with check-in, the guide will give you a detailed itinerary of all the services included in your trip.

Bogota’s Sofitel Hotel is located in the prestigious neighborhood of La Cabrera, an excellent place for guests given its central location. The surrounding areas are home to museums, monuments, restaurants, and boutiques.

Zipaquira’s Underground Salt Cathedral + City Tour
Today begins with a panoramic city view on the way to Zipaquira. Head underground to experience the extraordinary Salt Cathedral, carved inside an active salt mine formed 250 million years ago.

Afterward, visit the colonial quarter of La Candelaria–a favorite of photographers. We explore the Museo del Oro (Gold), and the Botero Museum, celebrating Colombia’s most famous artist.

Lunch at a local restaurant with a set menu. Overnight at Sofitel Hotel in Bogota.

[NOTE: Appropriate dress is required for visits to sites such as churches. Please avoid wearing shorts, skirts, etc. Museo del Oro closes on Mondays and Botero Museum on Thursdays.]

Airport Transfer + Coffee Triangle
Our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and you’ll take a transfer to the El Dorado Airport or Puente Aereo (depending on your flight). We will assist you with check-in and connecting to your next destination.

The Zona Cafetera (Coffee Triangle) is Colombia’s principal coffee-growing area. Shaped like an inverted triangle, this region is comprised of three departments: Caldas, Quindio, and Risaralda. Its spectacular natural beauty makes it one of the most beautiful destinations; combining lush green valleys, exotic wildlife, and balmy climate. The perfect place to unwind and relax; sit back and enjoy the freshest coffee you’ll ever taste.

Overnight at Hotel Casa San Carlos Lodge.

Salento & Cocora Valley

This day, we visit Quindio’s beautiful Cocora Valley, home to the wax palm, (Colombia’s national tree and the world’s tallest variety of palm), measuring up to 190 ft.

A traditional canelazo (cocktail) welcome is followed by a visit to the misty forest where our guide explains the importance of conserving this beautiful ecosystem. Guests make a lasting contribution by planting wax palms at the park.

Next, visit Salento, founded in 1842, its well-preserved, colonial bahareque architecture is awash in harmonious color. The town’s Calle Real is lined end-to-end with restaurants, bars, and handicrafts shops.

A typical lunch, featuring smoked trout, is included at the Cocora Valley. Overnight at Hotel Casa San Carlos Lodge.

On this day, an easy transfer to the airport gets you there in time to catch your flight to Bogota and make your international connection.

We hope you have enjoyed the wonders of Ecuador and Colombia!