Quito and Galapagos Adventure of a Lifetime

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. Afterward, we’ll explore La Ronda Street, the Casa del Alabado Museum, and El Panecillo Viewpoint. To top it all off, we’ll also explore the San Roque neighborhood, where you’ll get to experience Quito like a local! Lunch at Casa Gangotena is included as part of this tour.

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 the Santa Cruz 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

You will land in Baltra Island by plane in the morning and then take a guided transfer to the dock to board the Santa Cruz II. After an introductory briefing onboard, all passengers will partake in an emergency boat drill and then lunch.

Las Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz Island)

This beautiful visitor site is located on the northern shore of Santa Cruz Island, where a glorious white beach awaits along with a couple of brackish lagoons that are just a few steps away from the sea. These lagoons actually serve as the feeding grounds of various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos. You are more than welcome to enjoy swimming and snorkeling activities at this beach, too.

Buccaneer Cove

Explore the coastline along the impressive cliffs of Buccaneer Cove, all while learning about the area’s history. This cove is home to a large number of marine birds, sea lions, and inter-tidal organisms. We will also get to marvel at the fantastic geological formations. Here, you will have the chance to go snorkeling, take a ride on the dinghy or the glass-bottom boat.

Puerto Egas

Enjoy a swim or snorkel along the rocky shorelines, typically in the company of marine turtles. After, a walk will give us the opportunity to see both land and marine birds as they skitter about a landscape that consists of tuff-stone layers and lava flows.

Rabida Island

The color of this beach is the result of the unusually high levels of iron that are found within its sand. The walk here will bring guests close to a colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, and many more creatures. A nearby saltwater pond, too, is occasionally seen hosting American flamingos. Snorkeling along the beach is offered.

Bartolome Island

This island is home to Pinnacle Rock and is a great place for all of us to go for a swim and snorkel from the beach. Guests will get to go for a hike to the summit of Pinnacle Rock on this relatively small island, the viewpoint of which boasts fantastic views of the archipelago.

Prince Philip’s Steps

A flight of stairs reach a flat and rocky plateau. Once there, you can walk along comfortably and check out large colonies of Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds and storm petrels. Otherwise, you can opt for enjoying a longer dinghy ride along the cliffs, weather permitting. Kayaking here is optional.

Darwin Bay

In the afternoon, we will land at the beautiful beach that lines this bay to enjoy some swimming and/or snorkeling. Following this refreshing dip, the excursion will head out to take a stroll and observe hundreds of different birds. Opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking and swimming are available here.

Tortoise Reserve

You will begin your last morning on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, where you will head out for one last visit over at the Giant Tortoise Reserve, where one of the final highlights of this itinerary awaits: giant tortoises roaming around in the wild. These lush highlands include dense forests consisting of Galapagos daisies, orchids and bromeliads as well as several endemic land birds.

Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel

After this visit, we will transfer you directly to the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel where you’ll be checked in and have time to enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure. The day will end with an exquisite dinner at the hotel.

Overnight at the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.

On this day, you’ll be free to choose from a number of the Finch Bay’s daily activity options, such as visits to: Cerro Mesa, Tortuga Bay, and Divine Bay. For more information on these activities, be sure to check out the “Half-day Land Activity Options” tab below.

At the end of the tour, you’ll be taken back to the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.

Overnight at the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.

On the final day, you’ll enjoy breakfast and hop on your transfer to the airport, from which point you’ll take your flight back to Quito.

In Quito, you’ll stay at the airport hotel EB By Eurobuilding for the night.

Today you catch your flight back home!

The EB By Eurobuilding hotel will provide you with an airport transfer service, for you to get there easily and promptly.

Safe travels!

Option 1 – Cerro Mesa

This private reserve combines endemic forests with impressive volcanic terrain. Here, visitors will get the opportunity to observe fascinating species of birds as well as the trail that Galapagos Giant Tortoises use to migrate between vegetation zones. During our visit of the reserve, we’ll explore the surroundings of Mount Scoria, from which will get to soak in an impressive view of the central region of the archipelago.

Option 2 – Tortuga Bay

Beautiful Tortuga Bay is located to the southwest of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. During the walk there, visitors will get to check out endemic birds of the archipelago, particularly Darwin’s Finches. If you’re looking for adventure, Tortuga Bay is the ideal place to partake in snorkeling, kayaking, and surfing!

Option 3 – Divine Bay

This oasis of tranquility is teeming with numerous magnificent species! The bay here is naturally protected from the waves thanks to volcanic reefs, mangroves, and the cliffs that surround it. Here, you’ll find pelicans, blue-footed boobies, sea turtles, and more! Relax on the beach or experience the underwater wonders as you go snorkeling!