Northern Galapagos Cruise + Quito

Small Group Discoveries

• Day 1 - Welcome to Ecuador

  Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll be met and escorted to Casa Gangotena, our luxury boutique hotel in the historic heart of Quito.

• Day 2 - Discover Quito

  Your exploration of this World Heritage city begins with San Francisco, a magnificent 16th-century Roman Catholic church and convent. At a local hat shop, the owner will share her millinery skills and the techniques learned from her father that have allowed her to produce some of the city’s finest hats for nearly 60 years. You’ll also visit Chez Tiff, a boutique chocolate shop that produces fine confections from locally-sourced cocoa, herbs and fruits. In the historic heart of the city, you’ll behold important Colonial-era landmarks including the Presidential Palace and Cathedral. Your sightseeing ends in La Ronda, a charming historic district filled with inviting shops and galleries. Meals B+L

• Day 3 - Fly to the Galapagos Islands

  You’ll be escorted to the airport this morning for your included flight to Baltra Island in the center of the archipelago. On arrival, cross the narrow Itabaca Channel by ferry to Santa Cruz Island and sit down to lunch at a local restaurant. Then join our expert naturalist for an exciting excursion into the Santa Cruz Highlands. Observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat, learn about the unique ecosystem of this pristine nature reserve, and discover its unusual lava tube formations.
   
  Then travel to Puerto Ayora to board our Galapagos vessel, the intimate La Pinta. You’ll have time to settle in to your Upper Deck outside stateroom before joining fellow passengers for dinner. This evening’s briefing with our expert shipboard naturalists offers an entertaining and informative introduction to your upcoming voyage.  Meals B+L+D

• Day 4 - Eden Islet and Chinese Hat Islet

  Today’s excursions explore the diversity of two small and uninhabited isles. In the morning, a guided expedition in our maneuverable panga boats takes you along the shores of Eden Islet, where you might observe Nazca and blue footed boobies diving into the sea for food, reef sharks and frigatebirds. Conditions permitting, this is also a great place to take advantage of our free snorkeling gear and glass bottom boat. With its cinder cones, tuff cones and semi-eroded lava flows, Eden Islet also offers a chance to learn more about the volcanic origins of the Galapagos Islands.
  
  After lunch, a guided nature walk on Chinese Hat Islet offers a chance to espy marine iguanas, Galapagos hawks, sea lions and Galapagos penguins. There’s also terrific snorkeling here amongst white-tipped reef sharks and penguins, or you might choose to explore these waters by sea kayak, glass-bottom boat or panga.  Meals B+L+D

• Day 5 – Bartolomé and Santiago Islands

  After breakfast, join our naturalists ashore for an invigorating walk to the summit of Bartolomé Island. A network of wooden stairs and boardwalks protects the fragile environment, including small lava lizards and a species of cactus found only in the Galapagos. Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most picturesque and memorable vistas of your Galapagos adventure! Later, a panga boat excursion around Pinnacle Rock offers a great opportunity to photograph this iconic natural formation. Before returning to La Pinta for lunch, you’ll have time to relax on the beach, snorkel or ride in the glass-bottom boat.
  
  In the afternoon, you’ll step ashore at Sullivan Bay on the southeastern coast of Santiago Island. There was a major eruption here only 100 years ago, and the sinuous Pāhoehoe lava formations look almost like still-flowing molten lava. There may not be much wildlife here, but the barren, other-worldly landscape makes for remarkable photography, and this is a great place to observe and experience the volcanic origins of the Galapagos archipelago.  In addition, the lovely coral sand beach of Sullivan Bay is ideal for swimming and snorkeling.  Meals B+L+D

• Day 6 – Two landings on Genovesa Island

  Genovesa is celebrated for its remarkable birdlife including magnificent frigatebirds, red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed and lava gulls, and yellow-crowned herons. This morning, you’ll step ashore with our naturalists at Darwin Bay. From the small sand and coral beach, an easy trail winds its way along a tidal lagoon, offering myriad opportunities to observe and learn about the island’s birdlife. After your guided walk, you can hike along a more challenging lava trail to a look-out point, go for a swim or snorkel in the bay. The more adventurous can paddle or snorkel along the cliffs at the edge of the bay.
   
  After lunch back onboard, you’ll explore Prince Philip’s Steps - named for Prince Philip who visited the Galapagos in 1964 aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. As you approach the lava cliffs in our panga boats, keep your eyes peeled for animals using the crevices for shelter and for red-billed tropicbirds flying overhead. You’ll make landing at the base of a staircase that leads to the top of the cliffs where a mile-long path will take us to the other side of this small island. Along the way, you’ll have a chance to espy large colonies of Nazca boobies, frigatebirds, storm petrels and the elusive short-eared owl.  Meals B+L+D

• Day 7 – Back to the Mainland

  After breakfast, you’ll disembark on Baltra Island and transfer to the airport for your included flight back to the South American mainland. You can fly to Guayaquil at the Hotel del Parque or Quito at the JW Marriott: we include your overnight accommodations and a transfer to the airport in the morning. Or you can connect to your international flight on the same day.  Meals B

• Day 8 - Farewell, Ecuador

  We transfer you to the airport today.  Meals B

Extend Your Trip

• 

  Discover Peru after your Galapagos Cruise

  6-Day Extension from $3,299

  Enhance your travels in South America with our fully-guided 6-day tour to Lima, Cuzco and Machu Picchu. We include all on-tour transportation, luxury hotels and extensive sightseeing.

  View Day by Day »

• Add the rainforest before your journey!

  4 days from $1,499

  Discover the amazing diversity of Ecuador’s rainforests! We include transportation, one night at the Caso Gangotena in Quito, two nights at Mashpi, a new luxury jungle lodge, all meals, and guided rainforest activities like nature walks and canopy tours.

  View Day by Day »

Similar Trips

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  Treasures of Nicaragua

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  Peru Explorer

Check In!

• 

  Casa Gangotena - Quito, Ecuador

  Set in an elegantly restored mansion in the historic heart of Quito, the Casa Gangotena is the best luxury hotel in the capital. Hailed by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, our intimate boutique hotel offers 31 lavish guestrooms of eye-catching style, contemporary design and fine antiques.

• 

  Hotel del Parque - Guayaquil, Ecuador

  The luxurious Hotel del Parque is a lovingly restored 19th century estate, surrounded by lush tropical forest and gardens.  Its spacious 44 guestrooms are exquisitely decorated with modern amenities and views of the courtyard or gardens.  Its riverside location in a peaceful setting is only a 15 minute drive from the city center or airport.

• 

  

  JW Marriott Quito, Ecuador

  The Marriott Hotel is located within walking distance of major sites in Quito, including shopping and cultural events. All guest rooms have views of the Pichincha Volcano or the City of Quito, air-conditioning, satellite TV, internet, and telephone. Additional amenities include restaurant, bar, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, tennis, nearby golf, and spa services.

Welcome Aboard!Deluxe

• 

  Standard Cabins

  The stylish 24-cabin La Pinta is a deluxe and intimate yacht-style cruiser, the only Galapagos vessel with floor-to-ceiling windows in every stateroom! Enjoy wonderful meals with your fellow guests in the congenial single-seating dining room, an inviting lounge with panoramic windows and a fitness room. The ship also offers complimentary wifi and snorkeling gear, and comes with its own sea kayaks and a glass-bottom boat.

  
  

Our Small Ship Journey Value

Extend Your Trip

• 

  Discover Peru after your Galapagos Cruise

  6-Day Extension from $3,299

  Enhance your travels in South America with our fully-guided 6-day tour to Lima, Cuzco and Machu Picchu. We include all on-tour transportation, luxury hotels and extensive sightseeing.

  View Day by Day »

• Add the rainforest before your journey!

  4 days from $1,499

  Discover the amazing diversity of Ecuador’s rainforests! We include transportation, one night at the Caso Gangotena in Quito, two nights at Mashpi, a new luxury jungle lodge, all meals, and guided rainforest activities like nature walks and canopy tours.

  View Day by Day »

Extend Your Trip

• 

  Discover Peru after your Galapagos Cruise

  6-Day Extension from $3,299

  Enhance your travels in South America with our fully-guided 6-day tour to Lima, Cuzco and Machu Picchu. We include all on-tour transportation, luxury hotels and extensive sightseeing.

  View Day by Day »

• Add the rainforest before your journey!

  4 days from $1,499

  Discover the amazing diversity of Ecuador’s rainforests! We include transportation, one night at the Caso Gangotena in Quito, two nights at Mashpi, a new luxury jungle lodge, all meals, and guided rainforest activities like nature walks and canopy tours.

  View Day by Day »

Private Tour Add-Ons

• 

  Ecuador Amazon Lodge

  5-Day Tour Freestyle

  Explore Ecuador’s largest tract of Amazon jungle from the Napo Wildlife Center, our 5-star eco-lodge in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Includes roundtrip air from Quito and native-guided rainforest excursions.

• 

  Cuenca

  3-Day FreeStyle Tour

  Fly roundtrip from Quito to this handsome Colonial-era town set high in Ecuador’s southern Andes. Enjoy a city tour and then personalize your stay with a second countryside excursion of your choice.

Trip Reviews