GTMT-108A – QUITO & GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Two Days Quito – Hotel Casa Gangotena – Luxury Boutique Hotel
Seven Day Galapagos Cruise – M/V Santa Cruz – Eastern Islands Itinerary – Friday to Thursday
Eight Days / Seven Nights Tour Program
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1: Thursday – Arrival in Quito
Assistance and private transfer from airport to hotel in Quito
Overnight accommodations Hotel Casa Gangotena – Luxury Room
DAY 2: Friday – Quito / Galapagos Islands
Private transfer from hotel to airport for your flight to Galapagos.
Baltra Island
We arrive by plane at Baltra Island and transfer to the dock to board the Santa Cruz II where we receive our welcome introductory briefing and lunch.
Mosquera Islet
Only four nautical miles from Baltra, the island is a long and narrow sand bank surrounded by lava reefs. Our groups will approach the island from its western shore, a long shallow reef, the perfect rookery for young sea lions.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 3: Saturday – Galapagos Islands
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristobal Island)
After breakfast, we disembark (dry landing) at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the island’s capital, and drive 40 minutes to the island’s southern shore. At Cerro Colorado, we visit the breeding centre for highly endangered giant tortoises.
Punta Pitt (San Cristobal Island)
In the afternoon, we disembark (wet landing) on the eastern tip of the island at Punta Pitt, an eroded tuff cone, whose trail provides spectacular views of the shoreline. This is the only site in the Galapagos where the three species of boobies can be found together.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 4: Sunday – Galapagos Islands
Santa Fe Island
After breakfast, we take the dinghy over to this idyllic sandy-white beach populated by many sea lions and land iguanas
South Plaza Island
Following lunch and a rest, we disembark (dry landing) in this channel, whose turquoise waters contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline. Along the coastline one finds sea lion colonies, while frigates, swallow-tailed gulls and shearwaters glide, playing with the thermals.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 5: Monday – Galapagos Islands
Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)
In the morning, we disembark for our visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station’s giant tortoise Breeding Centre within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest home to many land birds. These are the headquarters of scientific investigation and conservation.
Santa Cruz Island
We have several options available for the afternoon, which can be discussed in advance with your Expedition Leader.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 6: Tuesday – Galapagos Islands
Punta Suarez (Española Island)
An exciting walk awaits at this site, where we enjoy its unique sea bird colonies, including Galapagos albatross (April-December), Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls.
Gardner Bay – Osborn Islet (Española Island)
In the afternoon, the picture-postcard white coral beach of Gardner Bay and the nearby islet of Osborn provides a beautiful setting for observing sea lions, mockingbirds, and finches as we relax.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 7: Wednesday – Galapagos Islands
Eden Islet (Santa Cruz Island)
After breakfast, a panga ride takes us to Eden Islet, a small islet located off the coast of Santa Cruz, where we can observe blue-footed boobies diving into the water, reef sharks and frigates. There’s a chance to snorkel and, if weather condition permits, ride in the glass-bottom boat and kayak.
North Seymour Island
North Seymour was lifted from the ocean floor by a volcanic event, and its origins as a seabed give the island its low, flat profile. This is a great introductory site to the islands and their wildlife, full of bird colonies of blue footed boobies, two species of frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, as well as sea lions and marine iguanas.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 8: Thursday – Depart Galapagos Islands
Baltra Island
On our last day, we disembark at Baltra Island and transfer to the airport to take the flight back to Quito or Guayaquil and to your next destination.
Meals: Breakfast
