GTMT-108P – QUITO AND THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
From $ 3,550.00
Book now!THE NEW M/V SANTA CRUZ II
NORTHERN ISLAND PROGRAM
Seven Days / Six Nights
Specially priced departures from the USA:
June 10, September 2, September 30, October 14, November 11, November 25 & December 9
Cruise dates: June 12, September 4, October 2, October 16, November 13, November 27 & December 11
(Additional departure dates available on request)
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Arrival in Quito
Meeting and assistance and private transfer from airport to hotel.
Overnight accommodations at J W Marriott Hotel
DAY 2: Quito
Private tour of Scenic Quito
We will visit downtown Quito to relish in this urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture. Quito’s colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved of South America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will stroll at the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace. We will visit also the temple of *La Compañía de Jesús and its awesome gilded interior.
We continue on to the Monastery of San Francisco, one the of great religious buildings of the New World; its impressive façade and atrium that lead to its Baroque interior influenced by Moorish style, with the winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar.
Overnight accommodations at J W Marriott Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3: Quito / Galapagos Islands
FIVE DAYS / FOUR NIGHTS – NORNERTH ISLANDS ITINERARY
Monday to Friday
Breakfast at hotel. Private transfer hotel to airport for your flight to Baltra, Galapagos Islands. Transfer to the dock to board the M/V Santa Cruz where we receive our welcome introductory briefing, boat drill and lunch.
Las Bachas (Santa Cruz Island)
This beautiful visitor site is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, a glorious white beach with a couple of brackish lagoons only a few steps away from the sea. These lagoons are the feeding grounds of various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos. Welcome cocktail, expedition plan for Tuesday and dinner.
Overnight M/V Santa Cruz II
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 4: Galapagos Islands
Buccaneer Cove (Santiago Island)
After breakfast, we explore the coastline along the impressive cliffs of Buccaneer Cove, learning about the area’s distant and recent history. The cove is home to a large number of marine birds, sea lions, and inter-tidal organisms. Enjoy fantastic natural formations such as the “Elephant Rock”, “The Bishop” and an impressive natural cave.
Puerto Egas (Santiago Island)
Once we disembark at the beach, we can enjoy a swim or snorkel amid a rocky shoreline, usually in the company of marine turtles. From here, we head off to our walk, a great opportunity to see land and marine birds amid landscape of tuff-stone layers and lava flows. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and we can also observe a colony of fur-sea lions.
Overnight M/V Santa Cruz II
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 5: Galapagos Islands
Rábida Island (Jervis)
Some groups will go for a fascinating panga ride along the shores while others will disembark on Rábida Island’s red-coloured beach, caused by the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. Our walk brings us close to a 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. This is a great place to snorkel from the beach, both for beginners as well as for experienced snorkelers, due to the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. During navigation to our next island, dolphins are sometimes spotted!
Bartolome Island
Today’s activities begin with a wet landing on the golden beach of this famous island, dominated by the imposing Pinnacle Rock. There’s great snorkelling and swimming from the beach plus the chance to ride the glass bottom boat. After returning to the ship, we then split into two groups, the first lands for a hike to the summit of this diminutive island that boasts fantastic views of the archipelago. This is a moderately steep climb aided by a wooden staircase, resting platforms and handrails – the view from the top is worth the effort! The second takes to the pangas to explore the rugged and volcanic shoreline. The groups then swap over.
Overnight M/V Santa Cruz II
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 6: Galapagos Islands
Prince Philip Steps (Genovesa Island)
The morning starts with a steep climb (90 feet) up some stairs to reach a flat rocky plateau. Along our walk, we can observe large colonies of Nazca boobies, red footed boobies, great frigate birds and storm petrels. Those not wishing to disembark can enjoy a longer panga ride along the cliffs (depending on weather conditions).
Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island)
In the afternoon, we land at this beautiful beach to enjoy some swimming and/or snorkelling. Following our dip, we take an easy stroll to observe hundreds of birds, mainly frigate birds, red footed and Nazca boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds.
Overnight M/V Santa Cruz II
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 7: Depart Galapagos Islands
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno & Tortoise Breeding Centre (San Cristóbal Island)
After breakfast, there’s optional departure to see the breeding programme of giant tortoises at Cerro Colorado. Here, we learn about this endangered species and its promising recovery. Following the visit, we return to town and transfer to San Cristobal airport for flight to Mainland (Quito or Guayaquil) and your connecting international flight.
Meals: Breakfast
(*) Depending on your international flight departure time either from Guayaquil or Quito you may not require an additional overnight in Ecuador if the flight departs same evening. If not, we will arrange for you round trip transfers between airport and hotel and overnight accommodations on request as optional.
GT PREFERRED RATES PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
DELUXE HOTEL J. W. MARRIOTT QUITO DELUXE M/V SANTA CRUZ II |
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TWO GUESTS | FOUR GUESTS | SIX GUESTS |
$ 3,550 | $ 3,450 | $ 3,250 |
A SAVINGS OF $300 PER PERSON!!
PLEASE CHECK WITH US FOR INTERNATIONAL AIR FARES
FROM USA TO ECUADOR ON OUR AIR PARTNERS:
AMERICAN AIRLINES, LATAM AND AVIANCA
RATES INCLUDE:
Five day/four night cruise aboard the MV Santa Cruz II – Northern Islands – based on Horizon Deck Explorer cabin – Double occupancy.
Fully escorted daily nature oriented tours to the islands as per itinerary. English speaking naturalist guides. Daily Briefings. All meals during the cruise.
Two night hotel accommodations at deluxe hotel J W Marriott, including taxes and daily breakfast.
Private fully escorted tour of Scenic Quito. Certified English speaking guide.
Two transfers with English speaking guide between airport and hotel. Round trip transfers in Galapagos between airport and cruise.
NOT INCLUDED:
International air between the USA and Quito or Guayaquil. Round trip local air between Quito and Galapagos ($498.00 per person including taxes and subject to change). Galapagos National Park admission fee (US $100 subject to change without notice), transit Control Card for Galapagos (US$ 20 per person), wet suits, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage, tips, gifts, internet and additional items of personal nature and not indicated in itinerary.