GTMT- 115P – QUITO AND THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

ABOARD THE DELUXE M/Y LA PINTA
EASTERN ISLAND PROGRAM

Seven Days / Six Nights

2017 – Specially priced departures from the USA:
May 9, May 23, June 6, June 20, August 1, August 29,
September 12, September 26, November 7, November 21 & December 19, 2017
Cruise dates:
May 11, May 25, June 8, June 22, August 3, August 31, September 14, September 28,
November 9, November 23 & December 21, 2017
(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 DAY / FOUR NIGHTS – EASTERN ISLANDS ITINERARY

Thursday to Monday
Baltra Airport & South Plaza Island
Our adventure begins with a morning flight to Baltra Island and immediate transfer to the dock to board Yacht La Pinta. There’s a welcome introductory briefing, boat drill, cabin assignment and then lunch. We weigh anchor and start sailing for our first afternoon outing.

South Plaza Island
The turquoise waters of the channel here contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline, while a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus beyond, populated by yellow-grey land iguanas. Along the coastline one finds sea lion colonies, while sea birds play with the thermals that form along the cliffs of this small but spectacular island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Galapagos Islands

Santa Fe & San Cristobal Islands
Santa Fe Island
We take the dinghy over to this idyllic sandy-white beach populated by colonies of sea lions. Galápagos hawks are often easily observed, perched atop salt bushes. The Santa Fe land iguana, unique to just this island, may be spotted during the walk. Following the walk, we can snorkel and swim along a natural wave barrier or ride the glass-bottom boat.

Cerro Colorado Tortoise Habitat
After lunch, we disembark 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 in the midst of a fantastic deciduous forest, home to dozens of bird species, including the San Cristóbal mockingbird, and the San Cristóbal lava lizard, both island endemics.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Galapagos Islands

Punta Pitt (San Cristóbal Island)/ Cerro Brujo (San Cristóbal Island)
Punta Pitt
We land at the eastern tip of San Cristóbal Island this morning. The trail that ascends from the beach provides spectacular views of the shoreline; we can observe frigates, plus a colony of bachelor sea lions. After the walk, if conditions are favourable, there is a chance to swim from the beach and snorkel.

Cerro Brujo
In the afternoon following lunch on board, a dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers takes us to Cerro Brujo’s expansive, white coral beach, great for walking, with rewarding bird-watching featuring seabirds and shore birds. Also, look out for Galápagos sea lions. These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Galapagos Islands

Española Island
Punta Suárez/Gardner Bay (Española Island)
Punta Suarez
Our morning outing at Punta Suárez provides an exciting walk on lava/boulder terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April – January), boobies, swallow-tail gulls, and the famous “blowhole” lava formation. Also, look for red-green-black marine iguanas. Many regard this site as the best in the Galápagos. Back on board for lunch.

Gardner Bay
In the afternoon, we set down at this beautiful, white coral beach for a short walk to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, or enjoy the beach. There is great snorkelling in this area, or else there’s time to kayak or ride the glass-bottom boat.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7: Depart Galapagos Islands (*)

Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)/ Baltra Airport
Disembarking in the morning, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the captive rearing programme for the giant tortoises. Here we witness the efforts and results of Galápagos fieldwork and study done in the name of science. We transfer via bus across Santa Cruz Island and a short ferry ride to Baltra. Our journey ends at Baltra Island, where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland (Quito or Guayaquil).
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.

RATES PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

A SAVINGS OF $350 PER PERSON!!

PLEASE CHECK WITH US FOR INTERNATIONAL AIR FARES FROM USA TO PERU ON OUR AIR PARTNERS: AMERICAN AIRLINES, LATAM AND AVIANCA

RATES INCLUDE:

Five day / four night cruise aboard the deluxe Motor Yacht La Pinta – Eastern Islands – based on 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 Quito 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.

© Images courtesy of Metropolitan Touring