GTMT- 116 – QUITO AND THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

ABOARD THE DELUXE M/Y LA PINTA
NORTHERN ISLAND PROGRAM

Seven Days / Six Nights

2017 – Specially priced departures from the USA:
September 2, September 16, September 30,
November 11 & December 9
Cruise dates:
September 4, September 18, October 2, October 16, October 30, November 13 & December 11, 2017
(Additional departure dates for 2017 and for 2018 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 – NORTHERN ISLANDS ITINERARY
Monday to Friday
Baltra & Santa Cruz Island – Highlands
Breakfast at hotel. Private transfer hotel to airport for your flight to Baltra, Galapagos Islands. Following our morning arrival at Baltra Airport, we transfer to the Itabaca Channel, taking a small ferry across the channel to the north shore of Santa Cruz Island. We board our bus to the highlands, where we’ll learn about Santa Cruz’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity. Lunch is served at a local restaurant.

Highlands (Santa Cruz Island)
After lunch, we continue by bus to reach a reserve that is one of the best places in the archipelago to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering around, eating grass and leaves and wallowing in the small pools. There are several lava tunnels in the reserve, too. A short bus ride takes us down to Puerto Ayora to board Yacht La Pinta.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Galapagos Islands

Eden Islet (Santa Cruz Island)/Sombrero Chino Islet
Eden Islet (Santa Cruz Island)
After breakfast, a panga ride takes us to Eden 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 conditions permit, to ride in the glass-bottom boat. The volcanic setting of this area is quite stunning due to its variety of volcanic debris, including cinder cones, tuff cones, and semi-eroded lava flows.

Sombrero Chino Islet
The tiny island of Sombrero Chino gets its name from its appearance, reminiscent of a Chinese hat. This islet, formed only fairly recently, makes a beautiful visit as one explores the wildlife along its 400-metre long trail, which begins at a crescent-shaped white sandy beach. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities amid white-tipped reef sharks and Galápagos penguins.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Galapagos Islands

Bartolome and Santiago Islands
Bartolomé Island
This morning, a Galápagos icon awaits: Bartolomé Island. A great way to start the day, with a steep climb up a wooden staircase: the view from the top is worth the effort! Following the walk, we take to the dinghies for a ride around colossal Pinnacle Rock, followed by time to enjoy the beach and some snorkelling. We can also ride in the glass-bottom boat for great views of the underwater world.

Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island)
After lunch, we board the pangas to land at Sullivan Bay on the east coast of Santiago, a white coral sand beach great for swimming and snorkelling, and with a trail over a lava field that flowed here less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of Galápagos while observing its wildlife.

DAY 6: Galapagos Islands

Genovesa Island
Darwin Bay
In the morning, we begin our exploration of this island with an easy stroll to observe marine and land birds. There is an optional walk over sharp lava and uneven terrain for dramatic views, or else we can return to the beach to enjoy swimming and snorkelling at this beautiful natural harbour. The more adventurous can snorkel along the cliffs or paddle sea kayaks.

Prince Philip’s Steps (Genovesa Island)
The afternoon starts with a very interesting panga ride along the cliffs before we disembark for a short but steep climb up a wooden staircase. Once at the top, the land is flat, allowing for a captivating walk of about a mile to the other side of this small island, observing large colonies of Nazca boobies, frigate birds and storm petrels and the elusive short eared owl.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7: Depart Galapagos Islands (*)

Baltra Island
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 – Northern 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