August 03 - Quito
Upon arrival in Quito you will be met and escorted to your hotel. Overnight Hotel Sheraton Quito
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August 04 - Quito
After an early breakfast this morning you will take a trip to the world-famous Otavalo Market. Today is the big market day so there will be plenty of activity, with stops along the way for some scenic mountain vistas. Overnight Hotel Sheraton Quito (BLD)
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August 05 - Galápagos
This morning you will be escorted to the airport for your flight to the Galápagos Islands. Please note that there is a weight limit of 44 pounds on the internal flights and bags should be packed accordingly. Upon arrival you will be met by your naturalist guide and transferred to the M/Y Yolita II. Your adventure begins with a visit to North Seymour, home to a large population of the archipelago’s iconic blue-footed boobies. Overnight M/ Y Yolita (BLD)
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August 06 - Galápagos
Today you will visit León Dormido for optional swimming and snorkeling. León Dormido, also known as Kicker Rock, is a small distinctive island off the coast of San Cristóbal and a great site for snorkeling. You may even encounter hammerhead sharks if you are lucky. Later in the morning you will have a wet landing at Cerro Brujo, an ideal spot for watching lake and coastal birds. The Cerro Brujo site offers an excellent landscape, combining views of Kicker Rock, the southern part of Upper San Cristóbal, and the coast adjacent to Cerro Brujo. This afternoon continue to Isla Lobos where there is a small population of blue-footed boobies and common frigatebirds nesting. You can also observe the two species of sea lions present in the archipelago. During a panga tour you may see brown pelicans and several species of shorebirds. While snorkeling in this area it is common to see juvenile sea lions, manta rays, and sea turtles. Overnight M/ Y Yolita (BLD)
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August 07 - Galápagos
Early this morning you will have an excursion to Gardner Bay (Española Island) for a beach walk, followed by a panga ride around Gardner and Osborn islets. Española Island is the southernmost island in the Galápagos and is best known as the nesting place of the rare waved albatross. Playful sea lions abound on Española Island. While swimming and snorkeling you may spot many Galápagos marine species such as king angelfish, damselfish, parrotfish, manta rays, and white-tipped reef sharks. This afternoon you will visit Punta Suarez on Española Island to learn about the lava terrain and cross the inactive lava fields. Besides the sea lion colonies, this is one of the most important sites for birdwatching. Many species can be viewed closely here, including the hooded mockingbird and red-billed tropicbird. Your adventure is not complete without a stop at the famous blowhole, where water shoots 23m (75ft) into the air. Overnight M/ Y Yolita (BLD)
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August 08 - Galápagos
Today you will disembark at Santa Fé Island, a great place for swimming with sea lions, white-tipped reef shark, and sea turtles. A field trip to the cactus forest will give you the chance to learn about some of the tallest Opuntia cacti on the islands through observation and an on-site lecture. A trail into the highlands of Santa Fé Island will lead you to the only place in the Galápagos where the elusive Santa Fé land iguana can be found. Later, a dry landing on Plaza Sur Island (South Plaza Island) will take you to a cactus forest where land iguanas can be observed closely in their natural habitat. This small island is known as a good place to watch seabirds in flight, and a walk along the cliff top provides perfect views of red-billed tropicbirds, frigatebirds, pelicans, swallow-tailed gulls, and others. Overnight M/ Y Yolita (BLD)
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August 09 - Galápagos
In the morning you will stop at the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the conservation efforts throughout the islands. The CDRS has a team of more than a hundred scientists, educators, and volunteers, whose mission is to conduct scientific research and environmental education for conservation. At the CDRS you will be able to observe giant tortoises at all stages of growth, from just a few days to almost 100 years old! After lunch is a field trip to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Santa Cruz is the most important island in the Galápagos in many respects. It is the second largest island, the most populated, and is the administrative center for the National Park Service. Giant tortoises can be spotted in the wild on Santa Cruz, in addition to several species of Darwin’s finches. As you pass through the trails on the island, you will notice a dramatic change in vegetation zones as the altitude increases. The afternoon includes stops at the twin pit craters and Cerro Chato. The Pit Craters (Los Gemelos) are perhaps the best place for observing the vermillion flycatcher, the most outstanding terrestrial bird in the upper parts of most of the islands. The Pit Craters are, geologically speaking, seen as craters and their formation is not directly due to volcanic action. They were created as a result of the collapse or sinking of surface materials into cracks or manholes. Trails pass through the scalesia forest, an excellent place to observe land birds and plants native to Galápagos. Overnight M/ Y Yolita (BLD)
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August 10 - Galápagos
Today you will hike from black mangrove beds to a lagoon. This large, brackish lagoon holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galápagos. Floreana Island is best known for its endemic plant life such as the Galápagos millwort, passion flower, and button mangrove. Later you will take a dinghy ride along the coast to observe blue-footed boobies, sea lions, marine iguanas, and swallow-tailed gulls. You can also take part in deep water snorkeling, during which you will swim in a natural aquarium with colorful fishes, tame sharks, and rays. Later in the morning you will have the opportunity to snorkel or swim at Devil’s Crown. Your day continues at Post Office Bay, so named because in 1793 Captain James Colnett installed an empty barrel which served as an informal post box for sailors passing through the Galápagos, taking the letters to their destinations with them. You will also stop at Mirador de la Baronesa in La Olla Bay, a basaltic tuff formation between Cormorant Point and Post Office Bay. Overnight M/ Y Yolita (BLD)
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August 11 - Galápagos
Your voyage continues at Whale Bay, a cove of green sand at the base of Dragon Hill on the west coast of Santa Cruz Island. The beach contains a large amount of olivine crystals, the same that originate from volcanic materials. After a dry landing on Dragon Hill, walk to a saltwater lagoon often visited by flamingos. A hike up Dragon Hill will conclude with a beautiful view of the bay. The area is a nesting site for numerous reintroduced land iguanas and also has a peculiar scalesia tree forest. Overnight M/ Y Yolita (BLD)
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August 12 - Guayaquil
This morning you will stop at Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz Island for a dinghy ride though the mangroves. The motor will be turned off to allow close observation of marine life. After disembarking on Baltra Island you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil. Lunch will be served during your flight. This afternoon you will enjoy a guided tour of the Malecón and Santa Ana Hill. A farewell dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight Oro Verde Hotel (BLD)
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August 13 - Guayaquil
Today you will transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)
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