December 7, 2007 - Quito

Hotel:  Sheraton Four Points
Transfers:  UIO – Sheraton

You will be met outside of baggage claim at Quito International Airport and transfer to Sheraton Four Points.  Quito is located at 2850 meters above sea level and surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes, it is the second highest capital city in the world.  Listed on the World Heritage List for its fine collection of colonial architecture, Quito is a history lovers paradise.  The Sheraton is located in the executive, financial and business district of Quito. 

December 8, 2007 – Otavalo

Hotel:  Hacienda Pinsaqui
Meals:  BL
Transfers:  Sheraton – Otavalo

This morning you will met in the reception of the Sheraton Four Points and travel north of Quito to the Otavalo area, which is known because of its colorful artistic market.  Lunch at the Hosteria of the region.  In the afternoon, visit to Cuicocha Lagoon and Cotacachi.  Cotacachi specializes in the leather clothing.  Overnight at Hacienda Pinsaqui.

December 9, 2007 – Ibarra – Salinas – Quito

Hotel:  Sheraton Four Points
Meals: BL
Transfers:  Otavalo – Ibarra - Quito

This morning you will be met in the reception of the Hacienda Pinsaqui and transferred to train station where you will train from Ibarra to the first station.  Descend to Mira River from 7,220 to 4,593 feet (2200 to 1400 meters) above sea level.  Departure to Condor Park refuge for birds of prey, vultures & owls.  Following lunch return to Quito .  

December 10, 2007 – Galapagos aboard the Legend

Meals:  BD
Transfers:  Quito – Galapagos

Early this morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands, located 620 miles off Ecuador ’s Pacific coast.  Please note: There is a weight limit of 44 lbs of luggage per person for your flight to the Galápagos.  Upon landing in Baltra, guides will meet you, collect your luggage and escort you to the point of embarkation to begin your cruise of the Galapagos Islands aboard the Galapagos Legend.  Both onboard and ashore, expert naturalists show you the biological and geological wonders of the Galapagos, the native plants, the secluded coves, and the awe-inspiring wildlife that crawl, fly, chirp, and swoop throughout the archipelago.  Following lunch on board, there will be an explanation of the Galapagos National Park rules.  This afternoon you will visit Chinese Hat.  Chinese Hat is a crazy little island looking just like a Chinese hat in the islands.  It is right off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island .  The best view of the cone shaped volcano is from the north, and there is quite a large islands sea lion community as well.  Dinner will be served on board the yacht accompanied by a discussion on the following days activities.
 

December 11, 2007  – Galapagos aboard the Legend

Meals:  BLD
 
This morning, you will visit the newly opened site Cerro Dragon AKA Dragon Hill, on the north end of Santa Cruz .  One of its main attractions is a brackish water lagoon.  Here you will take a walking trip to observe land Iguanas and land flamingos, Common Stilts, Darwin finches, Pintail Ducks, and a variety of shallow water birds.  From the top of Dragon Hill, enjoy a majestic view of the bay.   Later you will return to the boat for lunch and prepare for the afternoon adventure to Floreana.  Also called Charles Island and Isla Santa Maria, Floreana lies at the southern edge of the Galapagos archipelago. Areas of interest on the island include the olive green beach of Punta Cormoran .  The unusual sand color stems from an eroding mineral on the beach. Just offshore from Punta Cormoran is Devils Crown, an eroded volcanic cone. The waters around the site provide an excellent area for snorkeling and swimming. Post Office Bay is another site of interest on Floreana. In the early 1800s, whalers and sailors used the post office barrel, located 70 feet inland from the northern beach shore, to place mail for delivery to island residents or sailors passing by.  It has been used as a form of mail exchange ever since.  Dinner will be served on board the yacht accompanied by a discussion on the following days activities.

 

December 12, 2007 – Galapagos aboard the Legend
Meals:  BLD

Today you will visit Espanola.  It is the oldest island of the archipelago and the most far to the south. Because of its great variety of sea birds it is very popular with birdwatchers. You can encounter masked and blue footed boobies, Galapagos doves, red-billed tropicbird, mocking birds, swallowed tailed gulls and, most important, the waved albatross. Punta Suarez lies at the west end of the island. The tourist trail is about 2km long and leads from one end of the island to the other while revealing the spectacular bird life. There are so many blue footed boobies nesting that have to take care not to step on one of their nests. You can observe red marine iguanas that are lying in the sun or the buzzards in the top of the trees. They hunt for young blue footed boobies. Following the path you encounter masked boobies that are nesting almost the whole year on the cliffs. The highlight of this tour is certainly the colony of the Galapagos albatross, which is endemic on this island (exist nowhere else on the islands or in the world). Between the middle of March and the end of December there are up to 12 000 of this fascinating birds with a wingspan of about 2.40m. On the cliffs they seem to be really awkward but when they get up in the air they are kings of the sky.  Dinner will be served on board the yacht accompanied by a discussion on the following days activities.

 

December 13, 2007 – Guayaquil
Hotel:  Grand Hotel Guayaquil
Meals:  B
Transfers:  Galapagos – Guyaquil

This morning you will visit North Seymour Island , this 1.9 sq. km island sits just north of Baltra Island and has a looping trail to introduce you to the setting and expose you to the large colony of various seabirds living here. Fauna: Sea lion, land iguanas, frigate birds, Blue footed Boobies, Swallow tailed Gulls, and Bright Yellow Warblers.  From here you will sail on to Baltra where you will disembark and be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil . (*Please note there is a luggage restriction of 1 checked bag weighing no more than 44 lb and 1 carry-on).  Upon arrival in Guayaquil you will be met outside of baggage claim and transferred to the Grand Hotel Guayaquil.  This afternoon you will have a city tour of Guayaquil that will consists in various panoramic visits and walks through the city.  After the visit of the Malecón, you will visit a neighborhood of the Peñas, oldest part of the city in which you will have the opportunity to climb the numerous steps until the Cerro Santa Ana and watch Guayaquil and the river Guayas like from nowhere else. 

December 14, 2007
Meals: B
Transfer: Grand Hotel – GYE

This morning you will be met in the reception of the Grand Hotel and transferred to the International Airport for your departure flight to the USA