Day 1 - Quito
Today meet our representative outside of baggage claim at Quito International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Quito is located 2,850 meters above sea level and surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes, the second highest capital city in the world. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its fine collection of colonial architecture, Quito is a history lover’s paradise. The old town is an area of preserved colonial churches, monasteries, museums, and whitewashed buildings with red-tiled roofs. The modern city reflects the rapidly growing Latin American country, and is a vibrant center of commerce replete with high rises, bustling sidewalks, and traffic. Overnight in Quito
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Day 2 - Quito
Choose between a city tour of Quito with a visit to the Middle of the World Monument or a guided tour of Mindo, Cotopaxi Volcano, Otavalo, or Antisana. Overnight in Quito (BL)
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Day 3 - Galápagos Islands
Transfer to the airport and fly to the Galápagos Islands. Upon arrival drive to the pier to board the M/V Galápagos Legend. The first stop is the Santa Cruz highlands and a private farm, Primicias (El Chato), where giant tortoises are found in their natural habitat. Visitors can walk inside lava tubes and visit pit craters created from the collapse of surface materials into chamber fissures underground. This is a great place to spot the Vermilion Flycatcher while walking through endemic Scalesia forest. Overnight M/V Legend (BLD)
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Day 4 - Galápagos Islands
Stop at Santiago. The striking layered terrain of Santiago’s shores is home to a variety of resident and migrant birds including the bizarre Yellow-crowned Night Heron and an astounding array of marine wildlife including lobster, starfish, marine iguanas, and sally lightfoot crabs. Snorkeling offers rarities such as octopus and squid. Also available are optional visits to the salt mines to observe fur and Galápagos sea lions. This afternoon visit Bartolomé. Discover a fascinating moonscape formed by different volcanic parasitic cones- lava bombs, spatter, cinder cones - while hiking to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone Pinnacle Rock. Beach time is a great opportunity to snorkel and see (perhaps swim with) Galápagos Penguins, sea turtles, and white-tipped reef sharks among a variety of colorful fish. The water here is generally clear, without too much surf and full of marine life. Due to its geographic location, the lack of vegetation is immediately noticeable. Pioneer plants can be found here, including the endemic Tiquilia nesiotica, Chamaesyce (known as sand mat or spurge in English), lava cactus, and Scalesia bushes. Behind the beach, dunes are covered by mangroves. Overnight M/V Legend (BLD)
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Day 5 - Galápagos Islands
Begin at Dragon Hill, walking by a brackish lagoon where feeding flamingos can occasionally be found. The trail leads across typical dry zone vegetation up to an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas, offering lovely views of the anchorage and neighboring islands. The forest is home to mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, Yellow Warblers and Galápagos Doves. This afternoon visit North Seymour, perhaps one of the busiest destinations on the archipelago due to its accessibility for day trips out of Santa Cruz’s main port, Puerto Ayora. Take an approximately two hour walk amidst large nesting colonies of Blue-footed Boobies, Magnificent and Great Frigatebirds, and Swallow-tailed Gulls for an in-depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles. Sea lions, land iguanas, and on a lucky day, Galápagos snakes can be found here. Overnight M/V Legend (BLD)
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Day 6 - Galápagos Islands
This afternoon tour Ballena Bay/Eden Islet (Santa Cruz) and Whale Bay, a beautiful green sand cove at the base of Dragon Hill on the west coast of Santa Cruz Island. The beach contains many olivine crystals of volcanic origin, formed when the magma was still underground from magnesium, iron and silica. There is a small population of tortoises from Pinzón Island living at the site, but most were taken by whalers or previous inhabitants. Enjoy the opportunity to snorkel and see wildlife including marine iguanas and sea birds. Overnight M/V Legend (BLD)
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Day 7 - Galápagos Islands
The main attractions at Punta Moreno are coastal lagoons amidst black lava flows where bird life is particularly interesting. It has a panoramic view of three volcanoes, the most active of the Galápagos: Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul on Isabela Island and La Cumbre on Fernandina Island. Mangrove forest, lava formations, coastal and migratory birds, usually flamingos can be seen, along with lava cactus, sea turtles, lagoons, tidal pools, and candelabra cactus. Take a dinghy ride along the coast surrounded by mangrove forest for an opportunity to admire Flightless Cormorants, Galápagos Penguins, and a resting area for sea turtles. Overnight M/V Legend (BLD)
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Day 8 - Galápagos Islands
Arrive on the volcanic black beach of Urbina Bay, Isabela. Depending on the season, giant tortoises, land iguanas, and the unusual Flightless Cormorant may be present. After a short walk inland, time for snorkeling provides another chance to swim with sea turtles and sea lions. Urbina Bay features a wide variety of plant life that changes depending on the season, attracting different insects, birds, and reptiles. Explore the uplifted coral reef that resulted from 1954 volcanic activity, with a spectacular view of Alcedo Volcano. This afternoon visit Tagus Cove on Isabela to learn about the eruption of the five volcanoes that formed it. The trail leads to Darwin’s saltwater Crater Lake and excellent views of lava fields and volcanic formations. Return by the same path for a dinghy ride along a shoreline full of marine wildlife, such as terns, Blue-footed Boobies, Brown Noddy, Flightless Cormorant and depending on the season, a large number of Galápagos Penguins. Enjoy an opportunity to snorkel in deep water. Graffiti believed to have been left by 19th-century pirates is a curious reminder of an intriguing past. Overnight M/V Legend (BLD)
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Day 9 - Galápagos Islands
Espinosa Point is the only spot that we visit on Fernandina, and from it we can see the island of Isabela across the Bolívar Channel, an area boasting some of the highest diversity of endemic sea fauna in the Galápagos. The largest, most primitive-looking race of marine iguanas are found mingling with sea lions and Sally Lightfoot crabs. This is a wonderful opportunity to encounter Flightless Cormorants at their nesting sites, Galápagos Penguins and the king of predators on the Islands, the Galápagos Hawk. Pa-hoe-hoe and Aa lava formations cover the majority of the terrain. Vegetation is scarce inland, but Brachycereus cacti and extensive mangrove beds line the shores. This afternoon visit Vicente Roca Point for deep water snorkeling at one of the richest marine havens on Earth (Bolívar Channel). Take a dinghy ride along the coast to observe a variety of sea and coastal birds. The upwelling of cold water currents here gives rise to an abundance of marine life. Overnight M/V Legend (BLD)
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Day 10 - Quito
Transfer to Baltra for your flight to Quito. Upon arrival in Quito transfer to the hotel for overnight. Depending on the arrival time in Quito, a short tour of the city may be possible this afternoon or evening. Overnight in Quito
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Day 11 - Farewell!
Meet in the reception area of the hotel by our representative and transfer to the airport for your departure to the United States. Check-in is 3 hours prior to flight time. (B)
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