Galapagos Cruise, Quito and Eight Day Galapagos Legend Cruise

Quito and Eight Day Galapagos Islands Cruise Aboard the Galapagos Legend

Day 1	Quito
Day 2	City Tour of Quito
Day 3	Quito/Baltra Airport/North Seymour
Day 4	Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)/Cormorant Point (Floreana)
Day 5	Suarez Point (Espanola)/La Galapaguera (San Cristobal)
Day 6	Punta Carrion/Bartolome
Day 7	Urbina Bay (Isabela)/Espinosa Point (Fernandina)
Day 8	Egas Port (Santiago)/Rabida
Day 9	Charles Darwin Research Station/Highlands (Santa Cruz)
Day 10	Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)/Baltra Airport/Quito
Day 11	Quito

Save $1,322 per Child (under 12 years old) on the August 12, 16, 19, 26, and 30 Departures and Other Promotional Dates through the Remainder of the Year. Call for Availability.

You may also be interested in our Galapagos and Machu Picchu Tours or Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and Easter Island Tours.

Note: The route and program may vary according to National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety reasons and wildlife encounters.

Elevations: Quito is 9,350 feet above sea level.

IGTOA's Traveler Funding Program

South American Vacations is an active member of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association). In support of IGTOA's Traveler Funding Program, we contribute $50 for each passenger that we send to the Galapagos Islands. You'll travel knowing that you support the lasting protection of Galapagos Islands.

Sixty percent of the funding of this program goes directly to the Charles Darwin Foundation for science, conservation, and education. Their work, carried out through the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galapagos National Park, is vital to the preservation of the islands. You can visit their web site to learn more http://www.darwinfoundation.org . The remainder goes toward IGTOA's mission of creating a model of responsible and sustainable tourism.

Quito and Eight Day Galapagos Islands Cruise Aboard the Galapagos Legend

This tour combines colonial Quito with an eight day Galapagos Islands cruise on the Galapagos Legend, a 100 passenger deluxe expedition ship that offers the comforts and amenities of a larger cruise liner. It is air conditioned throughout, and features 57 cabins with lower beds, private bathroom, safe, and mini bar. The ship's spacious social areas include a pool, Jacuzzi, Fisherman's Bar, observation decks, al fresco dining areas, a spacious passenger lounge, dining room, boutique, library, and conference room. Snorkeling equipment ($40) and wets suits ($50) can be rented on board.

Activities: Sightseeing, wildlife viewing, hiking, snorkeling, and glass bottom boating.

Dry Landing: Guests step from the dinghy directly onto rocks or a dock.
Wet Landing: As the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee-deep water and wade ashore.

Day 1: Quito

Depart to Quito. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel.

Day 2: City Tour of Quito

In the morning, you will have a city tour of Quito. You will explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas, and visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compania and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. You will drive through the traditional neighborhood of San Juan and finish the morning at the Panecillo hillside, with its breathtaking views of the old and modern parts of the city. (B)

Day 3: Quito/Baltra Airport/North Seymour

Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Galapagos. Passengers are picked up at the airport by our guides and taken to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

North Seymour (dry landing). Guests will encounter swallow tail gulls and sea lions. This site is a major nesting colony of blue footed boobies, and has the largest colony of the magnificent frigate bird. Travelers will also spot both the marine iguanas and land iguanas and will have snorkeling opportunities. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)/Cormorant Point (Floreana)

Dragon Hill (wet landing). Passengers walk to a saltwater lagoon behind the beach, where on occasion many pink flamingos can be observed. This trail leads up to Dragon Hill, which offers a lovely view of the bay. This is a nesting site for reintroduced land iguanas, and there is also a Scalesia tree forest. Passengers may opt to take a dinghy to Venice islet and observe the vegetation and marine animals like spotted eagle rays, golden rays, mullets, sharks and sea turtles. Land iguanas have often been observed as well.

Cormorant Point (wet landing). Visitors will hike from the black mangrove beds to a large, brackish lagoon, which holds one of the biggest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. The island is best known for its endemic plants like the Galapagos millwork, passion flower and button mangrove. Novice snorkelers can practice on the main beach with the playful sea lions; experienced snorkelers can roam around Devils Crown. Please keep in mind this is an open-water activity; there is nothing to step on. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Suarez Point (Espanola)/La Galapaguera (San Cristobal)

Suarez Point (dry landing). Visitors will learn more about the lava terrain and cross the inactive lava fields. Besides the sea lion colonies, this is a very important site for bird watching. Many species, such as the hooded mocking bird and red billed tropic bird can be spotted and observed closely. You will also see a large colony of marine iguanas, lava lizards, and sally light foot crabs. After a short trek visitors encounter colonies of masked and blue-footed boobies. The nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. Visitors will also find Galapagos doves, hawks and swallow-tailed gulls and then reach the world's largest colony of waved albatross. A major highlight is their mating season, from May through December. You'll visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots into the air about 23 m (75 ft).

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (dry landing). Passengers will visit San Cristobal breeding center and learn about the National Park's breeding program with the giant tortoises. Passengers will observe some animals in their natural environment. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Punta Carrion/Bartolome

Punta Carrion. During this visit you can snorkel and see a variety of fish, rays and perhaps the harmless white tip reef sharks. From Punta Carrion the short navigation is through the beautiful Itabaca Channel with its turquoise waters.

Bartolome (dry landing). Passengers will see volcanic formations like lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. After a hike to the summit you'll be impressed by the view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. During the hike to the summit, travelers will often see colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla, and various cacti. Visitors will be able to snorkel and see the Galapagos penguin, sea turtles, and white tipped sharks from a safe distance. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Urbina Bay (Isabela)/Espinosa Point (Fernandina)

Urbina Bay (wet landing). Passengers will visit the fossil beach and coral area. Depending on the season you may be able to observe giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants. After the walk we will have time for snorkeling.

Espinosa Point (dry landing). Visitors will see the biggest marine iguanas mingling with sally-light foot crabs, as well as flightless cormorants nesting sites, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will spot brachycereus cactus, and "pa-hoe-hoe" lava and "AA" lava formations. Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Egas Port (Santiago)/Rabida

Egas Port (wet landing). Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. You can observe hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, yellow crowned night herons and oyster catchers. Passengers will see marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds alongside red sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur-seals swimming in deep pools of cool water. Here you can swim and snorkel and find octopuses, sea horses, star fish.

Rabida (wet landing). The volcano-formed beach is dark red and frequented by sea lions. It's considered the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most diverse volcanic rocks on the Islands. You'll hike to a salt water lagoon, where flamingos can sometimes be found. July through September is a good time to observe brown pelicans nesting in the salty bushes. Boobies and 9 species of Darwin's finches can also be observed. You can take a dinghy ride by the reefs, as well as snorkel. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Charles Darwin Research Station/Highlands (Santa Cruz)

Charles Darwin Research Station. Travelers will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here you can admire the giant tortoises that are part of the breeding program. Visitors can also admire the prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Later on, you'll have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.

Highlands of Santa Cruz. You can visit Cerro Chato, where you'll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises. Additionally, you can walk inside the dormant lava tubes. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)/Baltra Airport/Quito

Bachas Beach (wet landing). This beach is located on the north side of Santa Cruz Island. Here you will encounter many sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and have the opportunity to swim on the white sand beach.

Return to the Galapagos Legend, check out, and transfer to Baltra Airport for your return flight to Quito. (B)

Day 11: Quito

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to your final destination. (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner