Galapagos, Easter Island, Buenos Aires, and Iguazu Falls

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. Overnight in Quito.

After an early morning breakfast, the tour will depart towards the center of downtown Quito, or Centro Histórico, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. You will start with a panoramic view of Alameda Park and the Basilica, followed by a walk down the street of the Seven Crosses. The trip will continue with a walking tour, starting at Independence Square. From there, you will visit the presidential palace, the main cathedral, the gold-plated La Compañía Church, San Francisco Church and San Francisco Plaza.

Around midday, the tour will head north to the equator for a trip to the monument at the Middle of the World. You may choose to visit either the Ethnographic or the Inti Ñan Museum, both located near the site of the monument. Along the way you will stop for a traditional Ecuadorian lunch (not included. Overnight in Quito. (B)

Departure from Quito to San Cristobal (2.5 hours flight).  Arriving in Galapagos, passengers are picked up at the airport by our naturalist guides and taken to the pier to board the M/Y Coral I or M/Y Coral II.

Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill (dry landing).  San Cristobal is home of the capital town of the Galapagos Province, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.  Passengers visit the interpretation center, which is an excellent place to learn about the nature and history of the islands, displaying information of Galapagos volcanic origins, their remoteness from the continent, ocean currents, climate, arrival of the original species, among other points of interest.  The human interaction is also showcased, chronologically narrating the most significant events about the colonization of the islands.  Later on, a high-intensity hike can be done to visit Tijeretas Hill, a beautiful landscape ending with a magnificent view of a nearby large frigate bird colony.  If there is enough time, a town visit can be planned.  (Duration: one hour visit/one hour hike).  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Cerro Brujo (Wet landing).  Cerro Brujo is an eroding tuff cone that is composed of AA lava formations; it is close to a beautiful white sandy beach which is great for snorkeling and sunbathing.  Nearby a lagoon ideal for migratory bird species can be seen, including black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels, sandpiper, and white- cheeked Pintails.  Cerro Brujo offers beautiful views of Kicker Rock, an islet in the adjacent southern coast of San Cristobal.  (Duration: one-hour hike/one-hour snorkeling).

Pitt Point & Pitt Islet.  Wet landing followed by a high-intensity hike on rocky terrain.  The trail includes a 90-meter long, olivine beach and a path that climbs to the top of a volcanic tuff, through several magnificent viewpoints.  This is probably the only site where the three booby species of the Galapagos can be seen together, as well as two species of frigate birds and a sea lion colony.  It is also excellent for dinghy rides and snorkeling, where a good range of sea birds can be observed.  (Duration: 2.5-hour hike/40 minutes snorkeling).  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Suarez Point (dry landing).  An island of geological interest, and one of the oldest in Galapagos, Española has a high percentage of endemism due to its isolation from the rest of the islands.  Due to the great variety of wildlife, this is one of the most attractive spots in the Galapagos.  Here, it is possible to explore volcanic formations and see large colonies of sea lions and seabirds including the Española mockingbird, Nazca boobies, and the spectacular red-billed tropicbirds.  You can also see marine iguanas, with a turquoise color with reddish parts during the breeding season, lava lizards, and colorful Sally light-foot crabs.  A somewhat lengthy hike brings visitors to nesting grounds that sometimes overlap the trail.  Other birdwatcher favorites include the Galapagos dove, the Galapagos hawk, swallow-tailed gulls and the world’s largest colony of waved albatross, an unequivocal highlight during mating season (April-December).  Also admire the island’s dramatic backdrop, featuring the famous “Soplador,” a seaward blowhole that shoots water up to 23 m. (75 ft.) into the air.  (Duration: 2.5-hour hike).

Gardner Bay, Osborn or Gardner Islets (wet landing).  Gardner Bay is a beautiful white coral sandy beach guarded by a colony of sea Lions.  Here, there are no trails, so visitors stay along the shore, spotting the Galapagos hawk, the American oystercatcher, the Galapagos dove, hood mockingbirds, yellow warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and three species of Darwin finches – cacti finch (Geospizafuliginosa), the small ground finch (Geospizafuliginosa), and the warbler finch (Certhideaolivacea).  Swimming and snorkeling offers a great variety of Galapagos marine wildlife including king angelfish, creole fish, damsel fish and parrot fish.  (Duration: one-hour walk/one-our snorkeling).  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Cormorant Point, Devil’s Crown, or Champion.  Wet landing, on an olivine green, sanded beach.  You will hike from the black mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galapagos.  This island features some endemic plants such as Scalesia villosa, white and black mangrove, and holy stick.  The trail continues to a beautiful white sandy beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific Sea Turtles.  It is important to avoid walking in the water due to the Sting Rays that may be hiding in the sand, which can be dangerous if accidentally stepped on.  From the beach, one can spot sea turtles, blue-footed boobies plunging into the water, and small reef sharks floating along the shoreline in the search for food.  This coral-sand beach marks the end of the trail, and you will head back to the olivine beach you landed on, to swim or snorkel amongst sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions and, on a good day, white-tipped reef sharks.  A small colony of penguins resides on Floreana and can sometimes be observed as well.  (Duration: one-hour walk/one-hour snorkeling).

Post Office (wet landing).  Located on the north side of Floreana, the bay was named because in 1793 Captain James Colnett installed a wooden barrel which served as an informal post office for sailors passing through, who would take letters with them back to their destinations.  Today, visitors continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel, hoping that some other traveler, going to the letter’s destination, will take it back for free.  The chances are that the letter posted can take a long time to arrive at its destination.  However, there have been cases where it has arrived before the sender.

Here, you may encounter Darwin’s finches, Yellow Warbler and Lava Lizards and have great snorkeling opportunities with Green Pacific Sea Turtles.  The island is also best known for its endemic vegetation: Scalesia villosa, Lecocarpus Pinnatifidus, and the Galapagos Milkwort.  Snorkelers can practice on the main beach among playful sea lions.  (Duration: 30-minute hike/one-hour snorkeling).  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Highlands Tortoise Reserve (dry landing).  In the mountains of Galapagos it is possible to admire different kind of birds, such as: tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets (usually standing on the tortoises’ shell).  The journey to the reserve offers great opportunities to see the contrasts that the island offers in reference to the variety of ecosystems.  The road goes from the coast through the agricultural zone and straight up to the dense humid forests.  Often, Galapagos Giant Tortoises are also seen on the way, wandering through pastures in the paddocks.  This spot is a birdwatchers’ haven, since almost every land bird present on the island lives or migrates here.  (Duration: 45-minute drive/1.5-hour hike).

After the visit, you will be transferred to Baltra Airport for your flight to Guayaquil.  Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel.  Overnight in Guayaquil.  (B)

Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Santiago, Chile. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Santiago.  (B)

In the morning, you will have a panoramic city tour of Santiago, which will include Parque O’Higgins, Plaza de Armas (the city’s historic center), Palacio de la Moneda, ex-National Congress, Mapocho Station Cultural Center, Santa Lucia Hill, the place of Santiago’s founding in 1541,and the Bohemian district of Bellavista. In the afternoon, you will visit your choice of one of the following vineyards around Santiago (included in price): Concha y Torro, Cousino Macul, and Undurraga. Overnight in Santiago. (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Easter Island. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Easter Island. (B)

Full day excursion visiting the archaeological site of Akahanga and the quarry at Rano Raraku volcano, where all of the moai on the island were carved. You will see over 300 statues in various stages of completion, and one giant moai, 21 meters (69 ft.) tall. You will also visit Ahu Tongariki, the largest ahu (burial site), whose moai were re-erected after a tsunami flattened the statues, Ahu Te Pito Kura, site of the largest moai moved from the quarry, and the ahu Nau Nau at Anakena Beach. Picnic lunch at Anakena Beach. Overnight in Easter Island. (B,L)

Morning visit to the Rano Kau extinct volcano crater (1.6 km in diameter), the ceremonial village of Orongo, which features the largest concentration of Petroglyphs on the island, with images of post-moai deity’s, such as Tangata Manu (birdman), Make Make (the creator), and Komari, and then to Ahu Vinapu. After lunch (not included), the tour continues on to Ahu Akivi, site of the seven moais overlooking the sea, the Caves of Ana Tepahu, among the largest on the island, and Pun-a-Pau quarry, the sole source of red scoria that was used to carve the pukao (topknots) of some of the moia. Overnight in Easter Island. (B)

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Santiago. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Santiago. (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel.

In the afternoon, you will have a panoramic city tour of Buenos Aires. This tour will cover the most important sights in the city. You will visit the impressive National Congress (the Parliament), the Civic Centre, Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, the headquarters of the executive branch of the government, and the town Hall. You will also see one of the best Opera Houses in the world. The tour will continue with a visit to the neighborhood of San Telmo, and you will learn about its history. On Sundays, you will be able to enjoy a flea market. You will go next to La Boca, known for its colorful architecture and for being the first port in Buenos Aires. This neighborhood was originally settled by Italian immigrants. You will also visit the Palermo and Recoleta areas of the city and modern neighborhoods such as Puerto Madero, with big mansions and great parks. Overnight in Buenos Aires. (B)

Free day at leisure or to enjoy an optional tour (not included). In the evening, you will enjoy a typical Argentine dinner and wine, and a Tango show with a re-creation of the original style and melancholic rhythms of the 1940’s. The impressive lyrics will be interpreted by some of the best singers in the city. You will also hear some folk music from the Altiplano region of the country. Overnight in Buenos Aires. (B,D)

Today you will have an excursion to the Argentine countryside to enjoy a day on a ranch ‘estancia’ and discover its traditional dance and music, and experience a true ‘Festival Gaucho’. Typical ‘empanadas’ (meat pies) and superb Argentinean wine will be offered. Later, you will enjoy a delicious Argentine-style barbecue. This will be followed by a folkloric show with singing and dancing, a demonstration of the gaucho (cowboy) skills of horseback riding and rodeo, a horse exhibition, and ‘the sortija’ (ring race). You may also ride a horse or typical carriage to have a better feel for the gaucho’s way of life. Overnight in Buenos Aires. (B,L)

Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Iguazu Falls. Upon arrival, you will have a 1 and ½ hour tour of the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. Located in Iguazu National Park, these spectacular falls are comprised of 275 individual cascades, and are more than 1.90 miles wide and 260 ft. high. You will walk along the main trail (one mile) on a catwalk above the lower Iguazu River to the series of falls that comprise the Devil’s Throat. Then you will take an elevator to an observation deck for a spectacular panoramic view of the falls. At the end of this tour, you will be transferred to your hotel on the Argentinian side. Overnight in Puerto Iguazu. (B)

Note: U.S. Citizens need a visa to enter Brazil.

In the morning, you will return to Iguazu Falls to view the falls from the Argentinian side and for the Great Adventure Tour. On the Argentinian side of the falls, you will visit the Interpretation Center to learn about the biodiversity of the jungle and the culture and history of the surrounding area. You can also take the Ecological Forest Train to the Garganta del Diable (Devil’s Throat) Station and the Cataratas Station, which will take you to the upper and lower circuits, and other walking trails.

In the afternoon, you will have the Great Adventure Tour. First, you will ride semi-rigid zodiac boats to reach the bottom of San Martin, Bosetty, Tres Mosqueteros and Canon de Garganta del Diablo falls and down the river rapids up to Puerto Macuco (two miles from the falls). Then, you will ride in an open jeep along the rainforest, observing the local flora and fauna with the aid of specialized guides. Overnight in Puerto Iguazu. (B)

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