Quito and 5 Day Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Note: The order of yacht excursions and land activities, and the order of land activities themselves, can change according to various factors, including weather, tides, group sizes and physical abilities, languages, etc. The hotel expedition staff will confirm the order of the land activity schedules.

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-Equatorial Monument.

This morning, you will visit to downtown Quito to relish in this urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture. Quito’s colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved of South America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stroll starts at the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace. Visit the temple of La Compañía de Jesús and its awesome gilded interior. Continue on to the Monastery of San Francisco, one the of great religious buildings of the New World; its impressive façade and atrium that lead to its Baroque interior influenced by Moorish style, with the winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. Then continue to the Equatorial Monument, 16 miles north of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the different Native American groups living in Ecuador. Beside the monument there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs. You will get a certificate for having crossed the Equator. (B)

Day 3: Quito-Baltra Airport-Highlands of Santa Cruz-Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Galapagos. Upon arrival in Baltra, you will be transferred to the hotel.  Enroute, you will stop at El Manzanillo at the northern edge of the Giant Tortoise Reserve in the Highlands of Santa Cruz.  El Manzanillo is located on the natural path tortoises take every year as they either migrate to higher moist locations during the garúa season (June-September), or when they descend to the warmer lowlands during the wet season.  The Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is the largest living tortoise species, weighing up to 250 kg (550 lb).  It plays an important biological role as the top grazer in its habitat.  In the wild, these gentle giants slowly barrel their way through the plant cover.  The shape of their carapaces varies from island to island.  On Santa Cruz, year-round, tortoises can be seen grazing on the surrounding vegetation, or wallowing in muddy banks or in a small red-colored pond (impressively colored by surface red pond-weeds).

The area is teeming with life: chirping vegetarian-, small-tree, large-tree and woodpecker mockingbirds and flycatchers, as well as ducks, herons and gallinules make this an exciting morning visit.  On the return to Puerto Ayora, visit one of the island’s lava tunnels, significant geological formations that take us back in time and allow us to remember how lava flows formed the islands.  Lunch at El Manzanillo.  Overnight at Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.  (B,L,D)

Day 4: Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.

Choice of full day land-based or yacht exploration.  Overnight at Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.  (B,L,D)

Day 5: Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.

Choice of full day land-based or yacht exploration.  Overnight at Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.  (B,L,D)

Day 6: Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.

Choice of full day land-based or yacht exploration.  Overnight at Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel.  (B,L,D)

Day 7: Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel-Baltra Airport-Quito.

Transfer to Baltra Airport for your return flight to Quito.  Upon arrival, you will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel.  Overnight in Quito.  (B)

Day 8: Quito.

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

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Full Day Land-Based Exploration Option

Tortuga Bay and Charles Darwin Research Station

Tortuga Bay is located to the southwest of Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island. Its name means “turtle”, and the island received this moniker because it is sea turtles favorite place to lay their eggs. The stunning white sand beach is considered by many the most beautiful in the Galapagos archipelago. The beach is reached via a marked and cobbled two kilometer-path that starts at the west end of Charles Binford Street; guests must sign in and out at the National Park control point at the beginning of the path– it is open from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM daily. There is excellent bird-watching along the path, with plenty of Darwin’s finches and other sea birds. And for active visitors, it is a great place to kayak, snorkel and surf!

The headquarters of the Galapagos National Park Service and The Charles Darwin Research Station are located side by side on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora. There is an interpretation center open to the public and also a tortoise rearing program. Those guests who do not have the opportunity to explore the highlands of Santa Cruz and see tortoises in their natural habitat will have the chance to see tortoises here. And for those who have already seen them in the wild, a visit to the Center will expand their knowledge of this unique, iconic Galapagos animal. Lunch included.

Full Day Yacht Exploration Options (Choice of Two)

North Seymour Island and Las Bachas Beach

North Seymour is teeming with life! Cliffs that are only a few meters high form the shoreline and serve as the spot where swallow-tailed gulls sit among the ledges and rocks accompanied by playful sea lions. A tiny forest of silver-grey Palo Santo trees stands just above the landing, usually without leaves, waiting for the rains to burst into bloom. Available on Mondays (Las Bachas/North Seymour) and Sundays (North Seymour/Las Bachas).

Bartolome Island

Bartolome is famous for Pinnacle Rock, a towering spearheaded obelisk that rises from the ocean’s edge and is the best-known landmark in the islands. Galapagos penguins—the only species of penguin found north of the equator—walk precariously along narrow volcanic ledges at its base. Sea lions snooze on rocky platforms, ready to slide into the water to play with passing snorkelers. Available on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

South Plaza Island

South Plaza is a small island full of fascinating wildlife, both along its shore and along its dramatic, wind-swept cliffs: sea lions, land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, Opuntia cacti and vegetation that changes colors according to the season. South Plaza is one of Galapagos’ most impressive visitor sites. Available on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Santa Fe Island

Santa Fe offers one of the more beautiful and sheltered coves in the islands. Its turquoise lagoon is protected by a peninsula of tiny islets forming an ideal anchorage spot. The island lies to the southeast of Santa Cruz within sight of Puerto Ayora. Like North Seymour, Santa Fe has been uplifted seismically, and you can see underwater lava formations out in the open. Available on Thursdays.