Quito and 5 Day Santa Cruz II Cruise – Northern Galapagos Islands

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.

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. Overnight in Quito. (B)

Morning transfer to the airport in Quito for the flight to Galapagos.  You land at Baltra Island by plane in the morning and transfer to the dock to board the Santa Cruz II, where you receive a welcome introductory briefing, and lunch.

Las Bachas.  This beautiful visitor site is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, a glorious white beach with a couple of brackish lagoons only a few steps away from the sea.  These lagoons are the feeding grounds of various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos.  Welcome cocktail, expedition plan for Tuesday and dinner.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you explore the coastline along the impressive cliffs of Buccaneer Cove, learning about the area’s distant and recent history.  The cove is home to a large number of marine birds, sea lions, and inter-tidal organisms.  Enjoy fantastic natural formations such as the “Elephant Rock”, “The Bishop” and an impressive natural cave.

Puerto Egas.  Once you disembark at the beach, you can enjoy a swim or snorkel amid a rocky shoreline, usually in the company of marine turtles.  From here, you head off for a walk, a great opportunity to see land and marine birds amid landscape of tuff-stone layers and lava flows.  At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and you can also observe a colony of fur-sea lions.  Non-snorkelers can enjoy a longer walk.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Rábida.  Some groups will go for a fascinating panga ride along the shores while others will disembark on Rábida Island’s red-colored beach, caused by the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material.  Your walk brings you close to a colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwin’s finches.  Very close to the beach, a salt pond hosts migrating greater flamingos at certain times of year.  This is a great place to snorkel from the beach, both for beginners as well as for experienced snorkelers, due to the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes.  During navigation to the next island, dolphins are sometimes spotted!

Bartolome.  Today’s activities begin with a wet landing on the golden beach of this famous island, dominated by the imposing Pinnacle Rock.  There’s great snorkeling and swimming from the beach plus the chance to ride the glass bottom boat.  After returning to the ship, you then split into two groups, the first lands for a hike to the summit of this diminutive island that boasts fantastic views of the archipelago.  This is a moderately steep climb aided by a wooden staircase, resting platforms and handrails – the view from the top is worth the effort!  The second takes to the pangas to explore the rugged and volcanic shoreline.  The groups then swap activities.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Prince Philip Steps.  The morning starts with a steep climb (90 feet) up some stairs to reach a flat rocky plateau.  Along the walk, you can observe large colonies of Nazca boobies, red footed boobies, great frigate birds and storm petrels.  Those not wishing to disembark can enjoy a longer panga ride along the cliffs (depending on weather conditions).

Darwin Bay.  In the afternoon, you land at this beautiful beach to enjoy some swimming and/or snorkeling.  Following the dip, you take an easy stroll to observe hundreds of birds, mainly frigate birds, red footed and Nazca boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

You start the last morning at the north shore of Santa Cruz Island.  After breakfast, your luggage will be taken to the airport, while you visit the Tortoise Reserve in the Highlands of Santa Cruz.  A dry landing at a passenger’s wharf and a bus ride to the loftier region of the island will provide the last highlight of the cruise: giant tortoises in the wild.  The windward slopes of the island are home to two species of giant tortoises.  These lush highlands include dense forests of Galapagos daisies, orchids and bromeliads, and several endemic land birds.

After this visit you will be transferred directly to Baltra Airport for your return flight to Quito.  Overnight in Quito.  (B)

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