Quito and 5 Day Treasure of Galapagos Cruise – Southern Islands

Day-by-Day Itinerary

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

Day 2 (Mon): City Tour of Quito-Middle of the World.

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.

Following the city tour, you will be driven to the “Middle of the World City” complex, which is located 11 miles north of Quito. Here, you will see the monument of the equatorial line, a 98 foot high stone trapezoidal monument with a brass globe on top. The monument forms the focal point of a park and leisure area with gift shops and restaurants. Overnight in Quito. (B)

Day 3 (Tue): Quito-Baltra Airport-Colorado Hill (San Cristobal).

Flight to San Cristobal Airport. Upon arrival at the airport, you will pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands, as well as to pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee of $200 (unless it has been prepaid). Your guide will meet you at the airport, help you with your luggage, and escort you on the short bus ride. You will then board the Treasure catamaran where the crew and captain will introduce themselves and you will proceed to your assigned stateroom. Finally, you will enjoy your first lunch on board.

Colorado Hill Tortoise Protection and Growing Center, located at 40 minutes approximately by bus to the southeast of the island. This center was built to improve the status of the population of the island tortoises. The center includes a large corral, a visitor center, breeding center and an interpretative trail. Along this trail is possible to see different species of native and endemic plants as well birds as the San Cristobal Mockingbird, Yellow Warblers, and many species of finches and the Galapagos flycatcher. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 4 (Wed): Gardner Bay-Suarez Point (Española Island).

Gardner Bay. On the northeast coast of Española Island, Gardner Bay is a wonderful place to cool off in the turquoise water and admire the myriad of colorful reef fish. You will also have the opportunity to snorkel with turtles or enjoy the proximity of playful sea lions. The white-sand beach is also an important breeding ground for green turtles, and its main attraction is the colony of Galapagos sea lions.

Suarez Point. This rocky area is home to the most impressive and diverse seabirds in the archipelago. The Galápagos albatross returns to Española every year for the season. This allows visitors to admire their impressive courtship rituals. Blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, Galapagos gulls, and red-billed tropicbirds are also native to this island. Along the southern coast, huge ocean waves crash against basalt cliffs, forming a spectacular blowhole where water sprays meters high into the air with spectacular views of soaring birds. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 5 (Thu): Post Office Bay-Baroness Lookout-Cormorant Point-Champion Islet (Floreana Island).

Post Office Bay-Baroness lookout. Historically, this site is the location of a wooden barrel that was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship. The letters found inside the barrel would be picked up and delivered by sailors returning home. There was no postage fee, and, surprisingly, this mailbox and its honor system are still in use today. Although the letters are no longer important messages from sailors to their loved ones, thousands of them are left by tourists nowadays and many of them still make it to their destination. Apart from being the Post Office Barrel, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonists. It is said that Baroness Eloisa von Wagner loved this place and spent several hours watching the horizon. Within walking distance (30 m) are the ruins of what is known as her house. You can also relax on the beach, where you might spot not only Galapagos sea lions, green turtles, and golden rays, but also Galapagos penguins. This is the only place in the southeastern archipelago where penguins reside.

Cormorant Point-Champion Islet. This site offers probably the best Flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos; it is also one of the largest in the islands. It’s situated between two tuff lava cones that give the area a special atmosphere. There are various species of shorebirds to observe besides flamingos; the most frequent are common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks and other migratory birds. It is very interesting to see the two distinct beaches: “The Green Beach” (due to its high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the “Flour Sand Beach” which is made up of coral. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 6 (Fri): Barrington Bay (Santa Fe Island)-El Chato Reserve (Santa Cruz Island).

Barrington Bay. Located in the southeastern part of the Galapagos, this island was formed from an uplift instead of a volcanic origin, this is why is mostly flat. There are some theories which assure this could be the oldest island in the Archipelago. Santa Fe is the home of a number of endemic species like the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats and one of the two species of lands Iguanas of the islands. After disembarkation in the beautiful and clear waters you will be in contact with one of the many sea lion colonies. Along the trail many salt bushes can be seen as well giant Prickly pear cactus, gigantism is a characteristic of oceanic islands.

El Chato Reserve. Santa Cruz also offers excellent opportunities for viewing wild tortoises, both roaming through pastures in the agricultural zone and in the Tortoise Reserve, which is accessible from Santa Rosa or Salasaca. Several farms serve food and allow visitors to explore their grounds in search of tortoises. Descending through the agricultural zone into the Transition Zone where the Tortoise Reserve is located, the introduced vegetation of the farmlands is replaced by native vegetation. The pond at El Chato is surrounded by forest where short-eared owls, Darwin’s finches, Vermilion Flycatchers, Yellow Warblers, Galapagos Rails, and Paint-billed Crakes can be seen. As the visitor walks into the forests overgrown with lichens, ferns, and other epiphytes, it is time to listen carefully for the sound of heavy footsteps and the sound of shrubs being slowly crushed as the tortoises make their way through the brush. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 7 (Sat): Twin Craters (Santa Cruz Island)-Baltra Airport-Quito.

The Twin Craters are found on either side of the road leading to Puerto Ayora. These impressive formations are not really volcanic craters and were formed by magma domes, which hardened on the outside while the lava continued flowing inside, leaving huge and empty magma chambers that eventually collapsed, leaving two large holes. The craters lie within a lush scalesia cloud forest, a high-altitude plant species that are endemic to the Galapagos. This area is also home to the carpenter finch, which uses tools to search for food. There may also be opportunities to see the vermillion flycatcher, a small, red-breasted bird.

Following the tour, you will be transferred to Baltra Airport for your return flight to Quito. Overnight in Quito. (B)

Day 8 (Sun): Quito.

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

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner