Quito and 7 Day La Pinta Cruise – Western 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)

Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Galapagos.  Upon arrival in Baltra Island, you will be transferred to the La Pinta.  There’s a welcome introductory briefing, boat drill, cabin assignment and then lunch.

North Seymour.  Following an afternoon disembarkation, you enjoy a walk along the coast and the interior of this beautiful flat island, observing numerous bird colonies as well as sea lions and land iguanas.  There are opportunities for coastal exploration by dinghy.  Evening briefing, welcome cocktail and dinner.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Punta Vicente Roca.  Since there is no landing site at this location, the coastal exploration is by panga, while the naturalist guide explains the dramatic geology of the area, with remains of lava flows and tuff stone layers.  There is abundant wildlife and, depending on the conditions of the ocean, you’ll be able to snorkel along the cliffs, hopefully in the company of green sea turtles.

Punta Espinoza.  In the afternoon, you visit the youngest and most pristine island of the archipelago, Fernandina, one of many visitors’ all-time favorites.  Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness and abundant wildlife.  Highlights include hawks, penguins, flightless cormorants and astounding views of the surrounding volcanic landscapes.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Urbina Bay.  After breakfast, you disembark at Urbina Bay, on the western side of Isabela Island, the result of an uplifting of the ocean floor.  Here you can see corals, shells, and large and very colorful Galapagos land iguanas, as well as (occasionally) giant tortoises.  Navigating the Bolívar Channel, there are good chances of spotting several species of whales.

Tagus Cove.  On the northwest of Isabela, secluded Tagus Cove provided a favorite anchorage for pirates and whalers over the centuries, and today makes a great visitor site.  An uphill hike takes you to the back of Darwin Crater, filled with salt water.  You can snorkel or ride kayaks amid the dramatic landscape before going on a hike.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Rabida.  In the morning, you disembark at Rabida Island’s red-colored beach.  A stroll along the beach allows you to observe marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwin’s finches.  This is a great place to snorkel from the beach.  For non-snorkelers, you can ride in the glass-bottom boat for an exploration of life underneath the waves.

Dragon Hill.  The north shore of Santa Cruz hosts the fascinating landscapes of Dragon Hill.  Our walk includes circling a brackish water lagoon frequented by lagoon birds, while further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western islands of the archipelago, as well as the chance to observe land iguanas.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Puerto Ayora & Charles Darwin Research Station.  The morning visit heads to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest.  These are the Galapagos’ headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the National Park administration.  A delicious lunch is served at the poolside of the Finch Bay Eco Hotel.

Highlands of Santa Cruz Island.  After lunch, we head up to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island by vehicle.  This is a great place to look for the emblematic Darwin’s Finches and the endemic Scalesia trees.  The highlands are also great for exploring the exuberant vegetation where giant tortoises roam in the wild.  This will surely be one of the most remembered visits of the whole voyage.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Post Office Bay.  After breakfast, you land at Post Office Bay to visit the historic barrel that has served as a post office in the archipelago for over two centuries.  Panga rides along the maze of channels on Floreana’s north shore can also be enjoyed.  Views from La Lobería and the Baroness Viewpoint are quite rewarding.  There’s great kayaking and swimming from the beach as well.

Champion Islet & Punta Cormorant.  Before disembarking at Punta Cormorant you can snorkel or ride the glass-bottom boat along the coast of an extinct cone called “Champion Islet”.  Later in the afternoon, your visit to Punta Cormorant takes in an olivine-crystal beach for an easy walk by a brackish water lagoon where bird species like greater flamingos may be observed.  On the other side of the island, you come to a white-sand beach where sea turtles come out at night to nest.  Overnight aboard the ship.  (B,L,D)

Your journey ends at Baltra Island, where you transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.  Baltra’s flat substrate (due to its uplifted origin) is the reason why the island was chosen back in the 1940s as the location to building an airport.  Upon arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel.  Overnight in Quito.  (B)

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