Day 1: Quito
On arrival at Quito airport you will be met by a representative and transferred to check into your hotel. Feel free to explore the culturally and historically vibrant capital city of Ecuador. Quito is lined with a variety of shops, churches occupied by fine art, overflowing market stands, hat makers, diverse food and nightlife displays. This city is well known for its ‘Old Town’, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising stunning colonial monuments, sculptures and architecture.
Day 2: Bachas Beach (located in Santa Cruz)
Take an early morning flight to Baltra Aiport in the Galapagos Islands. By the afternoon you will visit Bachas beach where the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it soft and white, and a favourite site for nesting sea turtles. Spot abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs on the lava rocks along the water's edge, eating anything they can get their claws on! Trek further with your naturalist guide to see a wide range of wildlife, including flamingos, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and sea lions. Retreat into your spacious cabin aboard the Yolita and enjoy an Ecuadorian or international cuisine. Walk along the white coral sands of Darwin Bay surrounded by bustling sea birds.
Day 3: Darwin Bay & El Barranco (located in Genovesa Island)
In the morning land onto Darwin Bay and follow a trail to see nesting frigatebirds, gulls, and boobies. Be sure to bring your camera to take some snaps of these feathered creatures. Later visit a sunken caldera for a great snorkelling opportunity to see large schools of tropical fish swarming near the vertical walls, and, if your lucky, catch a glimpse of a manta ray or hammerhead shark. In the afternoon you will visit El Barranco also known as Prince Phillip's Steps located on the southern tip of the island for an amazing wildlife watching opportunity. Hike up the steps to gaze at the breeding grounds for red-footed boobies and masked boobies.
Day 4: Isla Bartolome & Sullivan Bay (located in Santiago)
Disembark onto Bartolomé for a guided tour to see the island's dramatic volcanic features. Hike to Bartolomé's summit for a stronger perspective of the islands' not-too-distant volcanic origins, and enjoy the best panoramic view. See other Galápagos Islands in the distance as well as Pinnacle Rock, the island’s famous towering landmark. Spot Galápagos penguins which are the only species of penguin found north of the Equator, walking precariously along narrow volcanic ledges at the base of the summit. By the afternoon land onto Sullivan Bay to see striking and fascinating giant lava formations. Very few plants have managed to survive on this island due to its harsh environment and relatively new lava flow. Enjoy a walk along the lava formations before coming to a white-coral sand beach, where abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions gather on shore
Day 5: Sierra Negra Volcano & Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre (located in Isabela Island)
Early landing in the small town of Puerto Villamil before you start your journey in Isabela Island. Hike to the rim of the 10km (6.2 mile) wide crater of the Sierra Negra volcano, which has the largest basaltic caldera in the Galápagos. Trek across the moon-like landscape of the lava fields and fumaroles, and enjoy spectacular views looking north toward Fernandina and the rest of Isabela Island. The volcano last erupted in October 2005, making it the most recent eruption of the Galápagos. In the afternoon head back to the town’s wetlands and then visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre. Pass basking iguanas and flamingos, and head into the forest to see the gentle giants in their natural habitat at this reserve. This centre was built to protect the noble giant tortoise which was on the brink of extinction during the late 1950's.
Day 6: Elizabeth Bay & Urbina Bay (located in Isabela Island)
In the morning you will alight onto Elizabeth Bay which offers amazing bird and marine life viewing opportunities. Enjoy a thrilling panga (dinghy) ride to explore the shallows, keeping an eye out for wildlife hiding among the mangroves. Search for marine turtles, rays, and flightless cormorants in the sheltered waters. Also spot blue-footed boobies, penguins, and pelicans feeding on the abundant marine life. After lunch you will approach Urbina Bay for a unique walk among a massive marine reef that was raised out of the water in 1950 during an uplift. Marvel at the natural sculptures of dried coral and other ocean formations while touring the area on foot. Urbina Bay also offers great opportunities to see land iguanas that have astonishingly yellow skin, flightless cormorants, brown pelicans as well as marine turtles and rays.
Day 7: Tagus Cove & Punta Espinosa (located in Fernandina Island)
Enjoy your morning at Tagus Cove which is an anchorage site that was popular among whalers and pirates . Spot old graffiti on the cliffs left behind by the whalers and pirates. After this you will walk up a wooden stairway to start a trail through a dry vegetation zone. Continue on an ascent to a promontory made up of small volcanic cones. Continue your trail by foot for spectacular views of Darwin Lake (a spherical saltwater crater), the bay, and Darwin and Wolf volcanoes. In the afternoon continue to Punta Espinosa that’s home to some of the largest colonies of marine iguanas and sea birds. Follow trails along the beach and across lava flows to explore the rest of this least-visited site.
Day 8: Rabida Island & Playa Espumilla
In the morning you will land onto the enchanting red sands of Rabida Island. The excursion includes a short trail that leads to a saltwater lagoon and another trail that goes past the lagoon to the interior, where the revered palo santo trees grow. Head back to the beach to see prehistoric-looking pelicans nesting among low-lying bushes. It's a rare treat to watch parent pelicans return with gullets full of fish for the squawking youngsters. In the late afternoon visit Playa Espumilla which is one of the most idyllic beaches of the Galapagos Islands. Explore the beach and discovers its thick mangroves and sea turtle nesting sites.
Day 9: Daphne Island
Enjoy the morning at Daphne, a tiny conical island, home to nesting blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, Darwin's finches, and other wonderful wildlife. Dr. Peter Grant conducted a long-term study of Darwin's finches on the island, which is why you will notice the finches are banded. Explore the island on foot for some great birdwatching opportunities and to discover its interesting flora and geology. In the afternoon fly back to Quito and enjoy the evening.
Day 10: Quito
Feel free to explore enchanting Quito for the last time before you depart back home. Remember to ask your CEO who can help with travel arrangements and extend your adventure..
