Customized Group Travel Tours STS Educational Holiday to Europe, North America

Destination > Central / South America > Galapagos

Ecuador and the Galapagos

Day 1: Home - Quito

Depart home aboard your wide bodied jet destined for Quito. Upon arrival, the group will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. After a long day of flying, the group will appreciate a comfortable bed and a good night’s sleep.

Day 2: Quito - Middle of the World - Otavalo Market

In the morning, the group will drive to Calderón, a small village about 10 km North-East of Quito. Calderón is a famous center for a unique Ecuadorian folk art. The town is known for its work with dough figurines. The group will then continue on to the middle of the world's first monument (Step with one foot in each hemisphere!), and pass through Cayambe, along the way. Arriving in Otavalo, you’ll visit the famous Indian Market. Finally, you’ll see Cotacachi, which has great leather shopping opportunities, and Cuicocha Lake - an ancient eroded volcanic crater, famous for its beautiful green/blue water. Views of the lake and surrounding mountains are excellent when the weather is good. Return to Quito.

Day 3: Quito - Cotoaxi National Park - Quito

Today the group will start their adventure and drive south through the “Avenue of Volcanoes” viewing the spectacular high plains that surround Cotopaxi, the world’s highest active volcano at 19,225 ft (5,770m). The group will hike in the area and in the park you may see herds of llamas, wild horses, perhaps deer, rabbits, the Andean gull, several species of hummingbirds and with some luck, the Andean condor. After lunch the group will ascend to El Parqueadero, and have fantastic photo opportunities of a Glacier a short distance away. In the late afternoon, the group will return to Quito.

Day 4: Quito

Free day in Quito to explore at your leisure.

Day 5: Quito

A thrilling activity for today! A rafting trip for the entire group.

Day 6: Quito - Bartolome Island

Fly to Galapagos and prepare to leave today for the 5 day cruise. In the afternoon, the vessel sails to Isla Bartolome. At about 15:00 hrs, you will make a landing and walk to the top of the island, and return for a dingy ride around the Tower to observe Galapagos penguins. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. You return to the vessel for dinner and your nightly orientation about what you have seen and will see the following day.

Day 7: Punta Espinoza - Tugus Cove

The legend is one of a small number of vessels that visits the far flung Isla Fernandina (Narborough), the youngest and most visually impressive of all the islands. Punta Espinosa is the landing point and here you will see the Galapagos' greatest concentration of marine iguanas, plus Galapagos penguin, flightless cormorant and sea lions. After lunch, you will arrive at Isla Isabela (Albermarle) and land at Tagus Cove on the west coast. Splendid views of the active volcanoes that made this island are best seen from the West of Isla Isabela and only the larger ships can make this journey. Tagus Cove is a great place to see the Galapagos penguin and the flightless cormorant as well as many other sea birds.

Day 8: Urbina Bay - Punta Moreno

You continue South down the West coast and spend some time at Urbina Bay which was formed in 1954 by an uplift of the sea bed. You will see more wildlife on the shore and in the shallow waters there will be rays and turtles. Lunch on board as you sail further south to Punta Moreno. The area is young and many plants and insects are pioneer varieties. You should see flamingos, white cheeked pintails and common gallinules.

Day 9: Santa Cruz Highlands - Charles Darwin Research Station

Disembark and take a bus to the highlands of Isla Santa Cruz. There are many places of interest such as the twin craters of Los Gemelos and Cerro Crocker. This is an opportunity to see the vegetation (ferns and sedge) and also the vermillion flycatcher or short eared owl. Return to the port for a walk through the little town to appreciate the handicrafts. You return to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon, you land at the pier of the National Park for a visit to the Charles Darwin Station and its interpretive centre. At the research station, you will see hatchling and young tortoise in the Baby Tortoise House. The big guys are seen face to face in a walk-in enclosure, but remember "look, but don’t touch". In other areas of the station you will see the famous Darwin's finches.

Day 10: Quito - Home

Morning transfer to the airport for international flight home.

Tour includes:

Air: Home - Quito / Quito - Home
Hotel accommodation in Quito (3 star)
Breakfast daily in Quito
Galapagos Cruise (5 days 4 nights)
All activities on itinerary during cruise
Round trip airfare: Quito / Galapagos / Quito
Meals while in Galapagos
Quito representative
Naturalist guide while on yacht
All transfers including arrival and departure
Ecuador land trips include bilingual guides
All land transport in Ecuador during the itinerary
Cost of all entries for all scheduled tours and archaeological sites
Lunches on the land tours (3 land tours in total)
All equipment while on land tours

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