Day 1 - Welcome to Quito

Upon arrival, after clearing customs, meet your guide at the arrival hall holding a sign board with your name on it. Your guide escorts you to your awaiting private vehicle and transfers you to your hotel where you receive check-in procedures assistance.

Quito, nestled at the foot of the 15,696-foot Pichincha Volcano, is known for its eternally spring-like climate and for the beauty of its well-preserved colonial center. Initially settled by the Quitu tribe in the first millennium, Quito was eventually integrated into the Inca Empire before being destroyed and re-founded in 1534 by Spaniard Conquistador Sebastián de Benalcázar. For nearly three centuries, the arts and intellectual societies flourished under Spanish colonial rule, evident in the historic center’s splendidly restored colonial buildings and churches lining narrow and cobbled streets. In 1809, Quito established the first self-governing junta in the colonies and the liberator Simón Bolívar led the country as part of the Republic of Greater Colombia until 1830 when the Republic of Ecuador announced its independence. Due to the city’s preservation of its blended past, UNESCO declared it the world’s first Heritage Site in 1978. The city is beautifully sitting in an Andean valley at 9,186 feet above sea level, making it the 2nd highest capital city in the world.

Overnight: Illa Experience

Meal Plan:

Day 2 - Quito From the Skies

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, afterwards at a pre-coordinated time, meet your private guide at the hotel reception area for start your tour.

Start this full-day excursion by driving north to the equator at the Inti Ñan Museum, located on the true equator, which displays examples of pre-Columbian life in Ecuador and offers demonstrations on the unique geography, astrology, and natural sciences of the region around the equator.

Ride the Teleférico, one of Quito’s newest attractions offering some of the most spectacular and easily accessible views of the city. Eighteen gondolas soar up the slopes of Pichincha Volcano to the west of Quito. The ride lasts only 10 minutes but soars to an altitude of 4,050 meters (13,300 feet). At the top, the lookout point offers incredible views of Quito, its surrounding valleys, and snow-covered volcanoes (along with coffee, snacks, and oxygen if you feel short of breath). We recommend you bring a sweater or a jacket, as the weather can change quickly on this mountain.

Return to the city to enjoy lunch in Quito’s colonial area.

An afternoon sightseeing tour shows off some of the reasons why Ecuador’s capital earned its honor as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at San Francisco Church and its museum of religious art, La Compañía and the seven tons of gold gilding on its glittering walls, and the bustling Independence Plaza, flanked by the Presidential Palace and Quito Cathedral. Rich in art treasures, fine woodcarvings and flowering balconies, the historical center is the lifeblood of Quito.

Overnight: Illa Experience

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 3 - Junco Lagoon

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, and on schedule time, meet your private guide at the hotel reception area for your transfer to Quito´s airport to board your domestic flight to Galapagos.

Check-in at Quito international airport. The flight time from Quito to Guayaquil is 40 minutes. There is also a 40-minute transit at Guayaquil Airport. Flight time from Guayaquil to the Islands is 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Upon arrival at San Cristobal Island Airport, pass through an airport inspection point to ensure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands. You will be met and transferred to M/C Elite, where you will check into your cabin and then receive an introductory briefing and safety drill.

PM: Junco Lagoon, San Cristobal Island
Walk up the rocky path surrounded by rich vegetation and wildlife to the rim of the El Junco Lagoon, an impressive crater lake located in the highlands of San Cristobal Island. Here you will enjoy superb panoramic views of the island, and you can often catch frigate birds diving and bathing in the crystal-clear water below.

Overnight: M/C Elite

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 4 - North Seymour Island and Dragon Hill

AM: North Seymour Island
North Seymour island is a small island named after Lord Hugh Seymour, a senior British Royal Navy officer. Walking amongst the low, bushy vegetation you will be able to observe a large variety of birds, including blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and a large population of frigate birds. Look out for the marvelous bright red chests of the male frigates used to attract a mate.

PM: Dragon Hill, Santa Cruz Island
The name Dragon Hill refers to the large population of Galapagos land iguanas that have made their home here. As you walk along the rocky coastline and through the forests of cacti and Palo Santo trees, you will no doubt encounter a number of these incredible creatures that resemble miniature dragons. The high tide also makes this a fantastic place to snorkel as the coral attracts a plethora of colorful fish close to the shoreline.

Overnight: M/C Elite

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 5 - Tintoreras and Sierra Negra Volcano

AM: Tintoreras & Sierra Negra Volcano, Isabela Island
Las Tintoreras is a chain of islets off the coast of Isabela island that is characterized by dark lava formations and has created a unique habitat for a variety of wildlife. It is, therefore, a fantastic site for water activities such as a panga ride, snorkeling, kayaking, or paddle boarding, and visitors are often treated to close-up sightings of turtles, sharks, penguins, and sea lions.

The Sierra Negra is one of the most active volcanoes in the Galapagos and has the second largest caldera in the world. As you walk up to the top of the caldera you will encounter forests of guava trees and on a clear day, you will be treated to spectacular views of the other five volcanoes on the island.

PM: Interpretation Center & Wetlands, Isabela Island
The Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center, where two species of giant tortoise are bred to increase the population of these incredible animals, plays an essential role in protecting the future of the Galapagos. As you walk around the center you will also be able to enjoy the beautiful gardens that boast a wide variety of native plants. Just outside Puerto Villamil, you can also take a walk around the Isabela wetlands, comprised of lagoons, swamps, and mangroves, which have become a paradise for migratory birds such as stilts and flamingos.

Overnight: M/C Elite

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 6 - Meet the Most Iconic Animals of Galapagos

AM: Moreno Point, Isabela Island
Moreno point is located on the west coast of Isabela Island and although it appears a barren lava flow at first, a walk along one of the trails soon reveals a multitude of beautiful green lagoons and mangroves and is a fantastic place to see penguins, blue herons, and flamingos.

Meanwhile, a panga ride or snorkel along the rocky shoreline is a wonderful way to spot green sea turtles and white-tip sharks.

PM: Urbina Bay, Isabela Island
Urbina Bay is located at the foot of the Alcedo Volcano and is the result of a major volcanic uplift that took place in 1954 and resulted in 6km of coral reef being lifted out of the ocean. Walking along this new shore, you can observe the corals and remains of marine life that were stranded due to this event. However, it is now home to giant land iguanas and giant tortoises and it is often a good spot to see Galapagos hawks and flightless cormorants. It is also ideal for snorkeling as turtles, rays, and tropical fish frequent the coastline.

Overnight: M/C Elite

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 7 - The Youngest Island in the Galapagos

AM: Espinoza Point, Fernandina Island
Fernandina is the youngest island in the Galapagos and Espinosa point is a wonderful area of natural beauty. Snorkeling and swimming from the zodiac allows you to see the marine iguanas feeding underwater. On the rocks, you will often see large numbers of colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs. On land, the walking trails enable you to explore the fascinating mangrove plants, lava cacti, and striking black lava formations where marine iguanas enjoy basking themselves in the sun.

Overnight: M/C Elite

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 8 - Meet the Nine Darwin’s Finches

AM: Rabida Island
This island is most known for its dark red sand beach surrounded by a backdrop of cliffs and steep volcanic hills full of Palo Santo trees and endemic cacti. A panga ride around the shoreline gives the chance to spot blue-footed and nazca boobies and water activities such as snorkeling, kayaking or paddle boarding are ideal for seeing white-tipped sharks and rays. On the beach, you will find a large noisy colony of sea lions and the surrounding salt brush is home to a nesting colony of pelicans. Inland, bird watchers will delight in seeing mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and Darwin finches - Rabida is the only site where all nine Darwin’s finches are found.

PM: Bartholomew Island
Bartholomew island is located in Sullivan Bay and its most famous landmark is a huge volcanic cone named Pinnacle Rock. A walking trail leads up to a viewpoint at the summit of the island where you can enjoy spectacular views of Pinnacle Rock and the surrounding lava flows. The northern beach, a nesting site for green sea turtles, is perfect for snorkeling where sightings of spotted eagle rays, penguins, and reef sharks are possible.

Overnight: M/C Elite

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 9 - Witch Hill and Lobos Island

AM: Witch Hill, San Cristobal Island
Witch Hill features an idyllic white sand beach that can be accessed by panga and is a superb vantage point for seeing Kicker Rock in the south of the island. The hill itself is an eroded tuff cone and the calm waters at the base of it offer a magnificent spot for snorkeling. Meanwhile, a walk along the beach or on one of the inland paths provides opportunities to see a variety of shore birds, finches, and mockingbirds.

PM: Lobos Island, San Cristobal Island
Accessed by panga, Lobos island gets its name from the herds of sea lions that have made their home here. Snorkeling in the calm clear water provides a unique opportunity to see these inquisitive and playful animals up close and it is also common to be accompanied by green turtles and rays as well. Inland there is a trail where you can expect to encounter nesting sites for blue-footed boobies and frigates.

Overnight: M/C Elite

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 10 - Back Home

AM: San Cristobal Interpretation Center, San Cristobal Island

A short distance from the town of San Cristobal is the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, which provides an overview of the fascinating history of the islands. The main areas of focus, which are addressed through a number of expositions are natural history, human history, and conservation for the future. You can also take one of the trails behind the center that lead to some great viewpoints of the ocean and volcanic rocks below.

After your visit, depart for the airport for your return flight.

Once in the airport, meet your guide who assists you with the check-in procedures for your international departure flight. (one-hour assistance).

Overnight:

Meal Plan: B