11 Days / 10 Nights
Classic Quito And 7 Nights Aboard The M/V Coral I or II
Day 1 - Friday
Arrival In Quito. Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist
you in transferring to the hotel and in registering. Afternoon complimentary
Quito scenic tour - Drive through this overwhelmingly beautiful city down
the broad avenues of the northern residential section. See the modern
Legislative Palace whose stone murals record the country's history and
the impressive San Agustin Monastery and its Sala Capitular. Go downtown
to Independence Plaza, the town's oldest colonial center bordered by the
Cathedral, Government Palace, and Archbishop's Palace. Visit La Compañía
Church, famous for its ornate facade and glittering golden altars. Visit
San Francisco Church which is one of the first great religious buildings
in the New World and the home of the works of the famous Indian artist,
Caspicara.
Day 2 - Saturday
Full Day Tour to Otavalo Indian Market - Early morning departure for a
drive along the Pan-American Highway to visit one of South America's most
famous Indian fairs, the Otavalo Market. En route to the market, a quick
stop at Calderón allows the opportunity to see how the popular marzipan
"bread dolls" are made and to make "bargain price" purchases of them.
Arriving at Otavalo, take a walk through the bustling produce market where
the Indians meet to trade among themselves. Continue to the tourist market,
which is piled high with colorful ponchos, tapestries, woolen goods, and
Indian jewelry. In the afternoon drive to the woodcarving center of San
Antonio de Ibarra and to the village of Cotacachi, famous for its leather
handicrafts. Lunch is provided en route.
Day 3 - Sunday
Transfer from hotel to the airport for departure.
Flight - Quito/Guayaquil/Baltra - The Galapagos Islands
Ship - M/V Coral I or II: 8 Days/7 Nights (Sunday-Sunday) cruising the
islands. All meals and shore excursions during the cruise are included.
Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring
to the ship for midday departure.
Afternoon arrival at Santa Cruz Island. Academy Bay on Santa Cruz Island
is the location of the internationally famous Charles Darwin Research
Station. This is one of the few places in the islands where the giant
tortoises may still be seen. Another point of interest is Turtle Cove,
a mangrove lagoon which is a favorite haunt of the Green sea turtles.
Day 4 - Monday
Hood Island Punta Suarez is a favorite gathering place for the Hood Island
inhabitants. At a town meeting you are likely to see many of the communities
important citizens such as the local politicians - the Long-billed mockingbirds,
the local bandits - the Masked Boobies, as well as the Galapagos edition
of "punk rockers" - the Sally Light-foot crabs, milling around with such
notables as Blue-footed boobies, finches and frigatebirds. The sandy shore
of Gardner Bay, located on the northeast side of Hood Island, offers a
variety of sea shells to delight its visitors as well as a soft spot to
rest for sunbathers. The calm waters of the bay are perfect for swimming
and fishing according to the local sea lions who are likely to join you
in an afternoon of fun and games.
San Cristobal And Lobos Islands Morning cruise around Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), a rock formation in the sea in front of San Cristobal island. Afternoon visit to Lobos Island.
Morning departure to North Seymour Island. Afternoon at Bartolome Island. After a dry landing, a 600-meter visitor's path takes you to the summit of the island where you have the most dramatic view of Sullivan Bay and Pinnacle Rock. On this island you can find the Galapagos Penguin (Speeniscus Mendiculus). Between January and March, on the sandy beaches the marine tortoises come to nest. The general aspect on this island is a moonlike panorama.
Isabela The ship swings close past Cape Berkeley, where a large volcano half has dropped away into the sea giving you the opportunity to walk through coral reefs on an uplifted ocean bed. Just south of Punta Tortuga, there is the visitor site of Tangus Cove where early sailors frequently anchored. You can still see some of the names of the vessels scratched on the cliffs around the cove. After a dry landing a 2 km path will take you past a salty lagoon into the lower slopes of volcano Darwin where volcanic formations can be observed. A panga ride along the cliffs will enable you to see various sea birds usually including the Galapagos penguin (Speeniscus Mendiculus) and flightless cormorant (Nanopterun Harrisi). There are good snorkeling opportunities in the cove. Urbina Bay lies around the middle of the western shore of Isabela. It consists of a flat area formed by an uplifting that took place in 1954. Here you can find corals, flightless cormorants, pelicans and marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus). Rays and turtles can be seen on the bay. On this site, a wet landing is required to reach the trail that leads onto the corals. The scenery of volcano Alcedo is magnificent.
Fernandina - Point Vicente Roca (Isabela) While sea lions zip playfully in and out of the various inlets of Fernandina Island, hundreds of sunning Marine iguanas blend magically into the background of the black lava rocks that mark Punta Espinosa. Flightless cormorants, Galapagos hawks, and Sally Light-foot crabs also vie for your attention as you step into this wonderland of wildlife and geological wizardry. At the west end of the northern arm of Isabela we find the small, old volcano Ecuador (610 m) coming down almost to the shore. Punta Vicente Roca, at the volcano's base, is a rocky point with a good snorkeling area.
Rabida (Jervis) And James Island Magnificent red sand beaches are on the agenda today as you land at Rabida (Jervis) Island. Located near the geographic center of the Galapagos archipelago, this small steep cliffed island serves as a residence to beautiful flamingos, Blue-footed and Masked boobies, Galapagos doves, and many species of finches. James Island with its massive lava fields of varying colors leaves a deep impression on the first time visitor but lava flows are not the only attraction found here. The cold Humboldt current around the island makes Puerto Egas a viable home for a colony of fur seals yet the area is equally appealing to Galapagos hawks, Marine iguanas and sea lions.
Morning departure to Santa Cruz Highlands, which is located about 12 km from Bellavista. Going there you pass from the xerophitic vegetation into the scalecia, miconia, fern-sedge areas as well as Opuntia and the Cereus, Palo Santo, Croton and Cryptocarpus bushes. Afternoon arrival in Baltra. Transfer to airport for departure. Flight - Baltra/Guayaquil/Quito Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and in registering.
Transfer from hotel to the airport for departure. Flight - Quito / USA