Galapagos Islands Wildlife & Quito Highlights - Ecuador

Let’s begin our holiday and begin our Galapagos journey!

We have arrived! On arrival in Quito, we will be transferred approximately one hour (35km) with guide assistance to our hotel, our tour base for the next two nights.

Unpack, settle in, and relax after our journey.

Breakfast is included for each day of your stay in Ecuador and Galapagos Islands.

This tour is based on a small group from 4 people.

Welcome to the enchanting city of Quito, a jewel of Latin America and a UNESCO World Heritage site that has retained its historical charm. Get ready to discover this fascinating city!

We depart from our hotel by coach on a full day tour, and begin our walking tour meandering through the narrow cobblestone streets, reminiscent of the sixteenth century, allowing you to soak up the historical charm of Quito. We uncover Quito’s highlights including Independence Plaza square, La Compania Church, with its ornate gold leaf interior and elaborately carved altars. Experience more as we visit the wide-open plaza, and church of San Francisco, built in the sixteenth century by the Indians of St. Andrews School.

Next, we take in the beauty of the Andean landscape (weather permitting) with a visit to El Panecillo Hill.

Enjoy some time at leisure for lunch (not included) before we see more of this fascinating city and return to our hotel.

Today we say farewell to Quito, and we transfer by coach to the airport for our flight to Baltra  where we will stay in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz.

We have arrived in Galapagos! We meet our transfer and make our way to our hotel. Enroute to our hotel we visit the Twin Craters and admire these two large sink holes in an area of farmland and native forest, territory for the iconic Galapagos giant tortoise. These two craters are located on the opposite sides of the main Santa Cruz Road.

Let’s check in to our hotel and enjoy some lunch (included).

Please note your flight tickets and timings are given locally for your internal Galapagos flights. 

Also included in the cost of your holiday are the Galapagos National Park Tax and Galapagos Transit card. Passport details are required at the time of booking to issue these.

After our light lunch (included) we venture to Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the archipelago. Here we explore the renowned Charles Darwin Research Station, and the captivating Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre. This tour is approximately two hours.

After our afternoon of discovering the headquarters for scientific research and conservation we make our way back to our hotel.

Enjoy the evening at leisure to further explore our surroundings.

Please note 

For your stay on Santa Cruz Island, the transfers and excursions will be shared, and not a private Travel Department tour for the duration of your stay here. All excursions will be organised by your hotel locally. The excursions are subject to change due to local weather conditions.

Please note for your excursions to the Galapagos archipelago: 

Island visits may change to alternative islands in the Galapagos archipelago for operational reasons. This can also give a different variety of wildlife to be seen at the time. The vessels used are medium sized motor yachts with the capacity of approximately 16-20 people. Amenities onboard include a bathroom, dining area, living and sundeck area.

This morning we have a very early start to uncover some of the treasures of these unique islands in the Galapagos! We transfer to Itabaca Canal for our cruise. All aboard! We embark on our cruise and set sail approximately two hours Northwest of Santa Cruz Island to Bartholomew Island. Bartholomew has one of the most beautiful and photographed landscapes of the archipelago with the iconic pinnacle rock. Lace up your sturdy shoes as we take a walk up the wooden staircase trail (360 steps, 795 meters), to the summit of the extinct volcano, there are a lot of steps to climb, but well worth the view! For those who don’t want to exert themselves, you can stay on board the boat, and soak up the relaxing atmosphere.

Please note to keep the pristine beauty and ecological balance on these fascinating islands you will always be accompanied by a guide, when disembarking on the islands.

After our walk we take well-deserved snorkel keeping an eye out for some marine life like the Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, rays and much more swimming in the shallow waters in Sullivans Bay located in Santiago Island, just five minutes from Bartholomew Island.

A light lunch is included today on board before returning to Santa Cruz, Itabaca Canal.

We arrive back in the evening after a day out sailing, snorkelling and discovery! Let’s transfer back to our hotel by shuttle.

Enjoy the evening at leisure relax and unwind after your adventurous day discovering the beauty of Galapagos.

Let’s get set for another full day of sailing and exploring! We transfer fifty minutes’ drive to Itabaca Canal and set sail east of Santa Cruz Island to visit Punta Carrion for some snorkelling. We discover an array of marine life which may include a variety of fishes, sea turtles, rays, Galapagos sharks and much more. Next, we set sail to South Plaza Island and partner of North Plaza Island, with its natural red carpet (sesuvium) and cactus creating a unique landscape. Here we stop and to discover the natural wonders of the Galapagos from sealions, land iguanas, and the iconic marine iguanas, Galapagos lizards, finches, and a variety of seabirds.

Lunch is included on board today (usually a simple light lunch of fresh fish, salads, and rice).

After, we set sail back to Santa Cruz and Itabaca Canal.

Arrive late in the afternoon and transfer by shuttle back to our hotel in the evening.

Enjoy your last night on the Santa Cruz to soak up the island atmosphere, savour the memories of the unique wonders experienced.

We say farewell to our Galapagos Island wonders and transfer to Baltra airport for our flight to Quito.

On arrival we meet our guide and make our way to our hotel near the airport.

Let's settle in, repack, recharge and enjoy the rest of our day at leisure.

Let's discover more with a visit to Termas de Papallacta Hot Springs.

This morning, we’ll leave the city behind and transfer by coach to indulge in some well-deserved relaxation. Savour the moment and soak up the rejuvenating hot springs, set against the breath-taking Andean backdrop. These mineral-rich, therapeutic springs have been cherished by locals and visitors alike since the time of the Incas. Enjoy this peaceful experience as you soak in the natural warmth, surrounded by the serene beauty of the mountains.

After, our relaxing morning we return to our hotel in the afternoon and relax.

We say a fond fare well to Ecuador and all its memorable moments in this unique and picturesque country. We depart our hotel with a guided transfer and make our way to the airport nearby for our flights home.