Destinations

This morning, fly to Ecuador’s stunning capital city – Quito, your home for the next two nights. An intersection of mountains and colonial architecture, this city is a UNESCO World Heritage site full of lively culture and vibrant history.

Today, tour the Presidential Palace in Quito’s colonial center. After lunch, stand at the “Middle of the World,” situated between two hemispheres, at the Equatorial Line Monument and Museum. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Fly to a hub of the spectacular Galápagos Archipelago, San Cristóbal! Launch your eco-adventure aboard the M/Y Coral II,* an exclusive yacht that serves as your home for the next four nights. Visit the Interpretation Center to learn about the history, volcanic origins, ocean currents and diverse species unique to this remote island chain. Later, a hike up Tijeretas Hill offers beautiful landscapes and a magnificent view at the foot of a Frigate Bird nesting colony.

Witness Cerro Brujo’s tuff cone created from volcanic eruptions, lava formations, and beautiful white sandy beach that is perfect for snorkeling and sunbathing after a wet landing this morning. At the picturesque lagoon, migratory bird species such as Black-necked Stilts, Ruddy Turnstones, Whimbrels, and White-cheeked Pintails can be spotted. Cerro Brujo offers beautiful views of Kicker Rock, the southern part of San Cristóbal and the adjacent coast. Later, a second wet landing leads you to a trail for an intense hike over rocky terrain to the top of a volcanic tuff with several magnificent viewpoints. This spot is particularly special as it is the only site where the three booby species of the Galápagos can be seen together, as well as two species of frigate birds and a sea lion colony. The long, olivine beach allows for excellent snorkeling and dinghy rides in search of sea birds.

A dry landing on Española Island, one of the oldest and most isolated in the Galápagos, offers an unparalleled variety of wildlife. Explore volcanic formations and see large colonies of sea lions and seabirds including the Española mockingbird, Nazca boobies, and the spectacular red-billed tropicbirds. On Española, turquoise-colored marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the colorful Sally light-foot crabs abound. A hike brings you to nesting grounds where you may spot favorites such as the Galápagos dove, the Galápagos hawk, swallow-tailed gulls and the world’s largest colony of waved albatross – a true highlight! Admire the island’s dramatic backdrop and famous “Soplador,” a blowhole that shoots water 75 feet into the air. This afternoon a wet landing on a beautiful white coral sandy beach guarded by a colony of sea lions offers the opportunity to spot Galápagos hawks, American Oystercatchers, Galápagos Ground Doves, Hood mockingbirds, Yellow Warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and three species of Darwin’s finches. Swim and snorkel among the Galápagos’ marine wildlife such as king angelfish, Creole fish, damsel fish, parrotfish, manta rays, and white-tipped reef sharks.

Make a morning wet landing on an olivine green, sandy beach of Floreana Island and hike through mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon in search of one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galápagos. Continue along the trail to a beautiful white sandy beach that is an important nesting site for Green Pacific Sea Turtles. From the beach, one can spot sea turtles, blue-footed boobies plunging into the water, and small reef sharks floating along the shoreline in the search for food. Swim or snorkel amongst sea turtles, reef fish, and sea lions while keeping an eye out for the small colony of resident penguins. An afternoon wet landing in a Bay on the north side of Floreana brings you to “Post Office,” so named when Captain James Colnett installed a wooden barrel which served as an informal post office for sailors in 1793. Today, visitors continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel, hoping that some other traveler, going to that destination, will take it back for free. You may encounter Darwin’s finches, Yellow Warbler and Lava Lizards here and snorkel among playful sea lions or Green Pacific Sea Turtles.

After dry landing on Santa Cruz Island head from the coast to the dense humid forests and the Highlands Tortoise Reserve. In addition to famed Galápagos Giant Tortoises you may also spot many different kinds of birds, such as tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets – usually found standing on the tortoises’ shells! Bid the Galápagos goodbye and return to Quito, where a day room will be available close to the airport before your flight home.