SPECIAL PROMOTION Ecuador, Galapagos/SeaStar Journey & Amazon Forest

Make your way to the airport for your flight to Quito…the adventure begins!

Arrive Quito, Private Car Transfer

After clearing Customs and Immigration, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. . Remember Quito is at a high altitude so drink plenty of water!

NOTE:  Depending on your flight time arrival, we can reserve your room for the previous night (additional cost) so you check right in.

Historical District Tour

Explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas, visiting some its most important churches such as the impressive Cathedral, majestic Compañía and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. We begin the tour the quirky Guapulo quarter; take in the Congress building, before heading to the Old Town. We finish the day at the “Panecillo” hillside with its breathtaking views of the old and modern city surrounded by the rolling Andes Mountains.

Afternoon Equatorial Tour

As an addition to the Quito Colonial City Tour, we travel to “La Mitad del Mundo” complex. Its monument is located at latitude 0º 0´0", and provides for once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to straddle both hemispheres, or hop between the two in the blink of an eye. The monument forms the focal point of a park and leisure area with gift shops and restaurants. The site occupies an important place in the solar-based Andean Cosmo vision, since ancient Andean people were aware of its significance many thousands of years ago. The Ethnographic Museum at the complex provides a fine overview of Ecuador’s varied cultures and geography.

Quito- fly to Galapagos- SUNDAY SAILING, 5D/4N Cruise

This day you will fly from Quito, Ecuador to the Galapagos. Due to the Galapagos Government, a fee of 20 USD (included in your tour price) must be paid for the migration control card. Afterwards, you will enjoy a quick 4 hour flight, with a quick stop at Guayaquil.

Once in San Cristobal, passengers must go through an inspection point at the airport to make sure that no foreign plants or animals are being introduced to the archipelago. Also, this inspection point is where passengers have to pay for the entrance to the Galapagos National Park under the following parameters: Adult Passengers $100 and Children $50 (under 12 years old) - (included in your tour price).

Guide will meet you, collect your luggage, and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbor. Motorized rafts, called ‘Pangas’ will transport you to the M/C Sea Star Journey and our crew will welcome you onboard. After departure and lunch, the first island visit is made.

PM: DRAGON HILL, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

The visitor site at Dragon Hill has been open for visits on 1993. This site is located in northwestern Santa Cruz Island and consists of a trail that lead to a hyper-saline lagoon behind the beach, frequented by flamingos, pintail ducks and other species of birds. This site has been re populated with land iguanas from Seymour, Isabela and Santa Cruz islands. There is a short walk to the Hill, which offers a beautiful view of the bay.

MONDAY GALAPAGOS CRUISE 

AM: BLACK TURTLE COVE

This little cove is located at the northern side of Santa Cruz island, this is a red mangrove lagoon very calm and quiet which made an ideal place as nursery for many sharks and rays. Its crystal waters permits to observe large groups of white-tip reef, black tipped reef and hammer heads sharks, schools of golden rays as well as spotted eagle rays.  There are no landing sites so the visit is done by panga or kayak. Sea turtles are frequently seen and sometimes they are seen mating in the mangrove-lined waters. Pelicans and Herons are
also seen in this area.

PM: CHINESE HAT

This is a small islet (1 sq km) located just off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island. It is a recent volcanic cone, it has a shape of one Chinese hat when you see it from north side. On the west it can be seen lava formations, formed under the sea and raised upward, this is why coral heads are found on the lava. This is an excellent visit for interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. There are many sea lions colonies, marine iguanas and Galapagos penguins.

TUESDAYY - GALAPAGOS CRUISE

AM:  EL BARRANCO, GENOVESA ISLAND

El Barranco is located in the southern part of Darwin Bay and it is also known as Prince Philip’s Steps, passengers will climb to a plateau that is part of the stretch of land that surrounds Darwin Bay on its eastern side. There is a big population of Masked boobies and Red-Footed boobies in the tree; Storm petrels and Short-eared Owls have found in Genovesa lava flows the ideal place for nesting.

PM:  DARWIN BAY, GENOVESA ISLAND

This bay has origin when the crater of this island collapsed below sea level. The wet landing is on a beautiful white coral sandy beach. This is a favorite island for birdwatchers: red footed-booby, masked boobies, wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels Yellow-crowned, black-crowned and lava herons, with and yellow warblers can be seen in the area.

Continuing on the trail, visitors climb gradually to the edge of the cliff seeing Red-Foots nesting in the Mangrove trees below. Bird watching includes sightings of Sharp-Beaked Finches, Large Cactus and Ground Finches, Galapagos Doves and Swallow-Tailed Gulls. Reaching the end the trail at the cliff’s edge offers an incredible view of the island and the many birds living there.

WEDNESDAY GALAPAGOS CRUISE

AM: BARTOLOME ISLAND

Bartolome Island is situated across Sullivan Bay. It has an altitude of 114 meters, from where we can observe one of the most beautiful sceneries of the Galapagos Islands such as: Volcanic cones, lunar-like craters, lava fields, and the famous Toba formed pinnacle eroded by the sea. There is very little vegetation on this island.

It has two breathtaking beaches where marine turtles exist and at the base of the pinnacle, as well as a very small colony
of Galapagos penguins.

PM: THE SULLIVAN BAY, SANTIAGO ISLAND

Santiago, also called James, or San Salvador Island, is located in the west central part of the Galapagos archipelago. It is the fourth largest island in the archipelago (following Isabela, Fernandina and Santa Cruz). Along with some of the large western volcanoes of Isabela and Fernandina, Santiago is also volcanically active. It has many young flows and cones, particularly along the south, west, and east coasts. They are visible from the summit of Darwin Volcano and from space. There were some historic eruptions over the last 2 centuries. Santiago actually consists of two coalesced volcanoes: a typical shield volcano on the northwest end and a low, linear fissure volcano on the southeast end.

THURSDAY GALAPAGOS CRUISE - QUITO

AM: HIGHLANDS, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

The trail to the highlands leaves from Bellavista and passes through the agricultural zone, near the National Park boundary, the Miconia Zone, and then goes to the Fern and Sedge zone. With clear weather (unpredictable) this area affords beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all year round.

Then transfer back to Baltra for embarkation on flight back to Quito.

Once you arrive in Quito you will be taken to Hakuna Matata Lodge (about 3 hour drive) in the Amazon forest of Ecuador where you will spend the night.

Today after breakfast you will do an amazing experience/activity in the jungle (please choose one of these activities in advance with your local operator):
- Jungle Hiking.
- Jungle horseback riding.
- Visit to a community.
- Chocolate tour.
- Rafting.
- Visit Amazoonico Rescue Center.

Note that only one of the activities can be done each day.

Today after breakfast you will do an amazing experience/activity in the jungle (please choose one of these activities in advance with your local operator):
- Jungle Hiking.
- Jungle horseback riding.
- Visit to a community.
- Chocolate tour.
- Rafting.
- Visit Amazoonico Rescue Center.

Note that only one of the activities can be done each day.

If you'd like to add an additional night or two at the lodge, just let us know we'll be happy to customize your trip!

Napo Province– Home, Private Car Transfer

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home with a lifetime of memories