The Galapagos & Ecuador Adventure
- Sailing on a Luxury Class Trimaran

Welcome to Ecuador! You will be met at Quito Airport and transferred to the hotel.

The rest of the day will be spent at leisure, allowing some time to acclimatise and soak up the atmosphere of Quito.

After breakfast, we will enjoy an orientation tour of Ecuador’s capital city, Quito. We will walk down quaint cobbled streets, lined with beautiful brightly-coloured colonial houses, whose balconies are dressed in flowers. The town is watched over by the winged Virgin of Quito, sitting up on the Panecillo. We will walk down streets previously walked by the Incan people on their way to the Panecillo, which is thought to have been a centre of worship to the Sun and Moon Gods. When the Spanish arrived, they transformed this Incan avenue into a place heavily influenced by Christianity. Seven crosses were erected along the length of the avenue in an effort to make the indigenous people believe in their god. We will walk along this street to the Plaza de la Independencia. On the square’s southern side lies one of the oldest cathedrals in South America, and the modern sacred heart of the city – Quito Cathedral, an impressive white-walled building with green-glazed ceramic domes. The symmetrical Palacio de Carondelet, the Presidential Palace, runs along the western side of the square. Its balconies were a gift from the French Government and are originally from the Tuilleries Palace in Paris. We will also take a look in at the ancestral interior courtyard of the Centro Cultural Metropolitano, which has over the years been used as a tobacco factory, prison and university. Walking a little further, we come to the National Library and the incomparable Iglesia de la Compañia, a Jesuit church overflowing with Baroque art. The gold that covers its interior hides the church’s tragic history, of the fire that devastated it and the earthquake that shook it.

Afterwards, we will head north-west out of Quito where the landscape becomes dry and sandy. In this desert-like place, we will pass the small towns of San Antonio de Pichincha and Calacalí. As we drive along you will notice that the vegetation becomes denser and the leaves of the plants and trees become larger until we reach the Mitad del Mundo - the middle of the earth - as calculated and measured by the French Geodesics Mission. Ecuador literally means Equator and was named after its famous feature.

Today we will visit the Otovalo handcraft market, situated in the suburbs of Quito. The indigenous Otavaleños are famous for their weaving, usually with wool. You will also find stalls selling textiles, tagua nut jewellery, musical instruments, dream catchers, leather goods and much more, all traditional handicrafts of the local people. We will also visit a local rose farm before lunch in a local restaurant. On our way back to Quito we will stop at the Quitsato Sundial – the first and only Monument of the Middle of the world, that is exactly on the Equatorial Line or Zero Parallel.

For chocolate lovers our first stop this morning will be one you’ll enjoy – a chocolate tour showing you the process from tree to tastebuds!

Then we’ll head on our big adventure for the day to the town of Mindo. The Mindo Cloud Forest has more than 400 species of bird and the second-highest number of endemic species of butterfly in the country. A team of professional and prepared guides will take us on an amazing journey above the cloud forest on a series of zip lines. Harness up and enjoy the forest from above and the adrenalin of flying through the air with the birds.

We will have lunch in at the butterfly farm, where we can see a spectacular variety of butterflies in different phases of their life cycle. From here we can take a short walk into the cloud forest, keeping an eye out for exotic birds and mammals amongst the lush vegetation and listening to the gentle background hum of life in this extremely diverse place. For great viewing of hummingbirds and other wildlife, we will stop at the Alambi Reserve on our way back to Quito.

Today we fly from Quito on mainland Ecaudor to San Cristobal, in the Galapagos Islands. Lying some 1,000km off the western coast, the islands are some of the most remote on the planet.

Upon arrival in the Galapagos Islands, after passing through immigration and baggage claim, we will be transferred to M/T Camila where we will be met by our crew. After a briefing and safety meeting with the guide and crew, we'll start our Galapagos adventure.

Our first stop on the cruise this afternoon will be Lobos Island, aptly named after the many sea lions that reside here resting and playing along the rocky shores. . It is also home to many different birds like pelicans, frigate birds and their nests, yellow warblers and more. Within the small channel the waters are very clear, making it easy to find sea turtles, sea lions, stingrays and perhaps even white-tipped sharks.
Kicker rock is one of the most extraordinary sites in the Galapagos Islands, made of two eroded volcanic cones that tower over the sea at about 104 meters in the middle of the open water. It is one of the best sites in Galapagos to see incredible underwater life.

Activities: Short hiking, swimming and snorkeling.
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Landing: Dry landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds, sally lightfoot crabs, frigate birds, Galapagos sharks, schools of tropical fish, stingrays.

AM: San Cristobal - Pitt Point
When arriving at Pitt Point, it will feel almost like you’ve landed on an extraterrestrial planet. You can see the many different developments over time of how volcanic activity formed this island. A hike up to the top beholds amazing views of the surrounding waters. Watch out for blue-footed boobie nests on the ground and keep an eye out for the red-footed boobies nesting in the trees once you reach the top of the island.

Activities: Hiking and kayaking. Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult Landing: Wet landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds, sally lightfoot crabs, Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies.
What to Bring: Sturdy hiking shoes and walking sticks to aid on the uneven terrain.

PM: San Cristobal - Witch Hill
Passing by on a panga your guide and crew will show you amazing rock formations formed by the passing of time and erosion of the sea. You’ll finally arrive to a beautiful white sandy beach to spend the time swimming or basking in the sun. Frolic with sea lions who may swim by playfully or take a walk down the entire beach and back.

Activities: Panga ride, swimming and snorkeling.
Difficulty: Moderate
Landing: Dry landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds, sally lightfoot crabs.
What to Bring: Swimwear and/or sandals or shoes for both land and water.

AM: Española - Suarez Point

This is the only nesting site in the Galapagos where the Waved Albatross nests. They come back only once a year to meet the same mate, year after year. They spend the rest of the year at sea. Apart from these amazing birds are the Galapagos Hawks that can be seen and the amazing formations and blow hole on the other side of the island, reached by a hike.

Activities: Hike
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate Landing: Dry landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, marine iguanas, Galapagos hawk, waved albatross, red-billed tropic birds, various shorebirds, sally lightfoot crabs.
What to Bring: Sturdy hiking shoes and walking sticks to aid on uneven terrain.

PM: Española - Gardner Bay / Osborn Islet

Gardner Bay is an excellent place to see sea lions lounging on the beach while mockingbirds get up close to see if they can steal water or crumbs. Over time, the mockingbird must have been offered water or food from tourists and now they have no fear of walking on your things or landing very close to you. It is so important not to feed or touch the animals. It can disrupt their normal behaviors and threaten their future.

Activities: Walking on the beach and swimming.
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: Wet landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds, mockingbirds, stingrays, sea turtles.
What to Bring: Swimwear and footwear for walking in and out of the water.

AM: Santa Cruz - Bachas Beach

Bachas beach has beautiful green and blue waters that contrast along the surf of the black lava shores. In the air various shore birds fly searching for food. On the shore you can explore the sand dunes and find a salt water lagoon with greater pink flamingos.

Activities: Walking on the beach and swimming.
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: Wet landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds, mockingbirds, sea turtles, flamingos.

PM: Bartolome Island
This island is well known for its incredible remnants of volcano cones and distinct terrain such as Pinnacle Rock. A hike will lead you up to the top of a lookout point to see all of Sullivan Bay. You might be able to see lava lizards and various sea birds flying above.

Activities: Walk on the boardwalk, hike, snorkeling.
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: Dry and Wet are both possibilities
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds, lava lizards, frigate birds.

AM: Rabida Island

This visitor site is quite different from others as it has a very distinct and red fine gravel beach due to the iron content. Snorkeling can be done here with spectacular sights of tropical fish. Visitors like to walk along the beach taking in the sights and also visiting the black lagoon with pink flamingos.

Activities: Walking on the beach, swimming and snorkeling.
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: Wet landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds, pelican, manta rays, sea turtles, pink flamingos, lava lizards, Galapagos doves, blue-footed boobies.

PM: Santiago Island - Egas Port
This visitor site is also known as James Bay, it is home to Galapagos hawks, lava lizards and the trails lead to a coastline with gorgeous tide pools full of fauna. Fur seals, different from the common sea lions can also be seen here.

Activities: Walking on the beach, swimming and snorkeling.
Difficulty: Easy
Landing: Wet landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds, pelican, stingrays, sea turtles, fur seals, marine iguanas, lava lizards, Galapagos doves, blue-footed boobies.

AM: Genovesa - Darwin Bay
A white sand coral beach leads the way to a hiking trail through mangroves filled with many different species of land birds and other famous species like blue-footed and red-footed boobies and swallow tailed gulls. Towards the end of the hike are tidal pools where you can find sea lions swimming playfully and finally a spectacular view off a cliff.

Activities: Hike and/or snorkeling Difficulty: Easy/Moderate Landing: Wet landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds, red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, lava lizards.

PM: Genovesa - El Barranco
El Barranco is also known as Prince Philip’s Steps. It is an extraordinary site on the flatter area of the island in Darwin’s Bay. Be prepared to make your way up a rocky crevasse, then enjoy the easy trail to spectacular views. This is one of the few visitor sites where all three boobie species can be seen, as well as the short-eared owl.

Activities: Hike
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Landing: Dry landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, all three boobie species, short-eared owls, marine iguanas, Galapagos doves, storm petrels, finches, frigatebirds.

AM: Mosquera Islet
Located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour lays a reef made of coral. This was the result of volcanic uprising making the islet only 160 meters across at its narrowest width. It has one of the largest populations of sea lions and is home to many shorebirds. On occasion, orcas can be seen hunting off the shoreline.

Activities: Panga ride Difficulty: Easy Landing: No landing
Possible Wildlife: Sea lions, various shorebirds and seabirds, frigatebirds, orcas.

PM: Santa Cruz: Highlands
The highlands are located in the northern part of Santa Cruz and can reach elevations up to 1500 meters. This area is rich with hills, ferns, volcanoes and wildlife. A great contrast to the molten lava harden beaches and rocky areas of other islands already seen. It is home to giant tortoises, mockingbirds, finches and many other species.

Activities: Hike Difficulty: Moderate Landing: Dry landing
Possible Wildlife: Galapagos tortoises, finches, mockingbirds, lava lizards, pintail ducks, other shorebirds.

AM: North Seymour
Explore the rocky coast of North Seymour passing colonies of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds. The island was formed by a series of submarine lava expelled from the ocean floor, carrying with it layers of sediment uplifted by the tectonic activity. The island is mostly characterized by the arid vegetation.

Activities: Hike, snorkel, panga ride
Difficulty: Moderate
Landing: Dry landing
Possible Wildlife: Marine iguanas, frigatebirds, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, finches, land iguanas.

After this final visit, we will be transferred to Baltra Airport in time for our flight from the Galapagos Islands back to the mainland. Upon arrival in Quito, we will transfer to the hotel and enjoy our farewell dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred from the hotel to meet your departure flights home.

Or why not extend your stay in South America with a few days in Peru to see Machu Picchu? Our short post-tour extension takes in the best of Peru and is a great way to top off your time discovering South America.