Galapagos Land-based: 10 days

Day 1 - Arrive Quito        
Surrounded by forested mountains and volcanoes at 9,350 feet above sea level, Quito is the second highest capital city in Latin America.  Despite the fact that it’s only 15 miles south of the equator, Quito’s elevation gives it a wonderful spring-like climate year-round.  Upon evening arrival into Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport, you will be met by Andean Discovery staff and transferred to your hotel to relax after the longs flights.
 
Day 2 - City Tour Quito / Equator Line
After breakfast, you will be met by your Andean Discovery guide and vehicle and proceed on a tour of Colonial Quito’s cobbled streets, whitewashed adobe walls, and ornate balconies. Visit sites such as the La Compañia Church, where adornments and gold altars can be appreciated, and the Church of San Francisco, which was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century.  This afternoon transfer to the Middle of the World monument, zero degrees latitude, where you can straddle the equator putting one foot in each hemisphere.  A visit to the Intiñan museum will allow you to conduct experiments and test out the affect of gravity at zero degrees latitude.  You can also see if it is possible to balance an egg on the equator.  Late this afternoon you will be transferred to your hotel in Quito.  After a briefing about the Galápagos excursion, enjoy dinner on your own.

Day 3 - Quito / San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos      
This morning you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to San Cristóbal Island, the easternmost island in the Galápagos, and ranked among the older group of islands.  This island is also where Charles Darwin first went ashore in September 1835.  Upon arrival, you will be met by your Galápagos Naturalist Guide and transferred to a local beach-front restaurant for lunch.  After a kayak briefing, set out in our 16-foot, sit-on-top sea kayaks, and explore the coastline, teeming with wildlife.  Be prepared to get a little wet as playful sea lions are sure to give you a splash.  Observe  Frigate birds and Brown Pelicans soar overhead or Blue-footed Boobies dive like torpedos into the ocean at 60 miles per hour.  On the shore, Sally lightfoot crabs scavenge on the wave-washed lava.  Maneuver your two-person kayak along the rocky coast exploring small caves and bays that motorized vessels cannot.  Continue northwest until you reach the turquoise-blue waters of Las Tijeretas Bay.  After a paddle around Las Tijeretas, make your way back to the beach and relax.  The slow pace of the kayaks gliding over the water and the freedom to navigate on your own makes this afternoon in Galápagos a special experience, and a great way to begin your visit to the Islands.  Later this afternoon, transfer to our Galapagos Private Camp in the highlands of San Cristóbal, which boasts spectacular views of the coastline.   Enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner, campfire, and sunset off the coast.  Your Galápagos Naturalist Guide will lead a discussion about today’s sightings and brief the group about tomorrow’s activities.

Day 4 - San Cristóbal Island / Floreana Island / Isabela Island, Galapagos 
After breakfast learn about Andean Discovery's Native & Endemic Plant Garden and opt to help us expand it by planting a few local species.  Later this morning, transfer to the port where you will board a small motorboat for a day of snorkeling, swimming, and exploration along the northwest coast of San Cristóbal Island.   The first stop is Lobos Island for a chance to swim with sea lions, sea turtles, and observe various tropical fish.  After a box lunch, continue on to Kicker Rock (known in Spanish as Leon Dormido), a giant rock outcropping, which is the jagged remains of a vertical tuff cone.   The flanks of Kicker Rock are a notorious nesting place for seabirds such as Masked Boobies and Frigate birds.  This is a great place to snorkel with friendly Galápagos sharks, sea turtles, and spotted eagle rays.  Late afternoon arrival at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. This small attractive port is nestled along a crescent-shaped bay and is the provincial capital of the Galápagos Islands. Enjoy a little time to stroll the port on your own and then transfer back to our camp in the highlands.  Your Galápagos Naturalist Guide will brief the group about tomorrow’s activities.

Day 5 - San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos   
After an early rise and breakfast, board a small, outboard motorboat and navigate approximately 2 hours to Floreana Island, the first island that saw a permanent settlement of Ecuadorians in 1832.  Floreana has the most intriguing human history with visitors including pirates, prisoners, and whalers.  Today a resident human population of 100 habitants accompanies the local wildlife.  Before disembarking on Floreana, stop for a snorkel at nearby Champion Island, one of the best snorkel sites in Galapagos.  Keep your eyes out for white-tipped sharks, rays, sea turtles, sea lions, and countless tropical fish.  Continue on to Floreana, disembark at Puerto Velasco Ibarra, and have lunch in a local restaurant.  After lunch, transfer a few kilometers inland to explore the humid zone, which is home to the Medium Tree Finch (endemic to Floreana Island), 300-pound Galapagos tortoises, and caves that provided shelter for pirates and the island’s first settlers.  After a swim at Playa Negra, board the boat and continue 2 hours northwest to Isabela Island, the largest island in the Galápagos Archipelago and perhaps the most biologically and geologically diverse.  After checking in at Casa de Marita, a charming beachfront hotel, your Galapagos Naturalist Guide will lead a discussion about today’s sightings and brief the group about tomorrow’s activities.

Day 6 - Isabela Island, Galapagos
Morning transfer to the highlands of Isabela where you will hike up the flanks of Sierra Negra Volcano, one of Ecuador’s most active volcanos, which last erupted on October 22, 2006.  As you approach the crater rim, located at an elevation of nearly 4,890 feet above sea level, take in spectacular views of the 30-square mile caldera.  The crater’s steaming fumaroles, charcoal-black landscape, and petrified lava formations are a testament to its recent eruption and ongoing volcanic activity.  If you’re lucky, you may spot the Galápagos Dove.  With its distinct blue eyes and red feet, this beautiful dove is only found in Galápagos.  Enjoy a picnic lunch before descending the volcano and returning to Puerto Villamil.  Late this afternoon relax on the beach or optional snorkeling with sea lions at Concha de Perla.  Your Galápagos Guide will brief the group about tomorrow’s activities.

Day 7 - Isabela Island, Galapagos 
This morning you’ll take a one-hour boat trip southwest along the coast of Isabela to visit the marine sanctuary, Los Túneles, a unique network of channels, arches, and tunnels formed by a series of lava flows.  Enjoy a walk over the arches and snorkeling in this spectacular site, which is home to numerous aquatic animals such as marine turtles, sharks, and Blue-footed Boobies.  With calm and clear blue waters, and abundance of marine wildlife, many visitors describe this site as a “natural aquarium”.  Return to Puerto Villamil for lunch.  This afternoon board a small dinghy and and travel across the bay to Las Tintoreras (“whitetip sharks”) for a short hike, and observation of marine iguanas, penguins, sharks, sea lions, and Sally Lightfoot crabs.

Day 8 - Isabela Island / Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos
After breakfast, depart by boat for Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island. Arrive in Puerto Ayora, the largest port town in Galápagos, have lunch and check-in at your hotel.  This afternoon you’ll hike through a dry coastal forest and white sand beach to Tortuga Bay, a secluded bay surrounded by mangrove forest.  Keep your eyes out for shore birds like Whimbrels, Ruddy Turnstones, Great Blue Herons and endemic Lava Gulls.  Optional visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to visit Lonesome George, the last remaining giant tortoise of its kind. 

Day 9 - Santa Cruz Island / Baltra Island Airport / Quito
After breakfast, you will drive to the highlands of Santa Cruz where you will see wild Galápagos Tortoises.  These gigantic creatures weigh up to 500 pounds and are scattered all over the highlands.  Arrive at the airport in Baltra Island in time for your mid-morning flight to Quito.  A light lunch will be served on the flight.  Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met by Andean Discovery staff and transferred to your hotel.  Afternoon for last minute shopping.  This evening enjoy a farewell dinner.

Day 10 - Depart    
This morning you will be transferred to the airport in time for your international flight.