The Charles Darwin Expedition (LFCDE-11)

	Duration: 11 days Departing: Daily
	Itinerary Day 1 Transfer In Day 2 Historical City Tour in Quito Day 3 - 10 The Galapagos Island Day 11 Transfer out
	Package Descriptions

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Upon your arrival to the capital of Ecuador, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your charming hotel in Quito, and you will receive your full itinerary and information about Ecuador and your trip.

Day 2 - Quito City Tour

After breakfast, your will visit “Quito” the most beautiful and colonial city in South America declared by UNESCO part of the Cultural Heritage of mankind. Your visit starts in Ecuador’s House of Congress where you will appreciate its stone-carved facade depicting scenes from Ecuadorian history. Explore the Independence square, with the presidential palace, the city hall, the Sagrario church and the Cathedral. Visit San Francisco church and museum-monastery (1535), San Agustin monastery and the finest example of baroque art in America, La Compañía church (1605) and its breathtaking gilded altars. Visit the art & crafts gallery of Tianguez and finally, drive up to the Panecillo hill to have a spectacular view of Quito and to see the only winged Virgin in South America. Accommodation (B)

Day 3 - Galapagos Islands (Santa Cruz Island)

After an early breakfast you will transfer to the airport to take your flight to the magical Galapagos Islands. Here you will board your exclusive yacht for a small group Galapagos experience.

On your first day in Galapagos you will visit Santa Cruz Island, where you will walk around and observe the Twin pit crater and Cerro Chato where you can admire the Giant tortoises that gave name to these islands. After Lunch at the highlands of Santa Cruz you will visit the famous Charles Darwin Station, where you can admire the famous giant tortoises, and other land birds. Accommodation (B – L – D)

Day 4 (Española Island)

Today you will disembark at Suarez Point. This is one of the most important sites for bird watching. Observe masked & blue-footed boobies, hood mocking birds, red-billed tropical birds, Galapagos doves, hawks, swallow-tailed gulls and the largest colony of waved albatross. You will also spot large colonies of marine iguanas and sea lions. Finally you will visit the blowhole where water shoots into the air at almost 75-ft. Lunch will be served on board.

In the afternoon you will visit Gardner Bay, a special site for snorkeling and swimming, with a white coral beach with a large colony of sea lions. You will also have the opportunity to observe Galapagos hawks, American oystercatchers, Galapagos doves, and hood mocking birds, 3 species of Darwin finches, yellow warblers, lava lizards and marine iguanas. Accommodation (B – L – D)

Day 5 (San Cristobal Islands)

In the morning you will visit Ochoa Beach at Lobos Island a nice place where you can swim or practice snorkeling. After this visit you will arrive to San Cristobal Island, here you will visit the interpretation center where you can learn about the natural and human history of the islands. Later, you will have free time at the island for shopping or walking around.

In the afternoon the expedition take you to Punta Pitt where you can hike to the top of this point. This is an excellent opportunity to observe important nesting sites for many sea birds including blue & red footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls and storm petrels. On board the yacht you will observe the Kicked rock a vertical tuff cone formation rising almost 500-ft. Accommodation (B – L – D)

Day 6 (North Seymour Island)

After a dry landing you will encountered by swallow-tailed gulls and sea lions that will be found bodysurfing, it also a special nesting site for blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. You will also spot marine and land iguanas.

In the afternoon you will visit Bartolome Island where you can climb up a wooden staircase to the summit for a stunning view of two bays. In your way to the top you will have the possibility of admire marine iguanas and lava lizards. Among the flora you may find red mangroves and tiquilla cacti.
Later you can enjoy a beautiful beach where you can practice snorkeling and see Galapagos Penguins and sea lions. Accommodation (B – L – D)

Day 7 (Isabela island)

Today you will arrive to Urbina Bay, located at the foothills of volcanoes Alcedo and Darwin. After a medium walk you will admire large and colorful land iguanas, there will be a good possibility to observe giant tortoises in the wild and flightless cormorants, blue footed boobies, Galapagos penguins and large marine iguanas. Lunch will be served on board.

In the afternoon you will visit Tagus Cove a natural harbor where centuries ago pirates left their ship’s name painted on the rocks. The trail will take you to Darwin´s salt-water lagoon for an excellent view. After this visit, you will take a dinghy ride to see marine life like Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, boobies, sally light foot crabs and pelicans. Accommodation (B – L – D)

Day 8 (Fernandina & Isabela Island)

In the morning you will visit Espinosa Point in Fernandina Island the youngest island in the archipelago, here you will observe marine iguanas sharing space with sally light foot crabs, also to be found flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, sea lions and mangroves extending into the sea.
Lunch will be served on board.

In your afternoon visit you will arrive to Vicente Roca Point where you will hike to the top of the volcano Ecuador for a stunning view. You can observe boobies, gulls and sea lions. This is a good opportunity to go snorkeling. Accommodation (B – L – D)

Day 9 (Santiago Island)

Discover the dark sand beach at Puerto Egas in Santiago Island. Here you will have a medium walk to find a grat spot for observing hunting herons, blue herons, oystercatchers and yellow-crowed night herons. There is a colony of fur-sea lions swimming in deep pools of cool water called grotos. Lunch will be served on board.

In the afternoon visit you will arrive to Rabida in Santiago Island. With its red dark sand beaches, this point is considered the geographical center of Galapagos because it has the most diversified volcanic rocks in all of the islands. Here a short trail leads to a salt-water lagoon, where you will find small colonies of flamingos. Also to be found are boobies and 9 species of Darwin’s finches. Accommodation (B – L – D)

Day 10 (Santa Cruz Island)

Your last day in Galapagos you will visit Santa Cruz Island where the famous Charles Darwin Station is housed. Here you can admire the famous giant tortoises, and other land birds. Before you leave the islands you will walk around the island and observe the Twin pit crater and Cerro Chato where you can admire the Giant tortoises that gave name to these islands. After Lunch at the highlands of Santa Cruz you will transfer to Baltra Island for your flight back to Quito. Accommodation (B – L)

Day 11

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home (B)