Ecuador & Galapagos Cruises

Uncover some of South America's treasures on this incredible tour of Ecuador and the Galapagos. From vibrant capital city Quito to the thriving wildlife of the islands, you'll uncover beautifully contrasting landscapes on your journey of discovery.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
•   Stay in modern Guayaquil
•   Discover Cuenca's colonial charms
•   Stroll historical Quito's winding cobbled streets
•   Experience the unspoilt beauty of the Galapagos Islands
•   Visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre

DEPARTURES
•   Fortnightly on Thursdays.

MEAL PLAN
•   Price includes breakfast daily and lunch and dinner on Days 7-11.

ACCOMMODATION
•   The hotels used for this itinerary are 4 star.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
•   A team of English-speaking naturalists accompanies the cruise, leading shore excursions and offering briefings on the islands and activities.
•   Assistance is provided by local representatives in other destinations.
•   Many of the beach landings involve getting your feet wet.
•   The itinerary includes time at altitude, so guests will need a healthy constitution.
•   The cruise may not be suitable for those with mobility problems.

DAY 1: HEATHROW TO GUAYAQUIL
Fly British Airways from Heathrow to Madrid, then on with LAN Airlines to Guayaquil. Check in at Hilton Colon, Guayaquil for one night in a Deluxe room. This cosmopolitan city boasts sophisticated shops, an array of restaurants and a pretty waterfront.

DAY 2 – GUAYAQUIL TO CUENCA
Fly to the World Heritage listed city of Cuenca in the Andean highlands for two nights at Hotel Santa Lucia in a Standard room.

DAY 3 – CUENCA
Embark on a tour of this colonial city, seeing San Sebastian Plaza, a vibrant artisans’ market, the Museum of Modern Art and Plaza San Francisco. Next visit a flower market in the small plaza that sits before the stone entrance to the church of El Carmen de la Asunción. Stroll to the main square, which is lined by the blue-domed Cathedral, Court of Justice, Municipal Palace, Governor’s Palace and Church of El Sagrario.

Visit the ruins of Todos Santos to see Cañari, Incan and Spanish colonial ruins. Drive along the Tomebamba River, where you’ll get a glimpse of local life as you see overhanging houses and laundry laid out to dry on the banks. Enjoy a fantastic view of the city from the Hill of Turi.

DAY 4 – CUENCA TO QUITO
Fly north to Ecuador’s capital Quito for three nights at Hilton Colon, Quito in a Deluxe room. While here, visit the beautifully preserved old town, seeing Independence Plaza, the Jesuit Church and the monastery of San Francisco.

DAY 7 – QUITO TO GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (NORTH SEYMOUR)
Fly to the small island of Baltra in the volcanic Galapagos and board the MV Santa Cruz for a five-night cruise. The Galapagos Islands straddle the equator where three oceanic currents meet, resulting in a rich marine environment.

Your first stop is North Seymour Island. Stroll along the island’s coast and interior, looking out for sea lions, marine iguanas and birds including blue-footed boobies, frigates and swallow-tailed gulls. You’ll have the chance to snorkel or further explore the coast.

DAY 8 – GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (ISABELA & FERNANDINA)
Disembark on Isabela at historic Albemarle Point, named after a 17th-century English duke. Home to a WWII radar station installed by American troops, the area hosts the Galapagos’ largest population of marine iguanas and is the only place in the Northern Hemisphere to see penguins. Also look out for flightless cormorants, as well as great blue herons and brown pelicans nesting among the mangroves.

This afternoon visit Fernandina, the youngest of the Galapagos. Walk a mile over dark lava and explore Punta Espinoza, where the barren land starkly contrasts with a plethora of wildlife. No mammals have been introduced on the island, which boasts the highest density of marine iguanas along with sea lions, hawks, penguins, sally light foot crabs and flightless cormorants.

DAY 9 – GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (ISABELA)
This morning visit Urbina Bay, which sits at the foot of Alcedo and Darwin Volcanoes in the west of Isabela. Embark on a hike spotting corals and shells and keep your eyes peeled for finches, Galapagos land iguanas and possibly a giant tortoise. Then snorkel along the shoreline of this stunning cove, hopefully seeing flightless cormorants and penguins.

After lunch visit Tagus Cove. Once a popular anchorage for pirates and whalers, you can still see graffiti on the walls here. See fragrant palo santo trees, leafless white-barked trees that look dead until spring. Hike uphill to the back of Darwin Crater, which is filled with salt water, for spectacular views. Enjoy the chance to swim, snorkel or kayak.

DAY 10 – GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (SANTA CRUZ)
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, which pioneers scientific research and conservation. See the giant tortoise pens that house some ‘celebrity’ tortoises such as Lonesome George. The giant prickly-pear cactus forest hosts numerous land birds.

This afternoon explore the island’s highlands, seeing scalesia forest and twin pit craters Los Gemelos. If the weather is nice you may be able to visit giant tortoises in the wild from December to mid-April.

DAY 11 – GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (FLOREANA)
Visit historic Post Office Bay, where post is left and hand-delivered to guests on other vessels in a unique tradition that dates back 200 years. From here, explore Floreana’s north shore along narrow channels teeming with rays, turtles and sea lions. Walk up to a volcanic cone and reach the Baroness’s Tower for views of the island’s entire northern shore.

After lunch stop at Cormorant Point’s olivine-crystal beach. Embark on a walk that takes you past a brackish water lagoon home to birdlife including flamingos and herons and a white-sand beach where sea turtles nest at night from December to May. At Champion Islet you’ll have the chance to snorkel or take a glass-bottom boat ride.

DAY 12 – GALAPAGOS ISLANDS TO GUAYAQUIL
Sail to Baltra and fly back to the mainland for one night at Hilton Colon, Guayaquil in a Deluxe room.

DAY 13 – GUAYAQUIL TO HEATHROW
Fly LAN Airlines overnight to Madrid and onwards with British Airways to Heathrow.

YOUR CHOICE OF EXTENSIONS

AMAZON (PRE-TOUR)
DAY 1 – HEATHROW TO QUITO
Fly LAN Airlines from Heathrow to Quito via Madrid. Check in at Hilton Colon, Quito for one night in a Deluxe room.

DAY 2 – QUITO TO COCA
Fly from Quito to Coca. Transfer to Sacha Lodge, nestled in a 5000-acre private ecological reserve in Ecuador's Amazon, for three nights in a Standard room.

DAY 3 – COCA TO GUAYAQUIL
Transfer back to the airport and fly LAN Ecuador from Coca to Guayaquil for the rest of your tour.

SANTA CRUZ, GALAPAGOS
DAY 12 – GALAPAGOS TO SANTA CRUZ
After your cruise sail to Baltra Island and take the ferry to Santa Cruz. Check in at Finch Bay Eco Hotel for three nights in a Gardenview room. This environmentally friendly hotel sits on a stunning beach in Puerto Ayora.

DAY 15 – SANTA CRUZ TO GUAYAQUIL
Take the ferry back to Baltra and fly to Guayaquil for one night at Hilton Colon, Guayaquil in a Deluxe room.

DAY 16 – GUAYAQUIL TO HEATHROW
Fly LAN Airlines from Guayaquil to Madrid, then on with British Airways to Heathrow, arriving the next day.

PERU
DAY 12 – GALAPAGOS TO GUAYAQUIL
Fly from the Galapagos Islands to Guayaquil and check in at Hilton Colon, Guayaquil for one night in a Deluxe room.

DAY 13 – GUAYAQUIL TO LIMA
Fly LAN Airlines from Guayaquil to Lima and check in at Casa Andina Private Collection, Lima for two nights in a Standard room.

DAY 15 – LIMA TO CUZCO
Fly from Lima to Cuzco and check in at Casa Andina Private Collection, Cuzco for three nights in a Superior room.

DAY 18 – CUZCO TO LIMA
Fly back to Lima for one more night at Casa Andina Private Collection, Lima in a Standard room.

DAY 19 – LIMA TO HEATHROW
Fly LAN Airlines from Lima to Madrid, then on with British Airways to Heathrow, arriving the next day.