Galápagos Uncovered – An Island-Hopping Adventure

Our South American adventure begins today as we depart the USA for Quito, Ecuador, gateway to one of the world’s most extraordinary natural destinations. Sit back, relax and get ready for an incredible journey filled with wildlife, volcanic landscapes, island culture and experiences found nowhere else on Earth.

Meals: In Flight

Welcome to Ecuador! Upon arrival at Quito International Airport, we’ll be met by our local representative and transferred to our hotel near the airport.

Sitting high in the Andes at approximately 7,800 feet above sea level, Quito is one of the world’s highest capital cities. We’ll keep today intentionally easy, giving us time to rest, hydrate and adjust to the altitude after our international journey.

Tonight, get a good night’s sleep—the Galápagos Islands are waiting! Overnight: Quito

Today is the day—we’re off to the Galápagos Islands! We’ll transfer to the airport for our flight to Baltra Island, where our Galápagos adventure officially begins. After meeting our naturalist guide, we’ll cross the narrow Itabaca Canal onto Santa Cruz Island and make our way into the lush highlands.

Our first wildlife experience couldn’t be more fitting. Following lunch, we’ll enjoy an easy walk through the natural habitat of the legendary Galápagos giant tortoise. Seeing these extraordinary animals roaming freely is one of those wonderful “we really are in the Galápagos!” moments.

We’ll also watch for some of the island’s distinctive birdlife, including Darwin’s finches and perhaps the colorful vermilion flycatcher, before continuing to the seaside town of Puerto Ayora. The remainder of the day is ours to settle in and enjoy our first evening on the islands. Overnight: Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island

Adventure calls early this morning as we board the first-class Galápagos Element Wind yacht for our approximately two-hour journey to historic Floreana Island.

Keep your eyes on the water along the way. Marine turtles, rays, seabirds and even pods of dolphins may accompany our journey. Upon arriving at Puerto Velasco Ibarra, don’t be surprised if some of the local sea lions and marine iguanas are already waiting to welcome us!

We’ll climb aboard a traditional island chiva for a scenic ride into Floreana’s highlands. As we gain elevation, the dry coastal landscape gives way to lush vegetation and tropical crops such as coffee, cacao and bananas.

We’ll then walk to Asilo de la Paz—Peace Asylum, where we’ll discover one of the fascinating chapters of Floreana’s colorful human history. German settlers arrived here in the early 20th century, and we’ll see the caves once used by the Wittmer family as their first island home.

Following lunch in a small local restaurant, we’ll enjoy something especially meaningful—a visit with teachers and children at a local school, giving us a glimpse into everyday life in this wonderfully remote corner of the world.

Later this afternoon, we’ll return to our yacht and continue across the sea to beautiful Isabela Island, arriving around 5:00 PM. Overnight: Isabela Island

Today delivers another wonderful combination of land and sea. We’ll begin at Isabela’s Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, where we’ll learn about conservation efforts and see tortoises of different ages and sizes. Our walk continues into Los Humedales—the Wetlands, an important habitat where we may spot flamingos and a variety of other island birdlife.

After returning for lunch, we’ll head out to Las Tintoreras, a collection of small volcanic islets surrounded by the beautiful waters of Isabela Bay. Colonies of marine iguanas and sea lions make their homes here, while white-tip reef sharks can often be seen resting in the shallow channels.

Then we’ll have the opportunity to slip into the water ourselves for a Galápagos snorkeling adventure. Colorful schools of fish, sea lions, sharks and perhaps even Galápagos penguins may share the water with us! Afterward, we’ll return to our hotel with free time to enjoy Isabela’s gorgeous beach and laid-back island atmosphere. Overnight: Isabela Island

This morning we’re trading the sea for one of the Galápagos Islands’ most dramatic volcanic landscapes. We’ll travel from Puerto Villamil toward Sierra Negra Volcano, where we’ll begin an approximately one- to one-and-a-half-hour walk toward the rim of its enormous caldera. The scale is impressive, with sweeping views across the volcanic landscape and evidence of the lava flows from Sierra Negra’s 2018 eruption.

It’s an incredible reminder that these seemingly timeless islands are geologically young—and still very much being shaped by volcanic forces.

We’ll return to Puerto Villamil for lunch followed by some free time to enjoy Isabela’s sandy beach.

At approximately 2:00 PM, we’ll board our yacht for the three-hour journey back to Santa Cruz Island. Along the way we’ll navigate close to Tortuga Island, watching the steep cliffs for blue-footed boobies, tropical birds, masked boobies and perhaps sea lions.

We’ll arrive in Puerto Ayora before sunset and transfer to our hotel for the evening. Overnight: Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island

Today we’ll discover another side of Santa Cruz as we explore both its volcanic highlands and the lives of the people who call the Galápagos home.

Our morning begins at Cerro Mesa, where a short walk through the distinctive Scalesia forest leads us toward the rim of a giant volcanic crater formed by the collapse of an empty magma chamber. Along the way, we’ll keep watch for Galápagos doves, Darwin’s finches and perhaps even a short-eared owl.

Next we’ll visit El Trapiche, where we’ll step away from wildlife for a fascinating look at the cultural traditions of the islands. We’ll learn about traditional distilling techniques and then spend time with a local Galápagos family.

Our host is also an artisan, giving us a chance to see traditional woodworking and ceramic skills firsthand. We’ll finish our visit with a light lunch featuring ceviche, a favorite dish of coastal Ecuador.

Back in Puerto Ayora, we’ll have some free time for last-minute shopping and exploring before gathering this evening for a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

What a wonderful way to celebrate our Galápagos adventure together! Overnight: Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island

After breakfast, we’ll say goodbye to the islands that have given us so many incredible experiences. Our private transportation takes us across Santa Cruz to the Itabaca Canal, where we’ll cross by ferry and continue by airport bus to Baltra Airport. Our Galápagos guide will assist with check-in before we board our flight back to mainland Ecuador.

Upon arrival in Quito, we’ll be welcomed by our local guide and transferred to our hotel. Dinner is included tonight, and we’ll enjoy a relaxing evening before one final day of discovery. Overnight: Quito

We have one more adventure before heading home! After breakfast, we’ll set out to explore historic Quito, beginning in its beautiful colonial center. We’ll walk through Independence Square, see the Government Palace and visit La Compañía Church, considered one of Latin America’s outstanding examples of Baroque architecture. We’ll also visit historic San Francisco Church, part of one of the oldest and largest religious complexes in South America.

Then we’re off to one of Ecuador’s most famous attractions—the Middle of the World! Here we’ll have the fun opportunity to stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere.

Following a special farewell lunch, we’ll visit the Intiñan Museum, where exhibits and demonstrations explore the fascinating science and geography associated with the equator.

We’ll return to our hotel for time to rest and freshen up before transferring to the airport for our international flights home.