Itinerary Details
1 Arrive Quito, Ecuador
High atop El Panecillo hill, a tall statue of the Virgin Mary smiles over Quito’s gleaming baroque churches and huddled roofs. Between cobbled squares and steep hillsides, Ecuador’s traditional mountain culture still thrives here: pre-Columbian treasures fill the city’s museums, chefs put modern spins on ancient ingredients and venerable market traders are always ready with the perfect, sage-scented remedy.
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2 Quito | Colonial Old Town
Step into the beautiful, beating heart of Quito on a guided tour of the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this grid of bustling, steep streets, see some of its most iconic sights, including the opulent Compañía de Jesus Church, whose walls groan with over seven tons of gold.
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3 San Cristóbal Island | Gateway To Adventure
After a short flight to San Cristóbal’s main port, hop aboard a Zodiac for the ride to your adventure yacht anchored in the bay. Sail to León Dormido (Sleeping Lion), a remnant of a tuff cone formation rising some 500 feet from the ocean. A variety of species inhabit its cliffs, including the blue-footed booby, Nazca booby and frigatebird.
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4 Genovesa Island | Prince Philip’s Steps
On Genovesa Island, visit Prince Philip’s Steps, one of the islands’ premier birdwatching destinations. Then, explore the cliffs by kayak, stand-up paddleboard, or on a deep-water snorkeling excursion from the Zodiac. Arrive at Darwin Bay, a coral sand beach where lava gulls gather by tide pools. Wade out to swim or snorkel with playful sea lions in these warmer northern-route waters.
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5 Santa Cruz Island | Bachas Beach & Dragon Hill
Drop anchor on the northern side of Santa Cruz Island to visit Playa Las Bachas (Bachas Beach), home to bright pink flamingos that feed on the interior lagoons. Stroll along its long, glittering white sand beach. Then, step ashore at Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) and climb its slopes to take in magnificent views of the bay.
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6 Isabela Island | Punta Vicente Roca & Urbina Bay
Explore the waters off Punta Vicente Roca, where you might snorkel with penguins diving playfully in the water. Then, sail through the Bolivar Channel to watch for whales and perhaps spot dolphins riding the bow wave of your vessel. Disembark at Isabela Island’s Urbina Bay, home to four miles of dry seabed exposed by a volcanic eruption. After a wet landing on the beach, explore the remnants of coral skeletons, some of them waist-high. Bound to catch the eye are the Galápagos land iguana, marine iguana, giant tortoise, and other distinctive species that call this island home.
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7 Fernandina Island | Punta Espinoza & Tagus Cove
Arrive at Fernandina Island’s Punta Espinoza to encounter its sea lion colonies and other diverse species. Here, resident bulls carefully guard their harems and keep lookout for sharks that threaten the colony’s pups. Glimpse some of the hundreds of marine iguanas that share this rocky domain, the largest colony in the Galápagos, as they warm themselves along the rugged shoreline. At Isabela Island’s Tagus Cove, a former anchorage of pirates and whalers, explore by Zodiac or kayak in search of Galápagos penguins, boobies, pelicans and other seabirds.
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8 Rábida Island | Red Sands & Saltwater Lagoons
Today, the dark red sands of Rábida Island welcome you ashore. Hike a trail beside the shore, keeping watch for marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwin’s finch. Continue to a saltwater lagoon where migrating greater flamingos flock. Then, snorkel among a large colony of playful, inquisitive sea lions.
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9 Santa Cruz Island | Into The Highlands
Go ashore at Ayora Point and ascend through the seven vegetation zones of the Galápagos as you make your way into the highlands. Next, visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center to a vital resource harboring various species of giant tortoise, followed by a stop at the Charles Darwin Research Station, where you learn about ongoing conservation efforts. At Rancho Primicias, a privately owned farm in the highlands, encounter the stately giant tortoise in its natural habitat.
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10 San Cristóbal Island | A Parting Glimpse
Bid your Captain and crew farewell as you disembark your yacht for a final time on San Cristóbal. The local Interpretation Center reveals more about the island’s anthropology and natural history.
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11 Depart Quito
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