Day-1. DEPARTURE CITY – QUITO: Fly to Quito. Transfer to your centrally located hotel and after a short break, join your tour director on a walking tour of the city.

Day-2. QUITO – GALAPAGOS – CRUISE: Fly to the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival first, visit Darwin Station. Then board your boat and cruise to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to visit the Interpretation Center. Hundreds of frigate birds nest there. Continue to Isla Lobos, with a large colony of sea lions and the best place for snorkeling.

Day-3. CRUISE – GALAPAGOS – Espanola Hood Island: Visit Espanola the breeding site off waved albatrosses. In Punta Suarez, view sea lions, iguanas, and boobies nesting right in your path. Mockingbirds will also capture your attention as they keep you company or while investigating your belongings. Also, visit Gardner Bay with the sea lions.

Day-4. CRUISE – Santa Fe – Barrington Island – Santa Cruz: Continue to Santa Fe to view blue-footed boobies and sea lions. The next stop is the island of Santa Cruz where you will have an opportunity to see masked boobies and giant albatross in their natural environment. Watch their spectacular take-off and “fishing technique” before proceeding to Puerto Ayora the largest inhabited town in the Galapagos to check out some of the local shops.

Day-5. CRUISE: Fernandina & Isabela Island: After a dry landing at Espinosa Point, you will see the largest colony of marine iguanas, sally-light foot crabs, cormorants, the Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations, observers will note brachypterous cactus, “pa-hoe-hoe” lava, and other unusual lava formations. Also, see recent lava flows from a safe distance.

Day-6. CRUISE – BALTRA-QUITO: Disembark from the cruise ship and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Quito. Upon arrival take the panoramic tour of the capital to see: Independence Square, the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, El Sagrario Church, San Francisco, and El Panecillo hill with a view over the city.

Day-7. OTAVALO: Travel to the province of Imbabura, also known as “the Province of Lakes”. On the way to Otavalo, you will see the San Pablo Lake with Imbabura Volcano behind it. Then to Otavalo, home of the largest indigenous market of its kind in South America. There are all kinds of nice handmade things to buy.  Late return to Quito.

Day-8. QUITO – MITAD DEL MUNDO: Travel to nearby Mitad del Mundo. A rare opportunity to stay at the same time with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and with the other one in the Southern Hemisphere. Visit the Inca Museum located on the Equator line and the craft center before returning to Quito for some free time.

Day-9. QUITO – DEPARTURE: Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

PACKAGE INCLUDES: