Arrive in Quito. Upon clearing Immigration and Customs, private transfer to GOQuito hotel. Accommodation for 2 nights in standard rooms, breakfast and local taxes included.

Quito is one of the most fascinating and vibrant destinations in South America.

Located at the foothills of the Andes, Quito is known for its rich colonial history, stunning architecture, and picturesque landscapes. The city is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is the largest and best-preserved historic centre in South America.

As you walk through the cobbled streets of Quito, you will be mesmerized by the stunningly preserved colonial architecture and the beautiful churches and monasteries scattered throughout the city. Additionally, Quito’s vibrant culture is reflected in its colourful festivals, traditional markets, and delicious local cuisine.

PICK UP TIME: 9:00 am

Enjoy a tour of Quito that is sure to impress! It starts in old colonial Quito in the main square, where the presidential palace, the main cathedral and some other important buildings can be appreciated. Then it continues to Plaza San Francisco, with a quick stop in the way so that you can try the typical sweets of Quito. San Francisco is the oldest church in Quito, and it is full of history and legends.

Of final stop will be Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, one of the most beautiful churches in South America, or perhaps the world, truly a treasure.

After that visit the Equator, Latitude 0 º 0’0 «. We will stop at the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo where the main monument is located. Here, you won’t miss the chance to take a photo with your foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern!

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Transfer to the airport in time for your Galapagos flight. Upon arrival to Baltra, your guide will pick you up and will take you to Puerto Ayora, a transfer that goes first from the airport to the Itabaca channel, you cross the channel on a ferry to Santa Cruz Island and then your 45-minute drive will take you to Puerto Ayora and you will visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.

Santa Cruz has all the vegetation zones. Here you can see the contrast, from the arid coastal zone to the remarkably refreshing highlands. The humid zones provided some of the drinking water consumed in town. The highlands house unusual trees and ferns, colorful land birds, and a healthy population of giant tortoises.

Arrive at the Ikala hotel for four nights in suites, breakfast and local taxes included.

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Our adventure to Bartolomé Island will begin at the indicated meeting place and time. With its iconic pinnacle, this island is located northwest of Santa Cruz. Here we will have the opportunity to see one of the most beautiful landscapes of the Galapagos Islands while learning about the volcanic origins of the Islands. Upon arriving at Bartolome, we will have a dry landing. Then, we will begin the walk along a path that will take us to the top of the island. The 395 steps will end with a spectacular panoramic view of the island and its pinnacle, being the moment to take that stunning photo of our trip. We will observe small lava tunnels from the last eruption during the walk. Here endemic vegetation grows, such as lava cacti and tiquilla plants, generally surrounded by Darwin’s finches. Did you know that volcanic ash made Pinnacle Rock? After being impressed by the view from this point, we will enjoy a zodiac ride along the coast. Then, with some luck, we will see the only tropical penguin and the second smallest in the world, the penguin from Galapagos.

After a breathtaking experience in Bartolome, we will enjoy a succulent lunch onboard the boat. Then, we will head towards Sullivan Bay, where we will enjoy the marine fauna of the Galapagos while we snorkel.

Sullivan Bay is one of the most beautiful places in the Galapagos to snorkel due to its crystal-clear waters!

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Our journey to South Plazas Island will begin at the indicated meeting place and time. Plazas, as many call it, have an incredible landscape, and on our arrival to it, we will have a dry landing while sea lions welcome us at the shore.

We will begin our walk along a path through an Opuntia Cactus forest. Don’t be distracted by landscape beauty; we must watch out for our steps. There are many land iguanas, the smallest species in the archipelago!

Continuing our tour, we will reach the fantastic, windy cliff. Here, the red-billed tropical birds, swallow tailed gulls, brown pelicans, and the impressive frigate bird usually fly around. The trail meanders along the edge of the ridge for a few hundred meters. While we continue our walk, we will find the well-known «single sea lion colony»: a heterogeneous collection of male sea lions, mostly elderly, who have lost their territories. Yet, surprisingly, they climb up the cliff via some rocky steps. Can you spot some of the battle scars and shark bites that many of these lone sea lions have on their bodies? Carrion Point After lunch, we will discover the Galapagos marine fauna while snorkeling. With some luck, we will see white-tip sharks and a great variety of fish, sea turtles, and rays.

After this journey, we will return to the Itabaca Channel, where a bus will be waiting for us to take us to Puerto Ayora’s pier, where this day’s adventure ends.

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Tortuga Bay is located to the southwest of Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island. Its name means “turtle”, and the island received this moniker because it is sea turtles favorite place to lay their eggs. The stunning white sand beach is considered by many the most beautiful in the Galapagos archipelago. The beach is reached via a marked and cobbled two-kilometer path that starts at the west end of Charles Binford Street; guests must sign in and out at the National Park control point at the beginning of the path– it is open from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM daily. There is excellent birdwatching along the path, with plenty of Darwin’s finches and other sea birds. And for active visitors, it is a great place to kayak, snorkel and surf!

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Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Quito. Connect with your international flight back home.

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