ECUADOR & THE GALÁPAGOS in 10-13 days

(11/1) DAY 1: SUNDAY- QUITO– Your adventure begins with a warm welcome in Quito. A private guide and transportation service will ensure a seamless transfer from the airport to your overnight hotel, providing comfort and peace of mind after your journey. Relax this afternoon. Tonight, we’ll meet for a group dinner to get acquainted.  Sleep in Quito – The Swissǒtel. Dinner.

 (11/2) DAY 2: MONDAY- QUITO Historical City Tour and Gallery Visits-  Delve into the heart of Quito’s rich heritage with a comprehensive tour of the historic city center. Accompanied by a private guide, explore architectural marvels such as La Compañia de Jesus, known for its ornate Baroque design, and San Francisco, a grand convent and church complex. Visit the majestic La Catedral and the fascinating museums La Casa del Alabado and La Capilla del Hombre, where captivating galleries showcase Ecuador’s artistic legacy. Then enjoy the evening on your own in Quito.  Sleep in Quito- The Swissǒtel. Breakfast is included today.

 (11/3) DAY 3: TUESDAY- QUITO-QUILOTOA-COTOPAXI- Embark on a scenic journey south from Quito to Quilotoa, a mesmerizing crater lake nestled in an ancient volcano. The vibrant turquoise waters and panoramic views create a breathtaking setting for exploration. Afterward, return to El Porvenir, where you can immerse yourself in the “Chagra” cowboy culture of Ecuador, gaining insight into the traditional way of life and the unique customs of the local community.  Sleep in El Porvenir- Hacienda el Porvenir. Breakfast and Dinner included.

 (11/4) DAY 4: WEDNESDAY- COTOPAXI or EL PORVENIR- Spend a day at Cotopaxi National Park or El Porvenir with a menu of activities tailored to your interests. Whether you prefer exhilarating hikes, scenic e-bike rides, horseback adventures, or pampering spa treatments, there is something for everyone. Embrace the beauty of the surroundings and enjoy a day of relaxation and adventure. Sleep in El Porvenir- Hacienda el Porvenir. Breakfast included.

 (11/5) DAY 5: THURSDAY- COTOPAXI & PAPALLACTA- Travel northeast to Papallacta, a haven for nature enthusiasts and those seeking tranquility. Enjoy birdwatching in the lush forest, take leisurely walks along serene trails, or unwind in the rejuvenating hot springs and spa facilities. Papallacta offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and relaxation.  Sleep in Termas de Papallacta. Breakfast and Dinner included.

 (11/6) DAY 6: FRIDAY- Fly to the Galapagos Islands – Your expedition cruise awaits, allowing you to explore this extraordinary archipelago’s unique wildlife and pristine landscapes. Flying from Quito, our flight arrives at Baltra Island around noon (local time). Our guide will greet you there, waiting for your arrival and proceeding embarkation to Yacht Anahí. One of our crew members will handle your baggage directly to your cabin. The captain and the crew will welcome you on board, followed by cabin assignment and lunch.

Our first visit is to Bachas Beach, which is made of decomposed coral, making it white and soft, while it is also one of the favorite nesting places of sea turtles. Nearby, we can also find a small lagoon where we can observe flamingos, black-necked stilts, thrushes, and the remains of two abandoned barges dating to the 1940s. We will also find sea lions, marine iguanas, seabirds resting on the beach, and playful sea lions that like to swim with the visitors. Tonight, enjoy a welcome reception followed by a delicious dinner.  Sleep aboard The Anahi for 5 nights. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are included each day.

 (11/7) DAY 7: SATURDAY-  Darwin Bay is our anchorage area within an ancient volcanic crater that has eroded into a fascinating geographical formation with a great diversity of seabirds nesting in the mangroves and cliffs. These include red-footed boobies, Nasca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, Galapagos petrels, seabirds, Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and Galápagos doves. Enjoy a walk by the mangroves, where you can observe the fascinating life of these marine birds.

After lunch, visit one of the island’s best bird nesting sites. This area is known as Prince Philip’s Steps (locally known as “El Barranco”). We will have the opportunity to snorkel, kayak, hike, and take a ride in a panga, and with luck, catch a glimpse of the short-eared owl, a unique owl that hunts during the daytime.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner aboard The Anahi.

 (11/8) DAY 8: SUNDAY- Plazas Islands have unusual vegetation of a succulent called Sesuvium, giving the landscape a unique tint of red or green, depending on the season. It is also possible to observe land iguanas in the shade of the giant opuntia cacti. The main attractions of the Plaza Islands include land and marine iguanas, sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, lizards, frigate birds, and pelicans that glide down the cliffs. After our walk, we will return to the yacht for lunch and a well-deserved rest.

In the afternoon, visit Santa Fe Island, where we can see two different trails. One of them leads to a beautiful viewpoint on the top of a cliff, where you can find endemic land iguanas. The other trail is a small circular path near the beach. Observe a colony of sea lions and take an opportunity to kayak, snorkel, panga ride, or walk to observe and enjoy nature. Then, we will return to the yacht for dinner.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner aboard The Anahi.

(11/9) DAY 9: MONDAY – Punta Pitt is one of the most beautiful and impressive sites in the Galápagos and a favorite seabird nesting site. In our morning visit, we will be able to see both species of frigate birds and boobies and their nesting sites. Then, we will return to the yacht for lunch.

After lunch, navigate towards Kicker Rock, an impressive rock formation known locally as ‘León Dormido.’ We will circumvallate the massive rock formation, giving the possibility to see a multitude of blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, pelicans, and sea birds that will delight us with their majestic flights. Later, we head towards Isla Lobos, an islet separated from San Cristóbal Island by a narrow stretch of calm waters. On the islet, take a walk to observe frigates, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, and a colony of sea lions. Also, enjoy snorkeling, probably with sea lions and colorful fish. The atmosphere is tranquil and has primitive beauty, a typical environment of the Galapagos Islands.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner aboard The Anahi.

(11/10) DAY 10: TUESDAY- Our guide will take us to the top of San Cristóbal Island after breakfast. Following, our tour has two options. The

first option starts from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and involves visiting the El Junco Lagoon. For hundreds of years, rainwater and condensation have caused an accumulation of water in the caldera of an extinct volcano, creating a paradise for frigate birds and turtles.

Alternatively, we will visit the D. Rodriguez (Cerro Colorado) Tortoise Breeding Center. There, we will have a pleasant walk along a path that allows us to be in close contact with the giant Galapagos tortoises, varying from the smallest to the oldest of giants.

Option 1: Your tour ends today with a transfer to the airport in Baltra for your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil.

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Option 2: EXTENSION- Continue aboard the M/S Anahi for four nights.

(11/10) EXTENSION DAY 10: TUESDAY- Visit the Interpretation Center of San Cristobal to learn about the islands and their natural and human history. Join a walk from the interpretation center to the top of “Cerro Tijeretas” hill for a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean’s geographical formations, including the famous Kicker Rock. After dinner, you may disembark and go into the city for a walk to visit cafes and bars.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner aboard The Anahi.

 (11/11) EXTENSION DAY 11: WEDNESDAY- Punta Suárez: A destination of great interest due to the incredible abundance of birds and endemic species like the Española Mockingbird, the Galápagos lava lizard, the marine iguana of the venustissimus subspecies, and more. We can also observe seagulls and other tropical birds that live on the rocky slopes. Among the more interesting attractions of the island is the waved albatross, as the entire world population of this species comes to breed here between March and December. Punta Suarez is one of the most sought-after land visits of the Galapagos, where we can find hundreds of Nasca boobies, colonies of sea lions, large colonies of marine iguanas, and different species of birds.

After lunch, explore Bahía Gardner with its gorgeous white coral sand beach. This beach is excellent for relaxing, swimming, and snorkeling. Here, we can find a large colony of playful sea lions and local species of snakes, while we will undoubtedly see Darwin’s finches, mockingbirds, and, with luck, various species of rays, sharks, fish, and sea turtles in the water. Kayaking is optional in the area, as well.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner aboard The Anahi.

(11/12) EXTENSION DAY 12: THURSDAY- Our morning visit to Punta Cormorant stops by one of the largest flamingo lagoons of the archipelago, located between two volcanic hills that give the area a unique atmosphere. There are flamingos and various sea birds, the most frequent being black-necked stilts, white-cheeked pintails, and other migratory birds. This is a unique area due to the high percentage of endemic plants. Here, we can see a unique “Green Beach” (due to the high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and a “Flour Sand Beach,” which is composed of coral reefs. These are among the most fascinating beaches in the islands. Then, we return to the yacht to begin our snorkeling activity at “Devil’s Crown,” a sunken volcanic crater where the interior of the formation is ideal for coral reefs, making it one of the most fascinating marine sites in the Galápagos.

Following lunch, visit the “Post Office” bay, which has served as a letter exchange station from the 18th century until today, when the crew of a whaling ship utilized a wooden barrel as the exchange point. Sailors and tourists have used this system to communicate with people from around the world until today. The idea is to bring letters or postcards to their destination by hand, creating a unique “postal service.” This site was also the landing place for the first island settlers, who eventually went to the highlands for fresh running water. Then, we will visit the Asilo de la Paz, one of the first occupied areas of the archipelago by the German Wittmer family. We may see a pod of dolphins, manta rays, and sea turtles if we are lucky.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner aboard The Anahi.

(11/13) EXTENSION DAY 13: FRIDAY- After breakfast, visit the famous Fausto Llerena Interpretation Center to see the different sizes and species of the Giant Galapagos Tortoises. If we have time, we can also visit a special wing of the area to see “Lonesome George” on display, an icon of conservation and the islands. Then, we will visit “Los Gemelos,” an iconic natural sinkhole formation, before we cross Baltra Island with a local ferry and take a bus to the airport. Our trip ends here with the return flight to Quito.

Breakfast aboard The Anahi.

 Itinerary specifics are subject to change.