Arrival in Quito and transfer to your hotel in the centre of Quito. Balance of day at leisure. Overnight at Hotel Dann Carlton or similar for two nights including breakfast.

After breakfast, get to know this Ecuador’s capital on a half day tour of the city. Stroll the downtown and visit the colonial temples and monasteries of this urban jewel, designated by UNESCO a World Heritage Site including Independence Plaza, the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace and the Archbishop's Palace. Visit the Church of San Francisco, one of the great religious buildings of the New World., with the winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. Then continue to the Equatorial Monument, 25 km (16 miles) north of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where it is possible to stand with a foot in each hemisphere. Beside the monument there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs. (B)

After breakfast depart for Calderon and Cotacachi. See the Cotacachi Volcano and visit Calderon, a town famous for its bread dough dolls. A typical Ecuadorian lunch is served at Hacienda Cusin, which dates from the year 1602. Overnight at Hacienda Cusin.. (B, L)

Visit the famous Otavalo “Indian” market known for the colourfully dressed indigenous people who have gathered here since Inca times. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the market, a great place for souvenirs. In the afternoon return to Quito. (B, D)

After breakfast, checkout and transfer to the airport for the flight to Baltra in the the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival in Baltra, transfer to the beautiful “m/v Galapagos Legend”. Considered one of the best of the ships cruising the islands, “Legend” offers all the comfort of a first class cruise vessel, along with the professional and friendly staff to ensure that the Galapagos experience is both enjoyable and educational. Check in to superior outside cabin. Cabins are equipped with 2 lower beds, air conditioning, private bathroom, television and telephone. This afternoon, land at The Chinese Hat for a one hour hike to observe flamingos. On the return there is an opportunity to snorkel with friendly sea lions. (B,L,D)

Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill or Venice)
After a wet landing, walk to a hyper-saline lagoon behind the beach. Sometimes a high number of Pink Flamingos can be seen. The trail leads up to Dragon Hill, which offers a beautiful view of the bay. This area is a nesting site for a number of land iguanas. There is also a bizarre Scalesia tree forest. Afterwards, take a dinghy ride in Venice islet to observe the vegetation and marine animals such as: spotted eagle rays and golden rays, mullets, sharks and sea turtles.
Floreana (Cormorant Point)
Another wet landing on a greenish colored sand beach. Passengers will hike a well-marked trail towards the back of the lagoon. The large, brackish lagoon holds one of the biggest populations of flamingos in the Galapagos. This island is best known for its endemic plant life, such as: the Galapagos millwork, passion flower, and unique button mangrove. Novice snorkelers can practice back on the main beach where the sea lions are playful while experienced snorkelers can roam the waters around Devils Crown. (B,L,D)

Española (Suarez Point)
After a dry landing at Suarez Point, visitors will learn more about the lava terrain while crossing the inactive lava fields. Aside from the sea lion colony this is one of the most important sites for bird watching. Among the many species, the hooded mocking bird and red billed tropic bird can be seen. Travelers will also spot a large colony of marine iguana, lava lizards, and colorful sally light foot crabs. After a short trek visitors encounter colonies of masked and blue-footed boobies.
The nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. After crossing the nesting grounds you will reach the world’s largest colony of waved albatross. At the end of this excursion passengers will visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots into the air at almost 23 mt (75 ft.).
San Cristóbal (La Galapaguera)
Dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Here visit the San Cristóbal breeding center for an hour where passengers will have the possibility to learn more about the Giant tortoises. (B,L,D)

North Seymour
After a dry landing, guests will encounter swallow tailed gulls and sea lions. This site is also known for being a major nesting colony of blue footed boobies, and the largest colony of the magnificent frigate bird. Travelers will also spot both endemic species of iguanas, the marine iguanas and land iguanas. (continues on next column)

Baltra
Passengers on 4Day/3Night cruse disembark after the morning excursion and transfer to the Baltra airport for the return flight to Guayaquil.
Passengers on 5Day/4Night cruise are received at Baltra airport and join the cruise.

Bartolomé
Arriving by a dry landing, passengers will see volcanic formations including lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. After a hike to the summit, visitors enjoy an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. During the hike to the summit, travelers will often see large colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla, bushes, and various cacti. Visitors will also enjoy a chance to cool off while snorkeling. Here it is possible to see the Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, and white tipped sharks from a safe distance. (B,L,D)

Urbina Bay (Isabela)
After a wet landing, passengers will go towards the fossil beach and then to the coral area. On the way and depending on the season it, will be possible to observe many animals such as: giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants. After the walk there is time for snorkeling.
Fernandina (Espinosa Point)
After a dry landing at Espinosa Point, passengers will see the biggest marine iguanas mingling with sally-light foot crabs. They will also enjoy the flightless cormorants nesting sites, the Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will note brachycereus cactus, and two kinds of lava formations. (B,L,D)

Santiago (Espumilla beach)
After a wet landing on the beach, walk past the mangroves to visit a seasonal lagoon where some flamingos may be seen. It is possible to see birds of all kinds: Bahamas ducks, Galapagos hawk, finches, flycatchers. At this beach visitors may swim and snorkel in search of octopuses, sea horses, star fish and other sea life.
Santiago (Egas Port)
Visit the dark sand beach at Egas Port during a wet landing. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows, the surrounding area is good for spotting and observing hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, oyster catchers, and the yellow crowned night heron. Passengers will see marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds at low tide sharing space with red sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur-seal swimming in deep grottos of cool water. (B,L,D)

Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Station)
Travelers will have the chance to investigate the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here also are giant tortoises that are part of the breeding program. Travelers may also see the impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. The visit to the station takes around 40 minutes. After this visit, passengers will have some free time to explore town.
Santa Cruz (Highlands)
One of the options is to cross the highlands of Santa Cruz. Passengers will visit Cerro Chato to see the famous giant tortoises that gave the name to these islands. Additionally, travelers can literally get into the Galapagos by walking in the dormant lava tubes. (B,L,D)

Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach)
A wet landing at Bachas beach which is located at north coastline of Santa Cruz Island. Here may be seen different sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and passengers will have the opportunity to swim and snorkel in this white sand beach.
In the afternoon return to Baltra for disembarkation and transfer to the airport for the flight to Guayaquil. Upon arrival in Guayaquil, transfer to the Ramada Inn Guayaquil or similar for one night including breakfast. (B,L)

At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for departure. (B)