Galápagos Islands

Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel, a beautifully restored 19th-century property located in Guayaquil’s Historic Park.

Enjoy a full day to explore Guayaquil and the surrounding area. Learn about Ecuadorean chocolate at a family-run cacao farm on the outskirts of the city before visiting the Museum of Chocolate. After lunch at a local winery, take a guided walk through the colorful Las Peñas neighborhood, once home to musicians and artists, and along the Malecón boardwalk. This evening, gather for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel.

Depart for the Galápagos Islands, flying from Guayaquil to Baltra Island. Upon arrival, head to the dock to board our yacht and begin our adventure. After a briefing and lunch, disembark on North Seymour for a walk along the coast and through the interior of this flat island, observing numerous bird colonies as well as sea lions and land iguanas. We also explore the coast by dinghy.

This morning, we anchor off Isabela Island to take in the dramatic geology of Punta Vicente Roca—with its lava flow remains and tuff stone layers—by panga. Wildlife abounds here, and, depending on the conditions of the ocean, we can snorkel along the cliffs, hopefully in the company of green sea turtles. In the afternoon, head to the youngest and most pristine island of the archipelago, Fernandina. The waters here are among the richest in the archipelago, providing prime habitat for flightless cormorants and Galápagos penguins.

After breakfast, we disembark at Urbina Bay, on the western side of Isabela Island. See corals, shells, and large and very colorful Galápagos land iguanas. Later, we navigate the Bolívar Channel, keeping an eye out for whales. On the northwest side of Isabela, secluded Tagus Cove provided a favorite anchorage for pirates and whalers over the centuries. Hike to the back of Darwin Crater, which is filled with salt water. We can also snorkel or ride kayaks amid the dramatic landscape here.

In the morning, we disembark at Rábida Island’s red-colored beach. A stroll along the beach allows us to observe marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. This is a great place to snorkel from the beach. Alternatively, take a ride in La Pinta’s glass-bottom boat to check out life beneath the waves. This afternoon, continue to the north shore of Santa Cruz for a walk through the fascinating landscapes of Dragon Hill. Circle a brackish-water lagoon frequented by lagoon birds, and meander inland for beautiful views of the bay and the western islands, as well as a chance to observe land iguanas.

Today, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, which serves as the headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation, and the National Park administration. After lunch, visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island in search of the emblematic Darwin’s finches and the endemic scalesia trees. The highlands are also great for exploring the exuberant vegetation where giant tortoises roam in the wild. See the giant tortoise pens, set within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest.

Situated on Floreana Island, Post Office Bay is named after the historic barrel that has served as a post office in the archipelago for over two centuries. Place a letter in the barrel, then ride pangas along the maze of channels on Floreana’s north shore. Afterward, snorkel or ride the glass-bottom boat along the coast of an extinct cone called Champion Islet. In the afternoon, go ashore at Punta Cormorant for an easy walk from the olivine-crystal beach to a brackish water lagoon where bird species such as American flamingos reside.

Bid farewell to the Galápagos Islands this morning and head to the airport for our flight back to the mainland. Participants continuing on the post-trip extension to Mashpi fly to Quito. Those returning home fly to Guayaquil, where we check in at the Hotel del Parque to rest and enjoy a final dinner. International flight departures may be late this evening or early on the morning of August 6.

After breakfast, transfer back to the airport for flights returning home.