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- Day 1 ARRIVE IN QUITO, ECUADOR Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
- Day 2 QUITO ? Your included private city tour showcases the rich legacy left by the Incas and the Spaniards. See Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows. (B)
- Day 3 QUITO-BALTRA-NORTH SEYMOUR-SANTA CRUZ ? Transfer to the airport and fly to Baltra in the Galápagos. ? Upon arrival, aboard a yacht bound for North Seymour, an island teeming with life. You might have to give way to a passing sea lion, marine iguana, or blue-footed boobies that nest here. As you walk along the shore, see large flocks of pelicans in a dive-bomb feeding-frenzy, and one of the Galápagos' largest nesting sites of the magnificent frigatebird. In the bushes you can see the males up close with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacs. ? Return to the yacht and continue to the Finch Bay Hotel. (B,L,D)
- Day 4 SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO THE HIGHLANDS ? Transfer to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz to a farming area called El Manzanillo on the edge of the Giant Tortoise Reserve. Here, tortoises can be seen grazing year-round, along with woodpecker finches, mockingbirds, and flycatchers. ? After lunch, visit a local farm, where coffee, sugar cane, and cocoa beans are grown, harvested, and prepared. ? Return to the hotel and perhaps spend time on the private beach. (B,L,D)
- Day 5 SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO PUNTA CARRION & SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND ? This morning, travel to Punta Carrion on Santa Cruz Island for some time to snorkel. The shallow reefs and mangroves make this an ideal site to snorkel with plenty of reef fish as well as occasional sea lions and sharks. ? Next, sail to South Plaza Island, a small island full of fascinating wildlife, both along its shore and along its dramatic, wind-swept cliffs. Here you will see large, yellow land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, masked and blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and much more during your guided walk. ? Return to the hotel this afternoon.(B,L,D)
- Day 6 SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO DIVINE BAY ? Today's adventure takes you to wildlife-rich Divine Bay on Santa Cruz Island. Marine iguanas, herons, noddy terns, blue-footed boobies, and tropicbirds are commonly seen here. You may explore by boat or, if you're feeling adventurous, you can take to the sea by kayak. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays, and reef sharks as you cruise the tranquil waters. ? Return to the hotel for lunch, followed by an afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, established to help conserve the Galápagos' natural habitats and protect the area's famous giant tortoises. (B,L,D)
- Day 7 SANTA CRUZ-BALTRA-GUAYAQUIL ? Depart the hotel this morning for the airport in Baltra. Then, fly to Guayaquil on Ecuador's Pacific coast and transfer to the hotel for your final night in Ecuador. (B)
- Day 8 GUAYAQUIL Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Name: Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort
Brand: Globus
Quality: First Class
Tour Type: Escorted
Start City: Quito
End City: Guayaquil
Notes: ?Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and includes private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Gal?pagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon are included. Local Guide service is provided in Quito. A Naturalist in the Gal?pagos & the Amazon is also provided. ?On the Galapagos Islands, we use a small vessel (20 guests) that has 3 crew members, emergency washrooms, and a snack bar. The excursions are day cruises with landings on the islands, some of which are wet landings. Departure times vary depending on islands visited. At times we may visit one island, with varying/multiple landing locations on the same island. These sailings are subject to change and are weather related depending on the island visited. Sailings are approximately 5 to 6 hours per day, which includes landings and sightseeing. ?Maximum elevation on tour is 9,350 ft.
Meals: Buffet breakfast daily; 4 lunches; 4 three-course dinners
Price Details: This vacation includes the following Intra-Vacation Air segments in the vacation price: Quito/Gal?pagos; Gal?pagos/Guayaquil. Gal?pagos package includes Gal?pagos National Park entrance fee and transit card
