Day 1 June 17, 2016 leave USA

Day 2 June 18 Arrive Quito with afternoon city tour (Arrival transfer included).

Quito City Tour:
This tour of Quito is perfect for seeing fascinating panoramas, churches, and historical architecture of Quito. Learn about colonial art, culture, legends, and traditions.
Quito was designated by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage Site. The trip takes about 3.5 hours including the visit to the lookout point of El Panecillo where you will find one of the best views of Quito.
Day 3 June 19 Otavalo market (B,L,D)

The Otavalo market is considered one the biggest and best native markets in South America. Here you can find an extremely wide variety of handicrafts made in Ecuador. We head north along the Pan-American Highway for 2.5 hours. On the way we visit the village of Calderon to see the bread figures and Cayambe to taste the typical ‘biscochos’ (local biscuits). After you have explored the Otavalo market, we go to the leather market at Cotacachi or Peguche the weaving town. The busiest Market Day is Saturday with the most vendors, but the market is open daily.  This trip takes about 8 hours.

Day 4 June 20 Early morning flight to San Cristóbal (B,L,D)

Fly to San Cristóbal. Meet your guide and transfer to the ship. Visit a tortoise breeding center in the afternoon.

Day 5 June 21 Santa Fé / Black Turtle Cove (B,L,D)

Land at Santa Fe for guided walks to observe the wildlife and plentiful marine iguanas. In the afternoon, take an excursion by Zodiac to Black Turtle Cove to check out the marine life.

Day 6 June 22 Isla Santiago (B,L,D)

Morning excursion to Playa Espumilla, one of the most idyllic beaches in the Galápagos Islands, with thick mangroves along with flamingo and sea turtle nesting sites. Continue to Puerto Egas to see the salt crater as well as a dark-sand beach and tidal pools.

Day 7 June 23 Genovesa Island (Tower Island) (B,L,D)

Land at Genovesa, an old imploded volcano, to observe the massive colonies of frigatebirds, boobies, and other seabirds as well as striking volcanic cliffs rising from the ocean. Visit the sites of Darwin Bay and El Barranco.

Day 8 June 24 Bartolomé / Sullivan Bay (B,L,D)

Visit Bartolomé for a guided tour to see the dramatic volcanic features before hiking to a panoramic viewpoint. Continue to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island to witness the giant lava formations in contrast of the white-coral-sand beach.

Day 9 June 25 Rábida / Cerro Dragón (B,L,D)

Take a morning excursion to Rábida to see a lagoon and sea lion colony. Continue to Cerro Dragón on the west coast of Santa Cruz Island, to observe land iguanas and a saltwater lagoon frequented by flamingos and other species of birds.

Day 10 June 26 Santa Cruz (B,L,D)

Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see giant Galápagos tortoises and take an excursion to the Santa Cruz highlands. Free time for shopping or exploration of Puerto Ayora (some of the Darwin finches are easy to photograph there).

Day 11 June 27 San Cristóbal (B)

Visit El Junco lagoon before disembarking at San Cristóbal for the flight back to Quito.

Day 12 June 28 Quito – Depart for home at any time, or continue on an optional 4 night extension to the Ecuadorian Amazon Rain forest.

Ecuadorian optional Rain Forest Extension

Head deep into the Amazon Basin to La Selva Lodge on tranquil Garzacocha Lake, itself connected to the massive Amazon River system. Walk on raised platforms and paths through the jungle, spot birds from a canopy-level tower, fish for piranha from dug-out canoes, look for caiman on night paddles or simply relax in the hammock of your luxury cabana. La Selva’s gourmet food and friendly, knowledgeable staff make it even easier to enjoy this paradise of unparalleled biodiversity.

Day 1 Quito/Amazon rainforest (1L,1D)

Transfer from your Quito hotel at approximately 7am to the airport for the flight to the Amazon Jungle. Travel several hours by dugout canoe and complete a short walk to luxurious and remote La Selva Lodge.

Days 2-3 La Selva Lodge (2B, 2L, 2D)

Choose from plenty of activities that include birding, botany, hiking, canoeing and photography. Spot monkeys, birds, sloths, caimans and butterflies, just a short walk or canoe paddle away. Overlooking the lake, the recently remodeled lodge is a perfect base for exploration. Relax in the lounge with a cocktail and dine by candlelight enjoying exceptional cuisine prepared by a gourmet chef. Sleep well in stylish cabanas listening to the sounds of the rainforest sing you to sleep, and the call of birds wake you in the morning.

Day 4 Quito (1B)

Head back down the river to the town of Coca to catch the flight back to Quito. Transfer in to your hotel in Quito.