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Ultimate Galápagos
18-Day adventure
Detailed, day-by-day itinerary for this adventure!
Accommodations are noted, and meals are coded as B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
Top: INCA guest capturing a land iguana's close-up portrait at Urbina Bay, Isabela Island ©Marika Roberson. Below: Nazca booby framed by rainbow, Genovesa Island © Weston Walker.
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Day 1 |
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador |
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Fly from your home city to Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the Hilton Colón Quito hotel with check-in to your Club Floor accommodations.
Hilton Colón Quito |
Day 2 |
To the Galápagos—Santa Cruz Island |
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Transfer to the airport for an early morning flight to Baltra, Galápagos. We transfer to the Island of Santa Cruz where we travel with our naturalist in a spacious air conditioned vehicle up into the highland rainforest.
We'll have lunch then explore the Santa Cruz highlands to view endemic Galápagos plant species and visit lava tubes and sinkholes. We'll hike through tall grasses among the grazing tortoises.
Depending on the season, we will be staying in the highlands or along the coast.
Santa Cruz Hotel, BLD |
Day 3 |
Puerto Ayora, Darwin Station, board yacht for week 1 |
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We stroll through the town of Puerto Ayora to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we learn about conservation issues and the tortoise and iguana hatching and rearing programs. We'll even get to view some of the tiny hatchlings. Afterwards we lunch in Puerto Ayora. We board Integrity or Reina Silvia mid to late afternoon in Academy Bay.
Integrity or Reina Silvia, BLD |
Days 4-9 |
On the Boat—Week 1 |
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We live aboard our spacious yacht for a week, spending as much time ashore as the Park rules permit. With our licensed, INCA-selected naturalist, we learn about the birds and animals, geology, marine life and oceanic systems of the Galápagos Islands. We swim and snorkel with tropical fish, sea lions and sometimes with penguins!
Please see Our Galápagos Cruising Routes for a list of islands visited on the Western and Eastern routes.
Integrity or Reina Silvia, BLD |
Day 10 |
Santa Cruz, board yacht for week 2 |
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We have breakfast on board and say farewell to our travel companions who will not be joining us on a second week of cruising. We then disembark and meet up with our day guide and driver to travel over Santa Cruz Island to Puerto Ayora.
Today is a special day—your group gets to decide in which of the seasonally available excursions to partake with your guide. Some options might include: hiking to Tortuga Bay, visiting a Galápagos coffee plantation, swimming at a locals'-favorite beach, spending more time with tortoises in the highlands, and/or shopping in Puerto Ayora.
Lunch is included. You will board the yacht with your new team of travelers before dinner and get ready for another week of adventure!
Integrity or Reina Silvia, BLD |
Days 11-16 |
On the Boat—Week 2 |
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By now you know the routine of exploration and discovery. Morning and afternoon shore visits to view wildlife are interspersed with fine meals, snorkeling and kayaking, guided lectures, and maybe a nap, a lounge on the deck, a drink at the bar and stargazing.
Please see Our Galápagos Cruising Routes for a list of islands visited on the Western and Eastern routes.
Integrity or Reina Silvia, BLD |
Day 17 |
Galápagos, Quito |
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From our anchorage in the Baltra harbor, we say "adios" to our yacht and its dedicated crew, and adjourn to the Baltra airport to await our mid-morning flight to the Ecuador mainland and Quito. On arrival, we transfer to the Hilton Colón Quito hotel for an overnight. You will have time to shop before dinner. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Hilton Colón Quito, B |
Day 18 |
Quito to home or other adventures |
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Transfer to the airport with check-in to your homeward bound flight unless you are remaining for more adventures. |
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