Galápagos' Wildlife and Scenic Wonders (Southern Route)

Day 1: Arrival to Quito

Upon your arrival in Ecuador's captivating capital, Quito—nestled at 2,800 meters above sea level at the base of the majestic Pichincha Volcano—you'll be warmly greeted at the airport and escorted to your hotel. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure, with free time to explore the vibrant city and its rich culture on your own.

Day 2: Quito City Tour

Experience the wonders of Quito, home to South America's largest historic center, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander through iconic landmarks like the majestic Basilica del Voto Nacional, the stunning San Francisco Church, and the intricate La Compañía. Plus, this tour includes a visit to the Middle of the World, where you can defy the laws of physics and stand on the equator itself. Discover the rich history and unique charm of Quito while enjoying these unforgettable experiences

Day 3: Arrival at San Cristobal Airport and Lobos Island

Depart for the Galapagos Islands, arriving at San Cristobal Airport, where you will be greeted by our naturalist guide from the National Park.

Lobos Island may be small, but it’s brimming with wildlife and charm. Just off the coast of San Cristóbal, this peaceful islet is home to a sheltered bay where playful sea lion pups splash in the shallow waters. True to its name—"lobos marinos" means "sea wolves" in Spanish—Lobos Island is a haven for these charismatic creatures.

As you step ashore, curious sea lions will likely be your first welcoming committee. A short walk inland brings you to a different kind of spectacle: male frigatebirds perched in the trees, proudly displaying their bright red throat pouches. Further along the trail, you might find blue-footed boobies nesting right along the path, giving you an up-close look at their charming courtship dance.

Snorkeling: The calm waters of Lobos Island are perfect for swimming with playful sea lions. Sea turtles and rays are often seen resting on the sandy bottom, while tropical fish add vibrant colors to the scene.

Highlights: Galapagos sea lions, marine Iguanas, magnificent & great frigate birds, blue-footed Boobies, San Cristobal Lava Lizards.

Activity Level: 1 - Wet Landing and Hiking

Day 4: Exploring Española Island

Suarez Point: This rocky trail offers one of the most spectacular nature walks in the Galapagos Islands. From the moment you set foot on the island, you'll be greeted by an incredible diversity of wildlife. Sea lions and marine iguanas will be the first to welcome you, followed by large colonies of seabirds, including Nazca and Blue-footed boobies, gulls, and tropicbirds. At the end of the trail, you'll visit a colony of waved albatrosses (April to January), the largest birds in the islands, known for their powerful flight and elaborate courtship displays. Waved albatrosses only nest on Española, making this the only place where you can see them up close.

Gardner Beach, with its fine coral sand and turquoise waters, is one of the most beautiful and interesting beaches to visit in the Galapagos. Here, you can walk along the beach and learn about the biology of sea lions and other endemic species, such as the Española mockingbird, marine iguanas, and Galapagos hawks.

Snorkeling: Gardner Bay offers several excellent snorkeling spots where you can swim with sea lions, reef sharks, rays, and a wide variety of fish, including angelfish, parrotfish, damselfish, and surgeonfish. This area provides an unforgettable underwater experience.

Highlights: Coral sand beach, sea lions, Galapagos hawks, Española mockingbirds, Darwin finches, marine iguanas.

Activity Level: 3 - Wet Landing, Dry Landing and Hiking

Day 5: Exploring Floreana Island

Located on the northern shore of Floreana Island, Punta Cormorant is renowned for its striking coastal lagoon teeming with American flamingoes, white-cheeked pintails, black-necked stilts, and other shorebirds. The area features a pristine white sand beach, an essential nesting site for green sea turtles where rays and reef sharks can also be spotted. Recently, a small colony of blue-footed boobies has begun breeding near the trail, making it a fantastic spot for birdwatching and observing endemic plants.

Snorkeling at Devil’s Crown: Adjacent to Floreana Island, Devil’s Crown is a heavily eroded volcanic cone and is considered one of the premier snorkeling locations in the archipelago. The currents funnel plankton through the Crown, attracting large schools of snapper, Creole fish, parrotfish, angelfish, reef sharks, sea turtles, and rays, offering an incredible underwater spectacle.

Floreana Island is also known for its intriguing history involving early German settlers and the enigmatic baroness in the late 1920s and 1930s, filled with tales of assassinations, disappearances, and unsolved mysteries.

Post Office Bay: Historically, this bay served as a freshwater stop for whalers and other seafarers. Over 200 years ago, a makeshift postal system was established here using a barrel for leaving and picking up messages. This unique system is still operational, allowing visitors to send postcards from the Galapagos to the outside world.

Snorkeling at Post Office Bay: The snorkeling here is exceptional, with abundant sea turtles, rays, diverse fish species, and, with a bit of luck, sightings of Galapagos penguins.

Activity Level: 1 - Wet Landing and Hiking

Day 6: Santa Fe & South Plaza

Giant Prickly-pear cactus and barren lava rocks surround the landing spot at Santa Fe, located inside one of the most beautiful bays in the Galapagos. Turquoise water and white sand beaches make this location a perfect home for a large colony of sea lions which you will see basking in the sand. Inland, look down for endemic Santa Fe land iguanas, but also look up for Galapagos hawks, which often perch at the top of the cactus looking for prey. Darwin finches, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds and lava lizards are also common along the trail.

Of the two twin islands, only South Plazas is allowed to be visited, while North plazas is kept exclusively for scientific research. This is a small islet, but it packs an impressive amount of wildlife. Right after you land you will see Galapagos land iguanas waiting under prickly-pear cactus feed on their fruits. A large colony of sea lions will give you the opportunity to see playful pups enjoying the tide pools, but also large grumpy males defending their territories. The trail will take you to a cliff where you can observe many sea birds, such as frigate birds, red-billed tropicbirds, boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and pelicans. A reddish succulent vegetation with scattered cactus covers most of the islands like a carpet, giving this island a unique personality.

Snorkeling: After the hike, you will have the option to kayak or snorkel in the sheltered waters inside the bay, where you can swim with sea lion pups and reef sharks. Also look for sea turtles, rays and a large variety of tropical fish including large schools of surgeonfish and parrotfish.

Highlights: Giant cactus, Santa Fe bay, Galapagos sea lions, Santa Fe land iguanas, Galapagos hawks, Galapagos doves, reef sharks.

Activity Level: 2 - Dry Landing and Hiking

Day 7: Interpretation Center & Return to Quito

Located on the outskirts of Puerto Baquerizo, this center offers a captivating journey through the history of human presence in the Galapagos. From the early Spanish explorers to modern times, including the notable visit of Charles Darwin, this permanent exhibition vividly illustrates the challenges and triumphs of the first settlers as they endeavored to survive the harsh environment of the Galapagos. This engaging display provides a profound understanding of the islands' historical significance and the enduring spirit of those who shaped their legacy.

In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Quito and onward journey.

Highlights: Endemic plants, an exhibition on human history.

Important Information

Your return flight will go to Quito.

Quito’s altitude is approximately 9,350 feet above sea level. You may experience mild altitude sickness during your stay.

All planned activities are subject to weather conditions.

Excursions and activities are subject to change.

Depending on your flight times, an additional overnight might be needed (not included).

Full-day excursion: Historic Quito and Middle of the World, including lunch, before the expedition cruise.

English-speaking Expedition Team who organize and guide activities, both on board and ashore.

Escorted landings with small panga boats.

Inquire about exploring Ecuador mainland.