Galápagos: Wildlife Wonderland

•   Four nights aboard M/V Santa Cruz, built exclusively for Galpagos Islands cruising

Day 1: Arrive Quito, Ecuador
Tour begins: Swissôtel Quito. A transfer is included upon arrival in Quito from Mariscal Sucre International Airport to the Swissôtel Quito. Get set for adventure in and around Ecuador's capital city early tomorrow morning!
Overnight: Swissôtel Quito, Ecuador
Meals Included:

Day 2: All aboard for a look at la vida local in Quito
On a ride aboard the Chiva Express* you'll visit a dairy farm to meet cows, horses and llamas, hike through the moorlands and have lunch at a local hacienda. Dine on farm-fresh cheese and just-picked vegetables and sample your choice of homemade desserts - sweet! Learn to play some traditional games or go exploring before returning to Quito. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening. Meals BLD
Overnight: Swissôtel Quito, Ecuador
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Cruise to islands time forgot
Hop on a plane for a flight to Baltra Island, the starting point for your Galápagos Islands expedition* aboard M / V Santa Cruz. Your first stop is Santa Cruz Island, home to eight different species of Darwin's Finches, symbol of evolution in the Galápagos. Put on your hiking shoes for a guided walk around a saltwater lagoon; look for pintail ducks, flamingos, stilts, and sandpipers. Back aboard the ship, gather round our naturalists for an informative briefing. Meals BLD
Overnight: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: See marine animals & walk on lava
We'll take you on a hike up to the summit of Bartolomé Island for great views of the neighboring islands and volcanic features like lava tubes and tuff cones. Then we'll take a closer look at one of the island's best places to see tropical Galápagos penguins, sea lions and sea turtles when we climb aboard a panga for a ride around Pinnacle Rock. You'll have a chance to meet these animals face-to-face from a glass-bottom boat or on a snorkeling adventure. All of the islands were created from volcanoes - join our expert naturalists for a walk atop the black lava shores of San Salvador (Santiago or James) Island. Meals BLD
Overnight: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Finches, frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies
Prepare to get wet when we wade ashore on the red beach of Rabida (Jervis) Island, where you may be welcomed by a colony of noisy sea lions. This island is studded with volcanic craters that mockingbirds and Darwin's Finches call home. Your cruise continues to North Seymour Island for a dry landing; the island is known for its colonies of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds. Share an ECO (Explore, Conserve, Observe) Moment aboard ship tonight with our on-board naturalists, a fact-filled way to end the day. Meals BLD
Overnight: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Charles Darwin & tortoises
Head to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a look at the giant tortoises that have captured the imaginations of travelers for centuries. Here's your chance to see them in their natural environment, along with bright red Vermilion Flycatchers who are often just as curious about you as you are about them. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to hear about the ongoing conservation efforts to preserve the ecosystems and wildlife - and see more tortoises. Meals BLD
Overnight: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Disembark ship and fly to Guayaquil
San Cristóbal Interpretation Center on San Cristóbal (Chatham) Island is a great place to learn even more about the natural history of the Galápagos and is the last stop on your cruise. Disembark ship for a flight back to the mainland and a farewell dinner, poolside! Meals BD
Overnight: Hilton Colón Guayaquil, Ecuador
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Homeward bound
Tour ends: Guayaquil. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hilton Colón Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

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Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Cruise aboard the expedition ship, M / V Santa Cruz, to islands time forgot and experience a wildlife wonderland beyond compare. Imagine coming nose-to-nose with a giant tortoise, sunbathing with iguanas and swimming with friendly sea lions. See birds wearing bright red and blue “shoes”; crabs dressed in red and yellow shells; and “prehistoric lizards” that dive in the sea for their supper. ECO Moments and daily shore excursions with on-board naturalists offer exciting opportunities to discover a living laboratory that takes you back more than a million years. • = Cruise day Day 1. Arrive Quito, Ecuador Tour begins: Swissôtel Quito. A transfer is included upon arrival in Quito from Mariscal Sucre International Airport to the Swissôtel Quito. Get set for adventure in and around Ecuador’s capital city early tomorrow morning! Day 2. All aboard for a look at la vida local in Quito On a ride aboard the Chiva Express* you’ll visit a dairy farm to meet cows, horses and llamas, hike through the moorlands and have lunch at a local hacienda. Dine on farm-fresh cheese and just-picked vegetables and sample your choice of homemade desserts – sweet! Learn to play some traditional games or go exploring before returning to Quito. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening. Meals BLD • Day 3. Cruise to islands time forgot Hop on a plane for a flight to Baltra Island, the starting point for your Galápagos Islands expedition* aboard M / V Santa Cruz. Your first stop is Santa Cruz Island, home to eight different species of Darwin’s Finches, symbol of evolution in the Galápagos. Put on your hiking shoes for a guided walk around a saltwater lagoon; look for pintail ducks, flamingos, stilts, and sandpipers. Back aboard the ship, gather round our naturalists for an informative briefing. Meals BLD • Day 4. See marine animals & walk on lava We’ll take you on a hike up to the summit of Bartolomé Island for great views of the neighboring islands and volcanic features like lava tubes and tuff cones. Then we’ll take a closer look at one of the island’s best places to see tropical Galápagos penguins, sea lions and sea turtles when we climb aboard a panga for a ride around Pinnacle Rock. You’ll have a chance to meet these animals face-to-face from a glass-bottom boat or on a snorkeling adventure. All of the islands were created from volcanoes – join our expert naturalists for a walk atop the black lava shores of San Salvador (Santiago or James) Island. Meals BLD • Day 5. Finches, frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies Prepare to get wet when we wade ashore on the red beach of Rabida (Jervis) Island, where you may be welcomed by a colony of noisy sea lions. This island is studded with volcanic craters that mockingbirds and Darwin’s Finches call home. Your cruise continues to North Seymour Island for a dry landing; the island is known for its colonies of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds. Share an ECO (Explore, Conserve, Observe) Moment aboard ship tonight with our on-board naturalists, a fact-filled way to end the day. Meals BLD • Day 6. Charles Darwin & tortoises Head to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a look at the giant tortoises that have captured the imaginations of travelers for centuries. Here’s your chance to see them in their natural environment, along with bright red Vermilion Flycatchers who are often just as curious about you as you are about them. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to hear about the ongoing conservation efforts to preserve the ecosystems and wildlife – and see more tortoises. Meals BLD Day 7. Disembark ship and fly to Guayaquil San Cristóbal Interpretation Center on San Cristóbal (Chatham) Island is a great place to learn even more about the natural history of the Galápagos and is the last stop on your cruise. Disembark ship for a flight back to the mainland and a farewell dinner, poolside! Meals BD Day 8. Homeward bound Tour ends: Guayaquil. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hilton Colón Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

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