Galápagos Escape: A 7-Day Voyage

Day 1

Guayaquil or Quito, Ecuador

Arrive in Ecuador, either in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city in the Andes, or in the coastal city of Guayaquil, and take an included transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay. Both cities are well-served by international carriers, and Galápagos flights start and end in Quito with a stop in Guayaquil. Guests in Guayaquil stay at the Hotel del Parque, a 44-room Relais & Châteaux hotel set along the river in lush tropical gardens. In Quito guests have the choice of several hotels, including a convenient airport hotel.

Note that Quito sits at a 9,350 ft elevation. It is an alternative option to Guayaquil, at no additional cost, and recommended if you opt to reserve additional hotel nights and pre-voyage tours of the city.

Arrival Time: Anytime.
Arrival City: Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador

Day 2

Quito or Guayaquil / Galápagos Islands / Embark Ship

This day has a recommended group flight.

Fly to Baltra in the center of Galápagos, a little world unto itself in the Tropical Pacific, where you'll be welcomed by your naturalist staff as you begin exploring the islands.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 3-5

Galápagos Islands

Listed below is a sample of islands you may visit during your expedition. Expeditions begin and end at Isla Santa Cruz and include a careful selection of diverse islands. No two days are alike. Each itinerary offers an optimal balance of wildlife, landscapes and experiences. All ship itineraries are subject to Galápagos National Park regulations. 

Santa Fe: Snorkel and kayak in the secluded cove at Barrington Bay. On shore, a trail leads you through the largest cactus trees in Galápagos. The Santa Fe land iguana is found only on this island, where Galápagos hawks are also thriving once again. 

Plaza Sur: Sea lions greet you at South Plaza, an uplifted block carpeted in salt-loving succulents and teeming with wildlife, including a noisy group of bachelor sea lions and a population of land iguanas. 

Santiago: Hike over the smooth pahoehoe lava and admire spatter cones, little miniature hornitos and the wild riot of black lava at Sullivan Bay, the result of an eruption recorded by passing buccaneers in 1897. Snorkel and explore by kayak and Zodiac the crystalline water surrounding Sombrero Chino.  Keep a keen eye for the Galápagos penguin, sometimes spotted along the coast.

Genovesa: Sail north across the Equator to the remote northern realm of the Galápagos, bathed in warmer tropical waters and home to the red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, great frigate birds and other nesting seabirds. Paddle and kayak along the cliffs of this flooded caldera, where Galápagos fur seals and sea lions haul out to rest.  

Santa Cruz: Journey to the lush, green highlands, where you'll see giant Galápagos tortoises roaming wild at a local ranch. Continue to Baltra for a flight back to the mainland.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

Galápagos Islands / Disembark Ship / Guayaquil or Quito

This day has a recommended group flight.

Disembark this morning for a return flight to the mainland, where you'll transfer to Hotel del Parque in Guayaquil. In Quito there are several hotel options. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. You may be able to take advantage of overnight flights home. Ask your expedition specialist about joining a culturally rich post-voyage extension to Quito and Otavalo, a celebrated market town.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7

Quito or Guayaquil

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board flights home, unless you have arranged for additional nights or an extension.

Departure Time: Anytime on day 7, or after 7:00 p.m. local time on day 6.

Departure City: Quito or Guayaquil