The Galapagos Islands – Northern ItineraryItinerary

NORTHERN ITINERARY
Day 1: En Route from U.S. | Arrive in Quito, Ecuador
Saturday, February 15, 2025
After an evening arrival in Quito transfer to your five-star boutique hotel—the only Relais & Châteaux property in Quito—for a restful night's sleep.
Overnight: Casa Gangotena

Day 2: Quito
Sunday, February 16, 2025
The journey begins with a full-day guided tour of Quito, a city steeped in rich history. Explore the captivating streets of historic Old Town where colonial architecture imparts the tales of centuries past. A local expert will escort you through a lively neighborhood for an opportunity to visit with local artisans, shopkeepers and confectioners.

Delight your senses in the vibrant San Francisco Market full of colorful local fruits and vegetables and culinary traditions. Stop by a chocolatier to learn how cacao beans are processed followed by a tasting of Ecuador's finest chocolates.

Stroll to La Compañía de Jesús for an inside tour. Built by the Jesuits in the 17th century, the church's intricate façade, lavish interiors, elaborate wood carvings and ornate, gilded decorative elements make it a true architectural gem.

After a special lunch featuring local ingredients visit the Casa del Alabado Archaeological Museum, located inside a restored 17th-century colonial mansion, to view its collection of pre-Columbian art.

This evening become acquainted with fellow travelers during a welcome reception and orientation.
Overnight: Casa Gangotena (B,L,R) 

Day 3: Quito | Flight to Baltra | Santa Cruz: Highlands | Puerto Ayora – Embarkation
Monday, February 17, 2025
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport for the approximate two-hour flight to Baltra Airport. Upon arrival transfer to the Baltra Ferry Terminal to ferry to Santa Cruz Island.

A short, scenic drive across Santa Cruz brings you to the Highlands for lunch. Afterward prepare to encounter the magnificent and iconic Galapagos giant tortoise, a species for which the Galapagos Islands are named. Walking among these enormous creatures is a profound and humbling experience. Your naturalist guide will describe the tortoises habits and habitat, as well as the ongoing conservation efforts surrounding this astonishing reptile.

Late afternoon, visit Puerto Ayora's main street before arriving to the port where your expedition vessel, Isabela II, awaits. During embarkation, take time to unpack and become familiar with your stateroom and the ship's welcoming public spaces.

This evening before dinner join fellow travelers, the captain and spirited expedition staff for a cocktail and to learn details of the activities ahead.
Overnight: Isabela II (B,L,D)

Day 4: Santiago: Puerto Egas | Chinese Hat Islet
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Our island-hopping adventure takes us to Puerto Egas where volcanic landscapes meet turquoise waters, creating a surreal landscape. After a wet landing onto the island's black sand beach walk the trail and spot for recently reintroduced land iguanas amidst the lava flows. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon algae beds and colonies of fur seals relax in the sunshine. This active location is ideal for snorkeling.

Chinese Hat Islet, one of Santiago's satellite islands, features a walking trail that begins at a beautiful beach and ends atop a cliff with spectacular views of the shore below. The islet's cove is an inviting area for white-tipped reef sharks and the rare Galapagos penguin.

Back on board the ship embrace valuable leisure time to rejuvenate between adventures. Relax on the spacious sun deck while admiring the panoramic landscape, take a dip in the hot tub or re-energize with a workout in the fitness room.

You'll anticipate on-board meals with excitement, as each is prepared by the ship's Le Cordon Bleu-trained gastronomic director and created with top-quality organic ingredients.
Overnight: Isabela II (B,L,D)

Day 5: Genovesa: Prince Philip's Steps | Darwin Bay
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
After breakfast set out on a panga boat excursion along the cliffs of Genovesa—a birder's paradise—before visiting Prince Philip’s Steps for a steep but short climb up a wooden staircase. Once at the top the terrain is flat, allowing for an easy, mesmerizing mile-long walk to the other side of this small island. Along the way watch for colonies of Nazca boobies, great frigatebirds and storm petrels as well as the elusive short-eared owl. 

For those seeking an alternative activity join a guide to explore the coast by powered watercraft. This is also a great time to snorkel or kayak.

Following lunch spend the afternoon exploring Darwin Bay at Genovesa. A wet landing delivers you to a fantastic beach populated by countless swallow-tailed gulls. Walk the flat trail past mangroves to spot for frigatebirds, herons, finches and mockingbirds.
Overnight: Isabela II (B,L,D) 

Day 6: Santa Fe | South Plaza
Thursday, February 20, 2025
This morning at Santa Fe visit an idyllic, sandy-white beach populated by colonies of playful sea lions, Galapagos hawks and land iguanas. Enjoy leisure time to stroll the shoreline, snorkel along a natural wave barrier or take a glass-bottom boat ride.

This adventure's final island destination is South Plaza just off the coast of Santa Cruz. Full of extraordinary creatures, this small island is host to the largest population of land iguanas in the archipelago, and it's the only place on Earth to find the Galapagos hybrid iguana.

Admire the contrast of turquoise waters against the white sand and black lava shoreline. Walk the impressive cactus forest, which is surrounded by sea lion colonies, frigates, red-billed tropicbirds and swallow-tailed gulls.
Overnight: Isabela II (B,L,D)

Day 7: Baltra – Disembarkation | Flight to Quito, Ecuador 
Friday, February 21, 2025
Bid a fond adiós to the Isabela II crew this morning prior to departing Baltra for Quito where you will spend your final night. (Returning flights to the U.S. may begin departing late evening on Day 7 approximately around 9:00 pm and later.)
Overnight: Wyndham Quito Airport (B,L)

For post-tour guests: Depending on prevailing air schedules, guests may take an evening group flight to Lima, Peru, and overnight near the airport.
Post-Tour Overnight: Wyndham Costa del Sol Airport Hotel

Day 8: Quito | Depart for U.S.
Saturday, February 22, 2025
After breakfast main program guests departing during the suggested times take a complimentary transfer to the airport for flights home.

If post-tour guests did not depart on Day 7, they will depart Quito for flights to Cusco, Peru, this morning. (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, R = Reception

Tour days tend to be long and include many full-day excursions via various modes of transportation, flow at a brisk pace and may include extended travel days with morning and/or evening activities. Excursions may require standing and walking to city centers where coaches are prohibited, along with extended periods of walking and standing on uneven surfaces including cobblestones and paths and/or trails that may be gravel, sand, dirt or other unpaved surface. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct variations in altitude and/or temperature. Guests are expected to board transportation without assistance. Elevators are not always available at accommodations or sites visited.

• Guests should be comfortable managing wet beach landings and boarding small vessels, both from shore and the deck of the Isabela II.

• Altitudes vary—up to a maximum of 9,350 feet in Quito, Ecuador.