Galapagos cruise on the Archipel I

Take a private guided walking tour of the highlights of Quito. Your guide shows you the city's highlights, such as colonial churches, monasteries, and plazas. They'll also help you unravel the grand architecture of the Church of San Francisco. The tour ends at a viewpoint overlooking the city and surrounding volcanoes. In the afternoon, you're free to keep exploring Quito at your own leisure. We recommend visiting one of the city's museums, such as the pre-Hispanic art museum Casa del Alabado.

A private transfer will take you to the airport in time for your flight to the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, you're met by the guide and crew members who will help you with your luggage and take you on your first excursion. After visiting the Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre, where you can observe tortoises that come from various islands of the archipelago, you're welcomed aboard the Archipel I and given a safety briefing.

This morning, visit Moreno Point, located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. Walk a trail that runs along a solidified pahoehoe lava flow into a complex of coastal lagoons. The afternoon will be spent at Urbina Bay, a reef that was raised out of the water by tectonic movement. You can snorkel here and spot land iguanas, sea turtles, rays, and flightless cormorants.

Continuing up the western coast of Isabela, the ship will stop at Espinoza Point on the neighboring island of Fernandina. Observe large groups of marine iguanas sunning themselves on black lava formations. The afternoon will include a stop at Vicente Roca Point on the northern shores of Isabela. A great spot for snorkeling where turtles, Galapagos penguins, and rays can be seen.

Start the day at Egas Port, a black beach located on the western side of Santiago Island. In the afternoon, visit Rabida Island, a unique site because of the red color of the rocks and sand. A short walk to a coastal lagoon behind the beach allows for the observation of land birds including finches, doves, yellow warblers, and mockingbirds.

The ship will stop at Black Turtle Cove for a panga ride to explore the mangroves, spotting sea turtles and sharks along the way. The afternoon will be spent at Bachas Beach, a lovely bay with soft, white coral sand that is frequently visited by sea turtles to lay their eggs. A small lagoon behind the beach is home to flamingoes, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels.

Genovesa Island is a highlight of many Galapagos trips, with the collapsed volcano formation playing host to large populations of frigatebirds and the unforgettable red-footed booby. You'll spend the day walking the paths of Darwin Bay and Prince Philip's Steps and snorkeling in the sunken caldera.

The cruise continues to Bartolomé Island, where you'll hike to the summit, which offers panoramic views over Pinnacle Rock. Afterwards, you'll experience the volcanic rock of Sullivan Bay, which makes way to a white coral sand beach, home to Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions.

The trip finishes with a visit to the Twin Craters and the native scalesia forest of El Chato Tortoise Reserve, one of the best places to search for Galapagos giant tortoises. You'll then transfer to the airport in time for your flight back to mainland Ecuador and your connection home.