Wonders of the Galápagos Islands

• Exclusive, intimate journey through the incomparable Galápagos Islands, home to reptiles, birds, plants and aquatic life that exist nowhere else on the planet.
• Six-night round-trip cruise from North Seymour Island aboard La Pinta, an exclusively chartered, first-class small ship.
• Two-night hotel stay in Quito and 1 night in Guayaquil.
• Specially arranged visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the conservation of the Galápagos Islands and see baby tortoises, giant tortoises and iguanas.
• Two UNESCO World Heritage sites — City of Quito and Galápagos Islands.
• Included meals | 1 reception, 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 6 dinners.

Depart for Quito, Ecuador. Please check your bags from your gateway city to your arrival city. Transfer to the Swissôtel Quito, a luxury hotel with premier location.

This evening, explore the area on your own, if you wish, and make your own plans for dinner.

Set out for a tour of vibrant Quito, nestled high in the Andes and surrounded by dramatic mountain views. You’ll take a guided walk in the well-preserved historic city center of Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Pass by the monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo and the church of La Campañía, representing an amalgam of indigenous art with Spanish, Italian, Moorish and Flemish styles. See Independence Plaza, the Carondelet Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Museo Casa del Albado. Then, encounter authentic Quito culture while visiting the bustling artisan stalls at San Roque on the slopes of Panecillo Hill. These highly skilled artisans are integral to Quito’s cultural heritage, passing down their knowledge and traditional methods for generations. Interact with the friendly artisans as you peruse intricately made textiles, wood carvings, jewelry, ceramics, instruments and Ecuadorean snacks and sweets.

Continue to the Middle of the Earth Museum by coach and alight the bus for a visit and walking tour. Both Quito, from Quitu, meaning “middle of the world,” and Ecuador, Spanish for “equator,” are named for their unique position in the middle of the world. The Equatorial Monument marks La Mitad del Mundo, latitude zero. Here you can straddle the equator, with one foot in each hemisphere, and learn fascinating facts about the indigenous people who have lived in the area throughout time. If time permits, stroll through the nearby colonial-style town with a central plaza and main boulevard, side streets, restaurants and shops.

This evening is at your leisure, including dinner on your own.

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to the Quito airport for your included flight to Baltra Island, Galápagos. Upon arrival, embark on Yacht La Pinta. Attend the Gohagan & Company Welcome Briefing and lifeboat drill, receive your cabin assignment and enjoy lunch on board as the yacht cruises for North Seymour Island.

Cruise to this nearby island, disembark the yacht by dinghy and make a landing on North Seymour for your first guided Galápagos nature walk. Despite its small size, this island boasts an incredible array of natural wonders. Scenic hiking trails meander along the coast and through low-lying vegetation inland for ideal coastline views and opportunities to spot indigenous and endemic wildlife. Look for playful sea lions swimming or lounging on the beach; Great and Magnificent frigatebirds with their bright red throat pouch inflated during mating calls; land iguanas sunbathing on rocks; and the famous and beloved Blue-footed boobies. You may choose to explore the coast aboard the dinghy today.

Back on board, meet and mingle over a welcome cocktail as the yacht departs North Seymour Island, followed by a delicious dinner this evening.

Enjoy breakfast this morning as the ship arrives at the northern tip of Isabela Island.

Punta Vicente Roca offers spectacular coastal scenery with its interplay of rocky cliffs and caves, turquoise water and lush green vegetation, and remnants of a partially collapsed volcanic crater. Accessible only by boat, with no landing allowed here, today’s exploration will be aboard a panga boat while naturalists point out the area’s dramatic geology as you enjoy the view. You’ll be awed by the number and variety of seabirds soaring above and nesting in the cliffs. Look for rare Flightless cormorants, Nazca and Blue-footed boobies, Brown pelicans and the delightful Galápagos penguins, one of the smallest penguins in the world. You may also see Galápagos marine iguanas, the world’s only sea-going lizard. Depending on ocean conditions, you may be able to snorkel along the cliffs among colorful reef fish, large sea turtles, Manta rays, sharks and playful sea lions.

Enjoy lunch aboard the yacht as it cruises for Fernandina Island, the youngest, third largest and most pristine island of the archipelago.

Fernandina Island is one the most active volcanoes in the Galápagos archipelago; its eruptions continue to shape the landscape of Punta Espinoza on the island’s northeastern coast. Arrive at this point on the northeast coast of Fernandina, known for its incredible wildlife and dramatic volcanic landscapes, and take a panga over to the island for a guided nature walk. Observe both the barrenness and the abundant wildlife here as you look for Galápagos hawks, Flightless cormorants, Sally Lightfoot crabs and large colonies of Galápagos marine iguanas swimming, feeding on algae in the water or basking in the sun on lava rocks.

Back aboard the yacht, relish some time to relax and enjoy dinner as we cruise for Isabela Island.

Arrive at Isabela Island this morning and disembark for your morning excursion after breakfast.

Located at the foot of Alcedo Volcano, Urbina Bay was created in 1954 when volcanic activity caused a dramatic uplift of the seafloor, raising it more than 16 feet above sea level, shaping the rugged terrain and supporting the area’s unique ecosystem. The result is a stark landscape where marine fossils, coral reefs and shells are visible on land, providing a glimpse into the region's geological history. Yet, Urbina Bay also boasts lush vegetation, including palo santo trees and scalesia shrubs that provide food and shelter for the resident wildlife. After making a landing here, enjoy a guided nature walk among one of the largest populations of land iguanas. You may see the large, yellow and brown lizards foraging for cactus pads and other vegetation. During certain seasons, giant tortoises migrate down from the highlands to Urbina Bay in search of food. Darwin’s finches and Galápagos Mockingbirds are often observed here.

Return to the yacht for lunch while we cruise for Tagus Cove.

Visit the secluded Tagus Cove, nestled on the northwest side of Isabela Island at the base of Darwin Volcano, named after Charles Darwin to acknowledge his contributions to science and the role the Galápagos Islands played in his discoveries. The cove’s sheltered, calm waters teeming with marine life are surrounded by dramatic, rugged cliffs of volcanic rock and volcanic formations that showcase the raw, untamed geology of the Galápagos. Make a landing for a guided uphill hike to Darwin Lake, a saltwater crater lake, taking note of the interpretive signs about the area’s geology, history and flora along the way. Once there, you’ll be awed by the stunning views of the cove and surrounding volcanic landscapes. The crater lake’s unique environment mirrors the type of ecosystems Darwin studied and found intriguing. Today, you can also snorkel or kayak from the yacht. Swim with sea turtles, tropical fish, sea lions and possibly penguins and rays as you snorkel. Or kayak along the rugged shoreline, getting close enough to look for seabirds nesting in the rocks and old graffiti carved into the rocks by pirates and whalers dating to the 1800s.

Return to the yacht and relish another delicious dinner on board.

After breakfast, disembark the yacht by boat and make a landing at Rabida Island’s red-colored beach. Take a leisurely stroll here to observe Galápagos mockingbirds and marine iguanas, petite Yellow warblers and several species of Darwin’s finches. Then, choose to either snorkel or take a glass-bottom boat ride to observe marine and plant life beneath the water.

Return to the yacht for lunch as we sail for Santa Cruz Island.

The north shore of Santa Cruz hosts the fascinating landscapes of Dragon Hill. After making a landing, our walk includes circling a brackish water lagoon frequented by lagoon birds. Further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western islands of the archipelago, as well as the chance to observe land iguanas.

Return to the yacht and enjoy the dinner and the evening at leisure.

Disembark the yacht and travel to Puerto Ayora to visit this campus for scientific research and conservation action focused on preserving the unique species, ecosystems and biodiversity of the Galápagos archipelago. The station leads efforts to protect endangered species, most famously the 12 species of Galápagos giant tortoise. These enormous prehistoric-like land creatures can weigh up to 500 pounds with a lifespan of up to 150 years. The station’s captive breeding program, initiated in the 1960s, has successfully increased populations of several subspecies, including the Española giant tortoise, reduced to only three males and 12 females in 1964. Today, more than 2,000 Española tortoises have been bred and returned to the island. During your tour, learn about the station’s important work, which encompasses the conservation and restoration of marine biodiversity and wildlife, plant species and land wildlife, environmental education and more. Plus, walk the grounds to observe the awe-inspiring giant tortoises and their babies!

Depart the station and drive up to the tortoise reserve in the Highlands of Santa Cruz for lunch.

The lush highlands of Santa Cruz — characterized by cooler, wetter conditions, scalesia forests, grassy meadows and volcanic formations — offer a stark contrast to the arid lowlands of the Galapagos islands. Giant Galapagos land tortoises roam, eat and drink freely in their ideal natural habitat at the Highlands Tortoise Reserve, which plays a vital role in the conservation and protection of the tortoises from threats such as invasive species and human encroachment. On a guided visit, you’ll see the tortoises up close (keeping a respectable distance) as they graze on vegetation, rest in mud ponds or lumber slowly along. Enjoy some additional time here for exploration on your own.

Return to the yacht to relax and relish another delicious dinner on board as we cruise for Floreana Island.

After breakfast, take a panga ride through the maze of channels on Floreana’s north shore to Baroness Cove, where the views of Floreana are breathtaking. Make a landing at Post Office Bay, a fascinating blend of history, culture and natural beauty. Take a guided walk to visit the iconic Post Office Barrel. Dating to the 18th century, this makeshift postal system was set up by whalers. Sailors, whalers and even pirates left letters or postcards in the barrel, which were then picked up by other sailors heading in the direction of the recipient's address. This tradition continues today as visitors leave and retrieve mail.

Enjoy lunch back aboard the yacht. You may also have time and the opportunity to snorkel or kayak.

Cruise to this small, uninhabited volcanic islet near Floreana’s northeast coast — celebrated for its pristine environment, vibrant marine life and role in conservation efforts. You can ride in the glass-bottom boat along the rugged coast here or snorkel in one of the Galapagos’ best snorkeling locations, known for the clear water’s high visibility. From the boat, you may spot red-billed tropicbirds, Nazca boobies and swallow-tailed gulls; and this islet is one of the last refuges for the critically endangered Floreana mockingbird. Snorkeling here, observe in vivid detail the vibrant coral reefs that attract diverse marine species. Continue to Punta Cormorant and make a landing on Olivine Beach, which has a striking greenish tint due to the presence of olivine crystals, a mineral derived from volcanic activity, in the sand. Set out on an easy walk to a brackish water lagoon, which is a vital habitat for flamingos and other water birds like stilts, pintails, pelicans and herons. The lagoon is one of the best places to observe Galápagos flamingos feeding in the wild. Continue to the other side of the island and arrive at a second beach with fine white sand composed of pulverized coral and a nesting site for green sea turtles who come ashore to lay eggs during their nesting season from December to May.

Return to the yacht and toast your epic Galápagos adventure during your final dinner and evening aboard Yacht La Pinta.

After breakfast aboard the yacht, disembark and transfer to the Baltra (Seymour) Airport for your included flight to Guayaquil. Arrive and transfer to the Hilton Colon Guayaquil Hotel, where day and overnight rooms have been reserved for all travelers.

After settling into the hotel, relax after your journey with time at leisure around the hotel and make your own dinner plans. For itinerary and restaurant recommendations, please visit the Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk in the hotel.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport for your return flights home.