Journey Travel DG

DAY 1, Sunday - Depart for Ecuador
Depart for Ecuador. Arrive in Quito, Ecuador's capital city, and transfer to your hotel
Please note flights may arrive in the very early morning of day 2.
Overnight: Quito ▲

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DAY 2, Monday - Full Day in Quito
Spend the day at leisure or join the optional Full Day Quito City Tour & Middle of the World with Lunch. Walk along the narrow cobblestone streets and feel the charm of 16th century Quito. See the Independence Plaza, the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, and the Archbishop's Palace before visiting La Compañia de Jesus Church, with its beautiful, gilded interior. Then, view the impressive façade and atrium of the Church and Monastery of San Francisco, one of the great religious buildings of the New World. Afterward, visit the Middle of the World Monument, located at a latitude of 0º, and stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern Hemisphere
Optional: Full Day Quito City Tour & Middle of the World with Lunch
Overnight: Quito
Meals: Breakfast

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DAY 3, Tuesday - Galapagos Islands, Baltra, Charles Darwin Research Station
Embark this morning on a journey to the "beginning of time" as you transfer to the airport for the flight to the Galapagos Archipelago of volcanic islands, five million years in the making. Arrive at Baltra Airport, meet your naturalist guides, and transfer by ferry to Santa Cruz Island. Continue by bus to El Chato Tortoise Reserve and see their natural habitat. Tortoises can be seen grazing on the vegetation, wallowing in muddy banks, or in the small red ponds. The area is teeming with wildlife, including woodpecker finches, mockingbirds, flycatchers, as well as ducks, herons, and gallinules. After lunch, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Fausto Llerena Giant Tortoise Breeding Center. Gain insight into the huge efforts being made by scientists, guides, rangers, and park managers to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to your hotel for an evening at leisure
Overnight: Galapagos
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

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DAY 4, Wednesday - North Seymour Island
Head by boat to North Seymour Island, which was lifted from the ocean floor by a seismic event. As you approach, notice the cliffs that are only a few feet high which form the shoreline, the swallow-tailed gulls sitting perched on ledges, and a tiny forest of silver-grey Palo Santo trees standing just above the landing. This island is teeming with life! You might have to give the right-of-way to a passing sea lion or a marine iguana. Along the way, you may see the famous Galapagos blue-footed booby nesting beside the trail, or spot flocks of pelicans in a feeding frenzy. Keep on the lookout for the magnificent frigatebird displaying its puffed-up scarlet throat sack, perched in low bushes watching over its chicks. Head to an isolated beach for a refreshing swim or snorkel
Overnight: Galapagos
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

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DAY 5, Thursday - Bartolomé Island
Travel by boat to the golden beaches of Bartolomé Island, dominated by the iconic Pinnacle Rock, an impressive towering lava structure that rises from the ocean's edge. View an astonishing array of wildlife including Galapagos penguins, sea lions, turtles, and a huge variety of fish. After snorkeling and swimming, option for a steep hike to the summit of this diminutive island with fantastic panoramic views of the archipelago
Overnight: Galapagos
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

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DAY 6, Friday - Flight to Quito
This morning, on your way to Baltra, stop at Los Gemelos (twin sinkholes) to view the great depressions of volcanic material formed by a long process of the sinking ground, and the exceptional view of Scalesia trees, ferns, mosses, and orchids. Then, proceed to the airport for your flight to Quito. Transfer to the hotel, where the remainder of the day is at leisure
Overnight: Quito
Meals: Breakfast

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DAY 7, Saturday - Depart Ecuador
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight*
*Some flights depart in the very early morning of day 7 and will require a transfer on day 6. Transfers depart the hotel approximately 4 hours prior to flight time.
Meals: Breakfast

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Due to the high elevation, travel in the Ecuadorian Andes may cause some passengers to experience the temporary effects of altitude sickness. If you have any concerns about traveling to higher than your accustomed elevation, please consult your healthcare provider.

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***Ecuador - Passport information must be submitted at least 60 days prior to departure. This information is necessary to issue the Galapagos Tourist Card.

 

***Ecuador and Galapagos - You may encounter mosquitoes in both urban and rural areas, especially during wet seasons. Travelers are encouraged to bring a good supply of insect repellent and consider wearing clothing that adequately covers arms and legs.

 

***Quito is situated at an altitude of 9,400 feet above sea level. Therefore, you should allow a few hours to adjust to the high altitude by resting and eating lightly. Other areas of Ecuador are also situated at high altitudes including Otavalo (8,400 feet), Papallacta (10,800 feet), and Patate (8,400 feet).
 

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