As soon you arrive to Quito an airport representative will be waiting for you at your airplane gate; he will assist during the migration and customs procedures. After customs a Link Experiences representative will be waiting for you with a special welcome gift and to accompany you during the transfer from the airport to hotel. Quito’s airport is located 45 minutes away from the main city.

After breakfast, your local guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to visit the Middle of the World Monument, situated at 0o0’0” latitude. Take a picture with your feet on both hemispheres! Continue the tour to the Intiñan Museum where you can see various demonstrations of natural phenomena, gravity and balance manifested in the equatorial zone. This is a really fun and interactive museum. Afternoon at leisure.

After breakfast, discover Quito’s beautiful Historic Center, named World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Quito is a city with a rich history, hiding the most fascinating legends, forbidden love stories, political insurrection plans, and more. Learn about the different architecture styles in the Old Town, stroll through cobblestoned streets and meet some artisans who’ve kept traditions alive for centuries. Take a private visit to La Compañia, San Francisco and Basilica churches and experience an exclusive tasting of the best chocolate in the world! Afternoon at leisure. Meals included: breakfast

Private transfer to the airport for your flight to Galapagos Domestic flight to Galapagos Transfer to the cruise for introductory briefing and lunch Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station After driving down from the highlands, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest home to many land birds. These are the headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the National Park administration. Late afternoon we stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora before embarking on Yacht Isabela II. We review the expeditions plan for next day, and enjoy the Captain’s welcome cocktail and dinner. Meals included: All meals

Santa Fe Island A stunning anchorage provides our jumping-off point for our visit to this sandy white beach with many sea lion harems. Galapagos hawks are often easily observed, perched atop salt bushes. The endemic land iguana, unique to this island, may be spotted during the walk. Snorkelling from our skiffs, kayaking or a ride in our glass-bottom boat rounds off the rewarding experience. South Plaza The turquoise waters here contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline, while a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus beyond, populated by Galapagos land iguanas. Keep an eye open for the remarkable beaks of cactus finches. Along the coastline one finds sea lion colonies, while sea birds play with the thermals that form along the cliffs of this small but amazing island. Meals included: All meals

North Seymour Island The morning starts with an enjoyable walk along the coast and the interior of this island, a favourite of many visitors, observing numerous bird colonies as well as sea lions and marine iguanas. There are opportunities for snorkelling and coastal exploration with chances of spotting fur seals along the rocky coastline. This uplifted island is also home to a nesting colony of frigatebirds, and provides great views of the surrounding islands due to its central location in the archipelago. Las Bachas (Santa Cruz Island) After WWII, US military barges were beached and abandoned here. Locals referred to the beach as the “barges” beach, a name that morphed to “bachas”. Today it is an important nesting area for the east Pacific green sea turtle. Located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, it is a glorious white beach, with several brackish lagoons only a few steps away from the sea. These lagoons are the feeding grounds of various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos. We can swim and/or snorkel from the beach. In the evening, Thursday’s expedition plan briefing and dinner. Meals included: All meals

Bartolome Island This morning, a Galapagos icon awaits for us: Bartolome Island. A great way to start the day, with a steep climb up a wooden staircase: the view from the top is worth the effort! Following the walk, we take the dinghies for a ride around colossal Pinnacle Rock, followed by time to enjoy the beach and do some snorkelling. Explore the shores and look for Galapagos penguins too. We can also ride in the glass-bottom boat for great views of the underwater world. Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island) After lunch, we get on board the pangas to land at Sullivan Bay on the east coast of Santiago, a white coral sand beach great for swimming with a trail over a lava field that flowed here a little over 120 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of Galapagos while observing its wildlife. Many label this location as an open textbook of geologic wonders. Meals included: All meals

After breakfast, disembar at San Cristóbal Island. Transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Quito Domestic flight Assistance at the airport and transfer to your hotel close to the airport in Quito Meals included: Breakfast

Your private driver and transportation will pick you up to transfer you to the international airport. Assistance at the airport for international flight. Meals included: Breakfast