Galapagos Escape

7 days / 6 nights

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Cruise around the legendary Galapagos islands in the Santa Cruz II, and get up close and personal with giant tortoises, playful sea lions, penguins, flamingos, iguanas and more. Then, visit Quito and explore its many architectural wonders, take a ride on the Cable Car to get unparalleled views of the city, and visit the Middle of the World monument, where you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere of the Earth!

Key sights to see

Quito
Quito
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, resides high in the Andes at 2,850m above sea level, flanked by the impressive Pichincha Volcano. The city's key attractions are the beautifully preserved historic center, the botanical garden, the trendy neighborhoods of La Floresta and Guapulo, and the Middle of the World monument, located on the international Equatorial line!
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands
The legendary Galapagos Islands are Ecuador's main attraction. This vast archipelago of volcanic origin is home to abundant wildlife, carefully protected to showcase “time capsule” ecosystems, just as they were thousands of years ago! Giant tortoises, playful sea lions, blue-footed birds, turtles, penguins, flamingos and iguanas are just some of the memorable highlights.

Exciting and memorable things to do

Quito Historical City Tour
Quito Historical City Tour
Explore the best preserved colonial center of South America. Visit the Basilica del Voto Nacional, the San Francisco de Quito and La Compañia Church, and the Plaza Grande to see the Presidential Palace, the Catholic Cathedral, and the Archbishop's Palace. Visit other highlights such as the Panecillo, for an amazing 360 degree view of Quito.
Middle of the World Monument, Quito
Middle of the World Monument, Quito
The Middle of the World Monument is a must-see in Quito. Built to honor the French and Ecuadorian scientists who studied the curvature of the planet and determined the supposed location of the equator, this unique location allows you to take a picture with one foot in each hemisphere!
Cable Car (Teleferico)
Cable Car (Teleferico)
Ride the Cable Car (Teleferico) in Quito, one of the highest aerial lifts in the world, and enjoy a bird's eye view of one the world's highest cities, as you are swept along the eastern slope of the Pichincha Volcano. Once the gondola reaches the top, its possible to hike further up to the volcano's summit.
Visit to Bachas Beach
Visit to Bachas Beach
Visit Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz Island, a beautiful white sand beach made out of decomposed coral, and a popular nesting site for sea turtles. Walk to a small lagoon located right next to the beach, where Galapagos flamingos and other bird species like black-necked stilts can be seen, along with sea lions relaxing on the beach.
Buccaneer's Cove, Santiago Island
Buccaneer's Cove, Santiago Island
Explore Buccaneer's Cove, located at the northwest corner of Santiago Island, a place where sailors, pirates and whalers anchored their vessels to look for fresh water and food in the higher parts of the island. Nowadays, the eroded shoreline is home to seabirds, sea lions, and fur seals. Pelicans and Gulls use the rocks as feeding grounds and nesting sites.
Egas Port, Santiago Island
Egas Port, Santiago Island
Visit Egas Port, a beautiful black sand beach on Santiago island, and ‘El Crater’, a saltwater lagoon behind the beach that becomes a potential salt mine during the dry season. Walk along the shoreline and observe marine iguanas sunbathing on the rocks, while sea lions play in the water. Explore the series of sea caves at the end of the trail, a perfect resting place for fur seals and night heron.
Rabida Island
Rabida Island
Explore Rabida island, and its unique red colored rocks and beach. The volcanic material of the island is very porous and external factors such as rain, salt water, and sea breeze have oxidized the sand and rocks. Visit the east coast of the island, where sea lions bask in the morning sun, then walk to the lagoon behind the beach to spot flamingos, and birds like finches, doves, yellow warblers and mocking birds.
Bartolomé Island
Bartolomé Island
Visit Bartolomé, one of the most famous islands in the Galapagos, because of the stunning views from the highest point on the island of the island's amazing moonlike landscape of volcanic formations, contrasted by the blue ocean. Snorkel on the beach and view colorful fish, sea turtles and other marine species. From another part of the beach, you may spot white-tipped sharks swimming along the shoreline.
Prince Phillip's Steps, Genovesa Island
Prince Phillip's Steps, Genovesa Island
Visit Genovesa Island in the north of the Galapagos archipelago. Ride a dinghy to El Barranco, and walk up to Prince Phillip's Steps. After a steep climb, look out for several species of sea birds including storm petrels, red footed and masked boobies. Then continue the dinghy ride along the shoreline to view fur seals lions.
Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island
Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island
Ride ashore on a beautiful white coral sand beach at Darwin Bay, one of the favorite sites for bird watchers, given the abundance of species found here, from masked boobies to wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels, yellow-crowned and black-crowned lava herons and yellow warblers. Enjoy a wonderful hike to get a magnificent view of the area.
Giant Tortoise Reserve, Santa Cruz Island
Giant Tortoise Reserve, Santa Cruz Island
Visit the Giant Tortoise Reserve on Santa Cruz Island, and observe two species of giant tortoises in the wild, as they wander through the green fields and forests of Galapagos daisies, orchids and bromeliads.

Great places to stay

Casa Gangotena, Quito
Casa Gangotena, Quito

The most prestigious five-star hotel in Quito, Casa Gangotena, a fully-restored mansion with a rich history, overlooks the important San Francisco square. Finely-furnished rooms blend contemporary elegance with antique ambience, while the interior courtyard’s native flowers provide a tranquil retreat from the bustle of nearby streets. The hotel’s restaurants offer exemplary gourmet cuisine.

Santa Cruz Cruise Ship
Santa Cruz Cruise Ship

The Santa Cruz II, one of the newest vessels in the Galapagos, offers the perfect mix of comfort, style, and safety. With five spacious decks, and 50 single, double, and family cabins with chic interiors, the Santa Cruz can offer up to 90 guests unique tours of the Galapagos.

What’s Included
  • Airport transfers
  • Internal flights (Quito to Galapagos and back to Quito or Guayaquil)
  • Transportation in Quito & Galapagos
  • English speaking driver/guide (1-3 persons) or driver and guide (4+ persons)
  • Excursions and visits mentioned in the itinerary
What’s Not Included
  • International flights to and from Ecuador
  • Any excursions or meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Travel and/or Cancellation insurance
  • Transit Control Card (TCC) fee upon departure for Galapagos: 20 USD per person
  • Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee: 100 USD per person (50 USD per child under 12 years old)
  • Wetsuit or snorkeling gear
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