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Galapagos Islands Holidays - Hotels + Flights: Santa Cruz + San Cristobal + Isabela

Ecuador: Quito + Galapagos (on land)
ERB10Q
10 NIGHTS
FROM $4,543
Per person sharing
Flights quoted separately
Galapagos Islands Holidays Hotels Flights Santa Cruz San Cristobal Isabela

If you do not want an expedition cruise, enquire about our Galapagos Islands holidays, with hotels & flights to Santa Cruz island, combined with yacht excursions to Bartolomé & Sullivan Bay, North Seymour & Bachas, South Plaza and Sante Fe islands. Also visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre and the Giant Tortoise Reserve. It is also possible to stay on San Cristobal or Isabela island.

Galapagos Islands Holidays Hotels Flights Santa Cruz San Cristobal Isabela
• 
Galapagos Islands Holidays
• 
Hotels & Flights
• 
Quito
• 
Santa Cruz Island
• 
South Plaza by Yacht
• 
Bartolomé + Sullivan Bay
• 
North Seymour + Bachas
• 
Santa Fe Island
• 
Isabela Island
• 
San Cristobal & Isabela options
• 
Galapagos Islands Holidays
• 
Hotels & Flights
• 
Quito
• 
Santa Cruz Island
• 
South Plaza by Yacht
• 
Bartolomé + Sullivan Bay
• 
North Seymour + Bachas
• 
Santa Fe Island
• 
Isabela Island
• 
San Cristobal & Isabela options
Day 1
You will be met at Quito Airport and transferred to your hotel in this historic Spanish colonial city that straddles the equator and is today a World Heritage Site.
 
Check in and relax in this capital city in the Andean Highlands, with its many museums, monasteries and churches with golden altars. The prosperous centre of the Kingdom of Quitu during the 13th century, and later the northern capital of the Inca Empire, it has a setting that few cities in the world can match.
Day 2
Today enjoy a full day private tour of Quito, starting with a visit to the equatorial monument that marks the Centre of the World at latitude 0º - about 16 miles (25 km) north of Quito.
 
Here you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere and visit the Intiñan folk museum that showcases the different Native American groups living in Ecuador, their culture and traditions. There is also a colonial-style tourist village complete with main square, church, post office, bullring and gift shops.
 
Afterwards enjoy a Quito City Tour, walking through the cobbled streets and main square of the historic Colonial Quarter - the largest and best preserved in South America. Take in its magnificent colonial architecture as you stroll along Independence Plaza - including the Cathedral, President's Palace, Archbishop's Palace and the Municipal Building.
 
You will see many mansions, monasteries and churches including the spectacular Church of the Society of Jesus ('La Compañía de Jesús) with its awesome gilded interior and the Monastery of San Francisco. This is one the of greatest religious buildings of the New World, with its impressive façade and atrium leading to a Moorish-influenced baroque interior and winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. This lovely city also has many cosmopolitan galleries and boutiques filled with contemporary paintings, sculptures and exquisite traditional crafts.
 
Your day ends with a ride on the TelefériQo (cable car) from where you can view at least four snow-capped volcanoes.
 
Note: Quito is situated at high altitude (9,350 ft / 2,850 m), so walk slowly. As you will be visiting churches (except on Sundays, when this is not permitted), do not wear shorts or mini-skirts as these are not allowed.
Day 3
At leisure to explore more of the historic city of Quito independently.
 
You can visit the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, explore the local market and other local sites.
Day 4
This morning transfer to Quito Airport for your flight to the spectacular Galapagos Islands, with a touch down in Guayaquil.
 
This magnificent archipelago is situated on the equator in the Pacific Ocean some 560 miles (900 km) west of the Ecuador mainland. Its volcanic islands are famous for their vast number of endemic species, studied by Charles Darwin during his historic voyage on the Beagle, which contributed to his Theory of Evolution. In this astonishing marine reserve, the unique wildlife does not seem perturbed by human visitors - allowing for extremely close-up encounters.
 
On arrival you will be met at Baltra Airport and transferred 15-minutes by ferry and 1-hour by road to your hotel on Santa Cruz Island.
 
Along the way we stop in the highlands to visit a Giant Tortoise Reserve to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat - a once in a lifetime experience. The reserve is on the migration path tortoises take every year as they move to moister higher locations during the dry season (June-September) before descending again to the warmer lowlands during the wet season. Tortoises can be seen grazing on the vegetation, or wallowing in muddy banks and small red-coloured ponds all year round. The area is teeming with birdlife including chirping small-tree, large-tree and woodpecker finches, mockingbirds and flycatchers, as well as ducks, herons and gallinules.
 
Afterwards you will be dropped off at your hotel in Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galápagos Islands.
 
Note: Wear suitable outdoor clothing including closed shoes and long socks, as your visit to the Tortoise Reserve may require the use of boots, which will be provided if necessary.
Day 5
Rise early today for an exciting full day excursion to explore one of the nearby Galapagos Islands by yacht, accompanied by an experienced naturalist guide.
 
Depending on the weekly schedule of the National Park Authority, you will visit one of the following islands:
North Seymour Island and Bachas Beach
South Plaza Island and Carrion Point
Sante Fe Island
Bartolome Island and Sullivan Bay.
 
Lunch is included onboard the yacht, with the opportunity to enjoy swimming and snorkelling in these crystal clear waters.
Day 6
This morning enjoy a full day shared excursion to the Charles Darwin Research Station and Tortuga Bay.
 
The Darwin Centre has a giant tortoise breeding centre situated in a prickly pear cactis forest that is home to many birds and land iguana. Diego is now their most famous giant tortoise, following the death of Lonesome George in 2013. This is the headquarters of the Galapagos National Park's administration, where much important scientific and conservation work is done.
 
After an included lunch, we walk to Tortuga Bay on the south coast. This is a great birding walk through an arid deciduous forest. Remember to take the essentials: hat, sunscreen, binoculars, camera and water bottle. When you reach Tortuga Bay you will understand why this is often referred to as Ecuador's most beautiful beach - with over one kilometre of snow-white sand and turquoise waters, with the never-ending sound of the swells caressing the island.
 
Protected by a natural lava barrier, this large calm bay is surrounded by a gallery of mangroves that provide an ideal habitat for many different marine and terrestrial birds, as well as young sharks and rays who spend their youth in these protective, mildly bracky conditions. These are nesting grounds for sea turtles and you should also see foraging marine iguanas and sea lions. Activities include swimming, snorkelling and sea kayaking in these calm clear waters.
Day 7
Rise early today for an exciting full day excursion to explore one of the nearby Galapagos Islands by yacht, accompanied by an experienced naturalist guide.
 
Depending on the weekly schedule of the National Park Authority, you will visit one of the following islands:
North Seymour Island and Bachas Beach
South Plaza Island and Carrion Point
Sante Fe Island
Bartolome Island and Sullivan Bay.
 
Lunch is included onboard the yacht, with the opportunity to enjoy swimming and snorkelling in these crystal clear waters.
Days 8 To 9
At leisure to enjoy more of the flora and fauna of magnificent Santa Cruz Island.
 
You can relax on a white sandy beach and swim, snorkel and kayak in crystal clear waters full of marine life.
Day 10
Transfer to Baltra Airport for your flight to Guayaquil.
 
You will be met at Guayaquil Airport and transferred to your hotel.
Day 11
Transfer to Guayaquil Airport for your flight home.