Arrive To: Arrive at Quito's international airport.

Proceed through Immigrations, Baggage Claim and Customs before exiting the secured area of the airport. The Road Scholar representative will be waiting outside the exit door with a Road Scholar sign (does not apply to independently arranged flights).

Transfer to the hotel and check-in.

Please note that this is an international travel day; no meals or program activities are scheduled on this day.

Lodging: Hilton Colon Quito Hotel

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.



Morning: Orientation to the program.

Visit El Panecillo for panoramic views of Quito.

Before the Spanish arrived, the hill known as El Panecillo (small bread roll) was used by the Inca for sun worshiping. In the early 1800s, the Spanish military took advantage of El Panecillo's strategic location and elevation (9,843 ft), and built a fortress to protect and monitor the city. In present times, the hill is the site of a city monument and lookout point where visitors can get 360° views of Quito. On clear days, it is even possible to spot Cotopaxi's snowy peak in the distance.

Enjoy a walking exploration of Quito's colonial center. Visit the Independence Square with an informative explanation of the Presidential and Bishop Palace, as well as the Cathedral. Visit La Compañía church, one of the most beautiful churches in Quito, legendary for its gold covered interior. Visit the historic San Francisco church and convent, raised up above a wide stone paved court originally known as "Tiangues," a place used by the indigenous inhabitants of Quito to trade products.



Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant including an introduction to Ecuadorian food products.



Afternoon: After lunch, we will leave Quito and travel in a northerly direction to visit the Museo Intiñan located on the Equator line, near the Middle of the World complex.

The Intiñan Museum has a permanent exposition that details the Andean cosmovision of Ecuador's ancestral cultures. Learn about the indigenous calendar and its accuracy. Visit an ancient home to find out about the way of life and traditions of indigenous people more than a century ago. Acquaint yourself with the important rituals of Amazonian tribes as you educate yourself about the cultures of Ecuador's Oriente region.

Lecture: Galapagos: A Natural Laboratory of Evolution and its Threats.



Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.



Lodging: Hilton Colon Quito Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos -
Flight to Galapagos.
Baltra and Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach)

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.



Morning: Transfer to airport.

Flight to Baltra Island (Galápagos).

Please note: There is a 44 lbs (20 kg) weight allowance for checked luggage on the flights to and from the Galápagos Islands. Passengers are also allowed a carry-on bag that can be stowed under the seat or in the overhead compartment.



Lunch: Light lunch on the flight.



Afternoon: Arrive to Baltra Island.

Baltra Island hosts one of the two available airports in the Galapagos Islands. The other airport is located on San Cristobal Island.

Meet your naturalist leader and transfer to the pier to board the yacht.

Welcome orientation and light snack.

Field trip to Playa las Bachas on Santa Cruz Island with a site lecture about local flora and fauna. Visit the the flamingo lagoon.

Bachas Beach is an important nesting site for sea turtles and a great place to look for migratory birds, pelagic species and flamingos.

Optional swimming and snorkeling.



Dinner: Dinner on board the yacht.



Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Lodging: Yolita II

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos -
Genovesa Island (Darwin's Bay & Prince Phillip's Steps)

Note: The visit to Prince Phillip's Steps (a.k.a. El Barranco) includes a challenging dry landing and ascending/descending many irregular stone steps. Participants will need to wear sturdy shoes that provide good traction.

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the yacht.



Morning: Wet landing in Darwin's Bay, Genovesa Island.

Genovesa's volcanic sea cliffs and salt bush offer a prime habitat for the birds of the Galápagos. Darwin Bay is the caldera of an extinct volcano which has been partially eroded and offers superb swimming and snorkeling.

Along the beaches and rocky alcoves, sea lions are the main stars. Females give birth in August and by September, while still nursing their young, begin searching for new mates. During this time, visitors should be particularly mindful of aggressive males fighting for territory and females protecting their young (pupping continues through November).

Optional swimming and snorkeling.



Lunch: Lunch on board the yacht.



Afternoon: Field trip to Prince Phillip's Steps (El Barranco), Genovesa Island for bird watching and site lecture.

Prince Phillip's Steps is a trail which leads up a steep rock staircase through squadrons of Frigatebirds and Red-billed Tropicbirds. Red-footed Boobies perch on the branches of Palo Santo trees, and Storm Petrels, which serve as prey for Short Eared Owls, are found in the open lava fields at the end of the trail. In March, male Frigatebirds can be seen displaying inflated red pouches in preparation for mating season in April. The endemic Short-eared Owl begins its mating rituals around June. August is a particularly active time, with large numbers of Red-footed Boobies congregating on the island while Nazca Boobies (aka Masked Boobies) and Swallow-tailed Gulls go about their nesting rituals.

Return to the yacht.



Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation of next day's activities.

Lodging: Yolita II

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the yacht.



Morning: Dry landing on Bartolomé for a hiking field trip up a dormant volcano with a site lecture.

View volcanic formations such as lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. From the summit, we will be able to enjoy post card views of Pinnacle Rock and nearby islands.

Pinnacle Rock, the "Guardian of the Isles" rises sharply from the coast of Bartolomé. The lunar-like landscape is home to one of the islands' most endearing residents: the Galapagos Penguin. The penguins make their home here, fishing in the waters nearby. During the start of the warmer season in January/February, many of the penguins migrate to the cooler waters at Isabela and Fernandina, but they return in August in time to begin their comical courtship rituals in September.



Lunch: Lunch on board the yacht.



Afternoon: Field trip: Wet landing on the white sand beach in Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island.

Enjoy a walking exploration of the lava flows to observe and learn about the island's fascinating geological features.

A volcanic eruption that took place on Santiago Island in the early 1900s formed huge lava flows in the area that is now Sullivan Bay. As the lava cooled off, it solidified into a black sheet of interesting shapes and textures that made their way to the sea. The rope-like lava seen on this island is called pahoehoe lava. Other interesting formations include lava bubbles and tree shapes; ghosts of Santiago's past. Few plant species have been able to root in this harsh environment.

While navigating around the island's craggy cliffs, search for seabirds such as American Oystercatchers that come here to nest in July. Travelers visiting Santiago in August should be on the lookout for Galápagos Hawks as they attempt to impress future mates with impressive acrobatic displays.

Green sea turtles come ashore in January to dig nests and lay eggs. By April and May, the hatchlings emerge and make their perilous journey to reach the sea before being scooped up by seabirds and other predators.



Dinner: Dinner on board the yacht.



Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Lodging: Yolita II

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos -
Isabela Island (Wetlands, Breeding Center & Wall of Tears)

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the yacht.



Morning: In the morning, visit the wetlands or Humedales. Study the flora of this unique ecosystem and look for shorebirds and waders. The lagoons attract many migrant birds--making this site one of the best water-bird areas in the islands. If birds are not your thing, do not fret--Isabela provides great opportunities for spotting the Galapagos' oftentimes elusive land iguanas. The large yellow reptiles begin their breeding season in January and by April, the eggs begin to hatch.

Another local attraction is the Wall of Tears, a historically important location where prisoners built a wall with lava blocks as punishment.

On the way back to the yacht, enjoy a field trip to the Breeding Center Arnaldo Tupiza, where visitors can view tortoises of different ages and sizes and learn about local captive breeding project.



Lunch: Lunch on board the yacht.



Afternoon: Afternoon excursion to Sierra Negra Volcano.

Isabela Island, the largest island in the archipelago, is made of a chain of five volcanoes which are periodically active. Volcano Wolf is the highest point on the island, and the archipelago, but Sierra Negra is the largest of the five major volcanoes on Isabela and in the Galápagos. Sierra Negra is a shield volcano, with a large and shallow caldera and relatively flat slopes. In October of 2005, it erupted after a period of seismic activity and lava from the eruption covered up to 14 square kilometers of the caldera floor. Both old and new lava formations can be spotted in the area including cinder cones, tuff cones, and spatter cones. Views from Sierra Negra's caldera are awe-inspiring and also provide visitors with good birding opportunities.



Dinner: Dinner on board the yacht.



Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Lodging: Yolita II

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos -
Isabela Island (Darwin's Salt Water Lagoon & Elizabeth Bay)

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the yacht.



Morning: Panga ride to Elizabeth Bay with site lecture: Marine Species of the Galápagos Islands.

While following the lower western edge of this large island, we will reach a site that is well known for its marine life. Elizabeth Bay is situated in the crook of Isabela's "arm" as it begins to bulge and form the southern portion of the island. This site is reached by boat and generally does not include land excursions. The bay is home to a large number of sea and shore birds, as well as marine turtles and rays. A short boat ride to the end of the bay, to the nearby Mariela Islands, is a nice option for those who wish to see Galápagos Penguins.

In July, whales and dolphins can sometimes be spotted swimming off Isabela's western coast.



Lunch: Lunch on board the yacht.



Afternoon: Dry landing on Isabela Island.

Learn about the eruption of five volcanoes that formed Isabela, the largest island in the archipelago. Hike the trail to Darwin's salt water lagoon and an excellent view of the lava fields and volcanic formations. Observe marine life during a dinghy ride while you search for the Galápagos Penguin.

Galápagos Penguins arrive in Isabela in February, searching for cooler waters. In August they return to Bartolome in preparation for mating season.

Optional swimming and snorkeling.

Return to the yacht.



Dinner: Dinner on board the yacht.



Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Lodging: Yolita II

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos -
Isabela (Urbina Bay) & Fernandina Islands (Punta Espinoza)

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the yacht.



Morning: Wet landing on Urbina Bay. Search for resident wildlife and observe the remains of a coral reef on land during a walk along the bay.

Urbina Bay is situated approximately two fifths of the way along Isabela's western coast. The flattened area of the bay exhibits signs of a coral reef on land; proof that the flat land we see today in that area was once uplifted from the sea. Cormorants, pelicans, marine iguanas, and Flightless Cormorants frequent this site in addition to marine turtles and rays which are sometimes seen swimming in the bay.



Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Field trip: Dry landing at Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island. During this afternoon hike, participants will have a chance to observe the island's unique volcanic formations and search for resident wildlife.

This young island is the third largest in the Galápagos and is also the westernmost; located next to Isabela Island. Fernandina has some of the most dramatic landscapes found in the archipelago. The aa and pahoehoe lava formations create a unique landscape and provide visitors with a great chance to study lava flows and the forces which gave birth to the Galápagos Islands. Although Punta Espinosa is better known for its large colony of marine iguanas (nesting behavior in March), one can also expect to see sea lions, Flightless Cormorants (nesting and courting in July) and Galápagos Penguins.

Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation of next day's activities and lecture.

Lodging: Yolita II

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos -
Santiago (Puerto Egas & Buccaneer Cove) & Rabida Island

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the yacht.



Morning: Wet landing on Espumilla Beach.

Playa Espumilla is located on the northwestern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay. During the last presence of the El Niño phenomenon, one of the two lagoons at this site underwent a process of sedimentation, which led to the disappearance of a resident colony of flamingos. The main attractions here are a palo santo forest, beach and the landscape. The beach is an important site for nesting marine turtles in January. By April and May, the hatchlings emerge and make their perilous journey to reach the sea before being scooped up by seabirds and other predators.

Visit Buccaneer Cove on Santiago's northwestern tip.

Navigate around the island's craggy cliffs searching for seabirds such as American Oystercatchers that come here to nest in July. Travelers visiting Santiago in August should be on the lookout for Galápagos Hawks as they attempt to impress future mates with impressive acrobatic displays. In the 17th and 18th centuries, pirates and whalers reportedly used the cove as a safe place to rest and load up on supplies such as water and food. During that time, passing ships released goats on the island in the hopes that they would multiply and be a source of food for subsequent voyages. However, without any natural predators to hold their numbers in check, the animals became feral and depleted most of Santiago's vegetation. In the 1970s the national park began an extermination program in an effort to eradicate feral goats, pigs, and cats in the islands.



Lunch: Lunch on board the yacht.



Afternoon: Wet landing on Rabida Island.

Also known as Jervis, this island has a dark red beach where visitors can view sea lions and nesting pelicans. A salt water lagoon located a small distance from the beach is home to flamingoes and the occasional white-cheeked pintail. Palo santo trees cover the island’s volcanic peak, which can be seen from a short trail (approximately ½ mile). July through September is a good time to observe brown pelicans nesting in the salty bushes. Boobies and 9 species of Darwin’s finches can also be observed.

Take a dinghy ride or snorkel above the reefs.

Return to the yacht.



Dinner: Dinner on board the yacht.



Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Lodging: Yolita II

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos -
Daphne Island
Flight to Guayaquil & Walk Along the Malecon

Breakfast: Breakfast on board the yacht.



Morning: Wet landing on Daphne Island, located off the coast of Santa Cruz.

The Daphne Islands can be found north of Santa Cruz Island and west of Seymour and Baltra. The larger of the two, Daphne Major, has retained its distinctive volcanic shape (tuff cone). It has a visitor landing site and a steep trail that leads to the top of the cone where Blue-footed Boobies and Masked Boobies like to nest. Red-billed Tropicbirds can be seen nesting in the rocky island walls.

Visit Mosquera Islet on your way back to Baltra.

Mosquera Islet is located between North Seymour and Baltra Islands, and is a convenient site to enjoy one last shore activity before heading to Baltra to catch a flight back to the mainland. The flat, sandy island attracts a large number of sea lions as well as shorebirds.

Return to the yacht for a farewell snack.

Sail to Baltra Island and transfer to the airport for flight to Guayaquil.

Lunch: Light lunch during the flight.

Afternoon: Arrive to Guayaquil.
Transfer to the hotel.

Afternoon walking excursion through the resurrected Malecon (waterfront).

Established along the banks of the Guayas River, Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city and most important port. The city underwent a transformation considered short of miraculous centered around a two mile riverfront walkway, or Malecon, with restored historic buildings, gardens, museums, stores, and restaurants.



Dinner: Farewell dinner at the hotel.

Evening: Depending on you airline carrier you will either check-out of the hotel and transfer to airport for late night / early morning flight or you will spend the night at the hotel and depart in the morning.

If you depart the evening of Day 10, you will not miss any activities.

Lodging: Hotel Oro Verde

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart From: Transfer to Guayaquil's José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport for flight to the U.S.

Note: Participants with independent travel arrangements and/or scheduled on later flights can keep their hotel rooms until check-out time on this day. Except for breakfast, all other meals are on your own on this day.



Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel restaurant (dependent on flight times).

Meals Included: Breakfast