Arrive To: Arrive at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, Ecuador.

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 (only applies to Road Scholar group flights).

Transfer to the hotel and check-in, followed by time at leisure.

Please note that this is an international travel day; no meals or program activities are scheduled on this day. Hotel check-in usually begins at 3PM.

Lodging: Hilton Colon Quito Hotel

Breakfast: Breakfast at 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 and typical Ecuadorian cuisine.

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

The IntinanMuseum 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 hotel.

Lodging: Hilton Colon Quito Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Flight to Baltra Island/Board Yacht/North Seymour.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to the airport for flight to the Galápagos Islands.
Depart for the Galápagos Islands.

NOTE: There is a 44 lb weight limit for checked luggage on the flights to the islands. Please pack accordingly.

Lunch: Light snack on the flight.

Afternoon: Arrive to Baltra Island.
Upon arrival you will be met by your naturalist guide and transferred to the yacht.

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

Board the vessel and enjoy an orientation and a light snack.

Our first activity in the Galapagos will be a visit to North Seymour Island (dry landing).

North Seymour is well known to birders. It has one of the most active seabird breeding colonies in the archipelago. Blue-footed boobies will oftentimes nest very near the trails, giving visitors the opportunity to get a closer view during the walks.

Optional swimming and snorkeling.

Return to the yacht.

*Please note: Actual cruise itinerary and islands visited are always subject to change by the Galapagos National Park. Itineraries are not guaranteed.



Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day’s activities.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Genovesa Island (Darwin's Bay and El Barranco).

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Dry landing on Genovesa Island at Darwin's Bay.

Genovesa is a great place for a bird watching walk plus optional swimming or snorkeling. The island's volcanic sea cliffs and salt bush offer a prime habitat for the birds of the Galapagos. Darwin Bay is the caldera of an extinct volcano which has been partially eroded and offers superb swimming and snorkeling.

Return to the yacht.



Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Visit El Barranco (a.k.a Prince Phillip's Steps) on the southern part of Darwin's Bay, Genovesa Island.

The youngest area of the island, from a geological point of view, lies in this area. The cliffs located in the south are composed of very fragile lava. The natural erosion that has occurred in these lava flows has become the ideal place for nesting Storm Petrels. Two species of petrels can be seen here, nesting in cavities and holes in the lava. One is the Wooden Petrel, which feed during the night, and the other is the endemic Galapagos Petrel that is active during the day. During the panga rides along the cliffs, look for fur seals and several species of seabirds.

Return to the yacht.



Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Santiago Island (Sullivan Bay) and Rabida Island.

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Wet landing at Sullivan Bay.
Enjoy a walking field trip to observe the unique geological features of this island. Good walking shoes are a must--the volcanic terrain is sharp and rough.

Santiago, or San Salvador, is the fourth largest island in the Galapagos. A volcanic eruption that took place 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 its 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.

Optional swimming and snorkeling.

Return to the yacht.



Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Wet landing on Rabida Island.

This afternoon, spend time on one of the most colorful and volcanically varied islands in the archipelago, Rabida (Jervis) Island. It's famous maroon sandy beach and stunning lookouts provide wonderful landscapes and it is also a great snorkeling site. The island is a birdwatcher's delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance, such as nine varieties of finches, Large-billed Flycatchers, Galapagos Hawks and Brown Pelicans.

Optional swimming and snorkeling activities.

Return to the yacht.



Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation of the next day's activities.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Santa Cruz Island (Charles Darwin Research Station and Garrapatero Beach).

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Dry landing on Santa Cruz Island and field trip to the Charles Darwin Research Station.

The Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) is a biological research station operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation. The objective of the CDRS is to conduct scientific research and environmental education for conservation. The Station has a team of over a hundred scientists, educators, volunteers, research students and support staff from all over the world. At the CDRS you will be able to observe giant tortoises at all stages of growth, from a few days to close to one hundred years old!

Travel to the mist-shrouded highlands of Santa Cruz Island to view Los Gemelos ("The Twins") craters.

The twin craters found at the highest point on Santa Cruz are actually giant sinkholes, and do not owe their existence to volcanic activity. They were created by erosion and the collapse of surface material into cracks and underground caves. Scalesia forests surround the sinkhole and are home to unique cloud forest vegetation.

Return to the yacht.



Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Afternoon visit to Garrapatero Beach (dry landing).

El Garrapatero is an attractive beach located on the north side of Santa Cruz Island. Surrounded by mangroves and blessed with a fresh water lake, the site is a favorite hangout for flamingos and all nature of shore birds. Good water visibility and plentiful marine life make this a nice spot for snorkelers.

Optional swimming and snorkeling activities.

Return to the yacht.



Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Santa Cruz Island (Cerro Dragon and Eden Islet).

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Dry landing on Santa Cruz and walk on trails up to the lookout on Cerro Dragon.

Cerro Dragon ("Dragon Hill"), located on a northwestern corner of Santa Cruz, was named after a colony of land iguanas that inhabited the site in the 1970s. Flamingoes and shorebirds seasonally visit the lagoons in search of shrimp, appearing in larger numbers during the dryer season when the crustaceans are more plentiful. The rocky beach provides good snorkeling opportunities when the tide is high.

Return to the yacht.



Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Navigate the waters of Eden Islet to view wildlife. Optional swimming and snorkeling.

Return to the yacht.



Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Floreana Island (Post Office Bay, Punta Cormorant and Devil's Crown).

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Wet landing at Post Office Bay.

The infamous Post Office Bay can be found on the northern side of Floreana Island. This is the site where whalers used to "mail" their correspondence. A barrel was used as a makeshift postbox, and held letters from sailors across the globe. If a passing ship happened to be heading where the mail was addressed to, the captain would collect and deliver it. Although the barrel is no longer the original one, the system still works since visitors continue to collect and drop off their letters and postcards.

Return to the yacht.



Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Wet landing on Floreana Island at Punta Cormorant.

Floreana Island is the sixth largest island in the archipelago. It has a colorful history, with varying accounts of how the island was settled and how its first residents (German immigrants) died or mysteriously disappeared. The only family remaining from the original settlements are the Wittmers who continue to live on the island.

A wet landing at Punta Cormorant will take us through a beach of greenish sand where sea lions like to congregate. The beach?s unusual color is a result of the olivine crystals present in the sand. From here, a trail leads us to a lagoon where flamingoes can be found wading with other birds such as oystercatchers, and Black-necked Stilt. A white sandy beach near the lagoon is good for swimming and is sometimes used by turtles as nesting site.

Optional swimming and snorkeling activities at Devil's Crown.

Return to the yacht.



Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Espanola Island (Suarez Point and Gardner Bay).

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Dry landing at Punta Suarez.

Our walking exploration will take us over loose boulders and challenging rocky ground as we make our way to view nesting boobies and the famous blowhole.

Punta Suarez, on the western side of Espanola Island, is home to the Galapagos Hawk and the red form of the Marine Iguana. Espanola is also the breeding site of most of the archipelago's Waved Albatrosses, so be on the look-out for these large and graceful flyers!

Return to the yacht.



Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Wet landing at Gardner Bay.

Gardner Bay is situated on Espanola's eastern coast. Its beautiful white sand beach is usually dotted with sunbathing sea lions. The soft sand and clear waters make this a perfect location for snorkeling and swimming.

Optional swimming and snorkeling activities.

Return to the yacht.



Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Guayaquil -
San Cristobal Island (Interpretation Center)/Flight to Guayaquil/Walk Along the Malecon.

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Dry landing on San Cristobal Island and visit to the Interpretation Center.

San Cristobal Island, also known as Chatham Island, is one of the oldest islands in the archipelago and the first island visited by Darwin during his famous voyage on the HMS Beagle in 1835. It is also the easternmost and the fifth largest island in the Galapagos, covering an area of 558 square kilometers. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, located on the southwestern side of San Cristobal, is the provincial capital and the second largest populated area in the Galapagos.

Transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Guayaquil.



Lunch: Light snack on the flight.

Afternoon: Arrive in Guayaquil and transfer to the hotel.

Late afternoon excursion to the Malecon (river walk).

A revitalization project in the 1990s reshaped Guayaquil, turning it into a beautiful and vibrant city with many tourist attractions. The two mile river walk along the Guayas River, known as the Malecon, has become a favorite spot for locals and tourists to take a stroll and visit restaurants, art galleries, stores, and museums.

Return to the hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Oro Verde

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart From: Transfer to the international airport to check-in for flights back to the U.S.

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

Meals Included: Breakfast