Enjoy the sightseeing and spectacular views in Quito, then board your cruise for an unforgettable excursion through the Galápagos archipelago, where you’ll discover some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. Splash through the waves near sea lions, snorkel with sea turtles and swim with penguins as you hop from island to island. This Ecuador tour will bring you to one of the last pristine wildernesses on Earth, and with the help of your expert naturalist guide, you’ll uncover the secrets of islands that seem to belong to another world.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Quito

Your journey begins with a regularly scheduled flight to Ecuador. Arrive late this evening in Quito, where a Go Ahead representative greets you as you clear customs. You will then be escorted to your hotel and assisted with check-in.

Day 2 - Quito

Your Tour Director leads this morning’s sightseeing tour of Quito. Take in spectacular views of the Valley of Tumbaco before passing by the Legislative Palace, Independence Square and El Sagrario Church. Stop to view the 16th-century San Francisco Monastery en route to La Compañia, the city’s exquisite baroque church. After your tour, you’ll have an included excursion to the Equatorial Line Monument, where you can stand with one foot on either side of the equator. Meet your fellow travelers at this evening’s included dinner.
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Included entrances: Equatorial Line Monument

Day 3 - Quito

Enjoy a free day in Quito. Alternatively, join a full-day optional Otavalo excursion to the traditional crafts market of Otavalo, stopping at some of the Indian villages along the way.
Included meals: breakfast

$69 CAD

Otavalo Early this morning, you’ll travel through the town of Guayllabamba en route to Cayambe, where you’ll visit the Quitsato Reloj, a towering sundial. Next, you’ll visit the famous Mira Lago overlook for spectacular views of Imbabura, an inactive volcano revered by the locals since antiquity. Then, you’ll wind your way through the Andes to Otavalo, a market town known not only for its high-quality knitted and leather goods but also for its fascinating history. In Otavalo, you’ll have the opportunity to peruse the market and visit a local musical instruments factory before enjoying local delicacies during an included lunch at a community-owned restaurant.

Day 4 - Quito

Explore Quito on your own today, or opt to join an excursion to Antisana Volcano in the pristine beauty of the Condor Bioreserve. You’ll discover a wealth of flora and fauna living in the shadow of Antisana’s snow-capped peak.
Included meals: breakfast

$49 CAD

Antisana Volcano Visit Antisana National Park and marvel at Antisana Volcano, part of the Condor Bioreserve. Take in the rich variety of flora and fauna that live near this snowy peak. The southeastern portion of Antisana is the "old volcano," which comprises two-thirds of the structure and has been reshaped by glacial action. A boxed lunch is included with today’s excursion.

Day 5 - Galápagos Islands

This morning, fly to Baltra, where you’ll embark on your cruise. After getting setlled in your cabin and enjoying lunch on board, you’ll cruise across the narrow channel separating Baltra from Santa Cruz Island. Here, you’ll make a wet landing in Ballena Bay. You can cavort with the iguanas and cormorants on Ballena Bay’s olive-green beaches or grab a snorkel and dive into the Pacific!
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 - Galápagos Islands

This morning marks the beginning of your exploration of Isabela Island, the largest in the Galápagos. You’ll make landfall on the western side of the island at Punta Moreno, where lava flows and mangrove swamps meet the sea. Sea turtles and flamingoes call Punta Moreno home, and you might catch a glimpse of them before this afternoon’s trip up Isabela’s coast to Elizabeth Bay, where flightless cormorants hunt for fish and raise their young. A small boat excursion will take you close to the shore, where you’ll also spot the rare Galápagos penguin.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 - Galápagos Islands

Set foot on the black sands of Urbina Bay this morning, where you’ll have the opportunity to snorkel with the sea turtles that swim just off shore. Or, stay on land and pay a visit to the giant tortoises that live on the slopes of the nearby Alcedo volcano. This afternoon, your naturalist guide leads a walking tour near Tagus Cove, where you’ll learn about the geological history of the Galápagos and see the blue-footed boobies that nest here. Your tour of Tagus Cove concludes with a dinghy ride and the option of deep sea snorkeling.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8 - Galápagos Islands

The forces of volcanism are on full display during this morning’s visit to Punta Espinosa. You’ll witness dramatic lava flows and the millennia-long processes by which these lands became the home of marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs and the fearless Galápagos hawk. This afternoon, a dinghy ride brings you to Vicente Roca Point and the Bolívar Channel. If you haven’t snorkeled yet, now is the time: the cold waters of the Cromwell Current well up in the Bolívar Channel and attract dolphins and whales to this narrow strait.
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9 - Quito

This morning, you’ll return to Baltra and board your flight back to the mainland. If you are continuing on to Peru, you’ll have some time to rest before boarding your evening flight to Lima. Otherwise, enjoy a final evening to explore Quito.
Included meals: breakfast

Day 10 - Quito

A Go Ahead representative escorts you to the airport for your flight home.
Included meals: breakfast
(In the case of early morning departures, breakfast may not be provided.)