7 Night Wild Galapagos Escape Cruise and Land Tour from Guayaquil

You arrive in Ecuador, either in Quito, Ecuador's capital city in the Andes, or in the coastal city of Guayaquil, for an included transfer to your convenient hotel for an overnight stay. Both cities are well-served by international carriers, and Galapagos flights start and end in Quito with a stop in Guayaquil. Guests in Guayaquil stay at the Hotel del Parque, a 44-room Relais & Chateaux hotel set along the river in lush tropical gardens. And in Quito guests have the choice of several hotels including a convenient airport hotel. You may opt to reserve additional hotel nights and tours in Quito or Guayaquil.

Fly to Baltra in the center of Galapagos, a little world unto itself in the Tropical Pacific. We are welcomed by our naturalist staff and start exploring the islands.

Listed below is a sample of islands we may visit during our expedition. Our expeditions begin and end at Baltra and include visits to Isla Santa Cruz and a careful selection of diverse islands. No two days are alike. Each of our itineraries offers an optimal balance of wildlife, landscapes, and experiences. All ship itineraries are subject to Galapagos National Park regulations. North Seymour: Look for nesting frigatebirds, plus land and marine iguanas, and enjoy a beautiful coastal walk. Santa Cruz: Head to the lush, green highlands to look for giant tortoises roaming in the wild. Isabela: Toast crossing the Equator at Volcan Ecuador, northernmost of Isabela's six great shield volcanoes. Keep an eye open for whales and dolphins as we ply these nutrient-rich waters, once the haunt of whalers and pirates. Fernandina: One of the most active oceanic volcanoes in the world, Fernandina is the youngest and most pristine island in Galapagos-and home to the strange flightless cormorant and the largest marine iguanas. San Cristobal: Search for red-footed boobies and the endemic mockingbird and lava lizard-found only on this easternmost island. Espanola: Located in the extreme southeast of the archipelago, this island is home to swallow-tailed gulls, Espanola mockingbirds, Nazca boobies, and seasonally, the world's only population of waved albatrosses at Punta Suarez. Floreana: Follow a trail past a rose pink-tinted lagoon frequented by flamingos. Snorkel among sea lions and abundant fish, or cruise along Champion Islet by Zodiac. Visit the famous wooden barrel at Post Office Bay, and learn about its unusual postal system.

Disembark this morning for a return flight to the mainland, where we transfer to the Hotel del Parque in Guayaquil. In Quito, there are several hotel options. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. You may be able to take advantage of overnight flights home. Ask your expedition specialist about joining a culturally rich post-voyage extension to Quito and Otavalo, a celebrated market town.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board flights home, unless you have arranged for additional nights or an extension.