Ecuador & Galápagos: the Enchanted Isles — 9 days
Mainland Quito and exploring the Galápagos archipelago. Day-by-day itinerary: Arrival in Quito; Quito; Flight to the Galápagos; Santa Cruz highlands.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Quito
- 14:00 — Arrival in Quito
- 16:00 — Hotel check-in — Centre historique
- Walk into the historic centre — Centre historique → Quito
- 18:00 — Quito's Centro Histórico — Quito
Day 2 — Quito
- 09:00 — Mitad del Mundo — Équateur géographique
- Taxi to the centre — Équateur géographique → Quito
- 13:00 — TelefériQo — Quito
- Walk to the TelefériQo — Quito → Quito
- 20:00 — Dinner of Ecuadorian specialities — Mariscal
Day 3 — Flight to the Galápagos
- 08:00 — Flight Quito → Baltra Island (Galápagos)
- 11:00 — Ferry Baltra → Santa Cruz
- 13:00 — Hotel check-in — Puerto Ayora
- 15:30 — Charles Darwin Research Station — Puerto Ayora
Day 4 — Santa Cruz highlands
- 09:00 — El Chato giant tortoise reserve — Hautes terres de Santa Cruz
- Drive to the tunnels — Hautes terres de Santa Cruz → Santa Cruz
- 13:00 — Lava tunnels — Santa Cruz
- 19:30 — Dinner in Puerto Ayora
Day 5 — Plazas islets
- 08:00 — Boat trip to North Seymour or Plazas — Santa Cruz
- Boat to Plazas — Santa Cruz → Plazas
- 09:00 — Wildlife spotting: sea lions, frigatebirds, land iguanas — Plazas
- 13:00 — Snorkelling with sea lions — Plazas
- 16:00 — Back to Santa Cruz
Day 6 — Isabela Island
- 07:00 — Fast ferry to Isabela — Santa Cruz → Isabela
- Ferry to Isabela — Santa Cruz → Isabela
- 10:00 — Hotel check-in — Puerto Villamil
- Walk to the snorkelling spot — Puerto Villamil → Isabela
- 13:00 — Snorkelling at Los Túneles — Isabela
- 17:00 — Wall of Tears — Isabela
Day 7 — San Cristóbal Island
- 07:00 — Fast ferry to San Cristóbal — Isabela → San Cristóbal
- Ferry to San Cristóbal — Isabela → San Cristóbal
- 12:00 — Hotel check-in — Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
- Boat to Kicker Rock — Puerto Baquerizo Moreno → San Cristóbal
- 15:00 — León Dormido (Kicker Rock) — San Cristóbal
Day 8 — Back to Quito
- 09:00 — La Lobería beach — sea lions at daybreak — San Cristóbal
- 13:00 — Flight San Cristóbal → Quito
- 16:30 — Hotel check-in — Quito
- 20:00 — Farewell dinner — Quito
Day 9 — Departure
- 09:30 — Last shopping for Andean crafts — Quito
- 13:00 — Transfer to the airport
- 17:00 — Flight home