Ecuador & Galápagos Discovery: Andes Culture & Island Cruise – 10 Nights

Welcome to Quito! America’s largest, best-preserved colonial city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. Day trip available by request.

Overnight in Quito

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands.

Upon arrival at Baltra Island, you will be welcomed by your naturalist guide and transferred to the elegant Yacht.

After settling into your cabin, enjoy your first lunch onboard while navigating through the archipelago.

Afternoon Excursion:

Visit Bachas Beach, a pristine white-sand beach where you may encounter flamingos, marine iguanas, and sea turtles nesting in season. This is also an excellent introduction to snorkeling in the Galápagos waters.

Return to the yacht for a briefing and welcome cocktail as your expedition officially begins.

Overnight onboard cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will visit one of the most spectacular and remote islands in the archipelago: Genovesa Island.

Morning:

Land at El Barranco (Prince Philip’s Steps), where a steep staircase leads to a plateau filled with nesting seabirds. This site is world-renowned for its populations of red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and frigatebirds.

Afternoon:

Explore Darwin Bay, a stunning natural amphitheater formed by a collapsed volcanic caldera. Walk along sandy trails surrounded by thousands of seabirds and enjoy optional snorkeling in calm waters.

This day offers one of the richest wildlife experiences of the entire journey.

Overnight onboard cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning:

Visit South Plaza Island, known for its dramatic cliffs and vibrant vegetation. Observe land iguanas resting beneath cactus trees and sea lions lounging along the shore.

Afternoon:

Continue to Santa Fé Island, home to a unique species of land iguana and a forest of giant prickly pear cacti. Enjoy one of the best snorkeling opportunities of the cruise, with chances to swim alongside sea lions and colorful fish.

Overnight onboard cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning:

Punta Pitt is considered as one of the most beautiful and impressive sites in the Galápagos, and a favorite nesting site for seabirds. In our morning visit we will be able to see both species of frigate birds and boobies, and their nesting sites in the same area. Then we will return to the yacht for lunch.

Afternoon:

We will navigate towards Kicker Rock an impressive rock formation known locally as ‘León Dormido’ where we will circumvallate around the huge rock formation, giving as the possibility to see a multitude of blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, pelicans and sea birds that will delight us with their majestic flights to be photographed.

Later we head towards Isla Lobos, an islet separated from San Cristóbal Island by a narrow stretch of calm waters. On the islet we will take a walk that will allow us to observe frigates, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, a colony of sea lions and we will also be able to snorkel in the arm of the sea, probably with the company of sea lions and different kinds of colorful fish. The atmosphere is one of tranquility and primitive beauty, a typical environment of the Galapagos Islands.

Overnight onboard cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning:

In the morning, our guide will take us to the top of San Cristóbal Island. Following, our tour has 2 options. The first option starts from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and involves a visit to the El Junco Lagoon. For hundreds of years, rainwater and condensation have caused an accumulation of water in the caldera of an extinct volcano, creating a paradise for frigate birds.

Then, we will visit the D. Rodriguez (Cerro Colorado) Tortoise Breeding Center. There we will have a pleasant walk along a path that allows us to be in close contact with the giant Galapagos tortoises, which can vary from the smallest to the oldest of giants.

Finally, we will visit the beautiful place known as Puerto Chino where we will find sea lions, eventually we will observe marine turtles and also observe blue footed boobies.

Afternoon:

The Interpretation Center of San Cristobal is located on the outskirts of the small town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital city of the Galápagos province. The center will give us an introduction to the islands, and their natural and human history.

A short 30-minute walk starts from the interpretation center and takes you to the top of “Cerro Tijeretas” hill to enjoy a spectacular sight of the surrounding geographical formations of the Pacific Ocean including the famous Kicker Rock. The hill is often visited by Frigate birds that nest there in certain seasons of the year. From the hill we will descend into a small cove known as Punta Carola, where we will observe a colony of sea lions.

At night guests who want to disembark can go into the city for a walk and maybe have a drink at one of the local bars.

Overnight onboard cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning:

Punta Suárez: A destination of great interest due to the incredible abundance of birds and endemic species like the Española Mockingbird, which has a distinctively longer and curved beak than variations found on other islands; the Galápagos lava lizard; the marine iguana of the venustissimus subspecies; and more. We can also observe seagulls and other tropical birds that live on the rocky slopes. Among the more interesting attractions of the island is the waved albatross, as the entire world population of this species comes to breed here between March and December. Punta Suarez is one of the most sought-after land visits of the Galapagos, where we can find hundreds of Nasca boobies, colonies of sea lions, large colonies of marine iguanas and different species of birds, which can be seen doing their mating dances.

Afternoon:

Bahía Gardner has a gorgeous white coral sand beach that is excellent for relaxing, and surrounding areas that are excellent for swimming and snorkeling. Here we can find a large colony of playful sea lions and local species of snakes, while we will undoubtedly see Darwin’s finches, mockingbirds and with luck various species of rays, sharks, fish, and sea turtles in the water. Kayaking is optional in the area.

Overnight onboard cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning:

Our morning visit to Punta Cormorant stops by one of the largest flamingo lagoons of the archipelago, located between two volcanic hills that gives the area a special atmosphere. There are varieties of sea birds that can be seen in addition to flamingos, the most frequent ones being black necked stilts, white-cheeked pintails, and other migratory birds.

This is a unique area due to the high percentage of endemic plants. Here we can see a unique “Green Beach” (due to the high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the “Flour Sand Beach” mainly composed of coral reefs, making these amongst the most interesting beaches of the islands. Then we return to the yacht to begin our snorkeling activity at the location known as “Devil’s Crown.” This is a sunken volcanic crater where the interior of the formation is ideal for the formation of marvelous coral reefs, making it one of the most fascinating marine sites in the Galapagos.

Afternoon:

The “Post Office” bay historically served as a letter exchange station from the 18th century until today, when the crew of a whaling ship utilized a wooden barrel as the exchange point. Both sailors and tourists have used this system to communicate with people from all around the world until today. The idea is to bring letters or postcards to their destination by hand, creating a very special “postal service”. This site was also the landing place for some of the first settlers on the islands, that eventually went to the highlands in search of fresh running water. Then we will visit the Asilo de la Paz, one of the first occupied areas of the archipelago by the German Wittmer family.

If we are lucky, we may see a pod of dolphins during our trip, as well as manta rays and sea turtles.

Overnight onboard cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, disembark from the Anahí Yacht and transfer to Puerto Ayora for a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station.

Here, you will gain deeper insight into the conservation efforts that have made the Galapagos Islands a global model for environmental protection. Learn about ongoing scientific research, breeding programs for giant tortoises, and the challenges of preserving this fragile ecosystem.

After the visit, transfer to Baltra Airport for your return flight to Quito.

Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and begin your journey north towards the Andean highlands. Enjoy a scenic drive of approximately two hours to the Otavalo region, known for its rich indigenous culture and breathtaking landscapes.

Arrival and check-in at your selected hacienda or boutique hotel in the Otavalo area. The evening is at leisure to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Overnight in Otavalo

After breakfast, depart for a full-day cultural immersion in the northern highlands.

Begin your visit at the renowned Otavalo Indigenous Market, one of the most vibrant and important indigenous markets in South America. Here, local artisans from surrounding communities gather to sell beautifully handcrafted textiles, embroidery, jewelry, and traditional artwork. Take time to explore the colorful stalls, interact with vendors, and learn about ancestral weaving techniques that have been passed down for generations.

Continue your journey to the inspiring Sacha Warmi Kuna Project, a community-based initiative led by indigenous women. This meaningful experience offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with the local community and gain insight into their traditions, daily life, and sustainable practices.

Overnight in Otavalo

After breakfast, at the appropriate time, transfer to the airport in Quito for your international departure.

Take with you unforgettable memories of Ecuador’s diverse landscapes — from the Andes and cloud forest to the unique ecosystems of the Galápagos — along with the warmth of its people and culture

Meals: Breakfast