Quito, Santa Cruz & Isabela

On arrival at Quito Airport, make your own way to your hotel for check-in.

Quito - Santa Cruz. This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island, part of the world-renowned Galapagos archipelago. Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel on Santa Cruz Island.

This afternoon we explore the highlands of Santa Cruz, where we’ll have the chance to see the iconic Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat. After lunch in the highlands, we continue to Puerto Ayora to check in to our hotel.

Santa Cruz - Isabela Island. Early this morning, travel by public speedboat with your guide to Isabela Island. On arrival, we take a short boat ride to Tintoreras Islet, home to remarkable wildlife including sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, Sally Lightfoot crabs, sea turtles, pelicans, and Galapagos penguins. The islet is also an important breeding ground for marine iguanas, offering a rare opportunity to observe them up close.

After a guided walk, you may choose to snorkel* in the nearby waters, where you might encounter colourful fish, sharks, sea lions, and even manta rays.Snorkelling masks and tubes are provided; wetsuits are available to hire locally.

Isabela Island - Santa Cruz. After breakfast, your guide will take you on a visit to Flamingo Lagoon, the largest coastal lagoon in the Galapagos. This scenic 2 km trail offers views of Isabela’s young volcanic landscape and distinctive flora. At the lagoon, you may spot flamingos feeding in the shallow waters.

The trail ends at the Tortoise Breeding Centre, established in 1994 to protect and restore the island’s tortoise populations. Here you will learn about the species’ conservation efforts and see hatchlings, juveniles, and adult tortoises.

This afternoon, we return by boat to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island.

Optional Excursion: The Tunnels
Please Note: Pre-booking required; cannot be arranged locally.
Instead of visiting Flamingo Lagoon and the Tortoise Breeding Centre, you may opt for an excursion to Los Túneles (The Tunnels). Board a speedboat for a 45-minute journey to a series of striking lava formations, created when molten lava met the cool ocean waters millions of years ago.

Here, you can snorkel among a fascinating underwater landscape teeming with marine life – including sharks, lobsters, penguins, sea lions, boobies, and turtles – and, with luck, witness giant manta rays gliding through the open sea. A light snack will be served on board before returning to Isabela in the afternoon.

Passengers joining this optional tour will be provided with a packed lunch during the return journey.

Santa Cruz - Quito. This morning, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Quito. The city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famed for its beautifully preserved colonial architecture and rich cultural heritage. On arrival, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. Spend the evening at leisure in this vibrant capital.

After breakfast, you may join a guided city tour of Quito’s historic centre, exploring the Colonial District and learning about the city’s fascinating past. Highlights include Plaza de la Independencia, the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, and several centuries-old churches. You may also enjoy sweeping views over the city and its surrounding volcanoes from the Panecillo Hill viewpoint before returning to your hotel to relax.

Optional Excursion: Middle of the World Tour
Following the city tour, travel north of Quito to ‘The Middle of the World’, where the equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres. Visit the landmark monument and the nearby Inti Ñan Solar Museum to learn more about the science and geography of this unique location.

After breakfast and check-out, make your own way to the airport for your onward flight.