Overview
Visit Ecuador's capital city, Quito nestled high in the foothills of the Andes before heading to the Galapagos Islands for a 5 day cruise. Snorkel with sealions and see marine iguanas, blue footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds nesting on these incredible islands on the excellent M/C Seaman Journey a comfortable 16 passenger catamaran with an expert naturalist guide onboard that will accompany you on all your excursions. This itinerary is based on their Eastern Itinerary, however, they run several different itineraries, depending on dates, that visit different islands in the Galapagos and for varying lengths of stay. Contact us to discuss best options for you depending on timings, interests and wildlife/bird species.
Start in Quito and stay at the sustainable Go Hotel with its spectacular rooftop views. After a city tour and a visit to the Middle of the World where you will stand at 0.00 latitude and see the monument of the equator line. Then take an hour flight to the San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos to start your cruise. Meet your fellow guests for the next 4 nights, on the Seaman Journey which is a first class catamaran offering superior comfort and quality.
The next few days will see you have land excursions where you will view spectacular sand beaches, volcanic islands and wildlife such as Darwins finches, blue footed boobies, magnificent frigate birds, flamingoes, sea lions, marine and land iguanas and Sally lightfoot crabs. You will also undertake some spectacular snorkelling trips to see sea lions, coral, turtles and reef sharks. Then depart the boat on Baltra Island and fly back to Quito.
This itinerary combines really well with other places in Ecuador including the Mindo cloudforest or Amazon rainforest. Alternatively, you could combine a 4 or 6 night Galapagos Cruise with neighbouring Peru and visiting Machu Picchu.
Price Guide
6 nights from £3,995 per person based
on double occupancy
These prices are excluding international flights. Average flight prices vary depending on time of year and can be considerably more expensive at peak times (Christmas, Easter, Summer). Flight routes vary, please contact us for accurate flight pricing for your timings
and place of departure.
Call for specialist advice
Day to Day
Below is an example day by day itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Quito and transfer to Go Hotel in the city centre, this modern, sustainable hotel has spectacular views from its rooftop restaurant. Overnight Go Hotel.
Day 2
Today you will have a guided city tour that includes visiting the Basilica Church, colonial temples and monasteries of Quito. This city has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site. You will also visit two residential neighbourhoods at the northern end of the city. After visiting the city you will transfer to the monument of the Equator line, where you will stand at 0.00 latitude and then visit the Inti Nan Museum with explanations about how the Ecuador line affects the local indigenous life. Overnight Go Hotel (B).
Day 3
Transfer to the international airport to take an hour flight to San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. On arrival you will need to go through immigration and pay the relevant conservation and tourist fees. You will then meet your guide and transfer by bus and then small motorised dingy to the Seaman Journey catamaran. Here you will have lunch and meet your fellow passengers. The Seaman Journey is a first class catamaran that began sailing the islands in 2008. It offers superior comfort, size and stability and carries a maximum of 16 passengers at any time. It offers double and twin rooms, luxury outside and inside spaces. There is an expert naturalist guide onboard the boat that will accompany you on your excursions. In the afternoon you will visit the Gianni Arismendy Environmental Interpretation Centre and learn about the geological and human history of the islands, the conservation and natural history. Overnight Seaman Journey (BLD).
Day 4
Today you will sail to several different places on San Cristobal Island. The first, Punta Pitt, is located on the eastern end of the island where there is a beach and several natural view points overhanging an eroded hill of volcanic tuff. You will follow a 1.4km trail that leads from the beach to the top of the hill which is coloured by different types of lava. In the afternoon you will visit Lobos Island, a small, flat islet that is home to several sea lions. This is a great opportunity to snorkel with sea lions. Overnight Seaman Journey (BLD).
Day 5
This morning you will visit Gardner Bay on Espanola Island where you can swim or relax on the beach and observe the sea lions. Three species of Darwin's finches can also be spotted here as well as other birds. In the afternoon you will visit Suarez Point on Espanola which is an excellent area to spot blue footed boobies, albatrosses and nazca boobies. At this site, the large waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad. The famous attraction here is the magnificent blowhole, which spurts high into the air, reaching heights of at least 50 to 75 metres. Overnight Seaman Journey (BLD).
Day 6
Your visits today are on the Floreana Island, in the morning you will visit Cormorant Point which has the best flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos. There are a variety of species of birds to observe here as well as the flamingos including common stilts, white-cheeked pintail ducks and other migratory birds. There are two distinct beaches here including the Green Beach named due to its high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand and the Flour Sand Beach which is made of coral. After a guided walk you will be taken to Champion Islet for a chance to snorkel and view the underwater wildlife. You may see turtles, sea lions and multiple fish due to the nearby coral reef. In the afternoon you will visit Post Office Bay, a historical site and the landing area for some of the first colonists. Overnight Seaman Journey (BLD).
Day 7
On your final day you will land back on Santa Cruz where you will visit the breeding centre located in the Galapagos National Park. Its purpose is to preserve various Galapagos species including the Giant Tortoises. After the visit you will be transferred to Baltra Airport (B).