7 Days Galapagos Santa Cruz and Isabela Islands plus Quito Tour

Pick up at Quito International Airport for your transfer to your hotel in Quito city. After your check-in, you will have time on your own. There's no extra cost for this day.

We will start in the morning by picking you up from your hotel and visiting the first city in the world to have the recognition of UNESCO as a world heritage site. We will start our tour with a viewpoint of the city: La Basilica Church or Panecillo Hill can be part of this activity, and we will have the chance to admire the size of Quito. In the old town, we will admire the colonial architecture of the old city. We will walk around Plaza Grande (Independence Square), the Jesuit church "La Compaia", Plaza San Francisco and its church, and one of the oldest neighborhoods of old Quito "La Ronda". We will meet people, talk to them, and enjoy a day where we will walk narrow streets and learn the history of this city. After this, we will go for lunch in a local restaurant before continuing to the middle of the world.

The equator line monument is located 30–45 minutes north of Quito and was built in honor of the research done by the French Geodesic Mission, which arrived in Ecuador in 1736 to measure the meridians and prove the exact shape of the earth. However, our destination will be the Intiam museum (Path of the Sun), located close by the monument, where you will have the opportunity to take part in diverse experiments that allow you to verify that you are in fact at Latitude 0°00’00’’.

Greetings from an English-speaking local guide at your hotel in Quito city Your guide will assist you to the airport and with the process of getting the transit control card, the Galapagos bags checked, and the regular airline check-in. Transit control cards and Galapagos entrance fees are NOT included. The cost that you need to pay for this is detailed here: Transit control card $20 per person, payed in Quito Airport and Galapagos Entrance Fee: $100 per adult and $50 per child (under 12 years old) payed in Baltra Airport

After your flight to the islands, you will be met by one of our transferees who will help you get the bus ticket called Lobito and pay for the ferry to cross the channel to Santa Cruz Island. Lobito and ferry tickets are included.

After crossing the Itabaca Channel, we head up to one of the ranchos in the highlands for a delicious lunch (not included) and a visit to the tortoise reserve, where you will see the emblematic giant tortoises in their natural habitat while walking through the reserve. After this visit, you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the afternoon or evening is on your own to discover a little bit of Puerto Ayora. The capital of the Galapagos Islands

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will meet with an assistant who will take you to rent your snorkel equipment (not included) and then to the Charles Darwin Research Station. In the station, you will have one guide assigned to go on a tour that will show you the history of the islands from the beginning of time to the current situation. This is a visit that you cannot miss because it will give you all the background you need on the Galapagos. After the explanations of your guide, he or she can show you the two little beaches of the research station, where you can go for a swim or snorkel.

Before continuing to your next island, do not forget to return your snorkel equipment because this afternoon you will be taking a ferry to Isabela Island. This boat ride takes approximately 2 hours. On your arrival in Isabela, you will have to pay the dock fee. The boat ride cost is included, but not the dock fee to enter Isabela.

Today the pickup is in the morning (the starting time will depend on the ocean tide) to go to the tunnels. A series of ancient lava flows created hundreds of arches and tunnels, both above and below the water. The striking geological formations are outdone only by the extraordinary collection of creatures that call this place home. The water is cool and still, and an astonishing array of marine life is visible from above as you trek across the lava arches and bridges or from below as you snorkel in this unique habitat. The boat captain and staff will provide you with snorkel equipment. Lunch is included in this day's activity. The rest of the afternoon is on your own. You could take time to visit the tortoise breading center, the flamingo lagoons, or just enjoy the beach.

After breakfast, you will go visit one of the islets in the Galapagos called Tintoreras. Here, you will have the chance to see one of the largest colonies of marine iguanas in Isabela. Tintoreras has some channels of seawater where young white-tip reef sharks sleep in safety from other predators. In addition, if you are lucky, you will find some Galapagos penguins as well. Snorkeling could also be included in this activity.

In the afternoon, you will take the ferry back to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. The ferry ticket is included in the price, but not the assistance in Santa Cruz. On your arrival in Santa Cruz, you will have free time to enjoy Puerto Ayora.

Pick up your hotel after breakfast (time to be confirmed after your flight confirmation) and transfer out to Baltra airport with a driver. Your driver will assist you with the ferry and bus to the airport, where you will check in for your return to the continent. The ferry and bus tickets are included in the price. End of our services. The flights to Quito arrive from 3 to 6 p.m., approximately.