Galapagos: Wildlife Wonderland

<strong>Tour begins: Hilton Colon Quito.&nbsp;</strong>A transfer is included from Mariscal Sucre International Airport to the Hilton Colon Quito.

Quito is not only 9,200 feet above "seal" level, it's also on the Equator... the "middle of the world." Take the opportunity to stand on both the northern and southern hemispheres at the same time, and learn more about Quito's unique geography at the Inti &Ntilde;an Museum before enjoying an Ecuadorian lunch near a volcanic crater. Explore centuries-old Colonial Quito on a guided tour. Join us tonight for our welcome reception and dinner at your hotel, then get a good night's sleep so you'll be rested and ready for your family's unforgettable Gal&aacute;pagos experience tomorrow.

Your family's Gal&aacute;pagos tour and cruise* commences today when you fly from Quito to the volcanic island of Baltra and board your new expedition ship, <em>Santa Cruz II</em>. Your first shore excursion features a ride ashore on a <em>panga</em> to&nbsp;the island of Santa Cruz,&nbsp;and a wet landing on Las Bachas Beach (named for the US military barges, referred to as "bachas," that were beached and abandoned there after WWII) &ndash; an important nesting area for the green sea turtle. On a guided hike around a saltwater lagoon today, look for flamingos, pintail ducks, sandpipers and stilts; join our expert naturalists for an informative briefing back aboard ship this evening, prior to the Captain's welcome reception followed by dinner.

Start the day with a morning boat ride off Buccaneer's Cove on Santiago (James) Island &ndash; once a favorite haunt of pirates and whalers &ndash; to observe seabirds like frigates, pelicans and boobies, and go snorkeling off the <em>panga</em>. After lunch aboard ship, a wet landing at Puerto Egas on Santiago provides even more opportunities to see seabirds, along with a colony of sea lions and marine iguanas; enjoy a swim and a snorkel from the beach before returning to the ship.&nbsp;Weather permitting, enjoy star gazing on the top deck this evening.
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Meet Darwin's finches and other rare birds today after a wet landing on Rabida (Jervis) Island, with its red-colored beaches.&nbsp;Experience both wet and dry landings on your excursion to Bartolom&eacute; Island; hike up to the summit and drink in amazing vistas of its volcanic features and the neighboring islands. Ride a <em>panga</em> around Pinnacle Rock, and view sea lions, sea turtles and tiny tropical Gal&aacute;pagos penguins in a panorama of life found only here. Tonight you'll find out more about the Gal&aacute;pagos Islands with our shipboard naturalists.

Explore Genovesa (Tower) Island by <em>panga</em> and a dry landing; climb up Prince Philip's steps for a hike across the island, where you'll see masked boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and more. An afternoon cruise and a wet landing at Darwin Bay offers more amazing views of thousands of rare birds, including red-footed boobies, gulls, mockingbirds, herons and finches, as well as an optional walk across volcanic terrain. Back aboard the ship, celebrate the end of your cruise &ndash; and your family's most unforgettable Gal&aacute;pagos tour &ndash; at our Captain's farewell dinner.

Disembark <em>Santa Cruz II</em> on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, and visit a tortoise reserve to observe in the wild one of the rarest forms of wildlife that continue to thrive here on the Gal&aacute;pagos Islands &ndash; the giant tortoise &ndash; and efforts being made by the Ecuadorian National Park Service to preserve and protect life on the islands for future generations. Late morning, travel to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil on the mainland, and an overnight at the Wyndham Guayaquil. Join us this evening for a poolside farewell party at your hotel as your family's Ecuador and Gal&aacute;pagos tour comes to a close.

<strong>Tour ends: Guayaquil.</strong> A transfer from the Wyndham Guayaquil to Jos&eacute; Joaqu&iacute;n de Olmedo International Airport is included. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.