Galapagos & Ecuador Wildlife Spectacular

Private transfers from Quito Airport to The Patio Andaluz Hotel located in the heart of Historic Quito old town. You will have the rest of the afternoon and evening to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and cobbled streets of this Unesco World Heritage Site.

After breakfast, transfer to Quito Airport for flight to Baltra Island. Crossing to Santa Cruz for guided drive across to Puerto Ayora to join Mary Ann. After briefings and lunch, visit Black Turtle Cove for your first wildlife encounters with herons, pelicans and turtles in the mangrove lagoon

Genovesa Island.  Here, at Darwin Bay, walk amongst seals, nesting red-footed boobies, gulls and great frigatebirds as you traverse the shoreline amongst the lava rocks and pools. Afternoon, climb Prince Phillip’s Steps for a cliff walk amongst nesting Nazca boobies, storm petrels and other birds. Look out especially for short-eared owls. 

Morning visit to Bartoleme Island to climb the volcano for spectacular views to Pinnacle Rock and Santiago Island. Later, land on Sullivan Bay on Santiago for lava walking watching for herons and penguins diving for fish in the surf. Snorkelling to see rays, turtles, sharks and tropical fish.

A morning landing on the red sand beach of Rabida Island. Walk to the saltwater lagoon looking for rare mockingbirds and Darwin’s finches plus yellow warblers. Pelicans nest here too. Sail across to Cerro Dragon to see flamingos and other birds along with an amazing land iguana nesting site. Snorkelling to time too.

A day spent on Santa Cruz. Walk in the lush highlands and visit a giant tortoise reserve and lava tunnels.  Look out for Galapagos hawk and vermillion flycatcher. Later, in Puerto Ayora, walk to the Charles Darwin Research Centre to learn about tortoises and iguanas from different islands.

Land on South Plaza, home to coppery coloured land iguanas amongst the prickly pears and deep red sesuvium. Also, lots of birds and sealions. Later, land on Santa to see endemic yellow iguanas and sealions plus land and sea birds. Snorkelling to see rays, turtles, sharks and tropical fish.

Espanola is the only island with nesting waved albatrosses (April-December). Get close up to these and blue-footed and Nazca boobies as well as brightly coloured iguanas. Climb to the viewpoint to watch the spectacular blowhole and look out for the endemic Espanola mockingbird. Snorkelling time too.

Disembark at Puerto Ayora and take a water transfer to the first class Finch Bay Eco Hotel.  Explore the numerous nature walks to the beaches, feeling at one with nature and wildlife all around you or just relax by the pool after your exciting island expedition.

Transfer to Baltra Airport for your flight to Quito.  Met with a private transfer to the Patio Andaluz Hotel three nights with breakfast included.

Two exciting private full day tours high in The Andes, to the Antisana Ecological Reserve and Cotopaxi National Park. Spectacular views and volcanic scenery combined with good birding – see condors, variable hawks, Andean lapwing and more. In the evenings, enjoy the restaurants and atmosphere of the Old Town.

Early morning drive high into the Ecuadorean Cloud Forest to stay at Bellavista Reserve Lodge for two nights. This conservation reserve is amazingly rich in birdlife with 100s of species, including 14 of hummingbird alone, to be seen from numerous nature trails.  Look out for the local cock-of-the-rock amongst lush vegetation. 

After an opportunity of an early morning refreshing hike and breakfast we will transfer you back to Quito Airport for onward or return travel.