Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary B)

Land Only clients should aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon/evening.
Free transfers are available for all clients. A local guide will welcome you
to Quito and explain the schedule for the next few days.

*Accommodation: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)*
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Day 2

Today is free to relax, recover from the flight and explore the fascinating
city of Quito. Quito is the second highest capital in the world, standing at
2850m on the western cordillera of the Andes. It is one of the smaller and
more attractive of the colonial capitals of South America. Because of the
altitude visitors to Quito are advised to take it easy at first.

*Accommodation: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)*
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Day 3

*Morning Fly to Galapagos:* Transfer to Quito Airport and fly to Baltra
Airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival to the Islands, you will pass
through the airport inspection point to make sure that no foreign plant or
animals are introduced to the island, and to pay the National Park Entrance
Fee. Your guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage and escort you
on a short bus ride to the harbour where a dinghy will be waiting to take you
to the yacht.

*Afternoon North Seymour*:  North Seymour is a highlight of your cruise. In
the archipelago's most extensive seabird breeding colony you can walk just a
short distance from frigatebirds and Blue-footed boobies.

*Accommodation:* *Archipel I*

Day 4

*Morning Prince Philip's Steps:* Not only because of its historical English
name (Tower) Genovesa has a royal touch.  Follow in the footsteps of Prince
Philip - Galapagos lover for many years - and visit this favourite birding
spot with the largest breeding colonies of red-footed and Nazca boobies, and
look for a remarkable short-eared owl that hunts on foot!

*Afternoon Darwin Bay:* As one of the outer islands and most exclusive places
on the Galapagos, Genovesa is well worth last night's longer navigation. This
compace site in the heart of its flooded crater shows the extreme varied
coastal ecosystems of the Galapagos in miniature; nearly too much for a
single day. 

*Accommodation: Archipel I*

Day 5

*Morning Bartolome:* This tiny volcano islet is just recently born out of
fire. Enter its wild romantic setting of spatter cones and craters, and see
the most famous panorama of the Galapagos/./ 

*Afternoon Sullivan Bay (Santiago):* Sullivan Bay is incomparable to any
other visitor's site; setting foot at the recently solidified lava flow is
like landing on the moon!

*Accommodation: Archipel I*

Day 6

*Morning Charles Darwin Research Station:* The most memorable part of the
Charles Darwin Research Station will probably be the successful breeding
centre and its celebrity 'Lonesome George'.

*Afternoon Santa Cruz Highlands:* Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities
for seeing wild Galapagos giant tortoises, roaming through pastures in the
agricultural zone and in the transition zone of the adjacent El Chato
Tortoise Reserve. 

*Accommodation: Archipel I*

Day 7

*Morning Cormorant Point:* Please don't expect flightless cormorants at
Cormorant Point (they live exclusively in West Galapagos). Instead, you may
have the only opportunity in the East to spot Galapagos penguins from the
dinghy, or a flamingo lagoon against the pockmarked backdrop of extinct tuff
cones and scented palo santo bushes.

*Afternoon Post Office Bay:* Bring your postcards and post them in the
peculiar traditional barrel on this historic site that seems to be located at
the end of the world. These might arrive home quicker than you!

*Accommodation: Archipel I*

Day 8

*Morning Gardner Bay:* Being one of the crown jewels of the Galapagos,
Espanola gives you the exclusive opportunity to become an eyewitness of
evolution.

*Afternoon Suarez Point:* Espanola's west tip is a true birdwatcher's and
photographer's dream.  Feel as though you're within an exciting nature
documentary and hike a short distance from some of the most colourful Marine
iguanas.

*Accommodation: Archipel I*

Day 9

*Morning Pitt Point:* Two wind sculptured tuff cones at Pitt Point constitute
the easternmost end of the Galapagos and were the first sight of land of HMS
Beagle with Darwin aboard.

*Afternoon Witch Hill:* Enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the lovely setting of
Witch Hill's crescent-shaped natural beach of soft powdery sand.

*Accommodation: Archipel I*

Day 10

*Morning Lobos Islet (San Cristobal):* The Asylum of Peace hike goes past a
mesmerising cave and visits a fascinating freshwater spring. La Loberia beach
is an ideal spot to enjoy the ocean, as well as the cute Sea lions that live
there.

*Afternoon transfer out to San Cristobal Airport:* Assisted by the naturalist
guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to
San Cristobal, where we will take the airport shuttle. From here we fly to
Guayaquil where it's possible to connect with international flights this
evening from 6pm onwards.