The Discovery Journey to

Ecuador & The Islands of the Galapagos

Aboard the 90-passenger M/V Santa Cruz

FREE AIRFARE to the Galapagos Islands! Book any of our Galapagos Islands cruises and your airfare from mainland Ecuador to the Islands can be free! Classic Escapes will take the cost off your tour price, offering you a savings of up to $350. Please call for details and reservations: 800.627.1244 or email us at info@classicescapes.com.

Experience landscapes sculpted throughout the centuries by tumultuous volcanic upheaval and get up-close views of unique wildlife during an adventure to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Ride the Chiva Express through the Andes and become enveloped by the spectacular countryside of extinct volcanoes, indigenous villages and patchwork fields. Gaze at the highest active volcano in the world – Cotopaxi – while exploring the moorlands surrounding it. Follow in Charles Darwin’s footsteps as you investigate his ‘living laboratory’ and decide if his theory of Natural Selection holds true today. Swim and snorkel among fur seals and penguins, watch Sally Lightfoot Crabs and iguanas scamper across the sand and witness huge colonies of Blue-footed Boobies, Magnificent Frigatebirds and Waved Albatrosses.

Day 1 - Miami/Quito
Fly from Miami to Quito. Upon arrival, you are escorted to your hotel.  GRAND HOTEL MERCURE ALAMEDA. (Meals Aloft)

Day 2 - Quito
Today, explore the vibrant and colorful capital city of Ecuador. Take a walking tour of the colonial city and enjoy panoramic views including the famed ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’ from the Aerial Tram. See the strong Spanish heritage reflected in the architecture, including churches, mansions and cloisters. GRAND HOTEL MERCURE ALAMEDA. (B)

Day 3 - Chiva Express:  Cotopaxi
All aboard the Chiva Express, a one-coach train much like a bus on tracks, decorated with rustic paintings by a local indigenous artist from the town of Cotopaxi. The scenery is as varied as the culture, from crop fields, to remote huts, to lush tropical vegetation, and farmhouses on stilts. At the foot of the Cotopaxi Volcano, a bus whisks you up to the Andean moorlands of Cotopaxi National Park for a short hike and lunch at a local hacienda. Explore your bird-filled surroundings with sightings of Andean Gull, hummingbird and possibly the majestic Andean Condor. Also look for herds of wild llama that have been re-introduced to the park. Return to Quito this evening. GRAND HOTEL MERCURE ALAMEDA. (B,L)

Day 4 - Quito/Galapagos Islands:  Baltra/Cerro Brujo/Leon Dormido
In 1835, Charles Darwin spent five weeks aboard the HMS Beagle exploring the Galapagos Islands. How he would envy your four nights aboard the M.V. SANTA CRUZ built specifically for exploring the Galapagos Islands. Each cabin has private facilities. Enjoy exceptional food and daily lectures by naturalists. Your first launch takes you through shallow turquoise water, perfect for sightings of marine turtle, manta ray and shark. Dry land on Santa Cruz Island’s north shore and hike to Dragon Hill for a beautiful view of the bay – along the way see land iguana, and the endemic Galapagos Mockingbird and Galapagos Flycatcher. Later, cruise around Leon Dormido at sunset, which towers almost 500 feet out of the ocean.  (All Meals)

Day 5 - Bartolome & James Islands
Explore the rustic beauty of Bartolome and Sulivan Bay’s lunar landscape of cones and craters. Watch as bright red Sally Lightfoot crabs scramble sideways across molten lava frozen in time and space. A 30-minute hike to the summit of a once active volcano offers a panoramic view of your surroundings including the distinctive Pinnacle Rock. Swim and snorkel with colorful fish and the occasional penguin.  As you stroll along the shores of James Island, you may see octopus, Lava Heron and Oystercatcher. At the fur seal grotto, swim with shy fur seals that hide in the cool caves.  (All Meals)

Day 6 - Rabida & Santa Cruz Islands
Stroll along Rabida Island’s red-colored beach to observe marine iguana and a large colony of sea lion. Tucked behind a strip of green saltbrush, find a salt pond home to the Greater Flamingo and their exclusive diet of brine shrimp. Snorkel in the waters to see unique marine life and submarine landscapes. Continue to Santa Cruz Island and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station where scientists from all over the globe conduct biological research. Afterwards, mingle with residents of Puerto Ayora as you browse handicraft shops. (All Meals)

Day 7 - Santa Cruz & North Seymour Islands
Take a bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a special breakfast and see the endangered giant tortoise in its wild habitat. Look for the brilliant red Vermilion Flycatcher among the Scalesia Forest – an endemic giant daisy tree. Later, explore North Seymour Island for colonies of Blue-footed Boobies, Magnificent Frigatebirds and Swallow-tail Gulls. Watch for scores of Galapagos sea lions and marine iguanas on its sandy shores.  (All Meals)

Day 8 - San Cristobal Island/Guayaquil
Disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the provincial capital of the islands. Visit the San Cristobal Interpretation Center for insight into the first settlements and pioneers, as well as the flora and fauna. Then fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador’s port city. Transfer to your luxurious hotel where the rest of your day is at leisure.  HOTEL ORO VERDE. (B)

Day 9 - Guayaquil/Miami
Bid Ecuador and the islands of the Galapagos “adios” as you are transferred to the airport for your return flights home. (B)

Please note:  Itinerary subject to change at the discretion of the Ecuadorian Park Authorities.

7-Day Optional Post-Extension to Peru
Extend your adventure to Peru. In Lima, stroll the streets and enjoy the Spanish colonial architecture.  Fly to Cusco, once the capital of the Incan Empire.  In this lovely city, descendants of the original Incas dress and speak much in the way as their ancestors. Visit the town of Pisac with its bustling market and magnificent Inca citadel. Then it’s off by rail to legendary Machu Picchu – the ‘lost’ city of the Incas. Hike into a mystical past amidst the remains of Machu Picchu’s temples, houses, terraces, gardens and even to Inti Punku – the Sun Gate. Return to Cusco and explore the nearby temples of the Sun and the Moon, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo.

Your Journey Includes:

• Superior accommodations as indicated, or similar.
• American breakfast in Quito and Guayaquil. All meals while on the Galapagos cruise.  Continental or buffet breakfasts in Peru.  All other meals as specified.
• 5-Days/4-Nights Cruise to the Galapagos Islands on the M.V. SANTA CRUZ with all meals included.  Professional naturalist provided aboard the ship.  Accommodations are in double, air-conditioned cabins, outside with private facilities, based on choice of cabins available at booking.
• All hotel taxes/tips and gratuities for baggage handling.
• All entrance fees to places visited and sightseeing tours per itinerary, EXCEPT for the Galapagos Islands entrance fee which is billed and payable before departure from the USA.
• Complimentary baggage tags and passport wallet.

Call Today to begin planning your journey of a lifetime
(800) 627-1244