Galápagos Islands are made up of 13 main islands, 17 islets, and dozens of ancient rock formations. After millenia of isolation, the animals are famously indifferent to people, allowing visitors to view then from mere inches away. Certified naturalists accompany every shore excursion to explain the animal species and ensure animal rights are respected. Arrive in Quito for overnight, and explore the old city at your leisure. The next day fly to Galapagos for your four-day cruise with daily shore excursions to different islands. (Available as a 4-Day, 5-Day or 8-Day option. Exact cruise itinerary will vary depending on date of arrival and specific yacht availability and client preference.)

NOTE: Due to capacity constraints in Galapagos, there is a $300 non-refundable booking fee in addition to the 30% per person deposit. This booking fee is paid to vessel owners to secure reservations.

Day 1
Quito
Take a private Quito airport transfer with a professional driver. Kensington Tours donates a portion of our proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). The Mecure Hotel is located in the centre of Quito, guests are within walking distance to visit local shops, restaurants, museums and antique churches. With 147 comfortable rooms with high speed internet access, the hotel offers you a pleasant environment for combining business with pleasure. Quito is Ecuador’s capital and has a setting of great natural beauty, overshadowed by the volcano Pichincha with its twin peaks of Ruco and Guagua. Quito is located at 2850m (9348 ft) above sea level and some visitors may suffer from altitude sickness during the first hours after arrival. The city has preserved much of its Spanish colonial character, the cathedral in the Plaza de la Independencia (the oldest church in South America) and the many old churches and monasteries being among the most notable instances. Also in the plaza is the Municipal Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Palacio Presidencial. Many of the city’s famous churches and monasteries contain priceless examples of Spanish art and sculpture, particularly the Monasterio de San Francisco and the Jesuit church of La Compañía. Most of Quito’s colonial churches are located in the Old Town, parts of which have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Day 2
Quito - Galapagos
Enjoy a complimentary airport shuttle service is provided for guests cruising aboard the Coral I & II, and the Legend when staying at the Swissotel, J.W Marriott or Dann Carlton hotels. Take your flight from Guito to Galapagos via Guayaquil today. The flight duration is approximately 3 hour. Entrance fees to the Galapagos Islands Park are included in tour price. The itinerary is a guide only. The route and program vary according to National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety reasons and wildlife encounters. Transfer between airport and cruise ship. Fuel Surcharge of $90.00 pp applies for Coral I and II and Legend 3 or 4 night itineraries. Travelers can trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz and visit Cerro Chato, where you’ll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises. Additionally, travelers can walk inside the dormant lava tubes. Crossing through threads of hundreds of stunning volcanic islands, the Galapagos Islands promise some of the world's most incredible views and sights from the comfort of First Class Yachts, the Coral I and Coral II. The Coral I offers 18 cabins, while the Coral II offers 11, both providing a very intimate and private atmosphere. Rooms come with air conditioning and private bathrooms. Meals are served in the yacht restaurant or on deck, with a broad range of international, barbecue, and South American cuisine. Spend time in the jacuzzi or at the library. Watch from the deck for whales and dolphins, sea lions, tortoises, iguanas, birds, cacti and unique vegetation. Baltra is a small flat island located near the center of the Galapagos. The island is very arid and vegetation consists of salt bushes, prickly pear cactus and palo santo trees. The Baltra airport was originally constructed by the U.S. military during World War II as a base to protect the Panama Canal from enemy attack. It is linked by bridge to Santa Cruz island. It is the main airport for arrivals and departures from the Galapagos.

Day 3
Espanola Island - Galapagos
After a dry landing at Suarez Point, you will learn about the lava terrain while crossing the inactive lava fields. In addition to the Sea Lion colonies, this is also one of the most important sites for bird watching. You will see such species as the Hooded Mocking bird, Red Billed Tropic Bird, Galapagos Doves, Hawks and Swallow-tailed Gulls. There is also a large colony of Marine Iguanas, Lava Lizards, colorful Sally Light Foot Crabs, and colonies of masked and blue-footed boobies. Nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. This island has the world’s largest colony of Waved Albatross (approx. 15,000). If you are lucky, you will be able to observe their mating ritual. Before leaving the island, you will visit the famous blowhole, which shoots water into the air at almost 75 feet. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Wet landing at Gardner Bay on a white coral beach, amidst a large colony of sea lions. In this open area you can spot many species of birds, such as Galapagos hawks, oyster catchers, Galapagos doves, hood mockingbirds and yellow warblers; as well as marine iguanas and lava lizards. The bay is a great area for snorkeling and swimming. Naturalist's briefing on the next day's activities followed by dinner on your cruise ship. Overnight at Coral I & II. Gardner Bay is on the northeastern part of Española, and features a magnificent long, white sandy beach, where colonies of sea lions laze in the sun, sea turtles swim offshore, and birds boldly investigate. The beach considered an open area where you are free to explore and view land iguanas. Snorkeling at Gardner Bay is fantastic. This is often your first chance to swim with the Sea Lions and this is an opportunity not to be missed. Punta Suárez has a beach with Sea Lions and Marine Iguanas. A 2km trail winds through Masked and Blue-Footed Booby colonies to some cliffs with a blow-hole. Beyond here is the Galapagos' only Waved Albatross colony.

Day 4
Floreana Island - Galapagos
Wet landing on a green sand beach at Cormorant Point, and hike a well-marked trail towards the of a large, brackish lagoon. Here you will see one of the biggest populations of flamingos in the islands. Novice snorkelers can practice back on the main beach where the sea lions are playful; while experienced snorkelers can roam the waters around Devils Crown. Enjoy lunch (included in tour price). Wet landing at the historical Post Office Bay to learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. There is an old barrel adorned with a variety of signs pointing the direction and giving the distance to places all over the world. It is here that early settlers or visitors would leave their mail in hopes that someone who might be going in the right direction would take their mail and deliver it or pass it on. A short walk from the famous barrel you will come to a tunnel formed by lava flows. Down a tricky path you can observe Darwin’s finches, Galápagos mockingbirds, yellow warblers and lava lizards. Naturalist's briefing on the next day's activities followed by dinner on your cruise ship. Overnight at Coral I & II. Floreana island is located in the far southern portion of the archipelago. A small island with less than 200 residents, Floreana is favored for its hiking grounds and peacefulness. The surrounding waters are refreshing for snorkelers and divers, all of whom revel in the Devil's Crown area. This semicircle of rocks makes for marvelous diving and snorkeling. Cormorant Point is a common hiking start point. Post Office Bay is located along a white sand beach. Long used by whalers, the post office barrel has been in use since 1793. Today primarily tourists use the post office barrel, leaving a handful of postcards and in turn collecting postcards left by others.

Day 5
Seymour Islands - Quito
After a dry landing, you will see Swallow Tailed Gulls and Sea Lions. This site is known as a major nesting colony for Blue Footed Boobies, and it has the largest colony of the Magnificent Frigate Bird (a different species from the Great Frigate Bird). Here you will also be able to see both endemic species of iguanas, the Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas. Transfer between airport and cruise ship. Fly from Galapagos to Quito via Guayaquil on Aerogal. The flight duration is approximately 3 hour. Enjoy a complimentary airport shuttle service is provided for guests cruising aboard the Coral I & II, and the Legend when staying at the Swissotel, J.W Marriott or Dann Carlton hotels. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Overnight at Mercure . North & South Seymour islands were lifted from the ocean floor by a seismic event, and its origins as a seabed give the island its low, flat profile. Cliffs only a few meters high form the shoreline, where swallow-tailed gulls sit perched in ledges. A tiny forest of silver-grey Palo Santo trees stand just above the landing, usually without leaves, waiting for the rain to bring them into bloom.

Day 6
Quito
Take a private Quito airport transfer with a professional driver. Departure tax is not included in the tour price ($44.30 per person). Depart from Quito International airport - end of itinerary Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.