Yampu Latin America Tours » Ecuador » Quito and Galapagos Islands Tour with Legend

Starting Price:	£3,269.00
Trip Length:	8 days

Interests:

Walking/Hiking
Soft/Multi Adventure
Snorkeling/Scuba
Ecotourism/Wildlife
Family
Cruises
Sun and beaches

Legend

Male Frigate

Quito

Quito and Galapagos Islands Tour with Legend

Description Pricing Itinerary Hotels

On this Yampu itinerary, you will enjoy touring the Galapagos Islands and 2 days in Quito with a tour of the city and the Equatorial Monument.
In the Galapagos, you will benefit from the added comfort of extra space in the fully carpeted, luxurious cabins on the Galapagos Legend. All with ocean views, wardrobes, and private facilities offering hot and cold water, hair dryer, safe deposit boxes and other amenities.
The ship has a highly trained hotel and ship crew. In addition the vessel also has the services of a 24-hour duty doctor, spacious social areas, culinary delights at the dining room, 24 hour coffee bar, swimming pool with broad sun decks and observation platforms.

This tour includes international airfare from London (UK), on non-holiday dates. You do not need to fly via London; Yampu will fly you the most direct way to your city of destination. Depending on your travel dates and proximity of travel, we will quote you the most economical surcharge from your city or country of origin.

Additional information on this trip:

Days of Week the Trip can Start:
Tuesday
Visited Cities:
Quito

Day 1

Tuesday
Upon arrival in Quito, transfer to your hotel.

Day 2

Wednesday
Full Day Colonial Quito Tour & the Equator The tour begins with a visit to Independence Square, where the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and El Sagrario Church are located. We will also visit the Church of La Compańia (1605), with its amazing gilt altars. This is considered the finest example of baroque art in America and the Moorish influence can also be noted in the intricate designs carved on the magnificent red-and-gold columns and ceilings. Afterward we will take you to the church and monastery of San Francisco (1535). This is the oldest Ecuadorian church, and the main altar inside is a spectacular example of baroque carving. There is also a fine collection of artwork, including paintings, sculpture and furniture dating back to the 16th century. Finally we will drive up to the highest viewpoint of the city, El Panecillo, where we will have a spectacular view of Quito and the opportunity to see an old church with the famous "winged virgin" of Quito. After visiting the colonial and modern areas of the city, a 30-minute drive will take us to La Mitad del Mundo (the Middle of the World) with its 30-meter-high monument marking the equatorial line and excellent ethnographical museum.

Day 3

Thursday
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to the Galapagos. Morning flight from Quito to Baltra Airport in the Galapagos. You will be received at the airport by our guides and then taken to the pier to join the M/V Galapagos Legend.

Bartolomé
Dry landing. Arriving on this island, passengers will see volcanic formations including lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. After a hike to the summit visitors available to enjoy an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. During the hike to the summit, travelers will often see large colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla, bushes, and various cacti. Visitors will also enjoy a chance to cool off while snorkeling. Here it is possible to see the Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, and white tipped sharks from a safe distance.

Day 4

Friday
Urbina Bay (Isabela)
After a wet landing, passengers will go towards the fossil beach and then to the coral area. On the way and depending of the season it will be possible to observe many endemic organisms such as: giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants.

Fernandina (Espinosa Point)
After a dry landing at Espinosa Point, passengers will see the biggest marine iguanas mingling with sally-light foot crabs. They will also enjoy the flightless cormorants nesting sites, the Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions.
Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will note brachycereus cactus, and two kinds of lava formations "pa-hoe-hoe" lava and "AA". Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea, depicting a healthy and thriving eco-system.

Day 5

Saturday
Santiago (Egas Port)
Visit the dark sand beach at Egas Port during a wet landing. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows, the surrounding area is good for spotting and observing hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, oyster catchers, and the yellow crowned night heron. Passengers enjoy the sight of marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds at low tide sharing space with red sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur-seal swimming in deep pools of cool water called "grottos". In this beach you can swim and snorkel in search of octopuses, sea horses, star fish and other sea life.

Rábida (Jervis)
Wet landing at the dark red colored beach of volcanic origin which is frequented by sea lions. It is often considered the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most diversified volcanic rocks of all the Islands. A short trail leads to a salt water lagoon, where you will occasionally find flamingos. July thru September is a good time of the year to observe how brown pelicans nest in the salty bushes found at the far side of the salty lagoon. Also to be observed are boobies and 9 species of Darwin's finches. Dingy ride by the reefs and an excellent opportunity for snorkeling.

Day 6

Sunday
Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Station)
Travelers will have the chance to investigate the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here you can also admire giant tortoises that are part of the breeding program. Travelers can also admire the impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. The visit to the station takes around 40 minutes. After this visit, passengers will have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.

Santa Cruz (Highlands)
One of the options is to cross the highlands of Santa Cruz. Passengers will visit Cerro Chato. In this visit, you'll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises that gave the name to these islands. Additionally, travelers can literally get into the Galapagos by walking in the dormant lava tubes.

Day 7

Monday
Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach)
Wet landing at Bachas beach, located on the northern coastline of Santa Cruz Island. Here you will be encountered by different sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and passengers would have the opportunity to swim and snorkel in this white sand beach.

Return to the Galapagos Legend, check out and transfer to the airport Return flight to Quito throughGuayaquil. Upon arrival in Quito, transfer to your selected hotel.

Day 8

Tuesday
Transfer to the airport to take the flight back home.

Suggested Hotels by City and Category *

Quito
3-star	NU House, Vieja Cuba (Room Class AA), Reina Isabel or similar.
4-star	Mercure Alameda, Dann Carlton, Stubel Suites or similar.
5-star	Swissotel, Casa Aliso (boutique), Patio Andaluz, Hilton Deluxe room, Le Parc Boutique Hotel, or similar.
Boutique	Cafe Cultura or similar
Deluxe	Plaza Grande (Royal Suite) or similar.

* Subject to confirmation at time of booking

8 days , from £3269

Occupancy Type	3-star/ Superior Exterior	4-star/ Junior Suite	5-star/ Legend Suite	Deluxe/ Balcony Suite
Double	£3269	£3666	£4002	£4812
Single	£4420	£5460	£5990	£7496

Prices shown above are per person, in Sterling (Ł).

Price includes: International air from London to Quito round-trip; domestic air from Quito to the Galapagos round-trip; 4 nights cabin on the Galapagos Legend Cruise; all meals on the cruise; hotel accommodation in Quito including buffet breakfast; daily guided tours of the islands, led by naturalist guides; full-day excursion in Quito; all transfers. A $90 per person fuel surcharge is included in the rates. Also, the $100 Galapagos Park fee and the $10 Transit Control Card fee are both included in these rates.
Local airport departure taxes that are payable in the country of destination are not included. Airfare taxes and security fees that can be paid at time of ticketing are included in the cost.

Please note that cruise itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.

By traveling to the Galapagos with Yampu Latin America Tours, you will be making the choice to travel responsibly. As members of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association), Yampu donates $7 for every traveler that travels to the Galapagos with us. We are dedicated to helping preserve the islands while supporting sustainable ecotourism. As an IGTOA member, we are informed, involved, and concerned.

There will also be an optional Galapagos Conservation contribution of $50 per passenger added to your final proposal.
The contribution will go towards:

Creating benefits and educational opportunities for local people.
Strengthening responsible tourism management.
Building strong financial support for conservation among the travel industry and travelers.

Promoting high professional standards for the tourist industry.

Yampu Latin America Tours is a trading name of Kontiki Tours & Travel Ltd – Registered in England, Company No: 6054303 ATOL Number: 9522 VAT Number 919 1679 90 – 0800 011 2424 – Email Us

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