Galapagos Islands Expedition Cruise

Day 1 London to Quito
Fly to Quito and transfer to your hotel for 2 nights. Stay in the historic centre at the boutique luxurious Casa Gangotena in the heart of the old town, or the Patio Andaluz. Or stay in the new part of the city and enjoy the facilities of the Hilton Colon

Day 2 Quito
Take a guided tour of Quito UNESCO World Heritage old town, seeing the Presidential Palace and beautiful cathedral. Later head out of the city into the hills and visit the Equator line. If you want an extra night in Quito you can head into the Andes and visit Otavalo market or see Cotopaxi volcano.

Day 3 To Galapagos Islands
Fly to the Galapagos islands to take your cruise for a 4 night exploration of the Galapagos Islands. Each island in the Galapagos archipelago provides different characteristics and different wildlife to view. Visit the larger and some of the smaller islands to see how different species have adapted to each distinct habitat. Encounter the wildlife at incredibly close quarters; from sea lions sunning on beaches to albatross, blue footed boobies and the world’s most northerly penguins. While relaxing on the ship, keep a lookout for whales of schools of dolphin. There are also shore visits to see giant tortoises or land iguanas, as well as time for snorkelling to see the incredibly rich marine life.

Day 4 – 6 Galapagos Islands
Three full days exploring the Galapagos islands. A typical day on board begins with a morning shore excursions, when the wildlife is most active and visible. Shore excursions are in shore groups with naturalist guides. There is then some time to relax on board, enjoy lunch as you travel to the next island. The afternoon often includes the chance to snorkel, or short walks on the islands, always with fantastic photo opportunities. In the evening you will be provided with a briefing on the day to follow and a wildlife lecture before dinner and there is often the chance for stargazing the clear skies close to the equator.

Day 7 Galapagos to Guayaquil
After a relaxing morning in the islands, you will disembark your cruise ship and fly to the mainland, to the port city of Guayaquil for the night. You might want to extend you Galapagos cruise by an extra three nights, offering different islands and more opportunities to encounter different rare wildlife.

Day 8 Guayaquil to London
Transfer to the airport for your overnight flight to London.

Day 9 London
Afternoon arrival.

Tour includes:

All flights specified
Private transfers
Local expert guides in resort
Inspirational sightseeing programme
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Galapagos National Park taxes

On a Journey of Distinction, you are not merely a bystander. They believe that the wonders, customs and cultures you experience will live on in the core of your being. They even go so far as to say that one of their holidays will change your life forever.

Their combination of Tour Managers and Local Guides is what makes Journey of Distinction so distinctive. When you’re embarking on a voyage of discovery, it’s reassuring to know that a seasoned traveller is with you every step of the way; planning, organising, checking details and offering their advice and support. Their groups all depart from the UK, and no one joins us along the way, so you have the reassuring constancy of always knowing your travelling companions.

Our Opinion
“Limited to just 25 travellers per departure, every Journeys of Distinction escorted tour has an intimate, personal feel that makes for a more enjoyable experience.”