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Monograms Cruising the Galápagos on board the Santa Cruz II with Ecuador's Amazon(ISWC)

12 Day Package from Quito to Guayaquil 
Anxiousness…not an emotion you want to feel unless you’re like Charles Darwin in 1835. In a letter to his sister, he stated, “I am very anxious for the Galápagos Islands. I think both the geology and the zoology cannot fail to be very interesting.” Ah yes, he was right except we don’t want you to feel anxious about organizing your vacation, which is why we’ve taken care of all the details for you. On this 12-day vacation, we’ve arranged your hotel and cruise accommodations, sightseeing, and most meals. Plus, you’ll have access to a Local Host® in Quito, someone who will help you personalize your trip, answer questions, and generally be there for you.

This incredible South America tour begins with the ultimate adventure in Ecuador’s Amazon Jungle. Arrive in Quito for a restful overnight stay, then fly to Coca and travel by canoe trip downriver to your selected Amazon lodge, your home base for the next three nights. You’ll enjoy the comforts of home while exploring this rainforest paradise to discover the fascinating flora and fauna with a Naturalist Guide. Return to Quito and enjoy a private tour of the city with a local expert. Hear the fascinating stories and little-known facts as you visit must-see sights like Independence Square, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica. You’ll also have free time to explore. Perhaps ask your Local Host to arrange an excursion to the Middle of the World (latitude 0), where you can have a foot in each hemisphere, or take a ride on the highest cableway in South America and see amazing views of the city. Then you’re off to the Galápagos Islands, where your cruise ship is waiting.

On your 5-day cruise aboard the Santa Cruz II, all your meals are included. You’ll visit Santa Cruz Island, with a white-sand beach and brackish lagoons that serve as feeding grounds for various wading birds; Santiago Island, home to marine iguanas, Galápagos finches, flamingos, sea lions, and a common nesting area for sea turtles; Puerto Egas, known for its black-sand beach, land and marine birds, marine iguanas, and a colony of fur seals; Rábida Island, with its red-colored beach and large colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and Darwin’s finches; Bartolomé Island, where you’ll hike to the summit for a spectacular view of two beautiful bays and fascinating formations of lava flows; Genovesa Island, where you’ll take a panga ride along the cliffs to see the shore and seabirds nesting on the cliffs’ ledges, and where you’ll climb up Prince Phillip’s Steps to see masked boobies, blue and red-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and more; and finally on Santa Cruz Island, visit a Tortoise Reserve to see the Giant Galápagos Tortoises living in the wild.

Throughout the cruise, you’ll have the opportunity to swim and snorkel. Sometimes you may even be escorted by marine turtles! Throughout your cruise, you’ll be with an expert Naturalist who will bring this destination to life and be able to answer any question you may have.

Our goal is to help make this magical experience a reality! That’s why we’ve put together this vacation for you that includes sightseeing, hotels, cruise, transportation, most meals, and guides and Naturalists. That doesn’t even include the cost of your time or your sanity planning it all on your own! Let us handle the details while you grab your camera and swimsuit…the Galápagos Islands are waiting!

Itinerary (2023)

Day 1ECUADOR
 Welcome to Quito, where you will be met by your Local Host.
Day 2QUITO–COCA–AMAZON LODGE.
 Fly to Coca and travel by canoe trip downriver to your selected Amazon lodge, your home base for the next three nights. (B,L,D)
Day 3AMAZON LODGE
 At the Napo Wildlife Center: Your time in the Amazon accompanied by a Local Guide includes early morning excursions to parrot clay licks; dugout canoe rides in search of river otters, potoos, kingfishers, hoatzins, jacamars, hawks, and monkeys; and walks along the canopy platform to view spider monkeys, aracaris, toucans, blue and gold macaws, numerous species of tanagers, and the red-rumped cacique. In your free time, consider a walk through the jungle in search of interesting plants and colorful or well-camouflaged insects. You are also invited to join families of the Anangu indigenous community on their daily activities, such as harvesting bananas, coco, and manioc. (B,L,D)

At the Sacha Lodge: During your stay, enjoy nature excursions with a Naturalist who introduces you to the Amazon. On the suspended rainforest canopy walk, your Naturalist points out many different species of vibrantly colored birds. Jungle walks show off the immense biodiversity and medicinal plants that have been used by the native cultures for hundreds of years. Visit the lodge’s butterfly house, one of Ecuador’s largest, and take a night walk or canoe ride with a Local Guide to discover creatures that can rarely be seen during the day! You will also cruise through the flooded forest in search of troops of squirrels, capuchin, and howler monkeys—and maybe even the incredibly well camouflaged 3-toed sloth. After fishing for piranhas, arrive at the Kapok Tree tower, perched 135-feet high. Get close-up views of birds as the sun sets on volcanic Mount Sumaco and the Andes. (B,L,D)
Day 4AMAZON LODGE
 At the Napo Wildlife Center: Continue your Amazon exploration. (B,L,D)

At the Sacha Lodge: Continue your Amazon exploration. (B,L,D)
Day 5COCA–QUITO.
 Depart your Amazon lodge and fly from Coca to Quito today. The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure. (B)
Day 6QUITO.
 Your included private city tour showcases Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the basilica. (B)
Day 7QUITO–BALTRA (EMBARKATION)–GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
 Fly to the Galápagos Islands and board the Santa Cruz II. Visit Las Bachas on Santa Cruz Island, an important nesting area for the East Pacific green sea turtle. See brackish lagoons just steps away from the sea, a feeding ground for various wading birds—from stilts to flamingos. (B,L,D)
Day 8CRUISING: SANTIAGO ISLAND.
 Arrive at Buccaneer Cove on Santiago Island to explore the dramatic coastline inhabited by a large number of marine birds, sea lions, and inter-tidal organisms. You will also have the opportunity to snorkel and take a ride on the panga or the glass-bottom boat. Later, at Puerto Egas—known for its black-sand beach, tuff-stone layers, and lava flows—see land and marine birds, as well as a colony of fur sea lions, marine iguanas, and marine turtles. (B,L,D)
Day 9CRUISING: RÁBIDA & BARTOLOMÉ ISLANDS.
 Visit Rábida Island with its red-colored beach, caused by the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. Your Naturalist will point out large colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. Very close to the beach, a salt pond occasionally hosts American flamingos. Snorkel from the beach to see the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. At Bartolomé Island, hike to the summit for a stunning view of Pinnacle Rock. Take a snorkel or a ride on the glass-bottom boat and possibly see Galápagos penguins in tropical waters! (B,L,D)
Day 10CRUISING: GENOVESA ISLAND.
 On Genovesa Island, take a walk up Prince Phillip’s Steps as your Naturalist reveals large colonies of masked boobies, blue- and red-footed boobies, frigatebirds, storm petrels, and short-eared owls. In the afternoon, disembark on a beautiful beach at Darwin Bay to observe frigatebirds, red-footed and masked boobies, herons, finches, and mockingbirds. Return to the beach for snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming. (B,L,D)
Day 11CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ (DISEMBARKATION)–BALTRA–GUAYAQUIL.
 Disembark at the north shore of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to a Tortoise Reserve in the highlands. Here, you will see and learn about the Giant Galápagos Tortoises living in the wild and what is being done to help preserve these ancient creatures. Later, fly to Guayaquil. (B)
Day 12GUAYAQUIL.
 Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Included Monograms Meals

Buffet breakfast daily; 7 lunches; 7 three-course dinners

Monograms Pricing Details

This vacation includes the following Intra-Vacation Air segments in the vacation price: Quito/Coca; Coca/Quito; Quito/Galápagos; Galápagos/Quito. All other flights are not included in the vacation price and can be purchased from Monograms.

Galápagos package does not include Galápagos National Park entrance fee and transit card ($120 value) but are additional and mandatory. These fees will be added to your Vacation Estimate.

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