Monograms Cruising the Galápagos on board the Coral - 7 Night cruise with Ecuador's Amazon(ISZC)
15 Day Package from Quito to Guayaquil
Iguanas, and sea lions, and turtles, oh my! Where on earth can you find more rare species of plants and animals than people? The Galápagos Islands, of course! And when you cruise to this unique group of islands with Monograms, there is no stress, just fun! We take care of the hassles for you, from your hotel and cruise accommodations, to sightseeing and most meals. We even set you up with a Local Host® to help meet your needs during your stay, so that all you have to do is remember to pack your swimsuit!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 for two nights and enjoy a private tour to explore the city, rich with history and marked by the legacy that the Incas and Spaniards left behind. See Independence Square, the cathedral, and San Francisco Plaza Church. Enjoy an afternoon of leisure before packing your bags and heading off to the Galápagos the next morning.You will embark on a 7-night cruise around the gorgeous and one-of-a-kind Galápagos Islands. For this leg of your adventure, all of your meals are included. Begin your adventure at the Charles Darwin Research Station to see and learn about the Giant Tortoises native to these islands. You’ll also visit Bartolomé, where you can see a fascinating moonscape and take a hike to see the striking view of the surrounding islands; Rábida Island, where you will discover a rare red sand beach, home to colonies of marine iguanas, sea lions and several species of Darwin’s finches; Santa Cruz, where the clear, calm waters of Black Turtle cove offer the perfect place to see a colorful array of fish, rays and reef sharks; Isabela and Fernandia Islands where you can watch for flightless cormorants, penguins, and whales, and finally, Santiago Island, where you can explore tidal pools populated by fur seals and Sally Lightfoot Crabs. Throughout your cruise there will be multiple opportunities to snorkel in search of the diverse and colorful marine life found in the archipelago.So grab your camera and say “Sayonara” to the stresses of planning your own vacation. With Monograms, your vacation package to the Galápagos Islands is as stress free and fabulous as you dreamed it would be!
Itinerary (2023)| Day 1 | ECUADOR | | | Welcome to Quito, where you will be met by your Local Host. | | Day 2 | QUITO–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 3 | AMAZON 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 4 | AMAZON 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 5 | COCA–QUITO. | | | Depart your Amazon lodge and fly from Coca to Quito today. The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure. (B) | | Day 6 | QUITO. | | | Your included private city tour showcases Independence Square, the cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows. (B) | | Day 7 | QUITO–BALTRA–SANTA CRUZ (EMBARKATION). | | | Fly to Baltra and transfer with your expert Naturalist to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where the Galápagos giant tortoise breeding program helps preserve the fragile Galápagos environment. Learn how eggs are brought from the nearby Galápagos Islands, incubated artificially until the galápaguitos (little turtles) are born and, at the age of 5, are returned to their native areas. Board your ship for your 7-night cruise. (B,L,D) | | Day 8 | CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ & BARTOLOMÉ ISLANDS. | | | At Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island, walk by a brackish lagoon where feeding flamingoes can occasionally be found. The trail leads to an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas, and offers lovely views of the neighboring islands. The forest is home to mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and Galápagos doves. After lunch, visit Bartolomé Island to discover a fascinating moonscape formed by volcanic parasitic cones. Hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands and Pinnacle Rock. Bartolomé offers some of the best snorkeling, thanks to clear waters and abundant sea life, including sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and perchance Galápagos penguins. (B,L,D) | | Day 9 | CRUISING: RÁBIDA & SANTIAGO ISLANDS. | | | On Rábida Island, see its red-colored beach, formed from the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. Here, your Naturalist points out large colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. This is a wonderful place to snorkel from the beach, due to the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. Later, explore Buccaneer Cove on Santiago Island and see the dramatic coastline inhabited by a large number of marine birds, sea lions, and inter-tidal organisms. At Espumilla Beach, walk through the mangroves and see salt-water lagoons that are home to wading birds like flamingos. (B,L,D) | | Day 10 | CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND. | | | Arrive at Black Turtle Cove on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, accessible only by sea, where turtles enjoy swimming in the calm waters along with colorful fish, rays, and small sharks. This cove has been declared a “Turtle Sanctuary,” and is home to sea birds, including pelicans, herons, and egrets. Eden Islet offers opportunities to see Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and reef sharks. Disembark at Whale Bay on Santa Cruz in search of marine iguanas and seabirds, followed by time for snorkeling. (B,L,D) | | Day 11 | CRUISING: ISABELA & FERNANDINA ISLANDS. | | | Off the coast of Isabela Island, admire impressive geological formations, including a sheer cliff that is home to a diverse sea and coastal birds such as pelicans, Galápagos penguins, and flightless cormorants. There are whale-watching opportunities between May and December. Your afternoon visit of Espinosa Point on Fernandina Island reveals the largest, most primitive-looking of marine iguanas, mingling with sea lions, flightless cormorants, and Galápagos penguins. (B,L,D) | | Day 12 | CRUISING: ISABELA ISLAND. | | | At Urbina Bay, walk on a volcanic black beach in search of giant tortoises, land iguanas, and flightless cormorants. At Tagus Cove, learn about the eruption of the five volcanoes that formed Isabela Island. Take a trail to a saltwater crater lake for excellent views of lava fields and volcanic formations. A dinghy ride reveals marine wildlife, blue-footed boobies, brown noddies, and maybe Galápagos penguins. (B,L,D) | | Day 13 | CRUISING: SANTIAGO ISLAND. | | | Walk along a trail comprised of volcanic ash and basaltic rock at Puerto Egas to tidal pools populated by fur seals and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Snorkeling is a highlight, and marine wildlife includes lobster, starfish, marine iguanas, and octopus. A walk at Sullivan Bay features extensive Pahoehoe lava flows. (B,L,D) | | Day 14 | CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ (DISEMBARKATION)–BALTRA–GUAYAQUIL. | | | Disembark on Santa Cruz Island and visit Bachas Beach, where you will find two flamingo ponds, sunbathing iguanas, and many coastal birds. This beach is also a main nesting site for sea turtles. You will find remains of barges that sank long ago, once the property of the U.S. Navy air base operating on Baltra Island during World War II. Later, fly to Guayaquil. (B) | | Day 15 | GUAYAQUIL. | | | Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
Included Monograms Meals Buffet breakfast daily; 10 lunches; 10 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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