Galapagos & Amazon Multi-Cruise

Deals

Arrive at Quito airport and meet your English-speaking assistant and private driver for a comfortable transfer to your selected hotel. Rest and enjoy your evening at leisure.

Meals: (X)

AM: After breakfast, transfer from your hotel to Quito International Airport with private driver and English-speaking assistance as you start on your journey to the Galápagos.

Arrival at Baltra Island Airport. Reception and Assistance at the airport by our members and transportation to our first visitor site.

PM: Bachas Beach is a beautiful white-sand beach where you can see the remnants of a rusted barge, thought to have been abandoned by the Americans during WWII. The beach is full of vibrant Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, and elegant pink flamingos that frequent the saltwater pond located just behind the shore.

It is also a popular nesting site for sea turtles, making it a fantastic spot for a afternoon swim. If you go for a snorkel, you might find yourself sharing the crystal-clear waters with these wonderful creatures.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: El Barranco, also known as Prince Philip’s Steps, is a rocky stairway that leads past a colony of Nazca and red-footed boobies up to a plateau of dried lava. Continuing through the sparse Palo Santo forest and looking out over the plain, visitors are often treated to the sight of storm petrels launching out over the ocean.

A dinghy ride or kayaking session along the edge of the cliffs provides a great opportunity to spot elusive Galápagos fur seals resting on the rocks, while snorkeling offers a chance to swim alongside a variety of shark species.

PM: Darwin Bay features a small sand and coral beach, providing the perfect launching spot for snorkeling, kayaking, or paddleboarding in calm, sheltered waters alongside hammerhead sharks, rays, and a plethora of colorful reef fish.

Onshore, a short trail winds along a tidal lagoon and mangroves—home to a variety of land birds, including Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls. The trail culminates at a viewpoint offering stunning vistas over the cliffs and the bay below.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: Espumilla Beach, located on the northern coast of Santiago Island, is an exquisite white-sand beach whose name refers to the meringue-like trails of foam left by the lapping waves. Sally Lightfoot crabs are found here in abundance, making it a common spot to see predatory birds such as hawks, herons, and pelicans.

This idyllic location is perfect for snorkeling or kayaking among a rich variety of marine life, including octopuses, eels, and reef sharks.

Buccaneer Cove holds a fascinating history as a frequent anchorage for sailors, buccaneers, and whalers in search of fresh food and water. In more recent times, it has become an important nesting site for sea turtles and a popular haul-out spot for sea lions.

A dinghy ride along the eroded shoreline provides views of intriguing rock formations that serve as ideal nesting ledges for boobies, pelicans, and gulls.

PM: Egas Port was once the site of a salt mine, but today this impressive black-sand beach is an excellent location for snorkeling and observing shorebirds, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and marine iguanas.

A stroll along the wide inland trails leads past tidal pools and rocky volcanic formations known as grottoes, where you can often spot Galápagos fur seals resting in the shade.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: The first visit of the day is to Black Turtle Cove, located on the northern shore of Santa Cruz Island. This cove is a living illustration of how mangroves shape the marine environment to create a rich, unique habitat. Three species of mangroves crowd the shoreline, extending into a shallow lagoon that reaches nearly a mile inland.

As you drift through quiet waters by dinghy, you are likely to spot spotted eagle rays and mustard rays swimming in formation. White-tip reef sharks glide beneath the boat while Pacific green sea turtles surface for air. Waterfowl—including pelicans, herons, and egrets—feed throughout the cove. It is a peaceful sanctuary where up-close wildlife encounters frequently make it a highlight of the trip.

PM: In the highlands of Santa Cruz, you will have the opportunity to see the iconic giant tortoises roaming in the wild—the very creatures that gave the archipelago its name. The highlands are also a prime spot for birdwatching, home to Darwin’s finches and various other endemic species.

Following the highlands, the tour continues to the renowned Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, visitors gain firsthand insight into the vital conservation efforts underway to protect the archipelago’s delicate ecosystems. The facility hosts a key breeding program for Galápagos tortoises to restore populations that have been in decline since the 1970s. These captivating reptiles are accustomed to human presence, making for excellent close-up photo opportunities.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: Accessed by a short dinghy ride, Lobos Island gets its name from the lively colonies of sea lions that call it home.

Snorkeling in the calm, clear waters provides a unique opportunity to swim alongside these inquisitive and playful animals, often accompanied by green sea turtles and rays. Onshore, a short trail leads past active nesting sites for blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds.

Following the morning activity, transfer to the San Cristóbal Airport (SCY) for your onward or departure flight.

Arrive at Quito airport and meet your English-speaking assistant and private driver for a comfortable transfer to your selected hotel. Rest and enjoy your evening at leisure.

Meals: (B)

AM: Your adventure begins in Quito with a 30-minute flight to the Amazonian city of Coca. From the dock, board a motorized canoe for a 90-minute scenic ride down the Napo River to board the Anakonda Amazon Cruise.

PM: After settling into your suite, enjoy a welcome briefing from our expert naturalist guides and take time to explore the ship’s spacious observation decks and social lounges.

As the ship glides along the Napo River, relax and admire the changing rainforest views. After dinner, join an optional night walk into the jungle to experience the nocturnal biodiversity of the Amazon, listening to the vivid sounds and observing wildlife that comes alive after dark.

Meals: (B, D)

AM: Travel downstream to the Pañayacu River delta and board canoes to explore the Pañacocha Lake ecosystem (“Piranha Lake” in Kichwa). Surrounded by protected rainforest, this blackwater reserve is home to nine primate species, over 500 bird species, paiche fish, and white caimans. Enjoy a guided nature walk followed by an Amazonian-style BBQ lunch and drinks at a nearby campsite.

PM: After lunch, enjoy kayaking across the calm waters or take a refreshing swim in Pañacocha Lake. Upon returning to the Anakonda Amazon Cruise, unwind with an educational documentary and an informative lecture hosted by our naturalists.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: Set out early by canoe to witness the vibrant parrot clay licks along the riverbanks. Rich in essential minerals, these unique clay walls attract hundreds of colorful parrots, parakeets, and other Amazonian birds each morning for an extraordinary wildlife viewing experience.

PM: In the afternoon, visit a local Kichwa Cultural Center to learn about ancestral Amazonian traditions, cuisine, and everyday life along the Napo River. You will also have the opportunity to purchase handmade crafts directly supporting the community. Back on board, celebrate your final evening with an exquisite farewell dinner.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: Enjoy your final morning views from the ship’s observation deck before disembarking the Anakonda Amazon Cruise. Board the motorized canoe for the 90-minute return ride to Coca to connect with your domestic flight back to Quito and continue with your next destination.

Meals: (B)