Discover, Plan & Go!

Treat yourself to 5-star quality and service in one of the most famous travel destinations in the world -- the Galapagos Islands. The 100-passenger Galapagos Legend is a deluxe expedition ship featruing all suites. This small ship cruise explores the entire array of birdlife and marine life while visiting, hiking and snorkeling in Baltra, Tower, Hood, Isabela, James, Santa Cruz and more. The Galapagos Legend also offers two bars, dining room, swimming pool, solarium, library, and medical clinic. Families appreciate the "Kids Corner" play area.

Our Galapagos cruises combine the finest small ships with the most talented naturalist guides and offer a range of activities designed to bring you into intimate contact with the unique creatures and ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands. Spend more time ashore hiking among nesting birds, more time snorkeling with sea lions, or perhaps just relaxing on a crescent beach. Our cruises begin and end in colonial Quito, Ecuador and include Quito hotel accommodations, airport/hotel transfers, round trip flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands and a half day tour of the Quito's old town, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. Join us and see why, quite simply, our small ship and yacht cruises to the Galapagos Islands are the vacation of a lifetime!

Day 1 - Saturday - Arrive Quito Ecuador

Upon arrival at the Quito, Ecuador international airport you are met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar

Included Meals: na

Day 2 - Sunday - Colonial Quito

South America's oldest capitol city, Quito sits at 9,184-feet elevation. It has been amazingly preserved and is protected as a UNESCO world heritage site. Enjoy a three hour guided walking tour of Quito's colonial center including Independence Plaza, La Compania Church and San Francisco Cathedral. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy this lively city, rest or prepare for your Galapagos Cruise.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar

Included Meals: breakfast

Day 3 - Monday - Quito to Baltra, Galapagos Islands/Chinese Hat

This morning, we will depart on a three-hour flight to the island of Baltra in the Galapagos. We will be met by our Expedition Leader, transfer to the ship and continue on to Chinese Hat. Our first wet landing leads to a one hour hike in search of sea lions and flamingos. This is the perfect introduction to the Galapagos Islands.

Accommodations: Legend

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Tuesday - Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill) & Floreana

Early in the morning after a wet landing, passengers walk to a hyper-saline lagoon behind the beach. A newer visitor's site, Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragon) is a brackish water lagoon that attracts flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and other species of birds. Sometimes a high number of Pink Flamingos can be observed. There is a short walk up a small hill, which rewards hikers with a nesting site for iguanas and a beautiful view of the bay. This area is a nesting site for a large number of Land Iguanas, reintroduced by the Charles Darwin Research Station. There is also a bizarre Scalesia tree forest.

Passengers will have the option to make a dinghy ride in Venice islet and observe the vegetation and marine animals such as: spotted eagle rays and golden rays, mullets, sharks and sea turtles which rest in calm waters of the coves and channels. Land iguanas are often been observed from the dinghy.

Floreana (Cormorant Point) offers two highly contrasting beaches; the strand where the ship anchors is composed of volcanic olivine crystals, giving it a greenish tint that glitters .in the sun. From here a trail crosses the neck of the isthmus-that rises to form a cinder cone-to a beach of very fine white sand, formed by the erosion of coral skeletons. Between the two beaches is a salt lagoon frequented by flamingoes, pintails, stilts and other wading birds. Seen 250 meters north from the point is an old submerged volcanic cone that has been worn down by waves, Devil's Crown is home to a myriad of marine species including a variety of corals, pencil sea urchin, wrasses, angelfish, amberjacks and many other creatures, making for some of the best snorkeling in the Galapagos. The eroded crater walls form a popular roosting site for seabirds including boobies and pelicans.

A wet landing on a greenish colored sand beach should be expected. Passengers will hike a well-marked trail beginning in the Black Mangrove beds heading towards the back of the lagoon. The large, brackish lagoon holds one of the biggest populations of flamingos in the Galapagos. This island is best known for its endemic plant life, such as: the Galapagos millwork, passion flower, and unique button mangrove.

Novice snorkelers can practice back on the main beach where the sea lions are playful while experienced snorkelers can roam the waters around Devils Crown. We kindly remind you this activity is an open water experience; it means there is no place to step on.

Accommodations: Legend

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Wednesday - Espanola (Hood) & San Cristobal

Hood (Española) is the southernmost island of the archipelago, and is one of the most popular due to the breathtaking variation and sheer number of fauna that greet the visitor. Travelers will enjoy a dry landing at Suarez Point. Upon landing visitors will learn more about the lava terrain while crossing the inactive lava fields.

The quantity and variety of wildlife at Punta Suarez is remarkable. Sea lions surf the waves beyond the breakwater landing, and tiny pups are known to greet your toes upon arrival. A few steps inland are the largest variety of marine iguana in the Galapagos. They bear distinctive red and black markings, some with a flash of turquoise running down their spine, and nap in communal piles. The trail then takes us beside the western edge of the island where masked boobies nest along the cliff's edge, and then descends to a rocky beach before rising to an open area and a large gathering of nesting blue-foot boobies. Galapagos doves, cactus finch and mocking birds forage by, unconcerned by human presence.

The trail continues to the high cliff edge of the southern shore; below, a shelf of black lava reaches out into the surf where a blowhole shoots a geyser of water into the air. Further east along the cliffs is the "Albatross Airport" where "waved albatross" line up to launch their great winged bodies from the cliffs, soaring out over the dramatic shoreline of crashing waves and driven spray. In the trees set back from the cliff is one of only two places in the world where the waved albatross nests. In fact, the 12,000 pairs that inhabit Hood Island comprise all but a tiny fraction of the world's population of this species. Lucky visitors can watch courtship 'fencing' done with great yellow beaks and necks among the large, fluffy, perfectly camouflaged chicks. Mating occurs year round.

Darwin reported encountering a pair of giant tortoises feeding on cactus during his first landing at San Cristóbal (La Galapaguera) in 1835. Today the airport of this easternmost island in the chain is increasingly used as the arrival point for flights into and out of the Galapagos. The administrative capital for the province is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on the southwestern shore, and in 1998 the Galapagos National Park Visitor Centre opened for the benefit of islanders and travelers alike, presenting a comprehensive exhibit of the islands' natural history, human interaction, ecosystems, flora and fauna. Explore the Visitor Centre to learn about the Giant tortoises breeding efforts of the National Park. From the Interpretation Center, a short trail arrives at Frigate Bird Hill, where both "magnificent-frigates'" and "great-frigates" can be seen in the same colony-ideal for learning to distinguish the two bird species.

Accommodations: Legend

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Thursday - North Seymour & Bartolomé

North Seymour Island was lifted from the ocean floor by a seismic event, and its origins as a seabed give the island its low, flat profile. Cliffs only a few meters high form the shoreline, where swallow-tailed gulls sit perched in ledges. A tiny forest of silver-grey Palo Santo trees stand just above the landing, usually without leaves, waiting for the rain to bring them into bloom.

This island is teaming with life! You might have to give way to a passing sea lion or marine iguana; blue-footed booby nests sit beside the trail where mating pairs perform their courtship dance. Further along, the rocky shore displays white sand, and large flocks of pelicans mass for a divebomb feeding frenzy, rendering a tableau for us from ages long past. The trail turns inland to reveal the largest nesting site in the Galapagos of the "magnificent frigate bird." These huge, dark acrobats have two-meter wingspans, and males, with puffed up scarlet throat sacks, sit precariously perched in low bushes to watch over their equally large chicks.

Passengers on 3 or 4 night cruises (7 or 8 day packages) disembark or embark at this time.

Bartolome is famous for Pinnacle Rock, a towering spearheaded obelisk that rises from the ocean's edge and is" the best known landmark in the Galapagos. Galapagos' penguins-the only species of penguin found north of the equator-walk precariously along narrow volcanic ledges at:: its base. Sea lions snooze on rocky platforms, ready to slide into the water to play with passing snorkelers. Just below the surface, shoals of tropica1 fish dodge in and out of the rocks past urchins, sea stars and anemones. A perfectly crescent, pink-and- white sandy beach lies just to the east of the pinnacle. Sea turtles use the beach as a nesting site and can sometimes be found wading in the shallow water near the shore, or resting in the sand to recover from the arduous task of digging nests, laying eggs and covering them over.

Penguins dot the nearby rocks of the next landing site, less than a kilometer along the eastern shore. Here the submerged walls of a tiny volcanic crater give the impression of a fountain pool. This dry landing-no wet feet!-is the entrance to a GOO-meter (2000-foot) pathway complete with stairs and boardwalks leading to Bartolome's summit. The route is not difficult and presents a museum of vulcanology; a site left untouched after its last eruption, where cones stand in various stages of erosion and lava tubes form bobsled-like runs from the summit. At the top you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Santiago Island and James Bay to the west, and far below, Pinnacle Rock and our beach, where the crystal blue waters of the bay cradle your ship.

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.

Accommodations: Legend

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Friday - Urbina Bay (Isabela)

Urbina Bay is directly west of Isabella's Volcano Alcedo, where we will make an easy, wet landing (a hop into a few inches of water) onto a gently sloping beach. In 1954, a Disney film crew caught sight of this gleaming white strip, and on further investigation found pools of stranded sea creatures! To their astonishment, three miles (5 km) of the marine reef had been uplifted by as much as 13 feet (4 meters) in moments. Now visitors can walk amongst the dried coral heads, mollusks and other organisms that formed the ocean floor. A highlight of this excursion is the giant land iguanas, whose vivid and gaudy yellow skin suggests that dinosaurs may have been very colorful Indeed. Giant tortoises Inhabit this coastal plain during the wet season, before migrating to the highlands when it turns dry. Our landing beach also provides opportunities to snorkel amongst marine creatures, or just relax on shore. Here we must take care not to step on the sea turtle nests dug carefully into the sand.

Fernandina (Espinosa Point) is the youngest and westernmost island in the Galapagos. It sits across the Bolivar Opposite Isabela. Our destination Punta Espinosa, a narrow spit of land in the northeast corner of the island, where a number of unique Galapagos can be seen in close proximity. As our panga driver skillfully navigates the reef, penguins show off by throwing themselves from the rocks the water. Red and turquoise-blue zayapas, crabs disperse across the lava shoreline, while herons and egrets forage through the mangrove roots. The landing is a dry one, set in a quiet mangrove forest. A short walk through the vegetation leads to a large colony of marine iguanas-a schoolyard of Godzilla's children-resting atop one another in friendly heaps along the rocky shoreline, spitting water to clear their bodies of salt. Nearby you can watch sea lions frolic in a sheltered lagoon. This is one of the few places you can glimpse iguana's grazing on seaweed underwater.

Dominating this landscape from high overhead looms the summit of La Cumbre, 1495 meters (4,858 feet) one of the most active volcanoes in the world, reporting seven eruptions from its 6-kilometer-wide, caldera (mouth) since, 1968. Farther down this stretch off shore, the world's only species of flightless cormorants have established their colony near an inviting inlet frequented by sea turtles. Because these birds evolved without land predators-it was easier to feed on the squid, octopus, eel and fish found in the ocean-the cormorants progressively took to the sea. They developed heavier, more powerful legs and feet for kicking, serpent-like necks, and wet, fur-like plumage. Their wings are now mere vestiges. Back toward the landing and farther inland, the island's black lava flows become more evident, forming a quiet, inner lagoon. Galapagos hawks survey the entire scene from overhead.

Accommodations: Legend

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Saturday - Puerto Egas & James Bay / Rabida

A highlight of our journey comes at Puerto Egas on the island of James. Puerto Egas, with its black sand beaches, was the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960s, and a hike inland to the salt crater is an excellent opportunity to sight land birds such as finches, doves and hawks. A trail leads to the Fur Seal Grottos, one of the only places in the islands where Fur Seals can be seen. We may see sea lions basking on the rocks beneath a natural rock bridge, diving blue-footed boobies, Sally Lightfoot crabs and colorful lava lizards scurrying at our feet. Just north of James Bay is Buccaneer Cove, a particularly scenic area of steep cliffs and dark beaches. This afternoon will be spent on Rabida.

Accommodations: Legend

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 - Sunday - Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Research Station & Highlands

Disembark (dry landing) to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the rearing in captivity program for the giant tortoises. In the afternoon drive up to the lush highlands, including the Scalesia (an endemic giant daisy tree) forest and the twin pit craters Los Gemelos. The trip to the highlands includes the islands' most-famous reptile: the giant tortoises in their wild habitat. Please note that aside from our regular program, the day spent at Santa Cruz Island offers some multi-sport activities like sea kayaking, hiking to Tortuga Bay, beach combing at Finch Bay Hotel, scuba diving, as well as other options that can be taken at your own pace. Of course, some of these options are at an additional cost, and must be paid on site.

Accommodations: Legend

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Monday - Santa Cruz: Bachas Beach, Baltra to Quito

Enjoy a morning at Bachas Beach. This is a great place to see large schools of Golden Rays, Green Sea Turtles (they are on the rare and endangered species list), White-tipped Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Lava Herons, Yellow Warblers and a variety of other bird species. Sail into Baltra and transfer by bus to the airport for the flight back to the mainland, arriving around 5:30pm. Transfer to your hotel.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar

Included Meals: breakfast

Day 11 - Tuesday - Depart Quito

Transportation will be provided to the airport for return flights home or for excursions to Ecuador's Highlands or Jungle or Peru's Machu Picchu.

Accommodations: n/a

Included Meals: breakfast

7 Day Itinerary:

Day 1 - Saturday - Arrive Quito

Day 2 - Sunday - Colonial Quito

Day 3 - Monday - Quito to Baltra, Galapagos Islands/Chinese Hat

Day 4 - Tuesday - Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill) & Floreana

Day 5 - Wednesday - Espanola (Hood) & San Cristobal

Day 6 - Thursday - North Seymour return to Quito

Day 7 - Friday - Depart

8 Day Itinerary:

Day 1 - Tuesday - Arrive Quito

Day 2 - Wednesday - Colonial Quito

Day 3 - Thursday - Quito to Baltra, Galapagos Islands/& Bartolomé

Day 4 - Friday - Urbina Bay (Isabela)

Day 5 - Saturday - Puerto Egas & James Bay / Rabida

Day 6 - Sunday - Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Research Station & Highlands

Day 7 - Monday - Santa Cruz: Bachas Beach, Baltra to Quito

Day 8 - Tuesday - Depart

Notes on Itinerary: We may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. Our ability to be flexible makes our style of cruising unique.

Single Travelers: Single cabins are available for an 80% supplement. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will guarantee double occupancy rates for boat cabins even if we are unable to match you with a roommate.

Land Cost Includes: Three nights Quito hotel accommodations with breakfast included, all airport/ hotel transfers, Galapagos flight, Galapagos National Park entrance fees & taxes, Galapagos cruise including all meals while aboard and an experienced Galapagos Islands naturalist guide.

Not Included: Airfare from US to Quito; excess baggage charges; airport departure tax from Quito; tips to local staff and items of a personal nature such as soft drinks or alcoholic beverages, laundry fees and insurance of any kind.

Arrival and Departure: This trip begins and ends in Quito, Ecuador. Plan flights to arrive at any time on Day 1 and depart anytime on the last day. Airport transfers are included for travelers arriving and departing on scheduled arrival/departure days. This trip can also be arranged to begin and end in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: A special cancellation policy applies to all Galapagos trips, which is stricter than the AdventureSmith Explorations policy. When a trip cancellation is received inside of 70 days from departure, all trip costs are 100% non-refundable. Please see AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with

Accommodations Aboard: The M/V Galapagos Legend is a Deluxe Expedition Ship and can accommodate 100 guests on four decks. Guest suites have wall-to-wall carpeting, private bathrooms, ample storage space and other amenities. There is also two bars, dining room, swimming pool, solarium, library, clinic, 'Kids Corner' play area. The crew is comprised of the captain, up to 6 multilingual naturalist guides, cook, barman/waiter, mechanic and full crew. All meals are prepared and served by the crew on board. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on board.

Qualifications: This trip will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health and leads an active life. Daily excursions from the boat to the islands will be made in pangas (dinghies). Trip members will hike from the landing point to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours roundtrip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are "wet", requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist. There are numerous opportunities to swim and snorkel. Easy-to-use, sit-on-top kayaks are also available.

Extending Your Trip: Call AdventureSmith Explorations about the possibilities of combining this trip with our Mainland Ecuador and Peru: Machu Picchu extensions.

General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.