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Odyssey Galapagos Cruise
9 Days
Quito to Quito
Tour Code: TMGI
9 Days
Quito to Quito
Tour Code: TMGI
From US$ 5,599
Reviews
Tour Overview
Board the luxury Odyssey and cruise around the Galápagos Islands. An escape to paradise for anyone who loves nature, you will view a world of wildlife as you follow in Charles Darwin’s footsteps . Watch sea-lions play, snorkel with turtles and discover the Blue-Footed Booby, a bird that is unique to this corner of the world.
Please note: This is a sample itinerary and can be tailored to suit your own personal needs and budget. Click here for more information on our Tailor-made Tours.
About this tour
- Accommodation:3 night(s) in hotels, 5
- Transportation:, Boat, Travel by 2 flight(s)
- Meals:8 Breakfast(s), 5 Lunch(es), 5 Dinner(s)
- Country:Ecuador,
Included Activities
- Arrival Transfer
- Quito City Tour
- Visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre
- Galapagos Cruise & Activities
- Departure Transfer
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Quito
Upon arrival at Quito airport you will be collected by a Tucan Travel representative and transferred to your hotel.
Welcome to Quito, the capital of Ecuador and gateway to the Galapagos. Today is free to arrive at anytime and enjoy this bustling city, exploring the streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas and second highest capital in the world.
Originally an Inca stronghold, Quito was discovered by the Spanish in 1534 and to this day still has one of the best preserved historic centres in the world. Along with Krakow, Poland, Quito was among the first to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1978. While the new town is now the main commercial area and has excellent modern restaurants and bars, the old city is where you can find traditional colonial buildings, bustling plazas, local markets and quaint cafes.
Tonight, take the opportunity to sample some classic Ecuadorian cuisine in one of the many restaurants dotted around the city. From ceviche to guinea pig, there is a variety on offer showcasing foods from the mountains to the coast. Try one of the most famous dishes, Llapingachos, a fried potato omelette stuffed with cheese and served with a fried egg, avocado or meat.
Included Excursions
Arrival Transfer
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels 
Day 2 - Quito City Tour
Enjoy a full day tour of Quito and the Middle of the World. Your guide will collect you from your hotel and take you to explore the colonial centre. Visit some of its famous buildings including La Plaza de la Independencia boasting some beautiful colonial buildings. You will visit San Francisco Church before ascending Panecillo Hill to admire panoramic views of the city. The tour will end at Mitad del Mundo where you will witness fascinating experiments at the equator line.
Included Excursions
Quito City Tour
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 3 - San Cristobal & Colorado Hill
This morning you will fly from Quito to San Cristobal Airport, your gateway to the Galapagos Islands. Meet your naturalist guide and fellow passengers before taking a dinghy to your yacht, the Odyssey.
Enjoy lunch on board, before visiting the highlands of San Cristobal where you will get your first taste of Galapagos wildlife visiting the giant tortoise breeding centre on Colorado Hill. You will learn about the conservation programme in place and witness these endangered giants.
Tonight you can enjoy a welcome cocktail to celebrate your first evening on board before enjoying dinner and relaxing with the group. Tonight the captain will lift the anchor and start navigating towards Española.
Included Excursions
Visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre
Accommodation
1
Meals
1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es), 1 Dinner(s)
Day 4 - Española Island
This morning you have a dry landing on Española Island (Suarez Point). Enjoy a guided walk across the lava terrain and hike cross the inactive lava fields. Besides the sea lion colonies, this is one of the most important sites for bird watching. Many species, like the hooded mockingbird and red-billed tropic can be spotted and observed closely. Past the nesting grounds you’ll reach the world’s largest colony of waved albatross. From May to December their mating rituals are a highlight of the visit. Later you will visit the famous blowhole where water shoots about 23m (75ft) high.
After lunch on board you will navigate to the white beach at Gardner Bay. Snorkel in the azure-waters which are home to schools of brightly coloured tropical fish and the Pacific green turtle. Friendly sea lions may also join you snorkelling here too! You will then make a wet landing onto the wide sand beach. It a home to a large sea lion colony, enjoy marvelling at these playful creatures as you stroll along the sand.
Included Excursions
Galapagos Cruise & Activities
Accommodation
1
Meals
1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es), 1 Dinner(s)
Day 5 - Floreana Island
Floreana Island has had a colourful history: Pirates, whalers, convicts, and a small band of somewhat peculiar colonists - a Baroness among them - who chose a Robinson Crusoe existence that ended in mystery and death. Today roughly fifty Ecuadorians inhabit the island. Punta Cormorant offers two highly contrasting beaches; the strand where the yacht 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 - which 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 flamingos, pintails, stilts and other wading birds.
After breakfast, the dinghy will take you to the rocky crevice of Devil's Crown where you have the opportunity to do some deep-water snorkelling off Floreana Island. Later you will make a wet landing at the beach of Cormorant Point. Hike along the sandy beach and keep your eyes out for the American Flamingo lagoon.
This afternoon you will visit Post Office Bay and Baroness Lookout where you can admire the spectacular views. Post Office Bay has a working post office, so make sure you bring your postcards to send your friends and family back home! From Baroness Lookout you will be rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of the Galapagos Islands.
Included Excursions
Galapagos Cruise & Activities
Accommodation
1
Meals
1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es), 1 Dinner(s)
Day 6 - Santa Fe & South Plaza
This morning you will have a wet landing at Barrington Bay, the beach of Santa Fe. This island is home to a huge amount of wildlife, endemic to the Galapagos Islands. One of the most unique species is the rare Barrington land iguana although it is not as easy to spot as some of the other land iguanas on South Plaza island. You will also see a large cacti forest and visit a large sea lion colony living on the beach.
You have the chance to do some snorkelling accompanied by the harmless white tip reef sharks and maybe a sea lion or two!
This afternoon you will land at South Plaza, one of the most popular islands in the Galapagos archipelago. There are several large sea lion colonies as well as the colourful land iguana. You will take a guided nature walk along the cliff faces, keeping an eye out for the red-billed tropicbird.
Included Excursions
Galapagos Cruise & Activities
Accommodation
1
Meals
1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es), 1 Dinner(s)
Day 7 - North Seymour Island & Bachas Beach
North Seymour is one of most visited islands of the Galapagos, and is the home for extensive colonies of frigate birds and boobies. You will take an early morning walk around these bird colonies before returning to the boat for a breakfast buffet. This afternoon you will sail to Bachas Beach where you will make a wet landing. You will visit a lagoon, home to various birds including the American flamingo. You may also see the nest holes of the Pacific green turtles who hatch between November and February.
Included Excursions
Galapagos Cruise & Activities
Accommodation
1
Meals
1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es), 1 Dinner(s)
Day 8 - Mosquera
This morning you will have your last excursion on the Galapagos Islands. You will visit Mosquera, home to the largest concentration of sea lions in the entire archipelago Take a beach walk strolling freely amongst the wildlife, you may even see the strikingly orange Sally Lightfoot Crabs.
Later you will be assisted by your guide and taken on the dinghy to Baltra where you will transfer to the airport. Fly back to Quito where you will be transferred to your hotel for your last night.
Included Excursions
Galapagos Cruise & Activities
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 9 - Depart Quito
Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.
Included Excursions
Departure Transfer
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Essential Information
What's Not Included
- Visas and travel insurance
- International flights to/from the start/end of your tour and departure taxes
- Spending money – budget for meals, snacks, drinks, limited souvenirs, laundry, tips and any extras
Enquiry
Prefer to speak to a specialist?
0800 804 8435
Tailor-made Operations Manager
Melita
Why I love this trip
An excellent way to experience the incredible scenery and unique nature that can be found on the Galapagos Islands. Contact me to learn more about including this luxury trip to these historic islands on your personalised adventure.
