Includes: All international and domestic flights in economy class including pre-payable departure taxes, 3 nights accommodation with breakfast in Quito, 7 nights cruise, meals as stated, transfers on a private basis in Quito (on a shared basis in the Galapagos), tours and activities. English-speaking guide.

B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner

Day 1 – Morning flight from U.K. to Quito. Evening arrival and transfer to hotel and overnight.

Day 2 – After breakfast, half-day tour of Quito. Remainder of day at leisure (B).

Day 3 – Morning flight from Quito to Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. Embark on ‘La Pinta’. Lunch and explore North Seymour Island observing bird colonies of blue footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. (B, L, D).

Day 4 – Visiting Fernandina on which marine iguanas, share their space with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. After lunch Isabela Island to see Darwin's finches, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, penguins, cormorants, brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies. (B,L,D).

Day 5 – Opportunity for snorkelling or glass-bottom boat ride at Champion Islet. Continue to Post Office Bay. Afternoon visit to Punta Cormorant to see flamingos and other birds. Swimming and snorkelling. (B,L,D).

Day 6 – Disembark ar Rabida Island’s red-coloured beach. See sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwin’s Finches. Excellent snorkeling. Look out for Dolphins en route to Santa Cruz Island where sea turtles nest on the white beach of Las Bachas. (B, L, D).

Day 7 – Visit the Santa Cruz highlands, a Scalesia forest and Los Gemelos. In season (Dec to mid Apr) and good weather conditions see giant tortoises. Lunch at a farm. Visit Charles Darwin Research Station and Puerto Ayora. (B, L, D).

Day 8 – James Island:Visit Sullivan Bay’s white coral sand beach where lava flowed less than 100 years ago. After lunch, see land and marine birds, marine iguanas and fur seals at Puerto Egas . (B,L,D).

Day 9 – Disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and visit the San Cristóbal Interpretation Centre and then the breeding centre for tortoises (La Galapaguera) at Cerro Colorado. Afternoon dinghy ride along the shore to Cerro Brujo’s white coral beach. See seabirds such as blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds, and some shore birds. (B, L, D).

Day 10 – After breakfast, flight from Baltra back to Quito and overnight at hotel. (B)

Day 11 – Return flight home. (B)

Day 12 – Arrival in the UK.