8 days Christmas Adventure Galapagos on the Blue Spirit LLC

Itinerary

Day 1: Quito Airport

Stop At: Quito Old Town, Quito Ecuador
Upon your arrival to Quito´s airport, we transfer you in private transportation to Ilatoa Lodge.
A personal Welcome Kit including program details and an Ecuadorian chocolate greet you at your hotel.

Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight Ilatoa Lodge ( Double room)

Day 2: Quito city tour

Stop At: Quito Old Town, Quito Ecuador
After a delightful breakfast, you will walk through the landmarks of Quito’s colonial, historical downtown, named World Heritage by UNESCO. You will meet local artisans and immerse yourselves in the city vibe, visiting the San Francisco market the first, sampling local ingredients and learning about history and Andean healing
traditions. You will continue your exploration of the city historical center walking down La Ronda, full of art and ancestral trades, featuring wooden handcrafted toys, pictures painted on dried
goatskin, tin objects, ceramics, jewelry, Escuela Quiteña paintings, wood carving, and sweets shops.

In the evening, Christmas dinner will be prepared, the fireplace lit, and a glass of wine to enjoy at Ilatoa Lodge

Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Ilatoa Lodge ( Double room)

Day 3: Transfer out to Baltra. Visit Santa Cruz Highlands

Stop At: Santa Cruz Island, Ecuador
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
It is the center of the Archipelago with a diversity of wildlife and with amazing vegetation. This is the second largest island after Isabella, the most visited and offers lots of interesting places to visit. Puerto Ayora is the capital and it is in front of the sea, offering a relaxed and peaceful coastal town feeling. The highlands of Puerto Ayora are very interesting, you will see different vegetation, altitudes, weather and fauna. We can also admire the Giant Galapagos Tortoise roaming in its natural habitat. You can also explore a cavernous underground Lava Tunnel where you can view one of the geological wonders of our volcanic islands. You will also be able to explore some of the “backroads” of Santa Cruz on the way to Puerto Ayora.

PLACE ACTIVITY DIFICULTY
Puerto Ayora`s Highlands ST Moderate
Puerto Ayora`s Lava Tunnel ST Moderate
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Blue Spirit LLC ( Double cabin)

Day 4: Santiago and Ravida Islands

Stop At: Santiago Island, East of Isabela Island Ecuador
SANTIAGO ISLAND
Santiago or “San Salvador” has an area of 585 square meters and an altitude of 907 meters. Dolphins, sharks, sea lions and flamingos are part of the wildlife of the island. Santiago has evidence of the pahoehoe lava flow. The lava shoreline has provided the island many of its attractions.

Quick Facts
Tourists can be delighted by the incredible lava formations of Sullivan Bay.
RABIDA ISLAND
Jervis Island or Rabida Island is located at the south of Santiago, it is relatively a tiny Island with a rocky coastline. Its distinctive red appearance comes through the presence of iron on the surface of the craters that presented in the area. It has an area of 4.9 square kilometers and an altitude of 367 meters. Visitors have the single opportunity to see pelicans. Here nine of the fourteen species of finches are found.

Quick Facts
The reddish hue of the sand of the soil of the island combined with the amazing flora and fauna, gives as result a beautiful landscape full of wonders

PLACE ACTIVITY DIFICULTY
Sullivan Bay ST Moderate
SN Moderate
Rabida ST Moderate
PR Moderate
SN Moderate
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Blue Spirit LLC ( Double cabin)

Day 5: Isabela & Fernandina Islands

Stop At: Isabela Island, Galapagos, 010850 Ecuador
ISABELA ISLAND
Isabela Island was named in this way in honor of Queen Isabela of Spain. Isabela has an area of 4,640 square kilometers and an altitude of 1,707 meters. This island occupies the 60% of the area of Galapagos making it the largest island of the archipelago. The Equator passes directly through Isabela. Isabela is one of the inhabited Island in its port, called Puerto Villamil.

Punta Vicente Roca:
After breakfast, passengers will explore the island by boat, while a naturalist guide explains different aspects of its geology. This site is very well known, for the bird nesting sites specially for cormorants and Galapagos penguins. The climate will offer to the passengers the possibility of snorkeling in the cliffs of the area that will show you an abundant marine life, many of the times you can see sea turtles and the "sunfish" (mola mola). This is one of the most impressive and beautiful sites in the Galapagos Islands.

FERNANDINA ISLAND
Fernandina is the third largest island of the Archipelago. This island has an area of 642 square kilometers and an altitude of 1,494 meters and offers the opportunity to see small volcanic eruptions; also, this island is the home of Galapagos penguins, sea lions and many other extraordinary species.
Punta Espinosa is in the northeast of Fernandina. In this place you will have the opportunity of seeing hundreds of marine iguanas gathered at the sand.

PLACE ACTIVITY DIFICULTY
Punta Vicente Roca PR Moderate
SN Moderate
Punta Espinosa ST Moderate
SN Moderate
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Blue Spirit LLC ( Double cabin)

Day 6: Isabela Island

Stop At: Isabela Island Wetlands Complex, Galapagos National Park, Puerto Villamil Ecuador
Isabela Island
Quick Facts
Las Tintoreras is a small rocky islet where is easy to find white tip fin sharks.
The wetlands in this island form a network of trails that are essential for the maintenance of the wildlife of Galapagos

PLACE ACTIVITY DIFICULTY
Las Tintoreras ST Moderate
PR Moderate
SN Moderate
Wetlands ST Moderate
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Blue Spirit LLC ( Double cabin)

Day 7: Mosquera Island - Baltra airport

Stop At: North Seymour Island, Ecuador
Mosquera Mosquera is located between Baltra and North Seymour Islands. Mosquera is a reef of rocks and corals. It is a flat island product of a geological elevation. It has a length of 160 meters and a width of 600 meters.
Quick Facts
Mosquera has one of the largest populations of sea lions.
Transfer to the Airport.
PLACE ACTIVITY DIFICULTY
Mosquera ST Moderate
PR Moderate
SN Moderate
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight Ilatoa Lodge ( Double room)

Day 8: Transfer out to the airport

Stop At: TUMBACO, Villavega E8-56 y Via Univercitaria, Quito 170184, Ecuador
After your brekfast you will be picked up by your guide and transfer to the airport.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.