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Origin of Species

11-Day adventure on board the Integrity

Detailed, day-by-day itinerary for this adventure!
Accommodations are noted, and meals are coded as B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner

Top: INCA guest capturing a tortoise's portrait, Santa Cruz Island. (Weston Walker)

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Quito, Ecuador

Fly from your home city to Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the Hilton Colón Quito hotel with check-in to your Honors Floor accommodations.

Hilton Colón Quito

Day 2

To the Galapagos—Santa Cruz Island & Royal Palm Resort

Transfer to the airport for an early morning flight to Baltra, Galapagos. While our luggage is being collected, we enjoy refreshments in the air conditioned Royal Palm Resort's VIP airport lounge. We transfer to the Island of Santa Cruz where we travel with our naturalist in a spacious air conditioned vehicle up into the highland rainforest to the Royal Palm Resort where we'll spend the night.

After a rest (or a dip in the pool) we enjoy lunch. Later, we explore the Santa Cruz Highlands to view endemic Galapagos plant species and visit lava tubes and sinkholes. We'll hike through tall grasses among the grazing tortoises and then have some leisure time before dinner. Afterwards, we retire for a good night's sleep in the very quiet Royal Palm Resort.

Royal Palm Resort, BLD

Day 3

Santa Cruz, boarding the Integrity

We head down to the village of Puerto Ayora to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station where we learn about conservation issues and the tortoise and iguana hatching and rearing programs. We'll even get to view some of the hatchlings. We may catch a glimpse of Lonesome George-the sole survivor of the Pinta tortoise subspecies. After an exploration of the village of Puerto Ayora, we lunch at a waterside restaurant overlooking Academy Bay. We board the luxurious 141 foot yacht Integrity mid- to late afternoon in Academy Bay.

Integrity, BLD

Days 4-9

On the Boat—Snoozin', Cruisin' and Snorkelin'

We live aboard the spacious Integrity for a week, spending as much time ashore as the Park rules permit. With our licensed, INCA selected Class III naturalist, we learn about the birds and animals, geology, marine life and oceanic systems of the Galapagos Islands. We swim and snorkel with tropical fish, sea lions and sometimes with penguins!

The Integrity's current itinerary (set by the Galapagos Park) includes visits to one or more sites on the islands of Española (Hood), Floreana, Fernandina, Isabela, Santiago, Bartolomé, Tower, North Seymour and South Plazas.

Integrity, BLD

Day 10

Galapagos, Quito

From our anchorage in the Baltra harbor, we say "adios" to the Integrity and its dedicated crew, and adjourn to the Baltra airport to await our mid-morning flight to the Ecuador mainland and Quito. On arrival, we transfer to the Hilton Colón Quito hotel for an overnight. You will have time to shop before dinner.

Hilton Colón Quito, BLD

Day 11

Quito to home or other adventures

Transfer to the airport with check-in to your homeward bound flight unless you are remaining for more adventures.