M/V Legend Tour - D

Enjoy 5 days aboard the 100 passenger Galapagos Legend Yacht with an hotel stay & city tour in Quito. Your cruise visits San Cristobal, Espanola, Floreana, Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Research Station & Daphne. The legendary, one hundred-passenger M/V Legend is a first-class vessel offering all the amenities of a large cruise liner without sacrificing the intimacy you'd expect on a small sailing craft. The luxurious Legend is equipped with five decks, a swimming pool, library, and glass-bottom boat. She also has exercise equipment, international phone/fax/internet, 24-hour/pay medical service, the most technologically advanced safety system in the archipelago, and much more.All shore excursions and on-board briefings & lectures are conducted by fully-licensed English speaking naturalists.

Day 1: Arrival Quito

Tuesday - Arriving in Quito you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Once you have checked in the remainder of the day is free to acclimatize of start exploring this historic city on your own.

Day 2: Quito

Wednesday - Breakfast at your hotel. Quito colonial city tour exploring the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical old town in the Americas. Visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compañ­a and iconic San Francisco, repositories of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. (B)

Day 3: Quito | Galapagos Islands - San Cristobal Island

Thursday - Departure from your Quito hotel and short 2 1/2 hour flight to San Cristobal. On arrival you will be met by our naturalist guides and taken on a ten minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend. PM: Interpretation Center & Tijeretas (San Cristobal Island) Learn about the history of the islands in the context of nature, humankind and conservation. Tijeretas Hill walk through beautiful landscapes ending with a magnificent view nearby a large frigatebird colony. (B.L.D)

Day 4: Galapagos Islands - Espanola Island

Friday - AM: Gardner Bay (Espanola Island) Spot Galapagos hawks, American oyster catchers, Galapagos doves, hood mockingbirds, 3 species of Darwin finches, yellow Warblers, lava lizards, and marine iguanas. PM: Suarez Point (Espanola Island) Explore volcanic formations and a riveting wildlife. Besides the sea lion colonies, this is a very important site for bird watching. A major highlight is their mating season, from May through December. (B.L.D)

Day 5: Galapagos Islands -Cormorant Point - Floreana Island

Saturday - AM: Post Office (Floreana Island) Continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel which reach their destinations for free. Observe the mocking bird of Galapagos, some species of Darwin's finches, yellow Warblers, and lava lizards. PM: Cormorant Point (Floreana Island) Wet landing, on an olivine green sand beach. We hike from the black mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This island features some endemic plants such as Scalesia villosa, white and black mangrove, and holy stick. The trail continues to a beautiful white-sand beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific Sea Turtles. It is important to avoid walking in the water due to the Sting Rays that may be hiding in the sand, which can be dangerous if accidentally stepped on. From the beach one can spot sea turtles, Blue-footed Boobies plunging into the water, and small reef sharks floating along the shoreline in search of food. This coral-sand beach marks the end of our trail, and we head back to the olivine beach we landed on to swim or snorkel amongst sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions and, on a good day, white-tipped reef sharks. A small colony of penguins resides on Floreana and can sometimes be observed as well. (B.L.D)

Day 6: Galapagos Islands - Darwin Station- Santa Cruz

Sunday - AM: Highlands (Santa Cruz) Dry landing. A 45-minute bus ride will take us to the Santa Cruz highlands, located to the northwest of Puerto Ayora, where we will find a natural reserve with giant tortoises. These enormous and slow-moving reptiles are responsible for the island’s name and therefore approaching them in their humid and forested abode is always an inspiring adventure. They can weigh between 250 and 300 kg and can live up to 150-200 years. Additionally, travelers can walk inside surprising lava tubes. PM: Fausto Llerena Breeding Center - Charles Darwin Station(Santa Cruz) Dry landing. We visit the Station where the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding program takes place as part of our efforts to preserve the fragile Galapagos environment and where there are large tortoises that have lived decades. Admire a prickly-pear cactus forest and variety Darwin’s finches and other land birds. The Darwin Station also works providing environmental education to communities and schools within the islands, and to tourists visiting the Galapagos Islands. You will also have some free time to visit the town and shop for souvenirs. (B.L.D)

Day 7: Galapagos Islands - Daphne Island | Quito

Monday - AM: Galapagos airport This is your last day in the Galapagos, after breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to the mainland. If your departure flight time permits, there may be time for a small scenic excursion enroute to the airport. Upon arrival, our driver and guide will be waiting for you in order to take you to your hotel, rest of day and evening at leisure. Overnight in Quito. (B)

Day 8: Depart Quito

Tuesday - Departure to Quito airport for your return flight. Alternatively ask your travel agent about extending your stay in South America and perhaps travelling on to Peru & Machu Picchu.(B) Important: Itineraries and activities subject to change without prior notice. Depending on weather conditions and water currents, some wildlife described above may not be visible.