Depart in the morning by British Airways flight to Miami from where you continue by American Airlines to Quito. On arrival in the evening, you will be met and transferred to the El Patio Andaluz. Stay here for 4 nights.

Morning sightseeing in Quito including a visit to the Equatorial Monument.

Today you will visit the Cotopaxi National Park. Surrounding Cotopaxi Volcano, this is an ecological sanctuary of 36,000 hectares (88,920 acres), especially attractive for nature lovers, with the treeless vegetation of the Andean moorlands or paramo. From the entrance to the park, you travel along a dirt road for approximately one hour. Upon arrival to the park the guide gives an introductory briefing about the habitat of the Andean paramo or moorlands, its flora and fauna in the small Interpretation Centre. Continue on to Limpiopungo Lagoon to observe a variety of birds and occasionally wild horses. On clear days, the Cotopaxi Volcano is an awesome backdrop. A short walk around the lagoon allows the observation of the Andean flora. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant of the area and then board the "Chiva Express", a colourful one coach train, like a bus on tracks, for the ride back. A highlight of the trip is to 'ride the roof' with panoramic views of the stunning Andean region of Ecuador. A short stop at a hacienda is made on the way, where a mid-afternoon snack will be served. The Chiva Express ride ends at the Station of Tambillo, where the bus is waiting to bring you back to Quito.

Free. Optional excursions can be booked locally.

Fly to San Cristobal on the Galapagos Islands (3 hours) and embark on the M/V Santa Cruz. The captain and his crew will welcome you aboard and demonstrate the safety procedures and give a briefing on the Galapagos. Afternoon dinghy ride along the shores Cerro Brujo's white coraline beach where you have a wet landing. Here you should see seabirds like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds, and some shore birds. Also, look for Galapagos sea lions. The beach is a great open walking area, with rewarding birdwatching. Highlights ashore include the Chatham (San Cristobal) Mockingbird, Chatham Lava Lizard; both species are endemic to this island, and seen nowhere else in Galapagos. These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835, as San Cristobal was the first island where he set foot in the Galapagos. Return to the Santa Cruz for a briefing on the next day's activities, followed by dinner.

Morning outing at Punta Suarez (dry landing) on Hood Island for an exciting walk on the lava/boulder terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April - December), Nazca (masked boobies), blue-footed boobies, swallow-tail gulls, and the famous blowhole. Among its landbirds, the Hood island mockingbird, and three species of Darwin’s finches are common highlights. Also, look for red-green-black marine iguanas, and of course a rookery of sea lions right at the landing site. Return to the boat for lunch. Disembark in the afternoon at Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island (wet landing) at an olivine-crystal beach for an easy walk that includes a brackish water lagoon where bird species like Greater flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, sandpipers, and others may be observed. This outing also includes a white-sand beach where sea turtles come out at night for nesting (from December to May). There is the possibility of snorkelling from the beach, or joining the Glass Bottom Boat or advanced snorkeling panga if conditions permit.

This morning brings you to the youngest island, Fernandina. Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness with lots of wildlife. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their island habitat with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, and hawks. Lava terrain calls for good walking shoes. Sailing along the Bolívar Channel, you can see astonishing views of the Galápagos’ youngest volcanoes. The nutrient-rich waters of the west can also bring surprises like encountering sea birds feeding, dolphins, and possibly whales. In the afternoon, depending on the conditions of the ocean, we will schedule a snorkeling outing along the cliffs of partly-sunken Ecuador Volcano, in the northern tip of Isabela Island. Since there is no landing site at this location, the boat’s naturalist guides will commit to explaining the dramatic geology of the area with remains of lava flows and tuff stone layers. This is the nesting place for flightless cormorants, the only existing marine birds in the world other than penguins that have changed their condition of flying birds to diving birds. Wildlife here also includes Sea lions, Galápagos Fur seals, Galápagos Penguins, Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies and noddy terns. This area has a very rich marine life, and is seasonally visited by green sea turtles.

The M/V Santa Cruz drops anchor at the Itabaca Channel, between the islands of Baltra and Santa Cruz. Disembark at the public dock (dry landing) for a 30-minute bus ride through the highlands to Puerto Ayora where changes in vegetation can be witnessed. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the rearing-in-captivity program for the famous giant tortoises. Here you can learn about the conservation efforts promoted by this institution, and stroll among an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest where endemic land birds can be seen. After your visit, return via the Itabaca Channel by ferry and take the bus to Baltra Island airport in time for the early afternoon flight back to Quito. On arrival, transfer to El Patio Andaluz for your final night.

After an early breakfast, transfer to Quito airport. Fly on American Airlines to Miami and from Miami, continue by British Airways flight to London Heathrow.

Morning arrival at Heathrow.