Join us on board our 16 passenger eco yacht, the Aida Maria, for a wildlife cruise in the Galapagos Islands.

We will feature lectures by experienced naturalists. Island visits will be in small groups of 16 people or less, each is escorted by a certified Galapagos National Park guide. All cabins have an ocean view, upper / lower berths, private facilities and A/C

Galapagos eco tours on board the Aida Maria yacht

Day 1 Friday
Guayaquil or Quito
Welcome to Ecuador! You will be met, assisted with baggage, and trasnfered to your first class hotel in Quito(Windsor or similar) or Guayaquil(Orilla del Rio or similar).
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Day 2 Saturday
Guayaquil or Quito
Colonial City Tour of Quito
(4 HOURS)
Visit the colonial center of Quito and see a variety of colonial churches, plazas and museums. Finally, drive up to el Panecillo Hill to have a spectacular view of Quito and to see the amazing 20 meter high statue of  the winged virgin over looking the city.
OR
Guayaquil City Tour
(3 HOURS)
Experience downtown Guayaquil; walk through Las Penas, a lively 1900's neighborhood, experience the bustling riverfront at Malecon 2000 and the many attractions featured at this walkway.
BLD
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Day 3 Sunday
Central Islands
Quito or Guayaquil, Baltra, Galapagos eco tour, Santa Cruz
Transfer from hotel to airport for your flight to Baltra airport in Galapagos. As you board the Aida Maria yacht, receive a safety briefing. Your first visit and introduction to your Galapagos island cruise is at Bachas beach, here we find nesting sea turtles, flamingos and other migratory birds. First opportunity for snorkelling. Welcome cocktail before dinner, evening briefing. BLD ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 4 Monday
Galapagos eco tour, South Plazas island, Santa Fe island
We will sail to Plazas Island, where a large colony of sea lions lounges daily in the equatorial sun. Isla Plaza is also peppered with hundreds of land and marine iguanas, towering cacti "trees" that form the principal diet for both the land iguanas and the cactus finch. After lunch we visit Santa Fe Island and the local sealion colony. The main attraction, a towering forest of giant cacti, marine and land iguanas, the rainbow-streaked lava lizards and, if you are lucky, Galapago land tortoises. BLD
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Day 5 Tuesday
Galapagos eco tour, Hispaniola island
Disembark at Suarez Point in the morning and Gardner Bay in the afternoon. Enjoy open areas where you can spot lava lizards, iguanas, and many birds: blue footed boobies, masked boobies, Galapagos hawk, Frigate bird, giant waved albatross. Time is allowed for swimming and snorkeling. BLD
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Day 6 Wednesday                                
Galapagos eco tour, Floreana island
Floreana, one of the greenest islands in the archipelago. Ask your guide to tell you about its mysterious history laden with rumors of witches, murderous baronesses, blackmail and dubious disappearances.
Our first stop is Punta Cormorant, we will see flaming-pink flamingos, a sea turtle nesting area and a superb spot for watching sea birds and sea rays.
At La Corona del Diablo (the Devil's Crown), a sub-marine crater that offers some of the most spectacular snorkeling in the Galapagos.
After lunch, sail on to Post Office Bay, where the island's original post office was established in 1793. Visitors drop off unstamped letters and postcards AND pick-up whatever mail they can hand deliver themselves when they return home! (Try it, it actually works!).
BLD
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Day 7 Thursday morning
Galapagos eco tour, Santa Cruz island
Visit the world-famous Charles Darwin Station, a non-profit institution that dedicates itself to studying and protecting Galapagos wildlife. This is one of the best places to see land tortoises, including Lonely George, the last survivor of his subspecies. We will also visit the station's Tortoise Rearing Center. If your tour is a 5 day tour, our visit to Charles Darwin Station will complete our Galapagos cruise. From the station we will take a bus to the airport for departure flight to mainland Ecuador. Upon arrival transfer to hotel.
(B,L,[D])
Extensions are available.
Eastern Islands
Thursday afternoon
Santa Cruz island, Galapagos eco tour
Welcome at Baltra Airport! New arrivals, lunch in the highlands of Santa Cruz. Our cruise "veterans" after shopping in Puerto Ayora and lunch, will join our new arrivals and explore the upper region ('parte alta'). Learn about the vegetation and animal life of this zone, strikingly different than that found at lower elevations. Darwin finches, yellow warblers, and bright red vermillion flycatchers. Beautiful views of the surrounding archipelago. In the late afternoon we return to town. For those who wish to familairize themselves with Galapagos nightlife, this is your chance: the boat will be docked in port most of the night. Orientation. Afternoon . ([B],L,D)
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Day 8 Friday
Galapagos eco tour, Rabida island, Santiago island
We visit the seashell pink sands of Rabida Island. Here we will see a pelican nesting area and many sea birds flying above. One of the best snorkelling spots in the islands. After lunch, arrive at Egas Port we disembark and follow a footpath across the island to find marine iguanas, Darwin finches, rainbowed lava lizards, and endemic Galapagos hawks along the way. A special sight on Santiago are the fur seals cooling off in the shade formed by the seashore grottos.
BLD
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Day 9 Saturday
Galapagos eco tour, Santiago island, Bartolome isle
We visit Sullivan bay and walk on lava fields, both types pahoehoe and aa lava, enjoy watching a colony of penguins. After lunch, visit Bartolome, if you hike to the summit of this small island you will have one of the most impresive landscapes of the Galapagos. Great opportunity for snorkelling with a vast marine life.
BLD
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Day 10 Sunday
Galapagos eco tour, North Seymour island, Baltra, Guayaquil or Quito
After an early breakfast we will disembark at North Seymour Island. Here we will see frigatebirds, the clownish blue-footed booby, and of course the ubiquitous sea lions. Depart to Airport. Flight to Guayaquil or Quito. Upon arrival you will be met and transfered to your hotel. BL
---------------------------------------------------------------------Day 11 Monday
Guayaquil or Quito
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport for homebound flight($25USD departurte tax from Quito, $10 from Guayaquil) or trip extension. Thank you for joining a Latin Trails Expedition.

Itineraries are always subject to change without previous notice due to operational purposes, policies of the Galapagos National park authorities, wheather conditions and for comfort of our passengers.

Hotels in Quito and Guayaquil
Hotel in Quito, Windsor or similar.
Hotel in Guayaquil, hostal Orilla del rio or similar.

Meet / depart
Guayaquil or Quito- Ecuador /
Guayaquil or Quito- Ecuador

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Includes
All Transfers
All meals(breakfast
B, lunch L, dinner D)
Galapagos cruise
Guided excursions
Briefings and lectures
Bottled water on
cruise ship and
purified water with
all meals.

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Not Included
Use of snorkeling
equipment, soft
drinks and alcoholic
beverages,
gratuities, personal
expenses.
Diving $70 per day

Airfare to Ecuador is extra.

Airfare between
Quito and Galapagos, roundtrip
$ 393.00
Guayaquil and
Galapagos, roundtrip
$ 366.00

Galapagos Park
entrance fee
$100.00

Airport tax Ecuador
$25
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Excursions to the Islands
There are 2 daily visits to the islands, in the morning and in the afternoon, accompanied by our naturalist guides. The visits usually include walking, hiking and snorkeling, and in some places beach activity, swimming and shopping.

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Dry Landings: Passengers step directly from a dinghy to rocks or a dock, therefore we recommend: walking shoes, sunscreen, hat, water, insect repellent and a light jacket.

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Wet Landings: The dinghy edges up to a beach, passengers step into knee-deep water assisted by crew members and guides, therefore we recommend: swimming suit or shorts, walking shoes or slippers, towel (that will be provided by the crew while disembarking), sunscreen, hat, insect repellent, plastic bag, well insulated cameras and a windbreaker.

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Snorkeling
Marine life in Galapagos is abundant, for that reason, these is a great place for snorkeling. And for those people that do not have their own equipment, you may rent it on board.

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Food on board
The cooking on board the Aida Maria yacht has been acknowledged as great. Food is served buffet style including international and local cuisine, with a large variety of meats, tropical fruits and vegetables. We cater vegetarian and other specific dietary needs.

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Scuba diving
The Aida Maria yacht offers Scuba diving in company of Dive masters and intructors. Our itinerary permits us to combine a naturalist cruise with daily dives. All necessary equipment is provided.

Galapagos Marine life is amazing and should not be missed.

Eco tours and wildlife cruises on board Aida Maria yacht

Departure dates
Every Friday and Tuesday all year round.