Experience the Galapagos!
Galapagos Islands & Quito Ecuador Singles Trip
November 9 - 16
$3190

Located just about 600 miles from the mainland of Ecuador, South America, are the Galapagos Islands. A magical place like none other on earth. These islands are a living laboratory of evolution and they are home to some of the world's rarest species. Marine and land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, as well as the giant tortoises, all mingle and coexist freely as they have done for thousands of years. Discover these remarkable islands with their rich variety of landscapes, interesting lava formations, pristine soft sand beaches, fearless animals and extraordinary natural beauty, mostly still untouched by man. You will find a visit to the Galapagos a personally rewarding educational opportunity and an enchanting travel experience. The time to visit the Galapagos is now!

Download the Experience the Galapagos! & Quito Brochure

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 - Tuesday - November 9: Arrive in Quito, Ecuador

Plan to arrive in Quito, Ecuador today. You will be met outside of customs and immigration by our local English-speaking guide. Then you will be transferred to the elegant Hotel Quito to check in and enjoy a“welcome cocktail”, to celebrate your arrival in Ecuador. Meet your host in the lobby at 7:00pm for an optional dinner.

Day 2 - Wednesday - Nov 10: - Full-Day Guided Tour of the Otavalo Country and Ingrain Market

The Indian fairs and markets of Ecuador are a perfect illustration of this Andean country’s vast cultural wealth, stunning geography and its happy and colorful people. Markets are traditional places for people to meet, shop, haggle and gossip, while local native tribes trade foodstuffs, animals, utensils, pans, textiles and other items. The Indigenous markets provide a great way to get closer to the Ecuadorians, while bargaining over the price of a sweater or panpipe and enjoy their handicrafts. The Indian market of Otavalo is reputed to be the most famous and colorful in all of South America.

Our guide will meet us for an early morning departure toward the scenic roads northeast of Quito. The drive takes under two hours and passes the dramatic Avenue of the Volcanoes. Enroute visit the Imbabura Province, known as the Lake District of Ecuador. See the Plaza de los Ponchos, where beautiful textiles of cotton and wool made in local workshops fill the square and surrounding streets with colors, vibrant sounds, and life. The market stalls also display every kind of crafts, from wood carvings and native paintings to Panama hats and jewellery. Visit the Wednesday Otavalo Indian market, filled with Otavalo Indians wearing blue ponchos, white trousers and long braided hair. In the afternoon we bid farewell to Otavalo and begin our journey back to Quito and our hotel. (Lunch included) Hotel Quito

Day 3 - Thursday, Nov 11: Quito to Baltra Island

This morning we will be transferred to the airport for our flight departing Quito at 7:15am and arriving in Baltra at 9:30am. Upon arrival we will be transferred to the modern M/V GALAPAGOS LEGEND to begin our 4-night cruise through Darwin’s “Enchanted Islands”.

Accommodations will be in either “Superior Outside Cabins” (double occupancy) or “Superior Inside Cabins” (single occupancy).

All accommodations are spacious and each feature a private bathroom and air conditioning. All meals, lectures and shore excursions are included. The excursions and cultural programs are led by category “3” naturalist guides (the highest category for guides).

PM Visit to Bartholome (Bartholomew) - This island is famous for its unique volcanic formations, resembling a massive deserted moon landscape, with very little vegetation. Here, you can snorkel with the adorable Galapagos penguins, sea turtles and other tropical fish. The bay has crystal clear waters and it is also an excellent place to go swimming. It has an altitude of 114mts, from where we can observe one of the most beautiful sceneries of the Galapagos Islands, such as: volcanic cones, lunar-like craters, lava fields and the famous pinnacle formed of Toba eroded by the sea.

Day 4 - Friday, Nov 12: Galapagos Adventure Cruising

AM Visit to Isabela (Abermale) - is the largest island in the archipelago. South from Tagus Cove and still on the West coast is Urvina Bay. It is an easy wet landing on a gentle sloping beach and very interesting in that it is a perfect example of the geological activity of the islands. The waters of the bay are a good place to see turtles and rays and ashore is a short trail leading to a coral reef, which is evidence of an uplift from the sea which occurred in 1954.

From here it is easy to reach the Alcedo and Darwin volcanoes, learn about the eruption of the five volcanoes that formed the island. You can see large colored land iguanas here and the possibility of seeing giant Galapagos turtles, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, Galapagos penguins, pelicans and marine iguanas is excellent.

PM Visit to Fernandina (Narborough) - Fernandina is the youngest and westernmost island in the Galapagos. Punta Espinosa is a narrow stretch of land where some of the most unique Galapagos species can be seen. While the panga driver skillfully eludes the reef to reach the landing site near a small mangrove forest, penguins throw themselves off the rocks into the water. Sally Lightfoot crabs disperse on the lava near the shore and herons and sandpipers explore the mangrove roots. Marine iguanas conglomerate in larger groups than in any other island. They are everywhere: basking in the sand, swimming near the shore, grazing on the exposed seaweed in the lava and blocking the way at the landing dock. This is one of the few places where there is the opportunity, of watching the iguanas feed underwater.
Fernandina is one of the only places to enjoy the flightless cormorant! Don't miss out if you have the opportunity to see this natural phenomenon.

Day 5 - Saturday, Nov 13: Galapagos Adventure Cruising

AM Visit to Santiago (James) - Most of the island's vegetation is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. A visit to Puerto Egas begins with a wet landing on the dark sand beaches of James Bay. Then a walk along the rocky coast gives the opportunity to view some of the Galapagos Island's best tide pools. Sponges, snails, hermit crabs, barnacles and fish including the endemic four-eyed blenny can be seen. The walk also presents visitors with a variety of shore birds, marine iguanas, sally light foot crabs and sea lions. This is a great island for snorkeling and swimming amongst the playful Galapagos sea life.

PM Visit to Rabida Island has a different look with its reddish beach, cliffs, and steep slopes of volcanic cinders. A noisy colony of sea lions live on the beach and a short trail inland is a good place to observe land birds such as finches, doves, yellow warblers and mockingbirds. Hidden behind a narrow strip of green saltbush is a briny lagoon where flamingoes may be found, sometimes even nesting. There are nine types of Darwin's finches here. Continuing up the rocky red cliffs a short 15-20 minute walk leads to a cliff overhang with a fantastic view of the cove with the ocean, lagoon and scarlet cliffs. Returning back to the beach Rabida offers some very good snorkeling opportunities snorkeling along the rocks at the east end of the beach may reveal many of the reef fish common to these waters. Sharks and Manta Rays are commonly seen.

Day 6 - Sunday, Nov 14: Galapagos Adventure Cruising

AM Visit to Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) - This very important island is home of the famous Charles Darwin Research Station, located in the town of Puerto Ayora. A ten minute walk from the Center of town, at The Charles Darwin Research Station you'll learn first hand of the conservation and research efforts in the Galapagos islands. See the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs which are saving several races of tortoises from extinction. Tour the Van Straelen Exhibit Hall. See the giant Galapagos tortoises.

PM Visit to the Highlands, Santa Cruz Island. Hike to the higher parts of the island called Media Luna, Puntudo and Mount Crocker. Some of the birds that can be spotted are the vermillion flycatcher, short eared owls and woodpeckers. The foot of Mount Crocker is where the broken lava rock begins to give way to soil. The mountain is covered in a dwarf forest with Miconia trees, shrubs, and ferns growing in the shallow, volcanic soil, there is no surface water to drink.

Day 7 - Monday, Nov 15: Baltro to Quito

AM Visit to Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz Island. The sand at Las Bachas is made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, and a favorite site for nesting sea turtles. The Sally Lightfoot crabs are abundant on the lava rocks along the water's edge. These crabs will eat anything they can get their claws on. On your walk you might see flamingoes, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and whimbrels.

This afternoon we are transferred to the airport for the Aerogal Airlines flight departing Baltra at 10:15am and arriving in Quito at 3:00pm. Upon arrival in Quito, our guide will transfer us back to the Hotel Quito.

Day 8 - Tuesday, Nov 16: Colonial Quito, The "Middle of The World" and Equatorial Monument

This morning our tour begins in Quito, see cobble-stoned streets, busy plazas, elegant cathedrals, Quito’s oldest monastery, the Legislative Palace and enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains.

Our tour continues with a drive north of the city to the “must see” site of the “Middle of the World” monument and visitor complex. Travel from Quito to the location where the southern and northern hemispheres meet and view the monument which stands to represent this great divide! It was built during the XVII century when a French Expedition defined the precise location of the equatorial line. Visit the Ethnographic Museum to learn more about the culture and people of Ecuador. We return to our hotel in the afternoon.

Tonight enjoy a special “farewell dinner” at a local-flavor restaurant, including a glass of house wine.

Day 9 - Wednesday, Nov 17: Depart for Home

Sad to say but our Galapagos & Quito Singles Vacation has come to an end. After breakfast it is time to say goodbye to all your new travel buddies as we make our way to the airport and our flights home.

Book Early! - Only 20 Spaces Available

Experience the Galapagos! Galapagos Islands & Quito Ecuador Singles Trip November 9 - 16 $3190 Singles Trip Includes * 3 Nights Hotel Accommodations * 4 Nights Galapagos Cruise * Round trip Airfare Quito to Galapagos * 7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunch, 5 Dinners * All Tours and Admissions Per Itinerary * English Speaking Guides * Singles Travel Representative * Round trip Airport Transfers on Day 1 and Day 9 * All Taxes and Surcharges *Double Occupancy - Free Roommate Matching is available so there is never a need to pay a single supplement. If you decide to room solo it is $850 extra. Not Included International Airfare Tips: $15 a day - Collected First Day Galapagos National Park - $100 Entrance Fee INGALA Transit Control Fee - $10

Deposit - $500 Balance Due August 1                     *The deposit can be paid by credit card the balance is to be paid by check or money order. If you wish to pay the balance by credit card there is a 3% charge.