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            [HighlightText] => Marvel at the incredible diversity of species and habitats visiting 9 landing sites in 6 days
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            [HighlightText] => Explore an array of pristine islands, from volcanic Isabela to wildlife-rich Fernandina, accompanied by our expert naturalist guides
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            [HighlightText] => Behold black lava landscapes teeming with marine iguanas, and swim with sea lions, turtles, and penguins
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            [Description] => blue footed
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            [Description] => massimo sea lion
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Your Guides

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The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Luis D.

Luis was born in Seville, Spain, and graduated from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid with a degree in Environmental Biology. He is fluent in Spanish, English, and French and has guided in Galapagos since 1999. In addition to being a professional nature photographer, Luis has a Master's Degree in Geographic Ecology and is active with conservation groups. A born teacher, he enthusiastically shares his knowledge of Galapagos with people of all ages. He lives in Quito with his wife, twin sons, and daughter and is MT Sobek's head naturalist guide. 

Patricia S.

Patricia has been guiding diving trips in Galapagos since 1999. A native of Switzerland and originally a journalist for the Swiss News Agency, Patricia started her career in guiding as a divemaster in Honduras in 1995 and as a naturalist guide in Costa Rica. She is fascinated by wildlife, is a passionate teacher, and an active conservationist in the islands. As a resident of Galapagos, she will be able to give you an insider's viewpoint of life in the islands. Patricia is fluent in English, German, and French.

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                    [Headline] => Arrive in Quito
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Welcome to the historic city of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. An MT Sobek representative will meet you outside customs at the airport and escort you to your hotel. After settling in at the hotel, the rest of the day is free to unwind, take advantage of the hotel\'s pool and spa services or begin your exploration of this dynamic city. Dinner is on your own tonight.
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                    [Headline] => Tour Quito\'s Old Town
                    [ActivityOverview] => 1-2 hours/1 mile of walking in Quito\'s Historic Center
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                    [ItinBlock] => Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before setting out on a half-day guided tour of colonial Quito. The city\'s UNESCO-listed old town contains the best examples of Colonial Baroque architecture in South America! After lunch, you are free to explore more of the old town, return to the hotel, or shop for handicrafts made by local artisans. Gather in the hotel at 6:30 pm for a briefing with your fellow travelers and MT Sobek representative, who will discuss tomorrow\'s flight to the Galapagos Islands and the adventure ahead. Dinner is on your own tonight.
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                    [Headline] => Fly to the Galapagos Islands & See Giant Tortoises in the Wild
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Rise for breakfast and an early transfer flight from Quito to Baltra Island in the Galapagos. After meeting your naturalist guide, take a short transfer from Baltra to Santa Cruz Island. Here a private vehicle awaits to take you to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz for a special opportunity to see giant tortoises in their wild and natural habitat. The Galapagos Islands are named after these magnificent, ancient creatures and the experience with them is magical. Having gotten to know the islands\' endearing namesake, transfer to Puerto Ayora this afternoon and board your private catamaran. Enjoy a welcome dinner onboard.
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                    [Travel_Type] => 2-hour flight transfer and 1-hour private vehicle transfer
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                    [Latitude] => -0.6394
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                    [Headline] => Discover Flightless Cormorants at Isabela\'s Elizabeth Bay
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                    [ItinBlock] => In the morning, disembark at Moreno Point on the west coast of Isabela Island. As you glide along the striking rocky shores by Zodiac, begin to watch for the abundant birdlife that makes this island a birdwatcher\'s paradise! Once on land, follow a scenic path through lava rocks leading to mangroves and tide pools, where green sea turtles and white-tip sharks can be spotted. Then snorkel in search of sea turtles, diving cormorants, and even penguins. In the afternoon, explore the sheltered beauty of Elizabeth Bay, surrounded by large mangroves and rippled lava fields. Take a Zodiac cruise to explore many channels, pools and coves teeming with life. This is one of the best locations in the islands to see Galapagos penguins. Flightless cormorants also nest in the area and blue-footed boobies and pelicans often fish in these shallow and rich waters. Rays and sea turtles are also abundant. Return to the boat for cocktail hour and dinner. 
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                    [Headline] => Swim With Penguins at Isabela\'s Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove 
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                    [ItinBlock] => After breakfast, make a wet landing to explore Urbina Bay, on the southeast side of Isabela. Volcanic activity in the 1950s uplifted the seabed, remarkably exposing corals and invertebrates in its strata. Follow your guide on the trail to look for Galapagos land iguanas, Galapagos hawks, finches, and (mostly between January and June) giant tortoises. Snorkel from the beach to see sea turtles, cormorants, penguins, and an abundance of colorful fish. In the afternoon, look for whales and dolphins as you navigate north along Isabela\'s coast toward Tagus Cove. Plunge into the sheltered waters, a great place to snorkel with penguins and plentiful fish. Head inland on a guided walk to see inscriptions left by whalers in the 1800\'s and stunning saltwater Darwin Lake, After the walk, cruise by Zodiac or paddle by kayak to look for penguins, cormorants, marine iguanas, and the endemic Galapagos martin, one of the most endangered species on the island. 
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                    [Headline] => Snorkel with Sea Turtles & Marine Iguanas at Pristine Fernandina 
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                    [ItinBlock] => Awake at Fernandina, the archipelago\'s youngest island and one of the highlights of the trip. Step ashore into Punta Espinosa\'s volcanic landscape where hundreds of marine iguanas bask in the sun—the largest colony in the Galapagos. Sea lion pups play in the tidal pools, flightless cormorants dry their miniaturized wings, and Galapagos hawks perch on the mangroves scanning for prey. Snorkel amid sea turtles, and marine iguanas. Perhaps you\'ll even spot a cormorant underwater as it chases fish through the reef. In the afternoon, set out for a panga cruise along the dramatic cliffs of Punta Vicente Roca, the remnants of an ancient volcanic caldera. Ride ocean swells beneath the cliffs in search of nesting boobies and explore a huge marine cave, always keeping an eye out for whales and dolphins. Snorkel in the cove where a spectacular variety of marine life, including seahorses, sea turtles, and the marvelous mola mola (sunfish) dwell. 
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                    [Headline] => Hike, Snorkel, & Kayak at Santiago & Rabida Islands
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                    [ItinBlock] => Step onto the dark, sandy volcanic beach of Santiago\'s Puerto Egas after a wet landing. Walk along the rocky coastline, where tide pools are home to sponges, hermit crabs, and fish including the world\'s only four-eyed blenny. Sea lions bask on the rocks, along with marine iguanas and shore birds. A colony of Galapagos fur seals frequent a grotto at the end of the trail. Snorkel from the beach where fish, turtles, and reef sharks glide over the rocky bottom and curious sea lions often appear. This afternoon, make another wet landing, this time at Rabida Island. Start off with a snorkel in search of sea stars, reef sharks, and sea lions among the fish along the sheltered coast, or if you prefer, kayak close to nesting pelicans, boobies, and herons. Then set off on foot to explore the striking red-sand beach, home to sea lions and their pups, and observe flamingoes, migratory shorebirds, wading birds, and ducks who inhabit the nearby lagoon. 
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                    [Latitude] => -0.2620
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                    [Headline] => Cruise the Mangroves of Black Turtle Cove & Return to Quito 
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                    [ItinBlock] => Wake up early for one last excursion in the islands. Cruise by Zodiac to Santa Cruz\'s Black Turtle Cove, a park-protected mangrove lagoon. Delight in the variety of birdlife in this enchanting archipelago and watch the water for small sharks, now-familiar sea turtles, and rays as you glide along lush mangrove forest. Snap some final photos before returning to the ship for breakfast and preparing to disembark at Baltra for your flight back to Quito. An MT Sobek representative will greet you at Quito airport and provide assistance to your nearby hotel. 
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                    [Headline] => Depart Quito 
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                    [ItinBlock] => Use the complimentary airport shuttle to transfer to the airport in time for your outbound flight, or opt to stay on in Quito to join us for one of our extensions in Ecuador or Peru! 
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Accommodations

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Deluxe comfort aboard a modern catamaran with a full crew to cater to your every need. Also includes an upscale hotel in Quito.

Swissotel-Quito, Ecuador

Luxury Hotel

The upscale Swissôtel offers five-star comfort in Quito's Floresta neighborhood, close to great shopping, interesting museums, and the city's architectural gems. Elegant and comfortable rooms feature city or mountain views, flat-screen TVs with premium channels, complimentary Wi-Fi, and more. There are four restaurants onsite offering a variety of international cuisine. Other perks include a fitness center and an indoor pool.

EcoGalaxy

Comfortable Small Ship

Discover the "Enchanted Islands" in relaxed comfort onboard the EcoGalaxy, an 88-foot deluxe catamaran. Its eight staterooms, with a capacity for 16 adventurers, are equipped with en-suite bathrooms, including full-size shower, and A/C. Guests can also relax in the dining room, bar and lounge, and open sundeck, and enjoy the inflatable pangas, kayaks, and snorkeling gear. Designed to minimize environment impact, the EcoGalaxy operates on low fuel consumption with state-of-the-art water filters, LED illumination, tin-free exterior paint, and solar panels. Wi-Fi is now available on board!

Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel-Quito

Comfortable Hotel

The Wyndham Quito Airport is a convenient and comfortable stopover after your journey back from the Galápagos chosen for its location right next to the airport. Both international and Ecuadorian food options are available at the onsite restaurant and for room service. Rooms have large TVs and free WiFi. There is a 24-hour complimentary airport shuttle.