Independent Galapagos Cruise Aboard the Galápagos Legend with Ecuador's Amazon

Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Fly to Coca where you will be met by your Naturalist. Travel by motorboat down the Napo River with opportunities to spot birds like herons, kingfishers, and others. Arrive at your Amazon lodge located on the banks of Napo River Lake surrounded by pristine rainforest. Tonight, enjoy a welcome briefing and dinner. (B/L/D)

During your stay, enjoy nature excursions with a Naturalist who introduces you to the Amazon. Activities each day vary based on weather conditions. On the suspended rainforest canopy walk, your Naturalist points out many different species of vibrantly feathered birds. Jungle walks show off the immense biodiversity and medicinal plants that have been used by the native cultures for hundreds of years. Take a night walk or canoe ride with your Naturalist to discover creatures that can rarely be seen during the day! (B/L/D)

Continue your Amazon exploration. Visit the lodge's butterfly house, one of Ecuador's largest. You will also cruise through the flooded forest in search of troops of squirrels, capuchin, and howler monkeys—and maybe even the incredibly well camouflaged 3-toed sloth. After fishing for piranhas, arrive at the Kapok Tree tower, perched 150-feet high. Get close-up views of birds as the sun sets on volcanic Mount Sumaco and the Andes. (B/L/D)

Depart your Amazon lodge and fly from Coca to Quito today. The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure. (B)

Your included private city tour showcases the rich legacy left by the Incas and the Spaniards. See Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows. (B)

Fly to Baltra and transfer with your expert Naturalist to the Galápagos Legend for your 3-night cruise. Sail to North Seymour, a landmass formed by a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, which deposited layers of lava on the ocean floor. Take a walk amidst large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls for an in-depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles. You will also encounter sea lions, land iguanas and, on a lucky day, you might even come across the endemic Galápagos snake. (B/L/D)

Wake up at Bartolomé Island to discover a fascinating moonscape formed by volcanic parasitic cones. Hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands and Pinnacle Rock. You will also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and blue-footed boobies. Bartolomé offers some of the best spots to snorkel, thanks to clear waters and abundant sea life, including sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and maybe even Galápagos penguins.

This afternoon, sail to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island and take a walk on young Pahoehoe lava flows formed during the last quarter of the 19th Century. See the reddish-yellow tuff-cones with various flora growing from the fissures. Walking on the solidified lava gives the impression of walking on another planet. After your guided walk, spend time snorkeling from the white sand beach where you may see penguins, sea lions, sharks, and rays. (B/L/D)

Arrive at Pitt Islet on San Cristobal and walk to the top of a volcanic tuff to be rewarded with several magnificent viewpoints. This is one of the few sites where the Galápagos' three booby species (blue-footed, red-footed, and Nazca) can be seen together. You will also find the two species of frigate birds and a sea lion colony. The island waters are excellent for dinghy rides to see a range of seabirds—and a great spot to snorkel!

At Cerro Brujo, visit a lagoon where migratory bird species can be seen: black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels, other sandpiper species, and white-cheeked pintails. Cerro Brujo offers beautiful views of Kicker Rock, the southern part of San Cristobal, and the adjacent coast. Your visit includes time to swim with the sea lions and other marine life. (B/L/D)

After breakfast, disembark in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and visit the Giant Tortoise Reserve on San Cristobal. Learn about the national park's conservation and breeding programs to protect the endangered tortoise species. Also, visit the port village for a last chance at souvenirs before bidding farewell to the enchanted Galápagos Islands. Transfer to San Cristobal Airport and fly to Guayaquil, where the remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)