M/Y Coral Tour - D

Enjoy 5 days aboard with M/Y Coral with an hotel stay & city tour in Quito. Your cruise visits San Cristobal,Santiago & Santa Cruz.The Coral I & II are amongst the finest yachts in Galapagos, great comfort yet their unique design and small size allow for an intimate experience. All shore excursions and on-board briefings & lectures are conducted by fully-licensed English speaking naturalists. The elegance and comfort of the guest cabins is unrivaled. All cabins have an independent air conditioning system, soft music, and some of the can be interconnected.

Quito with Galapagos M/Y Coral 5 days D

Monday - Arriving in Quito you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Once you have checked in the remainder of the day is free to acclimatize of start exploring this historic city on your own.

Day 2: Quito

Tuesday - Breakfast at your hotel. Quito colonial city tour exploring the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical old town in the Americas. Visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compañ­a and iconic San Francisco, repositories of a Stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. (B)

Day 3: Quito | Galapagos Islands - San Cristobal Island

Wednesday - Following breakfast at hotel, transfer to Quito airport for your flight to Galapagos (2 ½ hours flight). On arrival at San Cristobal Airport passengers are picked up at the airport by our naturalist guides and taken on a ten minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/Y Corals. PM: Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve (San Cristobal Island) Built to improve the status of the population of the island tortoises, it is one of the few places where you can see Calandrinia Galapagosa, a plant endemic to San Cristobal in danger of extinction. (B.L.D)

Day 4: Galapagos Islands - San Cristobal Island

Thursday - AM: Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal Island) Eroding tuff cone which forms cliffs where seabirds are often seen nesting. It looks over a beautiful white sand beach where you can spot sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas. PM: Pitt Point & Islet (San Cristobal Island) Probably the only site where the three booby species of the Galapagos can be seen together: Nazca, Blue-footed, and Red-footed; also two species of frigatebirds and a sea lion colony. (B.L.D)

Day 5: Galapagos Islands -

Friday - AM: Mosquera Islet Wet Landing, Mosquera Islet is located between North Seymour and Baltra Islands, this flat, sandy island has a large colony of sea lions. It is also an excellent site for observing shorebirds such as herons and Lava Gulls. There is no trail on Mosquera Island, so any visitor can enjoy an open are. Most of the islet is covered with sand and barren lava rock. Very little sesuvium portulacastrum grows on the sand. PM: Bartolome Dry landing. We discover a fascinating moonscape formed by different volcanic parasitic cones —lava bombs, spatter, cinder cones —as we hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone Pinnacle Rock. We also encounter marine iguanas and lava lizards. Beach time is a great opportunity to snorkel and see (perhaps swim with) Galapagos Penguin, sea turtles and White-tipped Reef Shark, among a great variety of colorful fish. For many visitors, this may turn out to be the best of snorkeling experiences; the water here is generally clear, without too much surf and full of marine life. Due to its geographical location, the lack of vegetation is immediately noticeable. Pioneer plants are observed, so called because they are the first to establish roots on new ground. They include Tiquilia nesiotica (which is endemic to the island) and Chamaesyce(known as sand mat or spurge in English), lava cactus, and Scalesia bushes. Behind the beach we have dunes covered by mangroves. (B.L.D)

Day 6 : Galapagos Islands - Rabida & Santiago Islands

Saturday - AM: Rabida Wet landing. Dark-red sand covers these unique beaches with incredible landscape; Rábida is considered the epicenter of the Galapagos Islands due to the diversity of its volcanic geology. Nesting Brown Pelicans are found from July through September and nine species of the famous Darwin’s finches can be seen. We will also take a dinghy ride along cliffs to observe nesting seabirds, and snorkel off the coast, where marine life is particularly active. PM: Egas Port (Santiago) Wet landing on a beach of black volcanic sand, visited by Darwin in 1835. The first part of the trail is comprised of volcanic ash (eroded tuff) and the other half of the trail is partially uneven terrain, comprised of volcanic basaltic rock that lounges the shoreline. The unique, truly striking layered terrain of Santiago’s shores is home to a variety of resident and migrant birds, including the bizarre Yellow-crowned Night Heron and astounding array of marine wildlife including lobster, starfish and marine iguanas grazing on algae beds alongside Sally Lightfoot Crabs. Colonies of endemic fur seals swimming in cool water pools formed by volcanic rocks. Snorkeling here offers rarities such as octopus or squid. (B.L.D)

Day 7: Galapagos Islands - Santa Cruz Island | Quito

Sunday - AM: Galapagos airport This is your last day in the Galapagos, after breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to the mainland. If your departure flight time permits, there may be time for a small scenic excursion enroute to the airport. Upon arrival, our driver and guide will be waiting for you in order to take you to your hotel, rest of day and evening at leisure. Overnight in Quito. (B)

Day 8: Depart Quito

Monday - Breakfast at your hotel and departure transfer to Quito airport for your return flight. Alternatively, ask your travel agent about extending your stay in Ecuador with CIT Tours. (B) Important: Itineraries and activities subject to change without prior notice. Depending on weather conditions and water currents, some wildlife described above may not be visible.