Peru & Machu Picchu Walking Tour

Galapagos Extension

Extend your South America vacation with Classic Journeys to the Galapagos Islands. Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, in the Pacific Ocean, these remote volcanic islands inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. On walks through islands surrounded by breathtakingly blue water, you’ll encounter animal and plant life found nowhere else on earth. From crayon-red sally lightfoot crabs to friendly sea lions, the giant tortoise to the blue-footed booby, the Galapagos will astound you. We’ve picked the best islands for our four-day cruise that will allow you to experience the best of the Galapagos in high style.

Day 1: San Cristóbal Island
We’ll meet you at the airport on San Cristóbal, the easternmost of the Galápagos Islands. With our naturalist guide, we’ll get an immediate immersion in what makes these islands so special. Walking on lava rock trails to the bay where Darwin first landed in the Galápagos, you’ll catch your first views of frigate birds, iguanas and the finches that helped inspire Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. But there’s plenty of time to think science. This afternoon, we’re more in the mood for snorkeling or swimming in the sapphire waters at Carola Beach. This evening, when the cruise crowd chugs back out to their ships, we settle into our oceanside inn at laidback Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. After sunset and dinner, we recommend the short stroll to the boardwalk to see the town’s huge colony of sea lions.

Day 2: Isla Lobos/San Cristóbal Island
After breakfast, we’ll hop aboard a speedboat, headed for the island’s northern coast. Slip into a sea kayak, if you like, for some excellent paddling on crystal clear waters where baby sea lions splash and sunbathe. In fact, those sea lions – known in Spanish as “sea wolves” – gave their name to Isla Lobos, and it’s the best place in the Galápagos to encounter these playful mammals. The snorkeling is also fantastic in these shallow waters with vivid reef fish and the fearsome-looking but utterly harmless marine iguanas. In the afternoon, a scenic trail takes us to El Junco, the islands’ only freshwater lake where the bird watching is fantastic. Mists and moisture from the lake, plus rich volcanic soil, make this perfect terrain for growing coffee. So we’ll stop to visit the Gonzáles family on their 250-acre plantation called Hacienda “El Cafetal.” We’ll spend time with the family and local workers, learning about their organic, sustainable operation, and taste the freshest cup you’ve ever had. Back at the hotel, we’ll kick back for a relaxing evening and a gourmet dinner.

Day 3: Santa Cruz Island
This morning, we transfer to Santa Cruz and the remarkable experience of walking among some of the oldest animals in the world. The island is home to giant tortoises that can grow up to 500 pounds and live for 175 years or more. Venturing out into the highlands, we’ll encounter them in the wild as we walk to their watering hole. It’s a great spot for birding as well, with chances to spot pintail ducks, frigate birds, egrets and maybe even a rare vermilion flycatcher. After lunch in a country hacienda, there’s time to explore some the incredible lava tunnels where pirates are reputed to have hidden plundered Inca gold. Then we’ll continue on to Los Gemelos for one of the most interesting forest walks we’ve ever taken. It’s so unusual because the forests are in the microclimate of two volcanic sinkholes. The scalesia trees – actually related to daisies – thrive only in this humid zone and are covered with thick wisps of moss and lichens. Our day ends at our waterfront resort. Claim a chair under an umbrella on the bayside terrace that has been beautifully constructed using driftwood and rock accents. It’s a perfect spot to sip on something cold and watch the world go by.

Day 4: Santa Cruz / Charles Darwin Research Station
The explorations and observations of Charles Darwin have been the backdrop to our time together. Today, we visit the Research Station that bears his name. It’s great way to sum up the sights, sounds and experiences of the week with information about the islands’ plant and animal life. And of course, we’ll see Lonesome George, the last remaining Pinta Island Tortoise.

We transfer to Baltra Island for return flights to either Quito or Guayaquil on the mainland.

Extension Begins: San Cristóbal, Galápagos with an airport transfer from your arriving flight from Quito or Guayaquil to our seafront boutique hotel.

Extension Ends: Baltra Island, Galápagos with an airport transfer so that you can check in for your flight to Quito or Guayaquil on the Ecuadorian mainland.

Extension Length: 4 days and 3 nights

Price Per Person: $2495.00 based on 2 people sharing a two bedded room, Single supplement from: $395.00

Extension Airfare: It is possible to arrange your airfare from the U.S. to the Galápagos directly. When arranging flights directly to the Galápagos as part of your international ticket, be sure that your arrival is into San Cristóbal (airport code SCY) and that your departure is from Baltra (airport code: GPS). If your international airfare does not include the flights between Ecuador and the Galápagos, Classic Journeys can arrange these flight segments for you, at an additional cost. The cost for the internal Ecuador flights (from Quito or Guayaquil to/from the Galápagos) is approximately $585 per person. We will advise you the exact cost at ticketing.

What Is Included in Extension Price
• All transfers
• Entrance fees to all sites visited
• Detailed visits with English-speaking guides
• All guided excursions described in the itinerary
• Accommodation based on double room at the Swissotel – Quito and Double Cabin in the Galapagos Explorer II
• All meals from breakfast on day 2 through lunch on day 5
• Galapagos National Park Tax: US$ 100.00 per person
• Galapagos National Institute Migration Control Card: US$ 10.00 per person
• Full surcharge

What Is Not Included Extension Price
• International flight ticket: priced separately at a cost of approximately $995 per person from Quito, Ecuador to Lima, Peru to Cusco, Peru
• Domestic flight ticket: Quito – Baltra, Galapagos – Quito priced separately at a cost of approximately $485 per person
• Excess baggage charge
• Additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations
• Alcoholic beverages or bottled water
• Snacks other than specified
• Insurance of any kind
• Laundry
• Phone calls, radio calls or messages
• Other items of personal nature
• Extra expenses originated in itinerary changes or others due to force majeure or other circumstances beyond Classic Journeys' control