Maybe you’ve thought the renowned Galápagos Islands were a zillion miles away. But they’re due south of New Orleans, right on the equator and so easy to get to for this amazing 5-day 4-night getaway. Your very own expert/local/naturalist/super-fun/award-winning guides will introduce you to the islands’ Big Five: giant land tortoises, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, penguins and marine iguanas, not to mention other creatures found nowhere else on earth—often in extreme close-up! You'll stay on the islands in beautifully-sited waterfront boutique hotels, rather than marooned offshore on a cruise ship. You’ll have abundant chances to hike, kayak, snorkel and meet the people who call the islands home. Then you go a few steps farther – to the rim of the world’s second largest volcanic caldera, and much more. You can also choose from two exciting ways to continue your explorations: an extension to the Andes and Otavalo or an extra day or two in Quito, Ecuador’s beautiful colonial capital city.

DAYS 1-2 - SANTA CRUZ
Your Galápagos getaway begins on Santa Cruz Island. Giant, 500-pound tortoises are the stars here, and you’ll walk among them in their natural habitat in the highlands at El Chato Reserve. You'll join your guide to boat Santa Fe Island for a day of snorkeling and barbeque. The island is a non-stop photo op with plenty of chances to spot an incredibly wide variety of wildlife, from sea lions and sea turtles to Galápagos hawks, Nazca boobies and so much more.

DAYS 3-5 - ISABELA
On Isabela Island, you'll take to the water to kayak with sea lions, green sea turtles and marine iguanas while keeping your eyes sharp for blue-footed boobies in the trees along the shores as well as watching how they hover over the sea and dive for fish. Next day, a walk through otherworldly volcanic terrain takes you to the awesome caldera of Volcán Chico and a very civilized picnic. On the final day, you'll transfer seamlessly back to the Ecuadorian mainland for your onward travels home, to Quito or to join the Andes and Otavalo Extension.