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DAY 1 CHICAGO – MIAMI – GUAYAGUIL, ECUADOR
Your adventure begins this morning with your American Airlines flight from Chicago to Miami, and then to Guayaguil, Ecuador. Following your late evening arrival, you’ll transfer to the Hampton Inn, situated in the heart of Guayaquil’s tourist, commercial and financial district. Dinner aloft.

DAY 2 GUAYAQUIL – GALAPAGOS
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your 90-minute flight to the island of Baltra in the Galapagos Islands where your naturalist guide will be awaiting your arrival. Following a transfer to the dock, a short barge ride takes you to the nearby island of Santa Cruz. On the northern side of Santa Cruz we’ll be met by our private bus to take us across the island to the southern part where our family-run hotel is located, “Hotel Fernandina.” The colorful town of Puerto Ayora is also the administrative center of the National Park and Darwin Station. This afternoon after checkin, visit a dive shop to get your snorkeling gear for the coming days underwater adventures. Finish your day with a wonderful dinner and a peaceful nights rest. Breakfast, lunch aloft, and dinner included.

DAY 3 FLOREANA “THE MYSTERY ISLAND”
Floreana, known as the “mystery island” is rich in human history. Ecuador took possession of the island in 1832, and this was the first island to get colonized by Ecuadorian people. After breakfast we’ll take a private speedboat to Puerto Velasco Ibarra, a small settlement of fishermen and farmers. We’ll explore highlands and see the caves where the pioneer people once lived. This will be your first opportunity to view giant tortoises. After enjoying a delicious lunch at the Wittmer’s house, one of the first families to arrive on the island, we’ll board our speedboat for some water activities at Champion and Enderby islands. A great place to swim and snorkel, you will be able to swim with sea lions and see a vast array of sea life. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 4 BARTHOLOME ISLAND
Early this morning, depart by boat for Bartolome Island, the most photographed island in all of the Galapagos. You will view Pinnacle Rock and learn of the island’s volcanic history. Galapagos penguins, sea lions and pelicans are plentiful here. Today enjoy your second snorkel excursion in waters teeming with undersea life. In addition to dozens of varieties of colorful tropical fish, watch for stingrays, spotted eagle rays, and white tipped sharks. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 5 DARWIN STATION AND HIGHLANDS
This morning we’ll visit the famous “Charles Darwin Research Station.” Here you’ll learn about the conservation programs carried out by the National Park with the scientific support of the Charles Darwin Station. You will also see and learn about the Tortoise captive breeding program and see famous Lonesome “George.” If you like to support conservation work, you can do some shopping at the Darwin Station shop. Next, travel by bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz where you can view wild tortoises. As you walk through the forest, listen carefully for the sound of heavy footsteps and shrubs being slowly crushed as the tortoises make their way through the brush to enjoy a meal. Tracking tortoises is not the only exciting activity to be found in the Highlands. There are also plenty of lava tubes, sinkholes and craters to explore. Theses eerie formations offer a fascinating hike into the belly of the island to view its volcanic make-up. Be on the lookout for Darwin Finches and hopefully the colorful Vermilion Flycatcher. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 6 NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND AND BACHAS BEACH
The visitor trail on North Seymour is a little over a mile in length, crossing the inland of the island and exploring the rocky coast. Along the way the trail passes colonies of Blue-Footed Boobies and Frigatebirds, known for the large red pouch on their necks. During mating season the males thrown back their heads, inflate the pouch (sometimes to the size of a soccer ball) and shake, trying to capture the attention of female Frigates. North Seymour is also home to some of the largest land iguanas in the Galapagos. After exploring the islands, you’ll come back to the boat and change into your wetsuit for another look at the island’s underwater make-up. This afternoon, after a wonderful boat lunch. we’ll go to Bachas Beach, located on the northern part of Santa Cruz. This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the islands, with clear blue water and white coral sand. Bachas beach is a sea turtle nesting site and inland, flamingos can be found in the brackish lagoons! Breakfast, lunch and dinner..

DAY 7 BAY TOUR AND TORTUGA BEACH
Today we’ll start with a late breakfast and then head to the dock in town to board our Bay Tour boat. She will take us to Tortuga Bay beach, a beautiful white coral beach, and a great place to swim, snorkel, walk along the beach. Or, just put your feet in the sand and read book. We will have lunch here and then continue to the Tunnel of Love to see blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and iguanas. Later we will go to “La Loberia” to swim and snorkel with the playful sea lions. We’ll head back to town mid-afternoon for some free time. Tonight we will have our special Galapagos dinner with the School of Tourism in town. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

DAY 8 GALAPAGOS – GUAYAQUIL
This morning after breakfast we’ll say goodbye to our new friends in the Galapagos Islands and head back to Guayaquil. Guayaquil, with a population approaching 3 million, is the largest city and port in Ecuador as well as the economic and industrial center of the country. Guayaquil has a coastal location on an unusually long 30-mile inward reach of the Gulf of Guayaquil. The city is situated on the Guayas River and is surrounded by the major export farming areas of Ecuador. After we pick up our luggage, we’ll check into the Hampton Inn. This afternoon we’ll see some of downtown Guayaquil including the “Crystal Palace”, as well as visit a small market to see wonderful hand-crafted items made of vegetable ivory called “Tagua”. Then we’ll walk along Guayaquil’s vibrant waterfront and board the pirate ship “Sir Henry Morgan”for a relaxing dinner as we navigate the Guayas River. Breakfast, lunch aloft, and dinner included.

DAY 10 GUAYAQUIL – MIAMI – CHICAGO
After breakfast, depart for the Guayaquil airport and your flight to the USA. You will pass through U.S. Immigration and Customs in Miami and then connect with your flight to Chicago. A departure tax of $27.10 will be collected at the airport.

PLEASE NOTE: THE ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO REGULATION OR CHANGE BY THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND MAY BE CHANGED BY THE TOUR OPERATOR FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE TOUR, OR DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL. DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT YOU WILL SEE ARE BASED ON WHAT IS TYPICAL BUT IS NOT A GUARANTEE OF WHAT WILL BE PRESENT ON THE DAY OF THE VISIT.