Galápagos: Wildlife Wonderland

•   18 meals (7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners)

Day 1: Arrive in Quito, Ecuador
A transfer is included from Mariscal Sucre International Airport to the Swissôtel Quito. After your flight to Ecuador, get a good a night’s sleep so you’ll be rested and ready for your family's unforgettable Galápagos tour.
Overnight: Swissôtel Quito, Ecuador
Meals Included:

Day 2: A train ride to the Quito countryside
It's all aboard the Chiva Express* today for a ride through the countryside of Quito, Ecuador. You'll be "mooved" by a visit to a dairy farm, alive with cows, horses and llamas; you'll see the ecosystems that thrive here during a hike in the moorlands and you'll be able to taste farm-fresh cheese and vegetables during lunch at a local hacienda. Back in Quito, join us for a welcome dinner as we tell you what's ahead on your Galápagos tour.
Overnight: Swissôtel Quito, Ecuador
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Board your ship as your Galápagos tour begins
The cruise part of your family’s Galápagos tour begins today when you fly to the volcanic island of Baltra and board your expedition ship, the M/V Santa Cruz. Your first shore excursion features a ride ashore on a panga to the island of Santa Cruz. On a guided hike around a saltwater lagoon today, look for flamingos, pintail ducks, sandpipers and stilts; join our expert naturalists for an informative briefing back aboard ship this evening.     
Overnight: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Tropical penguins and a lava walk
At Bartolomé Island, hike up to the summit and drink in amazing vistas of its volcanic features and the neighboring islands. Ride a panga around Pinnacle Rock, then meet sea lions, sea turtles and tiny tropical Galápagos penguins – only found here – "face-to-face" as you view a panorama of life underwater from a glass-bottomed boat or while snorkeling in the warm, clear water.  Roam the black lava landscape of San Salvador Island with our expert naturalists, and look for friendly Galápagos fur seals; this Galápagos tour is a great way to see these friendly mammals up close. And keep an eye peeled for marine iguanas, lizards that are only found in the Galápagos – they look like swimming dinosaurs!
Overnight: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Finches and friendly sea lions
Meet Darwin's finches and other rare birds today on Rabida (Jervis) Island, with its red-colored beaches.  Chart a course for North Seymour Island where you can explore sandy beaches teeming with sea lions and swallowtail gulls. Tonight you'll find out more about the Galápagos at an ECO (Explore, Conserve, Observe) Moment with our shipboard naturalists.
Overnight: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz
Travel into the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a chance to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island to see and learn about the famous Galápagos tortoises. Have your picture taken with them – these gentle giants aren’t at all camera-shy. Say hello to Lonesome George, an elderly tortoise thought to be one of the last of his sub-species; your visit here will be a fond memory of your Galápagos tour.
Overnight: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Galápagos tour ends and you fly to Guayaquil
Visit the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center on San Cristóbal Island; your Galápagos tour comes to an end when you disembark M/V Santa Cruz and fly to Guayaquil on the mainland. Join us this evening for a poolside farewell party as Tauck's Galápagos tour and cruise comes to a close.
Overnight: Hilton Colón Guayaquil, Ecuador
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Homeward bound
Galápagos tour ends: Guayaquil. A transfer from the Hilton Colón Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport is included. You should allow a minimum of 2½ hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Deals Traveling with a group of friends or family can add to the joy of any journey. Book a group of 10 on any Tauck land journey or cruise and the 11th guest travels FREE. Book a group of 8 on any Tauck Bridges family adventure and the 9th guest travels FREE Tauck Single Specials For those seeking singles tours, we are pleased to offer special values on select departures to our guests who choose to travel solo. You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that you are among like-minded travelers and will have all the day-to-day details handled for you! While everyone is welcome, on these select dates we offer special arrangements to those traveling solo at a reduced cost. Tauck Single Specials in North America Best of the Canadian Rockies Michigan's Lakes & Mackinac Island Charleston/Savannah Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia San Fransisco, Sonoma & Napa Valleys Tauck Single Specials in Europe A Week in Ireland A Week in Spain Mediterranean Discovery Istanbul and the Black Sea Treasure of the Mediterranean Cruising Mediterranean Shores The Blue Danube Holland Belgium in Spring Strasbourg to Prague Serenade The Rhine and Moselle Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat Budapest to the Black Sea Classic Italy Bellissima Northern Italy Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence and Rome A Week in Paris and Provence Tauck Singles Specials in Latin America Panama Canal & Costa Rica
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
7/31/2010 - 8/8/2010	$3,990
8/7/2010 - 8/15/2010	$3,990
8/14/2010 - 8/22/2010	$3,990
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Guayaquil ~ Baltra Island ~ Santa Cruz Island ~ Bartolomé Island ~ Rabida Island ~ Charles Darwin Station ~ North Seymour Island  ~ San Cristóbal Island

Tauck Tour Deals

Tauck Single Specials

Ratings & Reviews:

This tour has no reviews yet. Have you experienced this tour? Write a review.

Related Travel Articles

• See Europe :: Travel Safely and In Style, Escorted Tours
• Tours :: The Most Common Questions about Escorted Tours
• Things You Must Tell Your Travel Agent - Don't Ruin Your Vacation
• All About Paris France :: the world’s most romantic city
• Trafalgar Tours :: 8 ways to Travel in Style
• Travel Improves Your Health
• River Cruises :: A Popular Choice for Travelers
• Eastern Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf Vacations
• Adventures by Disney Invites Families to Experience the World in 2010
• Extreme Travel Destinations
• Avalon Scenery
• Royal Lotus
• Nile River Cruise
• Spotlight on Ireland
• Paula Deen Cruise
• Angkor Wat Temple Complex, Cambodia