Itinerary

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cartagena is a city with a wealth of character and well-preserved colonial architecture. With restored mansions, horse-drawn carriages and Old World-style plazas, it is a perfect walking city.

With our local guide we’ll enjoy a walking tour of the historic walled old town as we discover the hidden history of this colonial city. We’ll see Puerta Del Reloj (Clock tower entrance), a symbol of Cartagena, the Plaza San Pedro Claver with its stunning Church, and Plaza Bolivar.

After lunch our tour continues with a drive to visit the impressive Castillo San Felipe. Built in the 17th century to protect the city from marauding invaders, it is the largest Spanish fortification in the Americas. Next, see the 17th century Convent of La Popa, a beautiful convent building that sits atop the highest point in the city, commanding spectacular views of the bay, old town and Caribbean Sea beyond.

Today we will fly commercial airline (ticket not included) to Baltra in the Galapagos.

Upon arrival, transfer to Dragon Hill which is located in the north-western part of Santa Cruz island. Here you will have the opportunity to walk into the island and view the land of iguana.

Be among these magnificent reptiles, that just a few decades ago were on the brink of extinction. Moreover, at Dragon Hill you will see a flamingos’ lagoon, pintail ducks and other endemic birds including flycatchers and warblers.

After a short trek, an amazing view awaits us up the hill. At the end of the tour we will board the luxury yacht Endemic - our home for the next few days as we explore the Galapagos Islands.

Gardner Bay is a pristine white sandy beach (one of the longest in the Galapagos), that is home to colonies of sea lions and inquisitive mockingbirds. It is also one of the world's most important breeding sites for the waved albatross. A short dinghy ride will take us to the Osborn and Gardner Islets, which are superb locations for snorkeling with a greater variety of tropical fish and corals. 
 
This afternoon, we will visit Suarez Point, an area with an outstanding variety of wildlife. The walking trail will take us past the nesting sites of Nazca and blue-footed boobies, whilst Galapagos doves, mockingbirds and finches can be seen foraging nearby. Along our trek we will encounter a geyser which can spray water up to 25m into the air; a spectacular feat of nature. Before reaching the top of the breath-taking cliffs, where we can enjoy watching waved albatrosses launching themselves out across the ocean.

One of two small islets, South Plaza island houses a rich diversity of wildlife and vegetation. After passing the large colony of sea lions and ascending the slopes, we may catch a glimpse of swallow-tailed gulls, Nazca boobies, red-billed tropic birds, frigates or the rare lava gull. The ground is carpeted in Sesuvium, which transforms from a bright red in the dry season to a vibrant green in the wet season, and land iguanas crowd around towering prickly pear cacti, waiting patiently for their juicy fruits to fall. 
 
At the end of our tour we will disembark and head to the airport for our commercial flight back to Guayaquil, Ecuador.

After breakfast we will depart for our full-day sightseeing tour including a one hour tour on the Panama Canal with the pleasure to enjoy the vegetation and wildlife (monkeys).

We will continue to the Miraflores Lock where you will be able to watch ships entering the lock and discover the new museum where you will have the opportunity to enter the Lock on a simulator. A buffet lunch will be served at the Miraflores Restaurant offering a great view of the canal.

In the afternoon, we will continue our tour including the Old City with the most important sites.

This evening before dinner we will meet for a pilot’s briefing for tomorrow’s flight.