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, you will be greeted on board of the luxury yacht La Pinta—our home for the next few days as we explore the Galapagos Islands.
 
Along the coastline, that offers white sand contrasting with black lava and clear blue water, you will start encounter iguanas that feed on the scarlet sesuvium succulants and green prickly-pear cactus.
Chances are you will also be able to observe sea lions colonies resting while sea birds enjoy the thermals that form along cliffs.

The cruise will take you to the eastern tip of San Cristobal Island  this morning.
The trail that ascends from the beach provides spectacular views of the shoreline; you can observe frigates, plus a colony of sea lion. After the walk, if conditions are favorable, there is a chance to swim from the beach and snorkel.
 
In the afternoon, a dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers takes us to Cerro Brujo’s expansive, white coral beach, great for walking while bird-watching. Also, look out  for the Galapagos sea lions. These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835.

Disembarking in the morning, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the captive rearing program for the giant tortoises. Here we witness the efforts and results of Galapagos fieldwork and study done in the name of science. We transfer via bus across Santa Cruz Island and a short ferry ride to Baltra. Our journey ends at Baltra Island, where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland. Baltra’s flat substrate (due to its uplifted origin) is the reason why the island was chosen back in the 1940s as the construction site for an airport.
At the end of our tour, we will disembark and head to the airport for our commercial flight to Guayaquil.

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.
 
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.