Itinerary

After breakfast we will head out for a day of discovery. Tikal translates to “City of Echoes”. It is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Situated in the department of El Petén, the site is part of Guatemala’s Tikal National Park, which in 1979 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tikal is the best understood of any of the large lowland Maya cities, with a long list of dynasty rulers, the discovery of many of their tombs, monuments, temples, and palaces.

We will enjoy lunch together at the Jungle Lodge, a hotel located just minutes from the Tikal center plaza.

Once our time at the Tikal Ruins comes to an end, you are free to explore on your own or enjoy more of what our hotel has to offer. With five lagoons and Monkey Island located within one of those, there’s a lot to take in

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

After breakfast we will board our private Catamaran to sail past and explore the beauty that surrounds this part of Costa Rica. There will be opportunities for swimming and snorkeling.

After lunch together, we will head back to our hillside-nestled paradise. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.

Fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador – Gateway to the Galápagos Islands. Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city and an important trade center.

Strategically located in the downtown commercial and banking heart of the city, the Hilton Colon Guayaquil is only a short transfer from the airport.

Morning: Prince Philip's Steps/El Barranco

El Barranco, also known as Prince Philip’s Steps, is a rocky stairway that will lead you past a colony of nazca and red-footed boobies up to a plateau of dried lava. Continuing through the thin Palo Santo forest and looking out over the plain, visitors are often treated to sites of storm petrels launching out over the ocean.

A panga ride or kayaking/paddle boarding along the edge of the cliffs provides a good chance to see the elusive Galápagos fur seals nestled on the rocks, and snorkeling is a great activity if you fancy a dip with a variety of shark species.

Afternoon: Genovesa – Darwin Bay

Darwin Bay has a small sand and coral beach that provides the perfect spot for snorkeling, kayaking or paddle boarding in calm, sheltered waters in the company of hammerhead sharks, rays and a plethora of colorful reef fish. Onshore, a short trail leads along a tidal lagoon and mangroves, home to a variety of land bird species, including Nazca and red-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls.

The trail culminates at a viewpoint that offers a stunning view overlooking the cliffs and the bay below.

Morning: Santa Cruz - Bachas Beach

Bachas Beach is a glorious white sand beach on which the remnants of a rusted barge, thought to have been abandoned by the Americans during WWI, can be seen. It is a popular nesting site for turtles, so if you go for a snorkel, you might find yourself sharing the water with these wonderful creatures.

The beach is also full of vibrant Sally Lightfoot and hermit crabs and elegant pink flamingos that frequent the salt water lagoon behind.

Afternoon: Twin craters and the Highlands of Santa Cruz

The best way to appreciate these remarkable, almost identical crater-like holes, caused by the collapse of empty lava chambers, is to take the trail that leads up and around the rims.

From this vantage point, one can revel in the beauty of the surrounding highlands, lush with ferns and an abundance of Scalesia trees.

Here, Bird enthusiasts can also enjoy spotting the distinct red feathers of Vermilion Flycatchers, Darwin’s finches, Galapagos doves and, with a bit of luck, an endemic short-ear owl.

We will retrieve our planes and fly to Panama. Enjoy a scenic approach to Panama City including a beautiful view of the Panama Canal.