Aboard the M/V Galapagos Legend, you'll discover a volcanic island paradise situated directly on the equator 500 miles west of the Ecuadorian coast. Enjoy up-close interaction with indigenous wildlife, marine animals, flora and fauna with a focus on natural history throughout the Galapagos Legend boat trip.
Enjoy interiors with marine details and original pieces of art that talk about the nature of the Islands, bathe under the sun at the sky deck by the pool; enjoy an exotic cocktail from the Fisherman's Bar; spot dolphins and whales as they smoothly navigate the rich Galapagos water from the observation decks and take pleasure in romantic meal under the sun or the moon and the stars.

The M/V Galapagos Legend was inaugurated in 2001 for expedition cruising. This intimate, 110 passenger vessel is 300 ft. long and fully air-conditioned. It cruises at 17 m.p.h, with a maximum speed of 22 m.p.h. It has broad outdoor decks with areas for dolphin and whale viewing, an elegant restaurant, two lounges, swimming pool, jogging track, library with Galapagos books and videos, e-mail access, on-board medical facility with a 24-hour doctor, conference rooms, Complementary use of wet suits, snorkeling gear, Kids corner and children's menu, Chocolate mania and ice cream parlor, a glass bottom boat, and a crew of 60 plus a Physician.

Island visits are in small groups of 16 or less. Each group has a certified Galapagos National Park guide. During the evenings the guides conduct briefings on Galapagos history, geology, and the flora and fauna of the islands.

Choose between Cruise A or Cruise C departures:

Jan 30th, Feb 13th, Feb 27th, Mar 12th, Mar 26th, Apr 9th, Apr 23rd, May 7th, May 21st, Jun 4th, Jun 18th, Jul 2th, Jul 16th, Jul 30th, Aug 13th, Aug 27th, Sep 10th, Sep 24th, Oct 8th, Oct 22nd, Nov 5th, Nov 19th, Dec 3rd, Dec 17th, Dec 31st

Feb 6th, Feb 20th, Mar 5th, Mar 19th, Apr 2nd, Apr 16th, Apr 30th, May 14th, May 28th, Jun 11th, Jun 25th, Jul 9th, Jul 23rd, Aug 6th, Aug 20th, Sep 3rd, Sep 17th, Oct 1st, Oct 15th, Oct 29th, Nov 12th, Nov 26th, Dec 10th, Dec 24th

CRUISE A - 4 days / 3 nights

Monday - Baltra airport/Santa Cruz:
Arrival at Baltra airport. Welcome by naturalist guides and transportation on a ten minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend. Afternoon arrival at Santa Cruz island. Dry landing and 45-minute bus ride to Santa Cruz highlands, located to the northwest of Puerto Ayora, where you will find a natural reserve with giant tortoises. These enormous and slow-moving reptiles are responsible for the island's name and therefore approaching them in their humid and forested abode is always an inspiring adventure. They can weigh between 250 and 300 kg and can live up to 150-200 years. Additionally, travelers can walk inside surprising lava tubes; we also visit Pit Craters created from the collapse of surface materials into chamber fissures underground. It's a great place to spot Vermilion Flycatcher as you walk inside an endemic Scalesia forest.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: flat and muddy sometimes (depending on season)
Duration: 45 minutes drive / 1h30m walk

Tuesday - Egas Port/Salt Mines (Santiago):
Wet landing on a beach of black volcanic sand, visited by Darwin in 1835. The first section of the trail is comprised of volcanic ash (eroded tuff) and the other half of partially uneven terrain is comprised of volcanic basaltic rock lounging the shoreline. The unique, truly striking layered terrain of Santiago's shores is home to a variety of resident and migrant birds, including the bizarre Yellow-crowned Night Heron and astounding array of marine wildlife including lobster, starfish and marine iguanas grazing on algae beds alongside Sally Light-foot Crabs. Colonies of endemic fur seals swimming in cool water pools formed by volcanic rocks are also a highlight. Snorkeling here offers rarities such as octopus and squid. Optional visits to the Salt Mines where you can observe the two species of sea lions: fur and Galapagos sea lions.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: the first part flat and then semi rocky.
Duration: 1h30m walk / 1 hour snorkeling
If Salt Mines is chosen:
Duration: 2h30 walk / 30 minutes snorkeling
PM - Bartolome
Dry landing. Discover a fascinating moonscape formed by different volcanic parasitic cones-lava bombs, spatter, cinder cones-as you hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone Pinnacle Rock. Encounter with marine iguanas and lava lizards. Beach time is a great opportunity to snorkel and see (perhaps swim with) Galapagos Penguins, sea turtles and White-tipped Reef Sharks among a great variety of colorful fish. For many visitors, this may turn out to be the best of snorkeling experiences; the water here is generally clear, without too much surf and full of marine life. Due to its geographical location, the lack of vegetation is immediately noticeable. Pioneer plants are observed, so called because they are the first to establish roots on new ground. Behind the beach discover dunes covered by mangroves.
Difficulty level: intermediate.
Type of terrain: trail made of steps (370 steps)
Duration: 1h30 walk / 1 hour snorkeling

Wednesday - Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz):
Dry landing. Walk by a brackish lagoon where feeding flamingos can be occasionally found. The trail leads across typical dry zone vegetation up to Dragon Hill, an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas, offering lovely views of the anchorage and neighboring islands. The forest is home to mockingbirds, Darwin's finches, Yellow Warblers and Galapagos Doves.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 2 hours walk
PM - North Seymour
Dry landing. This is perhaps one of the busiest tourist destinations on the archipelago. Off of Baltra Island (where the airport is located) and not far from Santa Cruz, North Seymour is the most accessible for day trips out of Santa Cruz's main port, Puerto Ayora.
An approximately two hour walk amidst large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigatebirds, and swallow-tailed gulls for an in depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles and as well as sea lions. You will also encounter sea lions, land iguanas, and on a lucky day, you might even come across a Galapagos Snake.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 2 hours walk

Thursday - Baltra airport:
Transportation to Baltra Airport for departure.

CRUISE C - 4 days / 3 nights

Monday - Baltra Airport/Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz):
Arrival at Baltra airport. Welcome by naturalist guides and transportation on a ten minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend. Afternoon arrival at Santa Cruz island. Wet landing on the north side of the island; behind the beach lie two small flamingo ponds with iguanas, coastal birds, Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and gulls, as well as interesting native and endemic vegetation, red and black mangroves, salt bushes, and much more. This beach is one of the main nesting sites of sea turtles in the Galapagos. A female can lay eggs 3 or 4 times with an average of 70 eggs each, but then spend 3 or 5 years without breeding.
At this paradisiacal site you will also find the remains of barges that sank long ago, once property of the United States Navy when they operated an airbaan on Baltra Island during World War II. That is why the beach is called 'Bachas' because the word 'barges' in English was hard to pronounce for the local people.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: sandy
Duration: 1 hour walk / 1 hour snorkeling/swimming

Tuesday - South Plaza (Plazas Island):
Dry landing on the northern part of the Islet. The walk begins with an impressive cactus forest surrounded by land and marine iguanas; as you reach its highest point, be on the lookout for tropicbirds and a bachelor sea lion colony. In South Plaza there is a large colony of the smaller sized land iguanas. The population is approximately 300 individuals. They feed on all kinds of vegetation, but during the dry season survive on the fruits and flowers of Opuntia cacti. Due to their proximity with marine iguanas, this is the only place on Earth where we will find the Galapagos hybrid iguana.
Difficulty level: intermediate.
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 2 hours walk
PM - Santa Fe
Wet landing on a white sand beach surrounded by a sea lion colony; continue walking through an endemic cactus forest and search for the endemic Santa Fe land iguana, the largest in the islands and distinctively paler. This island is home to a number of endemic species including Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos Snake, rice rats, a variety of finches and one of the four species of Galapagos mockingbirds. Deep-water snorkeling.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 1h30 walk

Wednesday - Pitt Point/Pitt Islet (San Cristobal):
Wet landing followed by a high intensity hike on rocky terrain. The trail includes an olivine beach of 90 meters long and a path that climbs to the top of a volcanic tuff, through several magnificent viewpoints. This is probably the only site where the three booby species of the Galapagos can be seen together: Nazca, Blue-footed, and Red-footed; as well as two species of frigatebirds and a sea lion colony; it is also excellent for dinghy rides and snorkeling, where a good range of sea birds can be observed.
Difficulty level: difficult
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 2h30 walk
PM - Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal)
Wet landing. Cerro Brujo is an eroding tuff cone that at several locations is composed of AA lava formations, and a beautiful white sand beach, great for snorkeling and sunbathing. Visit a lagoon where migratory bird species can be seen: Black-necked Stilts, Ruddy Turnstones, Whimbrels, other sandpiper species and White-cheeked Pintails. Cerro Brujo offers beautiful views of Kicker Rock, the southern part of San Cristobal and the adjacent coast.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: sandy
Duration: 1 hour walk / 1 hour snorkeling.

Thursday - Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve (San Cristobal):
Dry landing in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Visit the San Cristobal giant tortoise Breeding Center to learn about the National Park's conservation programs. Opportunity to visit the port village, have a drink or shop for arts and crafts and other souvenirs. After the visit, transportation to San Cristobal airport.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Duration: 40 minutes bus drive to the Reserve / 1 hour visit / transportation to airport.

Please note:

Your itinerary is subject to change in the event of weather conditions, seasonal changes, and safety concerns, rerouting of the ship or Galapagos National Park policies.

Your 3-night cruise includes:

• Rountrip transfer hotel-airport-hotel.
• Accommodation aboard the M/V Galapagos Legend.
• English/Spanish speaking guides.
• All meals scheduled on board.
• 2 Daily visits to the islands conducted by multilingual naturalist guides, sightseeing, snorkeling opportunities, and transfers in the islands.
• Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee, Migration Control Card Fee

Not included:

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, tax, gratuities, travel insurance, use of snorkeling equipment.

About 2 1/2 hours north of Quito lies Ecuador's most famous indigenous market, a mosaic of colors, ethnicities, and handicrafts, offering shoppers superb bargains for fine textiles, pantings, ceramic ware, Panama hats, and an incredibly fun market experience. The craft fair takes place every day on the main plaza, Plaza de Ponchos, although Saturday is its busiest day. The Otavalenos (people from Otavalo) have received world recognition for their weaving and craftsmanship.

The Chaski, royal messenger and steadfast communicator, who ran the enormity of an Empire, over the most rugged terrain to unite a people, symbolizes for us our difficult yet commited road to preserving our fragile cultural diversity. Join Chaski Antawa on a journey of sharing and communication to connect our worlds and celebrate our diversity.

Day 1: Quito - San Pablo Lagoon -Cotacachi - Otavalo
North of Quito we journey across the colorful valleys of Guayllabamba and Cayambe. Guayllabamba is rich in fertile soil and through effective irrigation systems has become an important producer of avocado and the local cherimoya fruit. Cayambe, traditionally dedicated to manufacturing milk and dairy products, has recently enjoyed an important boom in rose exportation. The breathtaking setting offers great photo opportunities and after two hours of travel through the riveting Andean countryside, we arrive to the province of Imbabura, visit Cuicocha crater lagoon and Cotacachi, a village that specializes in manufacturing leather goods. Overnight at a local hacienda.

Day 2: Ibarra - Chaski Antawa train - Salinas - Otavalo - Quito
Breakfast. Visit Otavalo, home to beautiful fabrics and world renowned for its craft fair and market, the largest in South America. Departing from Ibarra, the Chaski Antawa (or messenger train) travels on an early 20th-century railroad system that connects the northern Ecuadorian Andes and the Pacific Coast. Departing from Ibarra, the ride descends into the warm, dry valley of Salinas, across sugar cane plantations, magical landscapes, through tunnels and over bridges panning canyons and patchwork fields.
The 26-km stretch takes 2 hours to complete, as you plunge from 2200 m. to 1500 m. above sea level. Enjoy a unique lunch at the Salinas community restaurant, implemented in an effort to boost tourism in support of this fascinating area, with a vision of helping it become an important tourist destination. The menu has been carefully developed through a joint effort with the community and melds local savoir-faire with their high quality standards. Return to Quito.

Included:

Not included:

In the event that the train ride is not operating this portion will be done by car, van or bus.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday departures. Does not operate on Easter, Christmas and New Years.