Friday, November 20 – Saturday, November 21 

Quito,

Upon your arrival in Quito, you will be greeted by uniformed staff with directions for our bus transfer to the 5-star JW Marriott hotel.

In Quito, you will enjoy a breakfast buffet, followed by a City Tour of Quito from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, with lunch included. You will have an opportunity to shop, as well as visit the plaza, church and cathedral of "Old Town". Upon your return to the hotel, dinner is included at your choice of one of three restaurants.

Sunday, November 22

Quito,

Enjoy breakfast at the JW Marriott before transferring to the airport to board our flight to Baltra. 

The Cruise

Aboard Celebrity Xpedition, getting to the islands is almost as singular an experience as the Galapagos themselves. At 17 knots, you'll sail into the fabled waters of the Galapagos.

Baltra (Galapagos)

North Seymour Island

During World War II, Baltra’s airport was a US Military base protecting the Panama Canal from enemy attack. Surrounding the airport now you will see land iguanas indigenous to the island.

 Upon arrival we will transfer to the Celebrity Xpedition and get settled.  Prepare for an adventure-filled exploration through the Galapagos Islands. 

 North Seymour, off the northern tip of Baltra is this flat, low-lying island where blue-footed boobies nest, sea lions play and the largest colony of frigate birds in the Galapagos congregates.

Monday, November 23

P. Baquerizo (San Cristobal)

      Punta Suarez (Espanola)

Punta Baquerizo, eroded volcanic peaks in the north and rich vegetation in the south characterize the island. This island is also home to the only freshwater lake in the Galapagos.

 Among the many sights of Isla Espanola is Punta Suarez, a rocky point of land where guests may observe various colonies of sea birds as well as fauna found nowhere else on the planet. Also on this island is Bahia Gardner, a beautiful beach offering an excellent opportunity to relax and swim.

Tuesday, November 24

Cormorant Point (Floreana)

      Baroness Outlook (Floreana)

Floreana Island was once a penal colony for , the first capital of the Galapagos and where Charles Darwin met the viceroy of Galapagos. Your excursion options include a medium-intensity wet landing at Cormorant Point (or Punta Cormorant), where you may see two plant species found only at this particular site, as well as flamingos, stilts and whit cheeked pintail ducks. Or try advanced snorkeling in Devil's Crown Volcanic Cone to spy grunts, groupers, chubs, spotted eagle rays, white-tipped reed sharks, sea stars, parrotfish and rainbow wrasse.

 Baroness Outlook lends a little mystery to Floreana Island as the spot where a self-proclaimed baroness, who disappeared with her lovers in the 1930s, kept watch for incoming ships. Champion, a small satellite island off Floreana, is one of the very few that holds a Floreana Mocking bird population. Afternoon excursions include advanced snorkeling at Champion Island and a low-intensity Zodiac ride for wildlife observation with wet landing at Baroness Outlook. When the stars come out, join us for an alfresco dinner and stargazing with our bridge officers.

Wednesday, November 25

Las Bachas, (Santa Cruz)

      Bartolome (San Salvador)

Las Bachas, a white-sand beach on Isla Santa Cruz is a major egg-laying site for Pacific green turtles, but pelicans and flamingos feel equally at home here, too.

On San Salvador, the variety of volcanic formations found gives this small, barren island a moon-like appearance. A hike over the island's lava tubes and tuff cones leads to a spectacular view of Pinnacle Rock, where sea lions and penguins are often seen cavorting in the waters.

Thursday, November 26

Elizabeth Bay (Isabela)

      Punta Espinoza (Fernandina)

Isabela Island, the largest island in the Galapagos Archipelago, is composed of five volcanoes, with the latest eruption in October 2005. The cold, nutrient-rich waters of Elizabeth Bay and the small Mariela Islands provide the perfect home for the Galapagos penguin. This Morning, you may opt for a scenic Zodiac ride to view the Mariela Islands and Galapagos penguins. Then back on board the ship, we'll spend some time cruising along the scenic Isabela and Fernandina islands to search for whales and dolphins.

 Here on Isla Fernandina, guests may walk on recent lava flows from La Cumbre volcano and also observe the flightless cormorant, one of the islands' best examples of evolution.

Friday, November 27

Puerto Egas (San Salvador)

      Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)

Follow Puerto Egas, a coastal trail on Isla Santiago, and your rewards will be many: fur sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs and grottos made from black lava.

 Dragon Hill, or "Cerro Dragon," is named after its population of land iguanas. The site offers a beautiful view of the landscape and two small brackish lagoons where flamingos and other shore birds occasionally feed. Along the trail, we'll cross a beautiful "white forest" of Palo Santo (incense) trees and Galapagos cotton plants. Excursion options include a high-intensity hike with swimming/snorkeling at the beach, high intensity snorkeling from a zodiac followed by a short walk and a low-intensity Zodiac ride along the coastline with optional dry landing for animal observation.
 

Saturday, November 28

Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz)

A fifteen-minute stroll from one end to the other along Charles Darwin Avenue promises plenty of sights and sounds in this, the largest city of the Galapagos Islands. A charming seaside town, Puerto Ayora features Ecuadorian and international cuisine, local artisans and shopping as well as snorkeling and scuba diving.

Sunday, November 29

Baltra (Galapagos)

      Quito,

Upon debarkation in Baltra, we will transfer from the port to the airport, where we will board our flights to Quito.

 Upon Arrival at the Quito Airport, you will be transferred to the   JW Marriott for an overnight stay. In the late afternoon, experience a Shopping Tour to outdoor market, followed by our Farewell Dinner at Historic Theatre Restaurant. 

Monday, November 30

Quito,

After breakfast, you will be transferred from the hotel to the Quito Airport for your trip home with the memory of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

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