Galapagos & Ecuadorian Cloud Forest

Arrive in Quito, capital city of Ecuador, met and transferred to the delightful Patio Andaluz Hotel in the heart of the Old Town of Quito for two nights on bed and breakfast basis.

Remainder of day free to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town area, with its beautiful buildings, courtyards and narrow streets. There are many options for eating tonight: try typical Ecuadorean cuisine in one of the local restaurants close to your hotel or eat at the Patio Andaluz itself. Standard room

Early morning pick up with English-speaking bird-watching guide to visit the Limpiopungo Lagoon area of Cotopaxi, a region rich in birdlife. Lunch at a local restaurant and return to Patio Andaluz Hotel.

On the morning of day 3, transfer to airport for flight to Baltra island. Met and transferred to the sailing ship Mary Anne.

In the afternoon, make your first visit at Black Turtle Cove, situated in the northern part of Santa Cruz Island. This inlet is surrounded by mangroves and is only accessible by dinghy. The shallow cove is a safe haven for young marine life. Black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here.

In the morning, we have a wet landing at Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island. This white sand coral beach heads a half mile trail that winds through mangroves filled with land birds. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls can be spotted here. Further down the path are tidal pools where sea lions swim playfully. At the end is a spectacular view off a cliff.

After lunch, head to El Barranco or Prince Phillip's Steps for a steep climb up the cliff face. Here, as well as superb views, can be seen nesting Nazca, red and blue-footed boobies, frigate birds and many others including swallow-tail gulls, storm petrels and short-eared lava owls.

Home of the famous Pinnacle Rock, Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. A trail of stairs leads to the summit of the volcano, boasting one of the best views of the islands. The beach is perfect for snorkelling and possible sightings of the Galapagos penguin.

Over lunch, sail on to Santiago Island and land at Sullivan Bay. This area is especially fascinating for those who are interested in geology and volcanology. You can walk over the uneroded, black lava flow covered with lava bubbles and tree-trunk moulds in the surface. There are two small beaches where turtles come for nesting.

In the morning, we drive up into the highlands of this island. There is a chance to take a guided walk through the agricultural zone into the National Park and through the Miconia Zone to the Fern and Sedge Zone. On the way, it passes the crescent-shaped volcanic cone named Media Luna standing in the centre of Santa Cruz, and then leads on to the summit of Cerro Crocker, at 86 m. On a clear day the views are magnificent. Besides a range of high altitude vegetation, you may see, or more likely hear, the elusive Galapagos rail and large Galapagos petrel.

After lunch, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, home to turtles ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long. Subspecies of turtles interact with one another and many of the older turtles are accustomed to humans, stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity. The young are kept until they are about four years old and strong enough to survive on their own. 

On the way from Puerto Ayora to Baltra Island to catch your flight back to the mainland, call in at Los Gemelos, or the Twin Craters, located opposite each other on both sides of the road. The view here is breathtaking.

Fly to Quito, met and transferred to Bellavista Lodge in the Cloud Forest, where you will stay for three nights on a full board basis.Standard double room

After breakfast and depending on flight times, transfer to airport for onward or return travel.