Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort
Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort
Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort
8 Days Starting in Quito, Ecuador and ending in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Visiting: Quito, Galapagos Islands, Santa Cruz, Guayaquil, South America
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ISQ1-2025
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable adventure with the Independent Galapagos tour at the Finch Bay Resort. Begin your journey in Quito, Ecuador, where you'll explore the rich legacy of the Incas and Spaniards with a private city tour. Fly to the Galapagos Islands and board a yacht to North Seymour, teeming with wildlife like sea lions, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies. Stay at the Finch Bay Eco Hotel on Santa Cruz Island, and enjoy excursions to the highlands, Punta Carrion, and South Plaza Island, where you can snorkel, kayak, and witness diverse wildlife. Conclude your trip in Guayaquil, experiencing the best of Ecuador and the Galapagos.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Quito,Ecuador
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Quito
Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Day 2: Quito
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
QUITO • Your included private city tour showcases the rich legacy left by the Incas and the Spaniards. See Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows. (B)
Day 3: Quito,Baltra,North Seymour,Santa Cruz
Location: Galapagos Islands
Accommodation Name: Finch Bay Eco Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
QUITO–BALTRA–NORTH SEYMOUR–SANTA CRUZ • Fly to Baltra in the Galápagos. • Upon arrival, board a yacht bound for North Seymour, an island teeming with life. You might have to give way to a passing sea lion, marine iguana, or blue-footed boobies that nest here. As you walk along the shore, see large flocks of pelicans in a dive-bomb feeding-frenzy, and one of the Galápagos’ largest nesting sites of the magnificent frigatebird. In the bushes you can see the males up close with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacs. • Return to the yacht and continue to the Finch Bay Hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Santa Cruz. Excursion To The Highlands
Location: Santa Cruz
Accommodation Name: Finch Bay Eco Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO THE HIGHLANDS • Transfer to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz to a farming area called El Manzanillo on the edge of the Giant Tortoise Reserve. Here, tortoises can be seen grazing year-round, along with woodpecker finches, mockingbirds, and flycatchers. • After lunch, visit a local farm, where coffee, sugar cane, and cocoa beans are grown, harvested, and prepared. • Return to the hotel and perhaps spend time on the private beach. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Santa Cruz. Excursion To Punta Carrion & South Plaza Island
Location: Santa Cruz
Accommodation Name: Finch Bay Eco Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO PUNTA CARRION & SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND • This morning, travel to Punta Carrion on Santa Cruz Island for some time to snorkel. The shallow reefs and mangroves make this an ideal site to snorkel with plenty of reef fish as well as occasional sea lions and sharks. • Next, sail to South Plaza Island, a small island full of fascinating wildlife, both along its shore and along its dramatic, wind-swept cliffs. Here you will see large, yellow land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, masked and blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and much more during your guided walk. • Return to the hotel this afternoon.(B,L,D)
Day 6: Santa Cruz. Excursion To Divine Bay
Location: Santa Cruz
Accommodation Name: Finch Bay Eco Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO DIVINE BAY • Today’s adventure takes you to wildlife-rich Divine Bay on Santa Cruz Island. Marine iguanas, herons, noddy terns, blue-footed boobies, and tropicbirds are commonly seen here. You may explore by boat or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can take to the sea by kayak. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays, and reef sharks as you cruise the tranquil waters. • Return to the hotel for lunch, followed by an afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, established to help conserve the Galápagos’ natural habitats and protect the area’s famous giant tortoises. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Santa Cruz,Baltra,Guayaquil
Location: Guayaquil
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Guayaquil
Meals Included: Breakfast
SANTA CRUZ–BALTRA–GUAYAQUIL • Depart the hotel this morning for the airport in Baltra. Then, fly to Guayaquil on Ecuador’s Pacific coast and transfer to the hotel for your final night in Ecuador. (B)
Day 8: Guayaquil
Location: Guayaquil
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Guayaquil
Meals Included: Breakfast
GUAYAQUIL Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
What's Included
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Accommodation
Accommodation in Quito at Hilton Colon Quito, in Santa Cruz Island at Finch Bay Eco Hotel, and in Guayaquil at Hilton Colon Guayaquil.
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Meals
Buffet breakfast daily; 4 lunches; 4 three-course dinners.
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Private City Tour in Quito
Included private city tour in Quito showcasing the rich legacy left by the Incas and the Spaniards.
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Excursions and Activities
Various excursions including visits to North Seymour Island, Santa Cruz Highlands, Punta Carrion, South Plaza Island, and Divine Bay.
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Wildlife Viewing
Opportunities to see diverse wildlife such as sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, frigatebirds, giant tortoises, and more.
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Charles Darwin Research Station
Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about conservation efforts.
What's Not Included
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International Flights
International flights to and from Ecuador are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and beverages are not included.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
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Gratuities
Gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included.
Meals
Buffet breakfast daily; 4 lunches; 4 three-course dinners
Notes
Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and include private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Galápagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon are included. Local guide service is provied in Quito. A Naturalist in the Galápagos & the Amazon are also provided. For the Amazon adventure, guests should be prepared for eco-lodging due to their remote nature in the rainforest. Further, guests should be prepared for sustained walking, possibly muddy conditions, and have the ability to jump in/out of small water crafts such as canoes and small fishing boats. Terrain is rocky and uneven. On the Galapagos Islands, we use a small vessel (20 guests) that has 3 crew members, emergency washrooms and a snack bar. The excursions are day cruises with landings on the islands, some of which are wet landings. Departure times vary depending on what islands we visit. At times we may visit 1 island but we land on different parts of it. These sailings are subject to change and weather related depending on what island we are visiting. The day sailings are around 5 to 6 hours per day which includes the landings and sightseeing. Maximum elevation on tour is 9,350 ft.
UNESCO Sites
City of Quito|Galapagos Islands
Accommodation
Quito: Hilton Colon Quito - MET, Santa Cruz Island: Finch Bay Eco Hotel - Finch Bay Room, Guayaquil: Hilton Colon Guayaquil - Metro
Mode of Transport
Travel includes flights to Baltra in the Galápagos, yacht transfers to North Seymour and South Plaza Island, and a return flight to Guayaquil.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see on North Seymour Island?
On North Seymour Island, you can expect to see sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and magnificent frigatebirds with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacs.
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What activities are included during the visit to Santa Cruz Island's highlands?
During the visit to Santa Cruz Island's highlands, you will transfer to El Manzanillo on the edge of the Giant Tortoise Reserve to see tortoises grazing year-round. You will also visit a local farm where coffee, sugar cane, and cocoa beans are grown, harvested, and prepared.
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What can I do at Punta Carrion on Santa Cruz Island?
At Punta Carrion on Santa Cruz Island, you can snorkel in the shallow reefs and mangroves, where you may encounter reef fish, sea lions, and sharks.
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What kind of wildlife can I see on South Plaza Island?
On South Plaza Island, you can see large yellow land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, masked and blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and other fascinating wildlife along the shore and cliffs.
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What activities are available at Divine Bay on Santa Cruz Island?
At Divine Bay on Santa Cruz Island, you can explore by boat or kayak, where you may see marine iguanas, herons, noddy terns, blue-footed boobies, tropicbirds, sea turtles, rays, and reef sharks.
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What is the purpose of the Charles Darwin Research Station visit?
The visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station is to learn about the conservation efforts to protect the Galápagos' natural habitats and the famous giant tortoises.
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What should I be prepared for in terms of physical activity and terrain during the tour?
You should be prepared for walking on uneven pathways, climbing stairs, and dealing with elevations exceeding 8,000 feet. In the Galápagos, there will be 'wet landings' requiring you to jump in the water and walk a couple of meters to the beaches, with rocky and uneven terrain.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
Reviews of this operator
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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