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Santa Cruz II, 6 Night Galápagos Islands - Iconic Wildlife & Sublime Scenery (Western Route) ex Quito, Ecuador Return

Cruise Santa Cruz II, 6 Night Galápagos Islands - Iconic Wildlife & Sublime Scenery (Western Route) ex Quito, Ecuador Return
Cruise Line Hurtigruten Expeditions (HX)
Ship Santa Cruz II
Destination South America
Brief Description 6 Night Cruise sailing from Quito, Ecuador onboard Santa Cruz II
Type of Cruise Expedition
Departure Date 06 Jan 2026
Cruise Description Day 1
Vibrant Quito 
Begin your adventure in the vibrant city of Quito Your journey begins on the Equator in the lush Andean foothills. At 9,350 feet, Quito is the second-highest capital city in the world, and its main draw is the exquisite Old Town which was founded on an ancient Inca settlement. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s packed with well-preserved colonial architecture as evidenced in colourful plazas, magnificent churches and handsome monuments. Settle into your hotel, then head out to explore. If you have time, why not come a few days earlier and join one of our optional Pre-Programmes.

Day 2
Visit historic Quito  
Straddle the Equator at the Middle of the World City Today you’ll enjoy a guided tour of Quito’s remarkable Old Town – one of the largest and best-preserved colonial-era quarters in South America. Wander through cobblestone streets as you admire the architecture – and sample some delicious chocolate made from finest Ecuadorian cacao along the way. Next, you’ll head to the iconic ‘Middle of the World City’, located around 16 miles north of Quito. After lunch, you’ll visit the famous monument that delineates the imaginary line of the Equator. Have your camera ready to capture the moment you stand with one foot in each hemisphere.

Day 3
Your cruise begins 
Get ready to explore the spectacular Galápagos Islands As your South America land adventure draws to a close, it’s time to embark on the next stage of your journey. After breakfast, a short flight will take you to Baltra Island in the spectacular Galápagos archipelago. A transfer brings you straight to the port where your comfortable expedition ship MS Santa Cruz II awaits.  In the afternoon we’ll begin our exploration of the Galápagos Islands following the north shore of Santa Cruz towards the fascinating landscapes of Cerro Dragón – Dragon Hill – where we’ll land. The first part of the walk here passes by a brackish lagoon that’s frequented by shorebirds and American Flamingos. Further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western islands of the archipelago, as well as a chance to get a first look at some land iguanas.

Day 4
Wildlife-rich Isabela and Fernandina 
Scan the coastline and seas for iconic species You’ll start your day at Punta Vicente Roca, on the north-western tip of Isabela Island. After breakfast, we’ll explore the coast by panga boat, learning about the dramatic geology of the area from your naturalist guides.  This site is a nesting place for several bird species, so look out for Flightless Cormorants, Galapagos Penguins, and boobies. Weather permitting, you’ll get to snorkel alongside the cliffs, where you might find green sea turtles, oceanic sun fish, and fur seals.  In the afternoon, we’ll explore Fernandina, an island with a unique ecology and a big population of marine iguanas. Scan the coast for sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hawks and penguins.

Day 5
Darwin’s Santa Cruz 
Meet the famous giant tortoises of Galápagos  Today, you’ll explore Santa Cruz Island. In the morning, we’ll disembark at Puerto Ayora to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. A giant tortoise breeding centre, here you can see recently hatched tortoises and Darwin’s famous finches – the birds he used as a basis for his theory of evolution by natural selection. There’s also an impressive forest of prickly pear cacti that’s home to many land birds.  Enjoy a cooler climate over lunch in the lush highlands, where giant tortoises shuffle about munching on grass and wallowing in pools. You'll have time for another activity, including mountain biking or visiting a sugar plantation.

Day 6
Picturesque Floreana 
Discover Galápagos history and underwater wildlife After breakfast, you’ll enjoy a panga boat ride among the channels on Floreana’s north shore, before taking in the incredible views of the island from Baroness Cove. Later on, we’ll land at Post Office Bay to visit the historic barrel that has served as a post office in the archipelago for over two centuries.  After lunch, you’ll explore the wonders around Champion Islet in a panga boat or aboard our glass-bottom boat. Here, you can snorkel in one of the best spots in the archipelago.  From there, it’s onwards to Cormorant Point, where we’ll take a walk from an olivine-crystal beach to a brackish lagoon, where you can commonly see American Flamingos, Pintail Ducks and more.

Day 7
Back to Baltra
Your adventure comes to an end As your expedition cruise comes to a close, it’s time to bid farewell to the wildlife and scenery of one of the world’s most incredible nature destinations. We’ll also say farewell to our wonderful crew and naturalist guides as we disembark at Baltra Island.  A transfer will take you to the airport in Baltra for your flight to Quito to connect to your international flight, or if you prefer, continue to Guayaquil for another adventure.   To explore more of Ecuador, why not extend your stay and join one of our optional Post-Programmes. 
Sailing Dates
06 Jan 2026
17 Mar 2026
Pricing
Please enquire for pricing
Cruise Itinerary
Date Port Arrive Depart
6 Jan 2026 Quito, Ecuador Overnight Quito
7 Jan 2026 Quito, Ecuador Overnight Quito
8 Jan 2026 Quito, Ecuador Transfer. Flight
8 Jan 2026 Baltra, Galapagos Is Flight Arrival
8 Jan 2026 Baltra, Galapagos Is Embark 2:50 PM
8 Jan 2026 Dragon Hill, Santa Cruz 3:30 PM 8:30 PM
9 Jan 2026 Isabela Island (Punta Vicente Roca), Galapagos Islands 7:00 AM 12:30 PM
9 Jan 2026 Fernandina Island, Galapagos Islands 2:00 PM 6:15 PM
10 Jan 2026 Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Is 8:15 AM 2:42 AM
11 Jan 2026 Post Office Bay, Floreana 6:00 AM 11:40 AM
11 Jan 2026 Isla Champion, Floreana 12:00 PM 3:30 PM
11 Jan 2026 Cormorant Point, Floreana 4:00 PM 11:30 PM
12 Jan 2026 Baltra, Galapagos Is 8:30 AM Flight
12 Jan 2026 Quito, Ecuador Flight Arrival
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

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