Ecuador

South America
Written By Hailey Pryor

Quito & Galapagos Islands

From March 3rd to March 11th, 2023

The Galapagos cruise with Silver Seas was 8 days long. We cruised a total of 544 nautical miles, temperatures ranged from 77-80 degrees, about 100 passengers were on the boat, supported by almost 90 crew. We stopped on 7 different islands, sunrises were around 6am and sunsets were around 6pm.

Quito

  • Flew in from Colombia and checked into the JW Marriott

  • Geared up for a city walking tour provided by the cruise company, left around 5pm for a walking tour around the city. Sights we saw: Basilica Del Voto Nacional, Plaza de la Independencia, Plaza de San Francisco, and the Church and Convent of St. Francis.

  • Took an early morning LATAM flight from to Guayaquil to San Cristobal, approximately 3-4 hours of flying time.

San Cristobal Island

  • Arrived on the Silver Origin cruise boat 

Genovesa Island, Darwin Bay, Prince Phillip’s Step

  • Highlights: Great Frigatebirds, Red-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, Darwin Finches, Galapagos Fur Seals and White-tipped Sharks 

  • Activities: Adventure hikes, nature walks, deep water snorkeling, kayaking, lectures & leisure time at the beach

Seymour Norte, Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island

  • Highlights: Frigatebirds, Galapagos Land Iguanas, Marine Iguanas, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Blue-footed Boobies and Galapagos Penguins

  • Activities: Nature walks, zodiac tours, lectures, deep water snorkeling & leisure time at the beach

Fernandina Island, Isabela Island, Punta Mangle, Punta Moreno

  • Highlights: Marine Iguanas, Darwin Finches, Galapagos Sea Lions, Flightless Cormorants and Galapagos Penguins

  • Activities: Zodiac tour, lectures & deep water snorkeling

Montemar, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Fe Island

  • Highlights: Giant Tortoises, Darwin Finches, Galapagos Mockingbirds, Santa Fe Land Iguanas, Galapagos Sea Lions and Blue-footed Boobies

  • Activities: Nature walks, lectures, kayaking & deep water snorkeling 

Espanola Island, Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez

  • Highlights: Galapagos Sea Lions, Galapagos Mockingbirds, Marine Iguanas, Waved Albatross and Nazca Boobies

  • Activities: Nature walks, kayaking, deep water snorkeling, lectures & leisure time at the beach 

San Cristóbal Island Galapaguera & Cerro Bruno

  • Highlights: Shorebirds, Giant Tortoises, Galapagos Sea Lions, Darwin Finches and San Cristobal Mockingbirds

  • Activites: Nature walks, lectures, & leisure time at the beach 

San Christobal Island, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno 

  • Departed Silver Origin cruise boat for Panama

  • Took LATAM flight from San Cristobal to Guayaquil

Next time we visit:

  • We’d love to experience the Galapagos on our own private boat with a few other couples to share the experience.

Hailey Pryor
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