Detailed Port Descriptions

Day 1 | Thursday October 10, 2024 | Quito, Ecuador

Arrive at Quito International Airport. You will be met and transferred to your hotel the JW Marriott Quito. The lively capital of Ecuador, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is most famous for its historic centre’s colonial architecture, the most impressive in South America. Founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city, it has remained nearly untouched despite a major earthquake. You’ll find many noteworthy historic sites including Santo Domingo, Jesuit College of La Compania, and the monasteries of San Francisco.

Day 2 | Friday, October 11, 2024 | Quito, Ecuador

Attend a morning CME session. The afternoon will include a guided tour of Quito, including a visit to the Equator Line at the Intinan Solar Museum.

Day 3 | Saturday, October 12, 2024 | Quito, Ecuador

Attend morning and afternoon CME sessions.  Evening at leisure to enjoy Quito.

Day 4 | Sunday, October 13, 2024 | Baltra Island, Galapagos

You will be transferred to the Quito, Ecuador airport to board the flight to Baltra, Galapagos, where naturalist guides will be waiting to transfer you to the ship.

Day 4 | Sunday, October 13, 2024 | Daphne Major - Cruising

Daphne is a satellite volcanic cone located north of Santa Cruz Island. The crater floor is an important breeding site for blue-footed boobies. The cliff shore of the island is home for sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and tropical birds which can be observed during the circumnavigation of the island.

Day 5 | Monday, October 14, 2024 | Egas Port, Santiago Island

With its black sand beach, coastal tide pools, and blue-water grottoes, this stop offers a wonderful taste of the Galapagos and the opportunity to see shore birds, Galapagos Hawks, sea lions, marine iguanas, and Galapagos fur seals. Sea lions, colorful tropical fish, and sea turtles are often seen while snorkeling.

Day 5 | Monday, October 14, 2024 | Rabida Island

A small island south of Santiago, Rabida is best known for its red sand and eroded volcanic landscape. A nesting colony of pelicans makes its home here, along with sea lions and some sea birds.

Day 6 | Tuesday, October 15, 2024 | Elizabeth Bay

Elizabeth Bay is one of the westernmost points in the Galapagos. A scenic zodiac ride within this sheltered inlet offers viewing of a wide variety of wildlife and a wonderful mangrove ecosystem.

Day 6 | Tuesday, October 15, 2024 | Tagus Cove, Isabela Island

Historically an anchorage for pirates and whalers, this site offers a breathtaking view of Isabela, its volcanoes and spectacular Darwin Lake. Along the shore, seabirds, penguins, sea lions, sea turtles, and nesting flightless cormorants can often be found.

Day 7 | Wednesday, October 16, 2024 | Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island

During a volcanic eruption in the early 1900’s, this area of Santiago was covered with flowing lava. Today, the hardened fields of black rock create a geologic wonderland. We will take advantage of the cool of early morning for a walk to view strange twisting hardened lava flows, collapse craters, and everyone’s favorite, the hornitos or lava ovens. Tall red scoria cones and pioneer plants also dot this unusual and very young landscape.

Day 7 | Wednesday, October 16, 2024 | Bartolome Island

Bartolome Island hosts one of the region's most often-photographed views and a spectacular geologic setting. Its barren moon-like volcanic landscapes, spatter cones, and pinnacle rock make for a unique stop. It is also home to the endemic Galapagos penguin and provides an excellent opportunity for snorkeling.

Day 8 | Thursday, October 17, 2024 | Las Bachas, Santa Cruz Island

A beautiful white sand beach on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. The name “Las Bachas” comes from the mispronunciation of the word "barges" by the local population during the 1950s when WWII barges broke their moorings and ran aground on the beach. This is also one of the largest nesting areas of the Pacific Green Sea Turtle in the Galapagos. A short beach walk brings you to a pond to look for flamingos and other  shorebirds. Afterwards, this is a fantastic beach to relax, go for a walk, swim, and maybe practice snorkeling.

Day 8 | Thursday, October 17, 2024 | North Seymour Island

North Seymour is a small island just north of Baltra. It is home to the largest colony of frigate birds in the Galapagos. While keeping an eye out for male frigates trying to impress potential mates with an inflated red neck pouch, you may also see blue-footed boobies dancing in a timeless courtship ritual. Sea lions and large land iguanas also roam about this rocky terrain. Excursion options include a guided long, rocky walk, zodiac ride and short easy walk, or simply just a scenic zodiac tour along the coast to view wildlife and the geology of the area.

Day 9 | Friday, October 18, 2024 | Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island

Here we have the opportunity to visit the small waterfront town of Puerto Baquerizo, the administrative capital of the islands. Excursion options include a tour of a local interpretation center and time for shopping or a fast-paced long walk to view scenic vistas, followed by a visit to the interpretation center.

Day 9 | Friday, October 18, 2024 | Punta Pitt, San Cristobal Island

Pitt Point is located on the northeastern tip of San Cristobal Island. After disembarking onto the small greensand beach, you'll hike up to a plateau, where the view and landscape are so spectacular it is well worth the effort.  A steep gully leads up the cliff to a breeding ground for all three varieties of boobies: red-footed, blue-footed, and Nazca. It’s one of the few places in the Galapagos where you can see all three species nesting together.

Day 10 | Saturday, October 19, 2024 | Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island

This is the main population center of the islands, and home to the National Park Service tortoise-breeding center and the Charles Darwin Research Station. You will be able to visit the tortoise-breeding center and walk through the Charles Darwin Research Station.

Day 11 | Sunday, October 20, 2024 | Baltra Island, Galapagos

During World War II, Baltra served as a U.S. military base protecting the Panama Canal from enemy attack. Now the cactus-strewn landscapes of Baltra are home to the region's main airport.

Day 11 | Sunday, October 20, 2024 | Baltra—Quito—DISEMBARKATION

You will be transferred to the airport in Baltra for your flight to Quito. Upon your arrival in Quito, a Celebrity Cruises^® representative will escort you to the JW Marriott hotel. Dinner is served at the hotel.

Day 12 | Monday October 21, 2024 | Quito, Ecuador

Your Celebrity Cruises representative will once again escort you to the airport for your return. Breakfast is included.