Arrive in to Quito Airport. KE Land Only Services begin with a transfer to the group hotel on the outskirts of Quito. Surrounded by nature in the foothills above Quito, this is a tranquil and restful place to recover from your travels and look forward to the trip ahead. If arriving early there may be opportunity to visit the historic Quito Old Town or simply walk in the forests and hills, looking out for the more than fifty species of birdlife, within the property grounds.

We depart Quito on the 2hr flight to the Galapagos Islands. We will then transfer to our boat, the Monserrat, to meet our guide. Refurbished in 2021, the Monserrat is a first class motorised yacht built specifically for cruising in the Galapagos, with capacity for 20 passengers. You will be well looked after by the crew and 2 naturalist guides, as well as the professional cook providing a delicious variety of food in a luxurious buffet style. Once settled, we head to the highlands on Santa Cruz Island to see the Galapagos Giant Tortoise in its natural surroundings. We explore the area and its underground lava tunnels, keeping an eye out for the nocturnal barn owls that roost here. We return to the Monserrat and our cosy cabins, our floating home for the next 8 days.

This morning we will cruise around the west coast of Santa Cruz Island to Dragon Hill. Here we will see land iguanas and walk to a saltwater lagoon frequented by flamingos and other native birds, such as common stilts and pintail ducks. On our return we walk through a Scalesia Tree forest, endemic to the area, there are only 400 specimens of Scalesia Tree left in the world! After lunch we set sail north to a small, and uniquely shaped, island off the southern tip of Santiago island call Chinese Hat. Here we explore the beautiful landscapes and white-coral sand beaches. We have our first chance to snorkel right from the beach where we may come face to face with playful sea lions and large schools of tropical fish. Keep an eye out for marine iguanas and penguins too!

Today we head to the northernmost reaches of the Galapagos island, where we visit the beautiful and remote island of Genovesa. Famous for its red-footed colony, it is a paradise for bird lovers, where it is estimated that 200,000 red-footed boobies live on the island. The boat first stops at El Barranco, or Prince Phillip's Steps as it is otherwise known, named after a visit by the British Monarch in 1964. The steep 81-foot stairway leads up to a high cliff-face that opens onto the plateau surrounding Darwin Bay and amazing views. Once at the top of the stairway we will find Nazca Boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds and finches as we walk the trail under the Palo Santo trees. In the afternoon, we land at Darwin Bay, which was formed by the collapse of the flooded caldera of Tower Island. This sand and coral beach is another bird-lovers paradise where we may spot swallow-tailed and lava gulls, mockingbirds, yellow-crowned night herons, lava herons, Galapagos Doves and yellow warblers. We walk a short trail to encounter red-footed boobies and great frigatebird nests. The trail continues to a tidal lagoon where sea lions swim playfully before ending on a cliff with magnificent views of this remote part of the Galapagos.

Today we sail back south to Santa Cruz. Take a morning panga ride to Black Turtle Cove, we explore the mangroves to find the rich marine wildlife between the fresh and salt waters. Keep an eye out for manta rays and sea turtles in this tranquil ecosystem. We continue to sail down the coast of Santa Cruz to Bachas Beach where we will land for the afternoon. Here the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it white and soft, and a favourite site for nesting sea turtles. Spot abundant Sally Lightfoot Crabs on the lava rocks along the water's edge. We again take a guided walk to see a wide range of wildlife, including flamingos, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and sea lions. Before another opportunity to snorkel from the white sand beach, spotting all sorts of wildlife in its shallow waters and tidal pools.

Today we make the longest navigation of our cruise as we set off in search of the pristine and remote west of the archipelago. We first visit Tagus Cove, on the north-western coast of Isabela Island. It is a historical site visited by Charles Darwin in 1835, and frequented by whalers and pirates since the early 1800s.Here we will admire a variety of seabirds, such as blue-footed boobies, brown noddy, terns, flightless comorant and Galapagos Penguins depending on the season. After a dry landing we can walk the trail up to Darwin Lake, located on the slopes of Darwin Volcano and is, unusually, a salt water lake above sea level. In the afternoon we continue our voyage to Urbina Bay, a fascinating site formed in 1954 when the shallow seabed, along with its coral reef, was uplifted 5 metres and now protrudes out of the sea - allowing for the strange sight of coral out of the water and exposed to the elements. We walk another trail with spectacular views of Alcedo Volcano, were we will likely see wild Galapagos Giant Tortoises and land iguanas. This is also a great spot for snorkelling where you may come close to a Galapagos Penguin Colony and see marine iguanas feeding underwater.

Today we visit the most Western visitor site of the Galapagos, Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island. The island is one of the most pristine in the world, with no non-native species having been introduced. From here we can see the island of Isabela across the Bolivar Channel, an area that boasts some of the highest diversity of endemic sea fauna in the Galapagos. On landing, we explore tidal pools for small fish and mollusks, before continuing on a trail that passes marina iguana burrows, sea lion colonies and flightless comorant nests. This remarkable bird is only found in the Western Galapagos, and there are estimated to be only a few hundred individuals in total. In the afternoon we cross the Bolivar Channel to Vicente Roca Point and opportunity for deep-water snorkelling in one of the richest marine havens on Earth. Vicente Roca Point is renowned for its Galapagos Green Turtles. Sharks and rays can also be observed when water visibility is good. We take a panga ride along the coast to observe a great diversity of sea and costal birds, such as Nazca and blue-footed boobies, noddies, pelicans and penguins. Our snorkelling will take us along bottom of the cliffs and offers the chance to explore two shallow underwater caves rich in marine wildlife.

This morning's excursion is to Puerto Egas, on Santiago Island, to see the salt crater as well as a dark sand beach. We have another opportunity to snorkel from the beach, keep your eyes peeled for rays, turtles and reefsharks in the water. In the afternoon we continue to Playa Espumilla, one of the most idyllic beaches in the Galapagos. We then jump in the panga and cruise alongside cliffs and rock formations on a visit to Buccaneer Cover, which was a favourite hideout for pirates looking to stock up their boats with food and water. Spot sea lions relaxing on the beach and sea birds nesting in the cove, there's no shortage of wildlife at this site!

On our final day aboard the Monserrat, we make a morning visit to North Seymour Island. Another island teeming with wildlife! We walk the trails inland (you may need to give way to a passing sea lion or marine iguana while walking) where we will see blue footed booby nests, and perhaps even the comical courtship dance performed by mating pairs. We continue to a rocky shore to see flocks of pelicans dive bombing into the water in a lunchtime feeding frenzy before reaching a large nesting site of magnificent frigate birds. These huge dark birds have 2 metre wingspans, and males, with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacks, sit precariously perched in low bushes to watch over their equally large chicks. We finish the excursion with a snorkel among sea lions and rays before disembarking the boat for our flight back to the mainland.

Depart Quito. KE Land Only package services end after breakfast with a transfer to the airport.

Arrive in to Quito Airport. KE Land Only Services begin with a transfer to the group hotel on the outskirts of Quito. Surrounded by nature in the foothills above Quito, this is a tranquil and restful place to recover from your travels and look forward to the trip ahead. If arriving early there may be opportunity to visit the historic Quito Old Town or simply walk in the forests and hills, looking out for the more than fifty species of birdlife, within the property grounds.

We depart Quito on the 2hr flight to the Galapagos Islands. We will then transfer to our boat, the Monserrat, to meet our guide. Refurbished in 2021, the Monserrat is a first class motorised yacht built specifically for cruising in the Galapagos, with capacity for 20 passengers. You will be well looked after by the crew and 2 naturalist guides, as well as the professional cook providing a delicious variety of food in a luxurious buffet style. Once settled, we head to the highlands on Santa Cruz Island to see the Galapagos Giant Tortoise in its natural surroundings. We explore the area and its underground lava tunnels, keeping an eye out for the nocturnal barn owls that roost here. We return to the Monserrat and our cosy cabins, our floating home for the next 8 days.

This morning we will cruise around the west coast of Santa Cruz Island to Dragon Hill. Here we will see land iguanas and walk to a saltwater lagoon frequented by flamingos and other native birds, such as common stilts and pintail ducks. On our return we walk through a Scalesia Tree forest, endemic to the area, there are only 400 specimens of Scalesia Tree left in the world! After lunch we set sail north to a small, and uniquely shaped, island off the southern tip of Santiago island call Chinese Hat. Here we explore the beautiful landscapes and white-coral sand beaches. We have our first chance to snorkel right from the beach where we may come face to face with playful sea lions and large schools of tropical fish. Keep an eye out for marine iguanas and penguins too!

Today we head to the northernmost reaches of the Galapagos island, where we visit the beautiful and remote island of Genovesa. Famous for its red-footed colony, it is a paradise for bird lovers, where it is estimated that 200,000 red-footed boobies live on the island. The boat first stops at El Barranco, or Prince Phillip's Steps as it is otherwise known, named after a visit by the British Monarch in 1964. The steep 81-foot stairway leads up to a high cliff-face that opens onto the plateau surrounding Darwin Bay and amazing views. Once at the top of the stairway we will find Nazca Boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds and finches as we walk the trail under the Palo Santo trees. In the afternoon, we land at Darwin Bay, which was formed by the collapse of the flooded caldera of Tower Island. This sand and coral beach is another bird-lovers paradise where we may spot swallow-tailed and lava gulls, mockingbirds, yellow-crowned night herons, lava herons, Galapagos Doves and yellow warblers. We walk a short trail to encounter red-footed boobies and great frigatebird nests. The trail continues to a tidal lagoon where sea lions swim playfully before ending on a cliff with magnificent views of this remote part of the Galapagos.

Today we sail back south to Santa Cruz. Take a morning panga ride to Black Turtle Cove, we explore the mangroves to find the rich marine wildlife between the fresh and salt waters. Keep an eye out for manta rays and sea turtles in this tranquil ecosystem. We continue to sail down the coast of Santa Cruz to Bachas Beach where we will land for the afternoon. Here the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it white and soft, and a favourite site for nesting sea turtles. Spot abundant Sally Lightfoot Crabs on the lava rocks along the water's edge. We again take a guided walk to see a wide range of wildlife, including flamingos, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and sea lions. Before another opportunity to snorkel from the white sand beach, spotting all sorts of wildlife in its shallow waters and tidal pools.

Today we make the longest navigation of our cruise as we set off in search of the pristine and remote west of the archipelago. We first visit Tagus Cove, on the north-western coast of Isabela Island. It is a historical site visited by Charles Darwin in 1835, and frequented by whalers and pirates since the early 1800s.Here we will admire a variety of seabirds, such as blue-footed boobies, brown noddy, terns, flightless comorant and Galapagos Penguins depending on the season. After a dry landing we can walk the trail up to Darwin Lake, located on the slopes of Darwin Volcano and is, unusually, a salt water lake above sea level. In the afternoon we continue our voyage to Urbina Bay, a fascinating site formed in 1954 when the shallow seabed, along with its coral reef, was uplifted 5 metres and now protrudes out of the sea - allowing for the strange sight of coral out of the water and exposed to the elements. We walk another trail with spectacular views of Alcedo Volcano, were we will likely see wild Galapagos Giant Tortoises and land iguanas. This is also a great spot for snorkelling where you may come close to a Galapagos Penguin Colony and see marine iguanas feeding underwater.

Today we visit the most Western visitor site of the Galapagos, Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island. The island is one of the most pristine in the world, with no non-native species having been introduced. From here we can see the island of Isabela across the Bolivar Channel, an area that boasts some of the highest diversity of endemic sea fauna in the Galapagos. On landing, we explore tidal pools for small fish and mollusks, before continuing on a trail that passes marina iguana burrows, sea lion colonies and flightless comorant nests. This remarkable bird is only found in the Western Galapagos, and there are estimated to be only a few hundred individuals in total. In the afternoon we cross the Bolivar Channel to Vicente Roca Point and opportunity for deep-water snorkelling in one of the richest marine havens on Earth. Vicente Roca Point is renowned for its Galapagos Green Turtles. Sharks and rays can also be observed when water visibility is good. We take a panga ride along the coast to observe a great diversity of sea and costal birds, such as Nazca and blue-footed boobies, noddies, pelicans and penguins. Our snorkelling will take us along bottom of the cliffs and offers the chance to explore two shallow underwater caves rich in marine wildlife.

This morning's excursion is to Puerto Egas, on Santiago Island, to see the salt crater as well as a dark sand beach. We have another opportunity to snorkel from the beach, keep your eyes peeled for rays, turtles and reefsharks in the water. In the afternoon we continue to Playa Espumilla, one of the most idyllic beaches in the Galapagos. We then jump in the panga and cruise alongside cliffs and rock formations on a visit to Buccaneer Cover, which was a favourite hideout for pirates looking to stock up their boats with food and water. Spot sea lions relaxing on the beach and sea birds nesting in the cove, there's no shortage of wildlife at this site!

On our final day aboard the Monserrat, we make a morning visit to North Seymour Island. Another island teeming with wildlife! We walk the trails inland (you may need to give way to a passing sea lion or marine iguana while walking) where we will see blue footed booby nests, and perhaps even the comical courtship dance performed by mating pairs. We continue to a rocky shore to see flocks of pelicans dive bombing into the water in a lunchtime feeding frenzy before reaching a large nesting site of magnificent frigate birds. These huge dark birds have 2 metre wingspans, and males, with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacks, sit precariously perched in low bushes to watch over their equally large chicks. We finish the excursion with a snorkel among sea lions and rays before disembarking the boat for our flight back to the mainland.

Depart Quito. KE Land Only package services end after breakfast with a transfer to the airport.

Arrive in to Quito Airport. KE Land Only Services begin with a transfer to the group hotel on the outskirts of Quito. Surrounded by nature in the foothills above Quito, this is a tranquil and restful place to recover from your travels and look forward to the trip ahead. If arriving early there may be opportunity to visit the historic Quito Old Town or simply walk in the forests and hills, looking out for the more than fifty species of birdlife, within the property grounds.

We depart Quito on the 2hr flight to Baltra, Galapagos Islands. We will then transfer to our boat, the Monserrat, to meet our guide. Refurbished in 2021, the Monserrat is a first class motorised yacht built specifically for cruising in the Galapagos, with capacity for 20 passengers. You will be well looked after by the crew and 2 naturalist guides, as well as the professional cook providing a delicious variety of food in a luxurious buffet style. Once settled, we head to the highlands on Santa Cruz Island to see the Galapagos Giant Tortoise in its natural surroundings. We explore the area and its underground lava tunnels, keeping an eye out for the nocturnal barn owls that roost here. We return to the Monserrat and our cosy cabins, our floating home for the next 8 days.

This morning we sail to Rabida Island, arriving at a red sand beach to explore the trails into the interior. We pass a saltwater lagoon and see the revered Palo Santo (Holy Stick) Trees, before returning to the beach to see nesting pelicans among the low lying bushes. We then hop on our panga, an inflatable, motorised dinghy that allows us to explore the coastlines and inlets, and ride to one of the best deep water snorkelling spots in the islands. In the afternoon we sail north east to Bartolome Island. Hiking to the summit of this volcanic islet offers an incredible 360 degree panorama, one of the iconic views of the Galapagos. The island also offers another wonderful snorkelling experience, swimming around Pinnacle Rock, home to Galapagos Penguins, sea lions, sea turtles and a huge variety of fish.

Waking again on our luxury yacht, we sail to one of the smallest islands in the Galapagos, South Plaza Island. This small island has one of the largest populations of land iguanas. We talk a walk on the island through a cactus forest, home to a wide range of flora and fauna. Spot red-billed tropicbirds and indigenous swallow-tailed gulls resting on the cliffs with sea lions playing in the waters below. In the afternoon we sail south to Santa Fe Island, where we will undertake a hike along the northern shore to spot more wildlife among the cliffs and forests. This area is known for its giant prickly pear cacti (Opuntia) and the iguanas feasting on the opuntia pads and fruit.

This morning we land at a quiet cove on the eastern tip of San Cristobal to explore Punta Pitt. It is the only site in the Galapagos where it is possible to observe three species of boobies and two species of frigate birds. We enjoy a walk along the beach, spotting nesting birds and sea lions before another opportunity to snorkel amongst the schools of fish that inhabit the cove. In the afternoon, we sail around the northern coastline of San Cristobal to Cerro Brujo Beach. Take a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters and head out on a short walk to a freshwater lagoon - a great place to see flamingos.

In the morning we visit Isla Lobos where we are greeted by sea lions frolicking in the waves and a small colony of blue-footed boobies. We take to the panga to explore the coastline and get a closer look at the nesting and feeding birds on the shore. At this peaceful spot we can snorkel right from the beach, among the families of sea lions. In the afternoon, we head back to San Cristobal to visit the Interpretation Centre where we can learn about the history of the Galapagos Islands, from their volcanic origins to today's conservation efforts. We then take a walk up Tijerates Hill, named after the colloquial name for the frigate birds that nest on its cliffs, where we enjoy a beautiful view over the surrounding landscape.

Enjoy the day on Espanola Island, one of the oldest in the archipelago. Arriving at Gardner Bay in the morning, spend the day exploring the white sandy beaches and snorkelling around Gardner Island. Spot young sea lions and large schools of tropical fish, including yellow-tailed sturgeon, king angelfish and bump-head parrot fish. Also keep an eye out for white-tipped reef sharks napping on the bottom. In the afternoon we sail to the island's westernmost point at Punta Suarez, one of the richest wildlife landing sites in the Galapagos. Trails lead around the cliffs where you can spot many species of nesting seabirds, such as the waved albatross (April and December), and marvel at the sea birds gliding in the wind high above.

Floreana Island is our destination today. Landing at Punta Comorant, the only landing site on the island, we discover two amazing beaches; one with green sand, coloured by olivine crystals, and another with white sand particles known as 'Flour Beach'. For strong swimmers there is opportunity to snorkel at Champion Islet, where we may spot sea turtles, rays and colourful fish in the strong water currents. In the afternoon we visit Post Office Bay and learn about its unique history. In the 18th century, English whaling vessels placed a barrel here to be used as a post office. Today, the box is mainly used by tourists, who may drop off and pick up unstamped letters to be carried to far off destinations. Continue the tradition - leave a letter and take one to deliver (be sure it makes it to the correct destination!).

Today we say goodbye to the Monserrat and the crew who have looked after us on our incredible adventure. We disembark at Puerto Ayora, where we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the giant Galapagos tortoises. We also visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center where we can see many species of tortoises and iguanas before they are released back into the wild. We then fly back to the mainland where we return to our lodge on the outskirts of Quito for our final night in Ecuador.

Depart Quito. KE Land Only package services end after breakfast with a transfer to the airport.