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Galápagos Islands – In Darwin’s Footsteps: An Audubon Voyage
HX | 9 Days | Roundtrip Quito
An Audubon Voyage
May 6-13, 2026 & July 1-8, 2026
AAA Member Benefits and Special Offers:
- Member Benefits
- Up to $100 onboard credit per person
- Special Offer - Audubon Society
- Save 10% on Audubon Voyages and 5% on all other HX voyages
- Offer ends January 15, 2026
Call to Book
1-800-529-3222
Included With Your Trip
Your Ship: MS Santa Cruz II
Call of the Bird Lover
HX is proud to partner with the National Audubon Society to advance its mission to protect birds and the places they need. This shared commitment to conservation and responsible exploration lies at the heart of their collaboration.
Beyond their travel offerings, HX has proudly supported Audubon’s vital conservation work across North America, including efforts to protect critical bird habitats and biodiversity. Together, they also contributed to global initiatives such as preserving the extraordinary ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands.
Together, HX and Audubon are working to ensure a thriving future for birds, wildlife, and the planet we all share.
Discover Birding Like Never Before
What You Can Expect on Board:
Expert ornithologists and naturalist guides leading birding experiences
Engaging lectures on birdlife, habitats, and ecosystems
Access to a science center and library with birding resources
Professional nature photographers offering tips and curated trip albums
Exclusive permits for prime wildlife viewing areas
Comfortable cabins, including options for families and small groups
What's Included?
Flights
- Flights in economy class between Quito and Baltra, including all taxes
Hotel
- Two nights at a hotel in Quito before the expedition cruise, including breakfast and dinner on Day 2
Transfers
- A transfer from the airport to the hotel in Quito before the expedition cruise
- Transfer from the hotel to the airport in Quito before the expedition cruise
- Transfers between the airport and the ship in Baltra
Excursion
- Full-day excursion: Historic Quito and Middle of the World, including lunch, before the expedition cruise
Extras
- Galápagos Islands National Park admission fee
- Transit Control Card for the Galápagos Islands
- Access to the airport lounge at the Quito (or Guayaquil) airport upon return from the Galápagos Islands for guests flying internationally on the day of disembarkation
Expedition Cruise
- A stay in a cabin of your choice
- Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner
- House wine and beer served with lunch and dinner. From 1 October 2024 departures, wine, beer and spirits (excluding premium alcoholic drinks) available from the bar at any time (subject to Ecuadorean licensing laws)
- All day coffee, tea and soft drinks
- A complimentary water bottle to refill on board and take home
- A backpack or another piece of HX kit
- Professional photos from your trip taken by our onboard photographer
- Complimentary Wi-Fi. Please note, streaming is not supported
- Use of hot tubs, fitness room, lounges and more
- Gratuities included. Fantastic service is standard at HX – though if you’d like to leave something extra, it’s always appreciated
- Range of included activities
Onboard Activities
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
- Full access to the ship’s Science Corner
- The Citizen Science Program allows guests to assist with ongoing scientific research
- An onboard professional photographer will give tips and tricks for taking the best landscape and wildlife photos
- Informal gatherings with the crew for daily briefings
Landing Activities
- Escorted and guided landings with small panga boats
- Loan of all equipment for activities
- Expedition photographers on hand to assist you
Notes
- All planned activities are subject to weather conditions
- Your flight from Baltra will be to Quito. If you wish to end your expedition in Guayaquil, please advise your booking agent
- Quito’s altitude is at approximately 9,350 feet above sea level and during your stay, you might experience mild altitude sickness
- Excursions and activities are subject to change
- Please make sure you meet all entry and boarding requirements
- Depending on your flight times, an additional overnight might be needed (not included)
Additional Information
Day 1: Vibrant 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. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is packed with well-preserved colonial architecture, including colorful plazas, magnificent churches, and stately monuments. Settle into your hotel, then head out to explore.
Day 2: Visit Historic Quito
Today, 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 delicious chocolate made from the 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 that is the Equator. Have your camera ready to capture the moment you stand with one foot in each hemisphere.
Day 3: Your Cruise Begins
After breakfast, a short flight will take you to Baltra Island, a part of the spectacular Galápagos Archipelago. A transfer will take you straight to the port, where your comfortable expedition ship MS Santa Cruz II awaits you.
Get your first glimpse of the islands’ incredible wildlife on Mosquera Islet, home to one of the largest sea lion colonies in the archipelago. We’ll take our small panga boats ashore for a closer look. As you stroll across the flat, sandy dunes, look out for blue-footed boobies and Sally Lightfoot crabs, and learn about the marine and terrestrial ecosystems from your naturalist guides.
Day 4: Tortoises of San Cristobal
Your first stop today is the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve, a breeding center for the endangered giant tortoise. It’s also home to other endemic species, including the San Cristóbal mockingbird and the lava lizard. The giant tortoise is probably the most iconic of all Galápagos wildlife, with a lifespan of over 100 years. They thrive here, ambling around forests similar to their natural habitat.
Explore Punta Pitt in our small panga boats. This is the only site in the Galápagos Islands where you might see three species of boobies. Enjoy a nature walk, explore the coastline by boat, or snorkel and swim in the crystal-clear water. *Note – this is dependent on local authority restrictions.
Day 5: Santa Fe and South Plaza
Start the day with a scenic nature walk on the blissful beaches of Santa Fe, home to the endemic Barrington land iguana and a colony of sea lions.
You can swim or snorkel from the small panga boats, take a kayak for a paddle around the island, or join a trip in our glass-bottomed boat to observe the marine life below. After a delicious lunch prepared by the onboard chefs, head to South Plaza Island. Keep an eye out for frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, and Galápagos shearwaters gliding on the breeze. Here, among a dazzling array of flora, land iguanas laze by the shore while marine iguanas slip in and out of the water.
Day 6: Explore Santa Cruz
Today, pay a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora. At this giant tortoise breeding center, 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 is 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 also have time for another activity, such as mountain biking or visiting a sugar plantation.
Day 7: Dramatic Española
Your Galápagos Islands cruise reaches Española, the archipelago’s southernmost island. Birdlife here is truly extraordinary. This is also a great chance to spot red Española lava lizards and marine iguanas, as well as see El Soplador, the famous blowhole that blasts water 75 feet into the air. After lunch on board the ship, you’ll head to the picturesque coral beach of Gardner Bay and nearby Osborn Islet to seek out sea lions, mockingbirds, and finches. If you’re feeling active, you can go snorkeling or kayaking.
Day 8: Reef Life on Eden Islet
The abundant wildlife-watching opportunities continue at Eden Islet, where we hope to see Galápagos green turtles, rays, and friendly reef sharks. On shore, look for distinctive frigatebirds with their rubbery, red throats.
You can swim or snorkel to explore the reefs. You can also see the reefs from our glass-bottomed boat or by kayak. After lunch, you’ll sail to North Seymour. The island is a great site for spotting colonies of blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. Sea lions and marine iguanas also congregate here, attracted by the bountiful sea life in its waters.
Day 9: End of an Expedition
Your expedition cruise draws to a close as you 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. Flight to Quito must be requested at the time of booking.
Departure Dates
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Start: May 6, 2026 End: May 13, 2026 Price: $7,224 pp Price My Trip |
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Start: July 1, 2026 End: July 8, 2026 Price: $7,986 pp Price My Trip |
Price My Trip
Product Code: AAA-HX_LF
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