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Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort 2026
8-Day Package from Quito to Guayaquil
Tour Description:
How deep is your love of adventure? Is it deep enough to follow the course of Charles Darwin to discover your own love affair with the wildlife paradise of the Galápagos Islands? If so, this Independence by Globus vacation in Ecuador is pointing you in the right direction. Begin by exploring the historic heart of Quito and depart for parts unknown where blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, and diving iguanas of the Galápagos give new meaning to mind-blowing discoveries. You’ll stay at the award-winning Finch Bay Eco Hotel on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos, offering a private, seaside location to kayak, snorkel, bike, and take boat excursions to the various Galápagos Islands with expert Naturalists. Sail upon pristine waters to discover the perfectly evolved creatures who thrive on this volcanic archipelago. Stroll the sand where sea lions bask and albatross brace against the updrafts above the cliffs. Sail, snorkel, and simply stay in a state of astonishment through the sanctuaries of spectacular species on North Seymour, and South Plaza Island, and Santa Cruz Islands. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station where conservationists work to protect the gentle giants for which the islands are named. You’ll also find the I-time you deserve to fall in love with adventure again!
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Dates & Pricing
Start Dates Listed Below are US departure dates, please verify specific dates with your Pavlus Travel Planner
| Friday 09 Jan 26 — Saturday 17 Jan 26 | Starting at $7,039 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 16 Jan 26 — Saturday 24 Jan 26 | Starting at $7,039 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 30 Jan 26 — Saturday 07 Feb 26 | Starting at $7,039 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 06 Feb 26 — Saturday 14 Feb 26 | Starting at $7,039 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 13 Feb 26 — Saturday 21 Feb 26 | Starting at $7,039 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 20 Feb 26 — Saturday 28 Feb 26 | Starting at $7,039 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 27 Feb 26 — Saturday 07 Mar 26 | Starting at $7,039 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 06 Mar 26 — Saturday 14 Mar 26 | Starting at $7,039 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 13 Mar 26 — Saturday 21 Mar 26 | Starting at $7,039 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 20 Mar 26 — Saturday 28 Mar 26 | Starting at $7,039 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 27 Mar 26 — Saturday 04 Apr 26 | Starting at $7,039 | Get a Quote |
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & SightseeingYour Independence by Globus tour delivers all the perks you'd expect from Globus, plus the I-Time you crave to explore on your own. We take care of the details with included accommodations, daily breakfasts, select guided sightseeing, transportation and transfers between each city on your tour, and a Local Host in each city to assist you when needed. We’ll also handle flight arrangements and airport transfers at the beginning and end of your tour, if you wish.
Notes:
Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and include private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Galápagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon are included. Local guide service is provied in Quito. A Naturalist in the Galápagos & the Amazon are also provided. For the Amazon adventure, guests should be prepared for eco-lodging due to their remote nature in the rainforest. Further, guests should be prepared for sustained walking, possibly muddy conditions, and have the ability to jump in/out of small water crafts such as canoes and small fishing boats. Terrain is rocky and uneven. On the Galapagos Islands, we use a small vessel (20 guests) that has 3 crew members, emergency washrooms and a snack bar. The excursions are day cruises with landings on the islands, some of which are wet landings. Departure times vary depending on what islands we visit. At times we may visit 1 island but we land on different parts of it. These sailings are subject to change and weather related depending on what island we are visiting. The day sailings are around 5 to 6 hours per day which includes the landings and sightseeing. Maximum elevation on tour is 9,350 ft.
Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and include private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Galápagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon are included. Local guide service is provied in Quito. A Naturalist in the Galápagos & the Amazon are also provided. For the Amazon adventure, guests should be prepared for eco-lodging due to their remote nature in the rainforest. Further, guests should be prepared for sustained walking, possibly muddy conditions, and have the ability to jump in/out of small water crafts such as canoes and small fishing boats. Terrain is rocky and uneven. On the Galapagos Islands, we use a small vessel (20 guests) that has 3 crew members, emergency washrooms and a snack bar. The excursions are day cruises with landings on the islands, some of which are wet landings. Departure times vary depending on what islands we visit. At times we may visit 1 island but we land on different parts of it. These sailings are subject to change and weather related depending on what island we are visiting. The day sailings are around 5 to 6 hours per day which includes the landings and sightseeing. Maximum elevation on tour is 9,350 ft.
MEALS
MEALS ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1
Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in
Day 2
• Your included private city tour showcases the rich legacy left by the Incas and the Spaniards. See Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows
Day 3
• Fly to Baltra in the Galápagos.
• Upon arrival, board a yacht bound for North Seymour, an island teeming with life. You might have to give way to a passing sea lion, marine iguana, or blue-footed boobies that nest here. As you walk along the shore, see large flocks of pelicans in a dive-bomb feeding-frenzy, and one of the Galápagos’ largest nesting sites of the magnificent frigatebird. In the bushes you can see the males up close with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacs.
• Return to the yacht and continue to the Finch Bay Hotel
Day 4
• Transfer to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz to a farming area called El Manzanillo on the edge of the Giant Tortoise Reserve. Here, tortoises can be seen grazing year-round, along with woodpecker finches, mockingbirds, and flycatchers.
• After lunch, visit a local farm, where coffee, sugar cane, and cocoa beans are grown, harvested, and prepared.
• Return to the hotel and perhaps spend time on the private beach
Day 5
• This morning, travel to Punta Carrion on Santa Cruz Island for some time to snorkel. The shallow reefs and mangroves make this an ideal site to snorkel with plenty of reef fish as well as occasional sea lions and sharks.
• Next, sail to South Plaza Island, a small island full of fascinating wildlife, both along its shore and along its dramatic, wind-swept cliffs. Here you will see large, yellow land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, masked and blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and much more during your guided walk.
• Return to the hotel this afternoon
Day 6
• Today’s adventure takes you to wildlife-rich Divine Bay on Santa Cruz Island. Marine iguanas, herons, noddy terns, blue-footed boobies, and tropicbirds are commonly seen here. You may explore by boat or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can take to the sea by kayak. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays, and reef sharks as you cruise the tranquil waters.
• Return to the hotel for lunch, followed by an afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, established to help conserve the Galápagos’ natural habitats and protect the area’s famous giant tortoises
Day 7
• Depart the hotel this morning for the airport in Baltra. Then, fly to Guayaquil on Ecuador’s Pacific coast and transfer to the hotel for your final night in Ecuador
Day 8
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Accommodations
Accommodations| Quito | Santa Cruz Island | Guayaquil |
Hilton Colon Quito - MET
Superior First-Class
Ave Amazonas N 1914 Y Patria Avenida 1 Quito Ecuador
The Hilton Colon Quito hotel is 10 minute walk from the colonial Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This modern hotel enjoys spectacular views of the city. Amenities include a fitness center, spa, outdoor heated pool, 5 restaurants/lounges, laundry service, concierge, florist, barber shop, and gift shop.
Superior First-Class
Ave Amazonas N 1914 Y Patria Avenida 1 Quito Ecuador
The Hilton Colon Quito hotel is 10 minute walk from the colonial Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This modern hotel enjoys spectacular views of the city. Amenities include a fitness center, spa, outdoor heated pool, 5 restaurants/lounges, laundry service, concierge, florist, barber shop, and gift shop.
