With Monograms, we handle the details so you can focus on the sights, experience new cultures and new destinations. From arranging the right hotels and seamless transportation to providing your own Local Host® and included sightseeing, we've thought of-and included-everything you need in an all-in-one package.
No matter what you're into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.
When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you're booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.
The following activities & excursions in the itinerary are examples only for this vacation. Availability is subject to change. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Activities and Excursions are available for purchase on our MyMonograms site as soon as initial deposit or payment is received.
Local Host
Your Local Host will be available to provide you with recommendations while on vacation to help you make the most out of your free time.
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Your included private city tour showcases Independence Square, the cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows.
Breakfast
Your Local Host will be available to provide you with recommendations while on vacation to help you make the most out of your free time.
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QUITO–BALTRA–SANTA CRUZ (EMBARKATION)
Fly to Baltra and transfer with your expert Naturalist to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where the Galápagos giant tortoise breeding program helps preserve the fragile Galápagos environment. Learn how eggs are brought from the nearby Galápagos Islands, incubated artificially until the galápaguitos (little turtles) are born and, at the age of 5, are returned to their native areas. Board your ship for your 7-night cruise.
Your Local Host will be available to provide you with recommendations while on vacation to help you make the most out of your free time.
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CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ & BARTOLOMÉ ISLANDS
At Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island, walk by a brackish lagoon where feeding flamingoes can occasionally be found. The trail leads to an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas, and offers lovely views of the neighboring islands. The forest is home to mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and Galápagos doves. After lunch, visit Bartolomé Island to discover a fascinating moonscape formed by volcanic parasitic cones. Hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands and Pinnacle Rock. Bartolomé offers some of the best snorkeling, thanks to clear waters and abundant sea life, including sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and perchance Galápagos penguins.
Your Local Host will be available to provide you with recommendations while on vacation to help you make the most out of your free time.
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CRUISING: RÁBIDA & SANTIAGO ISLANDS
On Rábida Island, see its red-colored beach, formed from the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. Here, your Naturalist points out large colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. This is a wonderful place to snorkel from the beach, due to the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. Later, explore Buccaneer Cove on Santiago Island and see the dramatic coastline inhabited by a large number of marine birds, sea lions, and inter-tidal organisms. At Espumilla Beach, walk through the mangroves and see salt-water lagoons that are home to wading birds like flamingos.
Your Local Host will be available to provide you with recommendations while on vacation to help you make the most out of your free time.
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CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
Arrive at Black Turtle Cove on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, accessible only by sea, where turtles enjoy swimming in the calm waters along with colorful fish, rays, and small sharks. This cove has been declared a “Turtle Sanctuary,” and is home to sea birds, including pelicans, herons, and egrets. Eden Islet offers opportunities to see Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and reef sharks. Disembark at Whale Bay on Santa Cruz in search of marine iguanas and seabirds, followed by time for snorkeling.
Your Local Host will be available to provide you with recommendations while on vacation to help you make the most out of your free time.
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CRUISING: ISABELA & FERNANDINA ISLANDS
Off the coast of Isabela Island, admire impressive geological formations, including a sheer cliff that is home to a diverse sea and coastal birds such as pelicans, Galápagos penguins, and flightless cormorants. There are whale-watching opportunities between May and December. Your afternoon visit of Espinosa Point on Fernandina Island reveals the largest, most primitive-looking of marine iguanas, mingling with sea lions, flightless cormorants, and Galápagos penguins.
Your Local Host will be available to provide you with recommendations while on vacation to help you make the most out of your free time.
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At Urbina Bay, walk on a volcanic black beach in search of giant tortoises, land iguanas, and flightless cormorants. At Tagus Cove, learn about the eruption of the five volcanoes that formed Isabela Island. Take a trail to a saltwater crater lake for excellent views of lava fields and volcanic formations. A dinghy ride reveals marine wildlife, blue-footed boobies, brown noddies, and maybe Galápagos penguins.
Your Local Host will be available to provide you with recommendations while on vacation to help you make the most out of your free time.
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CRUISING: SANTIAGO ISLAND
Walk along a trail comprised of volcanic ash and basaltic rock at Puerto Egas to tidal pools populated by fur seals and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Snorkeling is a highlight, and marine wildlife includes lobster, starfish, marine iguanas, and octopus. A walk at Sullivan Bay features extensive Pahoehoe lava flows.
Your Local Host will be available to provide you with recommendations while on vacation to help you make the most out of your free time.
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CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ (DISEMBARKATION)–BALTRA–GUAYAQUIL
Disembark on Santa Cruz Island and visit Bachas Beach, where you will find two flamingo ponds, sunbathing iguanas, and many coastal birds. This beach is also a main nesting site for sea turtles. You will find remains of barges that sank long ago, once the property of the U.S. Navy air base operating on Baltra Island during World War II. Later, fly to Guayaquil.
Breakfast
Your Local Host will be available to provide you with recommendations while on vacation to help you make the most out of your free time.
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Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast
Your Local Host will be available to provide you with recommendations while on vacation to help you make the most out of your free time.
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Transportation
From City-to-City
When your vacation includes traveling from one city to another, your local Monograms team makes it an absolute breeze! We'll get to your train or plane, stress free and on time with door-to-gate service. And your local Monograms team awaits your arrival as soon as you pull into your next destination.
As outlined in the day-by-day itinerary below and private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights; Galápagos intra-vacation flights and taxes are included