The Andes Mountains sit backdrop to Quito’s vibrant blend of traditional culture and metropolitan lifestyle. Dedicate today to walking the streets, both bustling and charmingly quaint, before setting out to sea tomorrow. Picturesque plazas and culinary offerings are going to make you want to come back for more after the cruise.

Six hundred miles from the mainland, our adventure to the Galapagos Islands begins! After boarding the Legend, a stable and sociable vessel, we’ll discover the captivating landscape of Bartolome Island, which has volcanic cones resembling the moon. An intermediate walk to the summit will bring you to meet blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas, and will also provide an impressive view of the snorkeling opportunities to follow.

We’ll start our day at the east end of Santa Cruz, upon Plazas Island. Home to numerous species of iguanas, you’ll be able to compare them later on in the day to the land iguanas that inhabit North Seymour. Formed by a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, this island is not far from Santa Cruz but has a wildly diverse set of fauna to observe.

A stop at Pitt Point will ensure your day is full of color. Olivine crystals give the sandy beaches a hue of green as you’ll note on your rocky hike to various viewpoints. Be sure to check out the colony of sea lions once you make it to the top of the volcanic tuff. In the afternoon you can catch up on your sunbathing on the white sand beaches of Cerro Brujo.

No Galapagos cruise would be complete without a viewing of giant tortoises! Built to improve the island’s long-standing tortoise population, the admirable Cerro Colorado tortoise protection center is an eye-opener for visitors. Afterwards we’ll head to the western side of San Cristobal Island for a bit of history and natural facts at the Interpretation Center. Reflect on all the cultural visits as you hike up Tijeretas Hill, located at the foot of a frigate bird nesting colony.

Walking the white sand shores of Gardner Bay you’ll be able to spot numerous bird and lizard species. This area is also prime for water activities such as snorkeling, swimming and kayaking. And if you prefer the ocean itself to do all the work, the powerful 23 m (75 ft) blowhole of Punta Suarez is sure to impress. This is where we’ll spend the afternoon, and in good company as sea lions, seabirds and crabs are just a few of the native fauna inhabiting the island.

Taking the term snail mail to a whole new level, Post Office Bay gets its name from a late 18th century tradition of the island’s informal post office for sailors: a wooden barrel. Today, visitors can still drop off unstamped mail in hopes that a fellow traveler lives near the receiver and can help make the delivery. Later on in the day, Cormorant Point will also prove itself unique. The shore is covered in green tinted sand thanks to the presence of olivine crystals.

Our morning starts off with a visit to see the Galapagos’ most popular reptile, the giant tortoises. Breeding programs ensure the animal’s legacy, and environmental education programs for the community instill sustainability. Afterwards, the Highlands Tortoise Reserve, also on the Santa Cruz Island, will provide more tortoise-spotting opportunities. Bird enthusiasts will have plenty to be excited about as well. Our day ends on a green note again as Ballena Bay proves itself a lovely, olivine-laden beach with snorkeling opportunities.

Strap on your snorkeling gear for a chance to swim with colorful fish, stingrays, and maybe even the White tipped shark at Carrion Point. This will be our last stop before we catch a returning flight from the Galapagos Islands to Quito, Ecuador.