Culture and Diving Adventure

Welcome to the country of the 4 worlds: Highlands, Amazon, Galapagos Islands and Pacific Coast. Your private driver-guide will be waiting for you at airport: Welcome!

Quito is the capital and the largest city of Ecuador, and at an elevation of 2,850 meters (9,350 ft) above sea level, it is the second-highest official capital city in the world, after La Paz, and the one which is closest to the equator. In 2008, the city was designated as the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations. Quito and Kraków (Poland), were among the first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO, in 1978. Overnight in the selected hotel.

Today, your private guide will pick you up at your hotel and take around the historic center of Quito. The historic center of Quito has one of the largest, least altered and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas. Our guide will transfer you to our colonial past, narrow streets, old and historic buildings, and small workshops. This is a walking tour which allows you to catch with your camera the best of our colonial history; the architecture and surrounding landscapes will give you the best scenery.

Enjoy of delicious lunch in Theatrum restaurant which offers the best regional Ecuadorian food in Quito. This restaurant is located inside of an historic building “The Sucre National Theater” built between 1879 – 1886, it is one of the oldest opera houses in South America.

After this exquisite gastronomic experience, we will drive to the north of Quito city to reach the monument of Middle of the World: which highlights the exact location of the Equator and commemorates the eighteenth-century Geodesic Mission which fixed its approximate location. Visit the city of Middle of the World, shopping and optional visit to the Ethnographic museum (entrance fee not included) that exhibits the different cultural groups of Ecuador by regions. To end of cultural day, we will visit Intiñan Museum (Camino del Sol) whose main objective is to rescue a new image of the existence of a geographical center of the ancient world view and ethnoecological habitat center of the world. Return to Hotel.

Welcome dinner. We will enjoy of modern Ecuadorian cuisine. Bon appetite! Return to your Hotel. (B/L/D).

Breakfast and Private Transfer Out. Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in the late morning. The dive guides will meet the guests at the airport between 11:30 am and 12 pm and escort them to the Galapagos liveaboard, Tiburon Explorer. Guests will board the vessel, have lunch and listen to the briefings. After the briefings, the guests will do a check out dive at Punta Carrion. After dinner the vessel will depart to the next scheduled destination.

6:30 and 9:30 dives Sightings include rays and schools of fish. Afternoon North Seymour land visit. Walk the path around North Seymour Island to see the large colonies of Blue Footed Boobies and Frigate Birds. Sighting of Sea Lions and Marine Iguanas are also common. Depart for Wolf Island (long transit)

6:30, 10:30. 2:00 and 4:30 dives. Possible night dive. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale shark (in season), eagle rays, sea lions, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks

6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season), eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks. Transit to Cabo Douglas (12 hours)

Sightings include marine iguanas. Transit to Punta Vicente Roca Punta Vicente Roca (1-2 Dives) Sightings often include mola mola, turtles and macro life. Transit to Cousins Rock (10 hours)

6:30 and 9:30 dives. This is a great macro diving with an excellent chance of seeing sea horses, sea lions and eagle rays. Lunch will be served while transiting to Santa Cruz (3 hours). Travel by bus to the Santa Cruz Highlands to visit the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Transfer to the town of Puerto Ayora. Dinner on your own in Puerto Ayora. Return to the Tiburon Explorer at 8:30pm

Depart the vessel by 9 am. Transfer to Baltra airport. Arrive at Guayaquil. Hotel del Parque. Farewell Dinner at Casa Julian Restaurant.

REMARKS:

• This itinerary is subject to change without notice, due to seasonal changes, weather conditions, Government or Galapagos National Park regulations.
•  Local Air Tickets, Galapagos National Park fee and Ingala Transit Card are subject to change because they are not under Nomadic control. They are managed by airline and Government authorities.
• Rate is subject to change according with hotel/room, lodge, cruise/cabin available/selected. Programs are subject to Payment Policies, & Terms and Conditions of cruise / lodge selected; they were informed to you before confirming the program. Rate is subject to change according availability and Taxes. Christmas and New Year Departures applies surcharge.
• Bio Safety Protocols  https://nomadicecuador.com/biosafety-protocols/