Day 1 & 2 - Quito, Ecuador

The JW Marriott is located in the heart of the capital city and about 25 miles from Quito International Airport. From the comfortable and safe La Mariscal District, the hotel is a quick cab ride or about a 20 minute walk to the central area. Here you'll find plenty of dining options offering delicious Ecuadorian food.

Day 2 - Breakfast is served at the hotel. During your guided tour of the capital of Ecuador, situated at an altitude of 9,350 feet, you'll stand on the equatorial line at the Middle of the World Park and Museum, and marvel at the monastery of San Francisco and la Compaia Church. Your Tour Director will escort you throughout your Quito stay, and serve as your personal concierge. Lunch with a spectacular view of the city, and enjoy a welcome dinner at a local gourmet restaurant.

Day 3 - Baltra, North Seymour

Cruise Embarkation, Baltra Island - During World War II, Baltra served as a U.S. military base protecting the Panama Canal from enemy attack. Now the cactus-strewn landscapes of Baltra are home to the region's main airport and where you will be greeted by Celebrity staff. After just a short bus and zodiac ride you will be aboard the ship. Your luggage will be delivered straight to your stateroom, giving you the opportunity to explore the ship and your home for the week.

North Seymour Island - is a small island just north of Baltra. North Seymour is a small island just north of Baltra. It is home to the largest colony of frigate birds in the Galapagos. While keeping an eye out for male frigate birds trying to impress potential mates with an inflated red neck pouch, you may see blue-footed boobies dancing in a timeless courtship ritual. Sea lions and large land iguanas also roam about this rocky terrain. Excursion options: Walk, deep-water snorkel.

Excursion options include a guided long, rocky walk, zodiac ride and short easy walk, or simply just a scenic zodiac tour along the coast to view wildlife and the geology of the area. Experienced snorkelers will also have an option to do a deep water snorkel at this site. This is a dry landing.

Day 4 - South Plaza, Santa Fe

South Plaza Island - One of two islands off Santa Cruz, South Plaza was born of upheaval, uplifted during a geologic event. The rocky island is strewn with prickly pear cactus and home to land iguanas, marine iguanas, and a colony of sea lions. Our excursion here is a short walk to view wildlife, flora, and geology.

Santa Fe Island - Begin with a wet landing on the small beach in Barrington Bay. Large numbers of sea lions are found on the beaches and can often be seen surfing in the waves. Some of the island's endemic species include massive Santa Fe Opuntia cactus, the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos Snake, rice rats, finches, and the Galapagos Mockingbird. Hike past saltbush where Galapagos hawks and Santa Fe land iguanas tend to roam. Keep an eye out for sea lions and the occasional sea turtles or ray. Excursion options: Walk, swim, kayak, Zodiac.

Day 5 - San Cristobal

Punta Pitt, San Cristobal Island - After disembarking onto the small green sand beach, hike up to a plateau, where the view and landscape are so spectacular it is well worth the effort. A steep gully leads up the cliff to a breeding ground for all three varieties of boobies: Red-footed, Blue-footed and Nazca. It's the only place in the Galapagos where you can see all three species nesting together. Excursions options: Hike, kayak, snorkel, Zodiac.

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island - Visit the small waterfront town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the administrative capital of the islands. Excursion options: a tour of a local interpretation center and time for shopping or a fast-paced long walk to view scenic vistas, followed by a visit to the interpretation center.

Day 6 - Floreana

Post Office Bay, Floreana Island - Rich in history, this site is home to the post office barrel established in about 1793, where pirates, buccaneers, whalers and others could leave their mail to be picked up by outbound ships. The tradition continues today, as visitors leave addressed postcards in the barrel and sort through left mail to deliver at home.

Cormorant Point, Floreana Island - Floreana was the first capital of the Galapagos, and where Charles Darwin met the islands' Governor. Its small brackish lagoon is often home to flamingos, stilts, and white-cheeked pintail ducks, and one of its beaches is a highly used nesting site for sea turtles. Check out the green-hued sand where you land! Excursion options include a relatively short walk to the lagoon and sea turtle nesting beach, and optional snorkeling and swimming at the landing beach.

Day 7 - Isabela

Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island - Elizabeth Bay is one of the furthest points in the Galapagos visited on our cruise. Enter a sheltered cove accessible only by Zodiac. It is a wonderful and secluded mangrove ecosystem that is a refuge, resting, and feeding site for sea turtles, rays, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, penguins, pelicans, lava herons, and more. Excursion options: Zodiac.

Moreno Point, Isabela Island Along this beautiful rocky shore, a field of hardened black lava flows is pockmarked by shallow pools, which are home to shorebirds and flamingos. The mangrove-lined shore also provides a chance to see marine iguanas, sea turtles, stingrays, sharks, penguins, and the flightless cormorant. Excursion options include a long walk and zodiac ride, or an extended zodiac ride. This is a dry landing.

Day 8 - Santa Cruz

Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island - This is the main population center of the islands, home to the National Park Tortoise Breeding Center and the Charles Darwin Research Station. After Darwin's studies and surveys, the Galapagos Archipelago remained untouched except for occasional landings for water and meager supplies mustered from the uninhabited islands. Many tortoises were taken for food and oil.

In 1930, an expedition from the US arrived to create a wildlife sanctuary for the entire archipelago, and finally, in 1935, the first laws were passed to protect these islands. In 1959, the Ecuadorian government declared the Galapagos a national park, the catalyst needed to promote scientific research, restoration, and preservation of the ecosystem.

You will have the opportunity to take a bus ride to the highlands to observe giant tortoises in the wild and walk through a lava tunnel. Optional time for shopping will be available. Excursion options: Tortoise-breeding Center/Charles Darwin Center, Highlands.

Day 9 - Espanola

Gardner Bay, Espanola Island - Located on the northeastern side of the island, Gardner Bay has a beautiful long white sandy beach perfect for relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the area. In the water, sea turtles, rays, colorful tropical fish, sea lions and maybe even a white-tip reef shark may be seen. If you happen to visit here between October and December, you will find Green Sea Turtles mating just off shore. Gardner Bay is home to some of the most inquisitive mockingbirds in the Galapagos. Excursion options: beach walking, swimming, or a deep-water snorkel for experienced snorkelers.

Suarez Point, Espanola Island - Espanola is the oldest island in the Galapagos and home to an abundance of wildlife. At this site, visitors can expect to see sea lions, Galapagos Hawks, marine iguanas, and both blue-footed and Nazca boobies. Excursion options: long, rocky walk to look for Waved Albatrosses (March to January). They perform one of the most spectacular courtship rituals in the animal world. The second part of the walk is to observe an impressive blowhole that spews water like a towering geyser, which can reach 70 feet in the air. Optional shorter walk is also available.

Day 10-12 - Quito, Ecuador

Day 10, Mosquera Islet - This small, flat, sandy islet sits in the channel between Baltra and North Seymour. It is almost devoid of vegetation, but has one of the largest populations of sea lions in the islands. Its sandy expanse offers visitors the perfect opportunity to observe sea lion behavior. It is also a beautiful site to observe lava gulls, coastal birds, and Sally lightfoot crabs. Excursion options: Walk

Day 10, Baltra to Quito - Upon debarking from your Galapagos cruise, you'll fly to Quito International Airport where you'll be transferred to the JW Marriott. Your luggage will be transferred from the ship directly to the hotel. Enjoy an optional afternoon excursion to the local craft market, time permitting. Dinner is served at the hotel.

Day 11, Quito - - Enjoy a day in the Ecuadorean capital at your leisure. Breakfast is included.

Day 12, Departure - After breakfast, your Celebrity representative will once again escort you to the airport for your return flight.

11-Night Galapagos Southern Loop and Quito Tour