Spread the love

If cruising the Galapagos is on your ultimate travel bucket list, 2021 could be the year to scratch that itch.

In March 2021, luxury tour specialist, Latitude 33 will host its unforgettable Hidden Wonders of Life & Galapagos journey. Limited to just 20 guests, the itinerary takes in some of South America’s most stunning destinations including Chile’s Santiago, the Ecuadorian city of Quito and the Mashpi Reserve in the upper Amazon, culminating in a spectacular 7-night Galapagos cruise onboard Silversea’s brand new, ultra-luxury expedition ship, Silver Origin.

This unique adventure begins on 26 March 2021 with 2 nights in the Chilean capital of Santiago, famous for its rich cultural history, museums, shopping and restaurant scene. From Chile, guests will fly to Quito, Ecuador’s capital, where they will spend a night at boutique luxury hotel, Casa Gangotena, in the heart of San Francisco Square, and a chance to indulge in the hotel’s signature cuisine, Cocina Mestiza – a tribute to Ecuadorian gastronomy.

Next up is a 3-night stay at Mashpi Lodge, a luxurious hideaway located on a high plateau three hours’ drive from Quito. Here, guests can choose to relax in this veritable cocoon of luxury amongst the clouds. But for the more adventurous, the location deep in the heart of the Ecuadorian Choco rainforest, offers one of the world’s greatest biodiversity hotspots – the perfect place to spot rare species of flora and fauna from the breath-taking open-air Dragonfly Canopy Gondola.

Returning to Quito, spend a further 2 nights at Casa Gangotena. Here, take a tour of downtown Quito including its impressive colonial quarter, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace; and the Temple of La Compañía de Jesús with its awesome gilded interior. Further afield, other tour highlights include visits to the Monastery of San Francisco, one the of great religious buildings of the New World, and the Equatorial Monument, 25 kilometres north of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World – latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot in each hemisphere.

On 3 April prepare to embark on the next phase of your journey as you fly to San Christobal, the oldest of the Galapagos Islands, to board Silver Origin and commence your Galapagos adventure.

Catering for just 100 guests, the new ship will debut in mid-2020 and is expected to redefine the luxury expedition cruise experience. The first destination specific ship built by Silversea, the luxurious vessel has been designed to sail the Galapagos Islands and deliver passengers with a deep cultural immersion. It also promises to be one of the most environmentally friendly cruise ships ever built. Onboard expect all-suite accommodation featuring stunning sophisticated interiors, Horizon Balconies, state of the art technology and butler service. The ship also boasts an interactive basecamp, a team of expert Ecuadorian guides certified by the National Park of the Galapagos and the highest crew-to-guest and Zodiac-to-guest ratios in the Galapagos, not to mention sublime local cuisine, prepared by expert Ecuadorian chefs.

Cruise highlights include stopovers in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Islands, located on the south-western tip of San Cristobal; Playa Espumilla on the north-western side of Santiago Island, home to a variety of wildlife including nesting green sea turtles, flamingos, White-cheeked Pintails, Yellow Warblers, Galapagos Hawks, Whimbrels, and American Oystercatchers; and the spectacular lava-forged coast of Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, with the gentle slopes of La Cumbre volcano rising in the distance, where hundreds of marine iguanas can be found resting on the black rock of recent lava flows.

Take a Zodiac cruise through the tranquil inlets of Elizabeth Bay flanked by the massive volcanoes of Sierra Negra and Alcedo, where you can observe Blue-footed Boobies, Flightless Cormorants, Galapagos Penguins, Galapagos sea lions and Sally Lightfoot crabs, while a visit to Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island’s northernmost coast is a chance to encounter more flamingos and mammoth female sea turtles.

The northern shore of Santa Cruz offers up further sightings of flamingos, migratory birds in season, and scavenging shorebirds, before the ship anchors at Puerto Ayora in the Island’s south, where guests will visit the prestigious Charles Darwin Research Station, home to the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center for giant tortoises and land iguanas.

Disembarking Silver Origin on 10 April 2021, transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Guayaquil on the Ecuadorian mainland for an over-night stay before preparing to fly home on 11 April 2021.

Latitude 33’s Hidden Wonders of Life & Galapagos journey starts from $21,699* per person twin share, including return international economy class airfares from Australia, all accommodation, return airport transfers in Australia, all flights within Chile and Ecuador, all touring, all meals at Mashpi Lodge, all cuisine and select fine wines, champagnes and premium spirits and specialty coffees onboard Silver Origin, all transfers and baggage handling and a Latitude 33 Tour host.

* Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.