Explore the Galápagos with Bestselling Author Patricia Schultz and Metropolitan Touring

From Old Town Quito to the Galápagos archipelago on board La Pinta with the travel writer behind 1,000 Places to See Before You Die

Quito, ECUADOR – Of the earth and its countless wonders, well-known travel writer Patricia Schultz considers the Galápagos "one of today's most unique and precious destinations, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should be on everyone's Short List."  Explore the Enchanted Islands, by boat and on land, with the author of the New York Times #1 bestseller 1,000 Places to See Before You Die on an exclusive journey-to-remember with Metropolitan Touring, the pioneers of travel to Ecuador.

Designed for a small group of no more than 12 travelers, the 8-day/9-night journey from May 31 - June 8, 2014 begins in Quito, the historic capital of Ecuador located high in the Andes. Accommodation will be at the stylish Casa Gangotena, an historic mansion overlooking the popular Plaza San Francisco: it recently earned a Travelers’ Choice Award as one of the Top 10 hotels in the world by TripAdvisor reviewers. Guests will enjoy a lunch of Ecuadorian specialties at the hotel's acclaimed restaurant and a guided walking tour of the heart of the Old Town, the first city center to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Featured in 1,000 Places, Schultz calls it "Latin America's best preserved historic district."

Next stop? The Galápagos and a 4-night voyage aboard La Pinta, a 207-foot yacht considered one of the top vessels roaming the archipelago. Iconic sites on the itinerary include Bartolomé, with its beautiful beach, penguins and snorkeling opportunities, and the wild isle of Genovesa, renowned as a birdwatchers’ paradise. Land-based exploring provides even more possibilities, with guided walking and island tours and ample time for relaxation at the beach-front Finch Bay Eco Hotel on Santa Cruz Island.

Spaces are limited for this excursion to the Galápagos Islands with bestselling author Patricia Schultz. Cost: $5,499 per person, including accommodation, guided walking tours, most meals, flights from Quito to the Galápagos and from the Galápagos to Guayaquil, all transfers and all shore excursions.