The Galápagos
The Enchanted Islands of Darwin
Cruise the remarkable island ecosystem of the volcanic Galápagos sitting 650 miles west of Ecuador. See the unique and abundant wildlife, some of which are found nowhere else on earth. In the company of naturalist guides, aboard the
Isabela II, the most luxurious vessel cruising The Galápagos, you'll scout for breaching whales, pink flamingos, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, tiny penguins and flightless cormorants, to name just a few of the many species that call the Galápagos Islands home.
Only 3 departure dates in 2009
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1-800-296-8993 | |
CRUISE ONLY DATES & PRICES |
| AA | AAA | SUITE | August 23, 30
| $6399 | $6599 | $6899 | | September 6 | $6399 | $6599 | $6899 | | |
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The cost of your cruise includes service charges for land-based personnel and $750 per person which covers taxes/port charges/fees and onboard services. A fuel surcharge may be added. Onboard gratuities are neither required nor expected. Prices are per person, double-occupancy, U.S. dollars. Single rates available upon request where applicable. Airfare extra. (Except Quito to Baltra, and Baltra to Guayaquil, which are included on The Galápagos cruise itinerary, and Guayaquil to Lima, Lima to Cusco, and Cusco to Lima, which are included on the Machu Picchu itinerary.)
Round Trip Cruise:Day 1 - QUITO
Arrive in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and transfer to the Hotel Hilton Colón Quito where you will overnight.
Day 2 - QUITOEnjoy a walking tour of historic downtown Quito, with the best-preserved Colonial historic center in Latin America. Drive up El Ventanal for a bird’s-eye-view of the city. You may purchase an optional excursion to Antisana, the 4th tallest volcano in Ecuador. Your welcome dinner is at the Theatrum Restaurant. Overnight at the Hotel Hilton. BD
Day 3 - BALTRA ISLAND & NORTH SEYMOUR ISLANDTransfer to the airport for your morning flight to Baltra Island and transfer to the dock to board the
Isabela II. Set sail as you hear a welcome introductory briefing, and enjoy lunch.
Dry land at North Seymour Island for a walk along the coast, observing bird colonies of blue-footed boobies frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. A shorter walk is also available. Back onboard, welcome cocktails are offered by the Captain. Your Naturalist’s briefing on the next day’s activities will precede dinner. BLD
Day 4 - ESPANOLA (HOOD) ISLANDWet land at a white coral beach where you can take a short walk and watch the sea lions, mockingbirds and finches or enjoy the beach. There is great snorkeling in this area (snorkeling equipment is available for guests at no extra cost), or ride the glass-bottom boat.
This afternoon, dry land at Punta Suarez for an exciting walk on lava terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the Waved Albatrosses and the famous blowhole. A shorter walk is also available. Your Naturalist’s briefing occurs before dinner. BLD
Day 5 - FLOREANA ISLANDWet land at Point Cormorant for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts and sandpipers. There is great snorkeling at this site or enjoy kayaking from the beach.
Wet land at the historical Post Office Bay to learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. Then, a panga ride will take you to nearby islets to observe sea lions, rays and sea turtles, boobies and possibly the Galapágos penguin. BLD
Day 6 - SANTA CRUZ ISLANDDry land to visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, a Scalesia forest and the twin pit craters Los Gemelos. Enjoy lunch at the Finch Bay Eco Hotel. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant prickly pear cactus forest and many land birds. Then take a stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora before embarking on the
Isabela II. BLD
Day 7 - GENOVESA (TOWER) ISLANDWet land for an easy stroll observing thousands of birds, mainly frigate birds, red footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds. If you wish, you can continue walking over sharp lava and uneven terrain, or just go back to the beach and enjoy swimming and snorkeling at this beautiful natural harbor.
Take a panga ride along the cliffs and then dry land on rocks for a steep climb (90 feet) and a leveled walk for about a mile to the other side of this small island observing large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and the short-eared owl. BLD
Day 8 - ISABELA ISLAND & FERNANDINA ISLANDEarly risers will enjoy cruising right in front of famous Ecuador Volcano, which rises off the water line with one of its halves completely collapsed, and now resting underwater, while crossing the Equator.
On the northwest of Isabela, secluded Tagus Cove was in past centuries a favorite anchor for pirates and whalers. Old graffiti is still found on its walls. The vegetation in the area includes the unusual palo santo trees that are leafless and look dead most of the year. An uphill hike through palo santo forest takes guests to the back of Darwin Crater, filled with salt water. The view at the end of the trail is worth the climb. Darwin is one of Isabela’s 6 volcanoes, a remarkable contrast to the lower islands to the east of the archipelago.
Dry land for a 1-mile walk on Fernandina Island. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness with lots of wildlife. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. BLD
Day 9 - SANTIAGO ISLAND & BARTOLOME ISLANDWet land at Puerto Egas for a mid-length walk. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and there is a colony of fur-sea lions. There are good snorkeling and swimming opportunities from the beach.
Dry land at Bartolomé Island for a hike to the summit. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase, and the view from the top is worth the effort. There will be time for a panga ride around Pinnacle Rock to observe penguins, to enjoy the beach, snorkeling and swimming, or a ride in the glass-bottom boat. Tonight enjoy farewell cocktails and the departure briefing. BLD
Day 10 - GUAYAQUIL/DEPARTAfter breakfast, fly to Guayaquil to catch your flight back home, or to continue on to your Machu Picchu post trip. B
Please note:
Due to the high level of activity, narrow pathways, uneven terrain and use of small motorized excursion craft on most of the stops on this tour, travelers should be in good physical condition, have confident balance and mobility to participate on this itinerary.
| Extend Your Trip to Machu Picchu! |
 | Machu Picchu
4 NIGHTS, ROUND TRIP FROM LIMA, PERU
Built at the end of the 14th century by the Incas, rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, the Machu Picchu Citadel is a mystical place of worship and amazing star-gazing opportunities. Recognized as one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu was built to be invisible from below and completely self-contained. Extend your South American stay with 6 days in this secret ceremonial city 2,000 feet above the Urubamba River. |
Day 10 – Guayaquil / Lima
Arrive in Lima, Peru, and check into the Costa del Sol Ramada Hotel, located at the airport. BD
Day 11 – Cusco
Fly from Lima to Cusco. Transfer to your hotel, and spend the morning at your leisure. Enjoy fine examples of Inca history on an archeological tour this afternoon, and experience a taste of Novo Andina cuisine. Overnight at the Hotel Libertador Palacio del Inka. BD
| Day 12 – Pisac / Machu Picchu
Visit the Pisac ruins in the Sacred Valley of the Incas before transferring to the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. Dinner and overnight at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel. BLD
Day 13 – Machu Picchu
Take a guided tour of the lost citadel. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure with dinner and overnight at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel. BLD | Day 14 – Cusco
Morning at leisure with the option of returning to Machu Picchu on your own before boarding the train to Ollantaytambo. Visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo. Depending on the weather, either enjoy a box lunch at nearby Huaypo Lagoon or a local restaurant. Continue to Moran and return to Cusco for your farewell dinner and overnight at Hotel Libertador. BL D
Day 15 – Lima / Home
Transfer to the Cusco airport for your flight to Lima. Dayrooms are available at the Costa del Sol Ramada Hotel in Lima until evening flights home. B |
| Your Exploration Leader, Stephen Weston |
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Stephen is a third generation Costa Rican of English and Italian descent. Licensed by the tourism board of Costa Rica as a naturalist guide since 1995, he has guided ecotourism tours throughout Central America for over 10 years. |
Stephen's focus is on marine biodiversity and the intricate interactions among marine organisms in countries such as Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama. As a guide, Stephen specializes in tropical ecology and natural history interpretation and is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of conserving our tropical ecosystems. He enjoys leading cruise and land tours and has a particular interest in bird watching, ethnobotany and seashell identification.
Over the years, Stephen has developed a profound passion for sharks, earning him the nickname Bolillo, or, “little shark” This fascination was sparked as a child around Coco's Island off the shore of Costa Rica, known as Costa Rica's Galapagos, where his father taught him to dive. Stephen went on to become a dive instructor and now boasts over 3,000 dives and operates his own marine research station, where he's pioneered the identification and documentation of individual sharks. You may already be familiar with Stephen's videos and photography, which have been featured on the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.
His experience as an Exploration Leader on our South Pacific and Central America cruises, knowledge of marine life, and passion for sharing his knowledge with others will prove to be of great value on our Galapagos cruise, which features several wonderful opportunities for snorkeling and swimming with all kinds of species, from tropical fish to penguins, sea lions and sea turtles. |
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