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Ship Name: M/V Galapagos Explorer II
- small ship - 100 passengers
Activities: Family Vacations, Snorkelling,
Wildlife Viewing, Zodiac Tours
Package - Starts Thursdays (8 days)
Cruise Only - Starts Saturdays (5 days) starts on Day 3 and ends
Day 7
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Classic Suite |
Premium Suite |
Deluxe Suite |
Renaissance
Panoramic Suite |
Renaissance Balcony Suite |
|
2009 Low Season Cruise Only |
$1,925 |
$2,125 |
$2,445 |
$2,615 |
$2,615 |
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2009 High Season Cruise Only |
$2,060 |
$2,270 |
$2,615 |
$2,795 |
$2,795 |
|
2009 Low Season Package |
$2,375 |
$2,575 |
$2,895 |
$3,065 |
$3,065 |
|
2009 High Season Package |
$2,510 |
$2,720 |
$3,065 |
$3,245 |
$3,245 |
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Above rates are
per person, double occupancy.
The Park tax may double in the near future
(pending government approval), thereby resulting in an additional
$100 charge per adult and $50 per child under 12 years for both
package and cruise only passengers.
Low Season Dates: Jan 8-14, May 1-Jun 15, Nov 24-Dec 15
High Season Dates: Jan 15-Apr 30, Jun 16-Nov 23, Dec 16-Jan
7
Fuel Surcharge: $26 per person per night, applies to cruises
departing 5/31/2008 through 12/31/2009
Single Rate: Available upon request.
Child Rate: 50% of the rate accompanied by an adult (under
12 yrs), except on holiday cruises, children are 75% of the rate.
One discount per cabin. Children under 7 years are not permitted
on board. |
Introduction
 Located
in the Pacific Ocean, 600 miles off the west coast of South America, the
Galapagos Islands is a cluster of over sixty islands and islets. Galapagos
has fascinated explorers and scientists throughout time. Charles Darwin
was astonished by the number of unique species and the differences between
plant and animal populations from island to island. Today, Galapagos is
considered as one of the most spectacular and pristine National Parks in
the world. In 1934, the government of Ecuador set aside most of the islands
as a wildlife sanctuary, providing a safe haven for the animals. One of
the most remarkable aspects about Galapagos is the abundant and surprisingly
approachable wildlife. Travellers enjoy extraordinarily close encounters
with sea lions, penguins, tortoises, fur seals and many kinds of seabirds.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Quito
Hotel Patio Andaluz Arrive in Quito, Ecuador and transfer to your hotel.
The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Quito at the Hotel
Patio Andaluz, or similar hotel.
Day 2: Quito
Today is at your leisure. A variety of day tours are available for purchase.
Overnight at the Hotel Patio Andaluz, or similar hotel.
Day 3: Baltra Island / Santa Cruz Island / Embark -
Cruise Only Starts
Arrive at the Balta airport this morning. Transfer to your ship for embarkation
and settle in to your cabin. This afternoon, visit Cerro Dragon, where two
lagoons are home to flamingos, and a path takes you through cacti and palo
santo trees, leading to a great view.
Day 4: Bartholomew Island / Santiago Island
Bartholomew is a tiny island providing spectacular views of the Archipelago.
This islands is a also a must for the visitor interested in geology. The
endemic Galapagos penguin is common in the bay area. Activities here include
snorkelling, swimming and relaxing. Santiago Island is currently uninhabited.
There are several species of land birds here, including 10 species of the
Darwin Finches as well as the Galapagos Hawk. This is the best site in the
Archipelago to observe the Galapagos Fur Seal. Snorkelling and swimming
available.
Day 5: Fernandina Island / Isabela Island
Fernandina is the westernmost island of the Archipelago. The colossal shield
of the still active volcano Fernandina reaches 1,494 m. The island has a
nice variety of wildlife, including one of the largest communities of Marine
Iguanas, as well as Californian Sea Lions and Galapagos Flightless Cormorants.
On Isabela Island, visit Punta Vicente Roca by Zodiac. Reaching a rocky
pile of large basalt, you will find colonies of fur seals, sea lions, and
marine iguanas basking in the sun. You may also see Galapagos penguins,
swallow-tailed gulls, masked boobies, and blue-footed boobies. If you choose
to snorkel, keep your eyes peeled for Manta rays, sea turtles, sea lions,
stingrays, and perhaps even dolphins and sunfish.
Day 6: North Seymour Island / Santa Cruz Island
At Seymor Norte, an uplifted island, you have a dry landing. You may walk
the loop trail and keep an eye out for frigate birds, blue-footed boobies,
sea lions, marine iguanas swallow-tailed gulls, snakes, endemic Palo Santo,
and the low shrubby-type Opuntia. In the afternoon, board a bus for a 45-minute
ride through changing vegetation zones to the Santa Cruz Highlands. Here,
about 40 giant tortoises live in the wild. By approaching quietly, you can
find and observe a turtle on your own. You also hike to tunnels made by
cooling lava.
Day 7: San Cristobal Island / Disembark / Quito -
Cruise Only Ends
This morning, visit Loberia or Isla Lobos or Tijeretas or El Junco, followed
by a visit to the Interpretation Center on San Cristobal Island. Inaugurated
in 1998, the Center is a state-of-the-art facility that offers complete
education on both the islands and its human population. Later, transfer
to the airport for your return flight to the mainland. This afternoon is
at your leisure. Overnight at the Hotel Patio Andaluz, or similar hotel.
Day 8: Quito / Home
This morning, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Notes:
Holiday Cruises:
To confirm a Christmas or New Years cruise, the following amounts must
be deposited:
- 30% of cruise rate when reserving 240 days prior to departure
- 50% of cruise rate when reserving 180 days prior to departure
This itinerary is subject to change. ExpeditionTrips.com is not responsible
for itinerary changes.
Included (Cruise Only):
Cabin accommodations aboard ship; all meals aboard ship; all shore activities
and excursions; guide and lecture services; transfers and baggage handling
between island airport and ship.
Not Included (Cruise Only):
Hotel nights before/after cruise; transfers in Quito or Guayaquil; international
airfare; airfare to/from Galapagos Islands; Galapagos National Park entrance
fee, USD$100 (children under 12 subtract $50), subject to change without
notice*; alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; Galapagos Transit Card ($10
per person), paid in cash upon arrival to airport; international airport
departure tax, must be paid in cash; government taxes; charges and all items
of a personal nature such laundry, consumption from the mini-bar located
in suites; gratuities to ship staff is left to the discretion of the passenger;
traveler’s insurance; wetsuit shorty ($20 per person / 5 days, advanced
reservation required); snorkelling gear ($15 / 5 days); tour guide hearing
system (optional, $20 / trip); Wireless Internet card ($15 / 1 hour, $25
/ 2 hours); fuel surcharge ($26 per person per night, applies to cruises
departing 5/31/2008 through 12/31/2009).
Included (Package):
Three hotel nights in Quito in either a Deluxe Hotel, or Premium Upgrade
hotel for an additional $150 per person (hotel based on availability); four
transfers in Quito; adult Galapagos National Park tax, USD$100 (Children
under 12 subtract $50), subject to change without notice*; cabin accommodations
aboard ship; all meals aboard ship; all shore activities and excursions;
guide and lecture services; transfers and baggage handling between island
airport and ship; Galapagos Transit Card.
Not Included (Package):
International airfare; airfare to/from Galapagos; alcoholic and non-alcoholic
beverages; international airport departure tax, must be paid in cash; government
taxes; charges and all items of a personal nature such laundry, consumption
from the mini-bar located in suites; gratuities to ship staff is left to
the discretion of the passenger; traveler’s insurance; wetsuit shorty ($20
per person / 5 days, advanced reservation required); snorkeling gear ($15
/ 5 days); tour guide hearing system (optional, $20 / trip); Wireless Internet
card ($15 / 1 hour, $25 / 2 hours); fuel surcharge ($26 per person per night,
applies to cruises departing 5/31/2008 through 12/31/2009).
The Park tax may double in the near future (pending government approval),
thereby resulting in an additional $100 charge per adult and $50 per child
under 12 years for both package and cruise only passengers.
If you are booking a cruise only program, we are happy to add hotels, air
and land arrangements as required. You will be quoted for services requested.
Airfare between Quito/Guayaquil and the Galapagos Islands:
The flights between mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) and the Galapagos
Islands are an additional cost. For your cruise security, ExpeditionTrips
must reserve these flights for you at the time of cruise booking. Approximate
cost (including service fee): $400 – $450 per adult; $225-$275 per child
under 12 (copy of passport required).
Request details
for your own cruise to the Galapagos
| Galapagos basics
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Tell me more
about a trip to the Galapagos!
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Galapagos
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round |
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options
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small ship vessel, good
guides, diving, kayaking options
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Sky Dancer
Dive boat
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Recommended reading |
Galápagos: A Natural History Guide, Michael Jackson.
Galápagos Wildlife: A Visitor’s Guide, David Horwell, Pete
Oxford.
The Beak of the Finch: A story of Evolution in Our Time, Jonathan
Weiner.
Voyage of the Beagle, Charles Darwin.
A Guide to the Birds of the Galápagos Islands, Isabel Castro and
Antonia Phillips |
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