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Ship Name: Cachalote 1 -
Sailing vessel - 16 passengers
Activities: Family Vacations, Sailing, Snorkelling, Wildlife
Viewing
Package - Starts Mondays (11 days)
Cruise Only - Starts Wednesdays (8 days) starts on Day 3 and ends
Day 10
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Double
Cabin
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2009 Low Season Cruise Only |
$2,438 |
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2009 High Season Cruise Only |
$2,709 |
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2009 Low Season Package |
$2,888 |
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2009 High Season Package |
$3,159 |
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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.
2009 Low Season Dates: May 1 - Jun 15, Sep 1 - Oct 31, Dec
1-7
2009 High Season Dates: Dec 8 - Apr 30, Jun 16 - Aug 31,
Nov 1-30
2009 Charter: Low Season: $39,012; High Season: $43,344
(charter rates are cruise only and are not applicable to diving
cruises or special itineraries) |
Introduction
 Your
journey onboard the Sea Cloud in the Galapagos Islands will be no less exciting
than Charles Darwin's expedition hundred of years ago. Much of the same
flora and fauna still thrive on the islands today: the marine and land iguanas,
the giant tortoises and sea lion colonies, the famous Darwin Finch, the
boobies, the flightless cormorant, pink flamingos, the only equatorial penguin,
and magnificent frigate birds, to name but a few.
Itinerary - Tentative,
subject to change
Day 1: Arrive Quito
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 / South Plaza Island - Cruise
Only Starts
The US army occupied Baltra Island during World War II and built the first
landing strip for jets, which is presently used for daily flights to and
from the islands. The main plants on this barren island are cacti, Palo
Santo trees, and grasses. South Plaza was formed by uplifted lava and is
covered by Opuntia cacti growing over patches of Sesusvium. Here, land iguanas,
sea lions, Swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, Audubon’s shearwaters
and more can be seen.
Day 4: Santa Cruz Island
The Charles Darwin Research Station and headquarters of the Galapagos National
Park may be visited at Puerto Ayora, the Islands’ most populated human settlement.
The highlands offer the lush humid zone with its vegetation of Miconia bushes,
Scalesia and inactive volcanic cones. Santa Cruz has more endemic plants
than any other island in the Galapagos. You can see the Galapagos tortoises
in their natural habitat here.
Day 5: Espanola Island
Gardner Bay (Off of Espanola Island) is a spectacular beach where you can
swim with sea lions and is a great opportunity for snorkelling off the islets
in the bay. Punta Suarez offers you quite a display of wildlife: marine
iguanas with copper red patches, Swallow-tailed gulls, the endemic long-billed
mocking bird, finches, masked and blue-footed boobies, oystercatchers, sea
lions and lava lizards. This is the only island where the waved albatross
is to be seen during the breeding season, April to December.
Day 6: Floreana Island
At Post Office Bay, one may leave letters like whalers did in the 18th century,
in a wooden barrel mailbox. At Point Cormorant, you visit a flamingo lagoon
where other species of shore birds may also be seen, and you snorkel at
the Devil’s Crown, a submerged volcanic cone.
Day 7: Isabela Island
Punta Moreno (Western Isabela Island) is another sight of interest with
lava fields and pioneer plants. Occasionally, you will find flamingos in
oasis-like green lagoons as well as flightless cormorant and marine iguana.
At Urbina Bay, observe Flightless Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, large marine
iguanas, rays, marine turtles and remains of a coral reef.
Day 8: Fernandina Island / Isabela Island
At Punta Espinoza, flightless cormorants, pelicans, sea lions, Sally-light
foot crabs and an abundance of marine iguanas can be seen along the shores
of one of world’s most active volcanoes. This afternoon, visit Tagus Cove,
a beautiful protected cove sheltered by the shoulders of two volcanic craters,
which has served as an anchorage for centuries. Keep an eye out for flightless
cormorants, hawks, blue-footed boobies, whales, dolphins, and penguins.
Day 9: Santiago Island / Bartolome Island
Nowhere else is the geological history of the archipelago better portrayed
than here. The most impressive volcanic scenery may be viewed from the top
of Bartolome: varied lava formations, volcanic peaks and the moon-like landscape.
The Galapagos penguin can be seen here.
Day 10: Santa Cruz / Baltra Island / Disembark / Quito -
Cruise Only Ends
Today, you visit Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz. Enjoy a Panga ride in the mangrove
lagoon and see stingrays, sharks, the night heron, several species of Darwin’s
finches, and possibly marine turtles. Then, return to Baltra Island for
your flight back to the mainland. This afternoon is at your leisure. Overnight
at the Hotel Patio Andaluz, or similar hotel.
Day 11: Quito / Home
This morning, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Notes:
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; use of sea kayaks.
Not Included (Cruise Only):
Hotel nights before/after cruise; transfers in Quito or Guayaquil; Galapagos
National Park entrance fee, USD$100 (children under 12 subtract $50), subject
to change without notice*; international airfare; airfare to/from Galapagos
Islands; Galapagos Transit Card ($10 per person), paid in cash upon arrival
to airport; drinks aboard ship; gratuities are left to the discretion of
the passenger; traveler’s insurance; wetsuits ($30 per person / week (for
snorkelling use only); snorkelling gear ($15 per person / week (must be
paid directly on board and in cash only); international departure airport
tax, must be paid in cash; fuel surcharge may apply.
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 entrance fee, USD$100
(Children under 12 subtract $50), subject to change without notice*; cabin
accommodations aboard ship; all meals on board; all shore activities and
excursions; guide and lecture services; transfers and baggage handling between
island airport and ship; use of sea kayaks; Galapagos Transit Card.
Not Included (Package):
International airfare; airfare between Quito/Guayaquil and Galapagos; drinks
aboard ship; gratuities are left to the discretion of the passenger; traveler’s
insurance; wetsuits ($30 per person / week (for snorkelling use only); snorkelling
gear ($15 per person / week (must be paid directly on board and in cash
only); international departure airport tax, must be paid in cash; fuel surcharge
may apply.
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 requested, and you will be quoted for services.
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).
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Tell me more
about a trip to the Galapagos!
|
Galapagos
Cruises
Trips leave year
round |
Santa Cruz
Expedition ship -
families
90 passengers
4/7 days from $1500 |
Santa Cruz
Expedition ship -
families
90 passengers
5/8 days from $2000 |
Explorer II
family vacations, snorkelling,
Natural history "lite"
100 passengers
5/8 days from $1925 |
Cachalote 1
small sailboat, ideal for charter
16 passengers
8/11 days from $2438 |
Sagitta
Classic sailing vessel
16 passengers
8/11 days from $3470 |
Santa Cruz
Expedition ship -
families
90 passengers
8/11 days from $3051 |
Celebrity
Xpeditions
5 star vessel, natural
history "lite"
92 passengers
11 days from $3499 |
Samba
 small motor yacht, snorkelling, diving
options
14 passengers
8/11 days from $2200 |
Eric
small ship vessel, good
guides, diving, kayaking options
20 passengers
8/11
days from $2925 |
Sky Dancer
Dive boat
16 passengers
8/11 days from $3795 |
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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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