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Ship Name: M/Y Samba -
Motor Yacht - 14 passengers
Activities: Family Vacations, Snorkelling, Wildlife Viewing
Package - Starts Sundays (11 days)
Cruise Only - Starts Tuesdays (8 days) starts on Day 3 and ends Day
10
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Double Cabin |
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2007 Cruise Only |
$1,754 |
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2007 Package |
$1,979 |
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Above rate
is per person, double occupancy.
2007 Child Rate: $877
2007 Charter Rate: $22,800 (Child rate only for children
under 12 years.)
Galapagos National Park tax is not included in the package rate
and must be paid upon arrival to the Galapagos (adult: USD$100,
children under 12 yrs: USD$50) |
Introduction
 Your
journey onboard the Samba 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 the magnificent frigate bird, to name but a few.
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 / Embark / Plazas Island - Cruise Only Starts
Depart Quito this morning for your flight to Baltra. Upon arrival, you are
transferred to the Samba. Your first outing is on Plazas Island. You spend
the next few hours ashore viewing sea lion colonies, land iguanas, swallow-tailed
gulls, and red-billed tropicbirds.
Day 4: Santa Cruz Island
This morning, you stop in Puerto Ayora to visit the Charles Darwin Research
Center. You may also take some time to walk through town for some souvenir
shopping. This afternoon, you explore the Puerto Ayora Highlands. Watch
the scenery change as you wind your way through all seven vegetation zones
found in Galapagos. From June to January you can find giant tortoises on
a private farm in the highlands. You may visit Los Gemelos “The Twins”,
a pair of large pit craters where you find the bright red male vermilion
flycatcher. Or, you may also visit "the tunnels", the largest lava tubes
found in Galapagos.
Day 5: Española Island
This morning at Garder Bay on Hood Island you snorkel and take a panga ride.
Later today at Punta Suarez look for large colonies of blue-footed boobies,
masked boobies, marine iguanas, albatrosses, and swallow-tailed gulls.
Day 6: Floreana Island
This morning at Punta Cormorant on Floreana you visit a lagoon home to pink
flamingos. Later relax on a beautiful white-sand beach where sea turtles
nest. You then snorkel at Devil's Crown. Later, you visit the famous historic
post office in Post Office Bay. Depart for Isabela Island looking for whales
and dolphins on the way.
Day 7: Isabela Island
This morning at Punta Moreno on Isabela, take a hike through lava fields.
See cormorants and penguins along the way. This afternoon, explore Bahia
Elizabeth in the panga.
Day 8: Isabela Island / Fernandina Island
Take a long walk along Urvina Bay and see land iguanas and marine iguanas,
native and endemic plants and the remains of raised seabed exposing corral
heads and other marine fossils. This afternoon, visit Punta Espinoza on
Fernandina Island. Expect to see large colonies of marine iguanas, flightless
cormorants nesting, penguins, and baby sea lions.
Day 9: Santiago Island / Bartolomé Island
Visit Puerto Egas on Santiago Island and enjoy a coastal walk exploring
the variety of marine tidal life and Galapagos fur seals. Later, swim and
snorkel. This afternoon, visit Bartholomew and hike to get a panoramic view
of Pinnacle Rock. Swim and snorkel in the afternoon.
Day 10: Santa Cruz / Baltra / Disembark / Quito - Cruise Only Ends
Located on the north shore of Santa Cruz, Black Turtle Cove is a mangrove
swamp. This is a great place to see large schools of Golden Rays, Green
Sea Turtles, White-tipped Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Lava Herons, Yellow
Warblers and a variety of other bird species. This afternoon, return to
Baltra for your flight back to mainland Ecuador. The rest of the day 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:
Diving is available on some trips. Check with ExpeditionTrips.com for details.
Advanced divers only.
This itinerary is subject to change. ExpeditionTrips.com is not responsible
for itinerary changes.
Included (Package):
3 hotel nights in Quito at the Patio Andaluz, or similar (hotel based on
availability; hotel upgrades available at additional cost); 4 transfers;
Cabin accommodations; all meals aboard vessel; excursions and activities;
port fees.
Not Included (Package):
International airfare; airfare to/from Galapagos; International Airport
departure tax, to be paid in cash; meals and drinks in Quito; gratuities
to ship crew and naturalists are left to the discretion of the passenger;
travel insurance; passport expenses; snorkeling equipment ($15 per person
per week); Galapagos National Park tax (adult: USD$100, children under 12
yrs: USD$50), must be paid upon arrival to the Galapagos.
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:
Approximate cost: $300-$450 per adult; $200-$275 per child under 12 (copy
of passport required). Prices vary based on shipping company and departure
dates. Please note, ExpeditionTrips.com charges a $25 per person service
charge to issue these air tickets.
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Tell me more
about a trip to the Galapagos!
|
Galapagos
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Trips leave year
round |
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families
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Celebrity
Xpeditions
5 star vessel, natural
history "lite"
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Samba
 small motor yacht, snorkelling, diving
options
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8/11 days from $1754 |
Eric
small ship vessel, good
guides, diving, kayaking options
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8/11
days from $2450 |
Sky Dancer
Dive boat
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8/11 days from $3195 |
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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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