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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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2009 Cruise Only |
$2,200 |
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2009 Package |
$2,550 |
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Above rates are
per person.
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).
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 programs.
2009 Single Rates: Cruise Only: $3,100; Package: $3,800;
Cabin 7 Cruise Only: $3,400; Cabin 7 Package: $4,100
2009 Charter Rates: $30,800 (14 passengers, cruise only);
$30,000 (13 passengers, cruise only)
2009 Holiday Surcharge: Christmas and New Years
departures will have a 10% surcharge |
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 (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; Galapagos Transit Card
($10 per person), paid in cash upon arrival to airport; international
airport departure tax, must be paid in cash; meals and drinks in Quito;
beverages on board; gratuities to ship crew and naturalists are left to
the discretion of the passenger; travel insurance; passport expenses;
snorkelling gear (fins, mask, snorkel), $15 per person / trip; wetsuit
rental, $30 per person / week; Galapagos National Park tax (adult:
USD$100, children under 12 yrs: $50), must be paid upon arrival to the
Galapagos.*
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; 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; international airport
departure tax, paid in cash; meals and drinks in Quito; beverages on
board; gratuities to ship crew and naturalists are left to the
discretion of the passenger; travel insurance; passport expenses;
snorkeling gear (fins, mask, snorkel), $15 per person / trip; wetsuit
rental, $30 per person / week; Galapagos National Park tax (adult:
USD$100, children under 12 yrs: $50), must be paid upon arrival to the
Galapagos.*
* 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.
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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