Darwin's
 Galapagos

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Trip Details

Galapagos Motor Yacht Cruise - Samba
Snorkelling with Sea Lions, Rare and Interesting Wildlife, Smaller Group
8 / 11
Days   |   Departures:
Sundays / Tuesdays year round    |   From $1,754
This motor yacht offers a quality program with simple accommodation at good value. One of the most experienced operations in the Galapagos

Testimonials
  Ship types

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

Double Cabin
2007 Cruise Only $1,754
2007 Package $1,979
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

M/Y SambaYour 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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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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