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Ship Name: M/Y Eric or identical sister
ships, Flamingo and Letty - Small Ship
- 20 passengers
Activities: Kayaking, Scuba Diving, Snorkelling, Wildlife Viewing
Package - Starts Fridays (11 days)
Cruise Only - Starts Sundays (8 days) starts on Day 3 and ends Day
10
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Iguana Deck |
Booby Deck |
Dolphin Deck |
| 2007 Cruise Only |
$2,450 |
$2,775 |
$2,995 |
| 2007 Package |
$2,775 |
$3,100 |
$3,320 |
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Above rates are per person,
double occupancy.
2007 Single (package): $4,305 (Iguana Deck)
2007 Single Rate (cruise only): $3,775 (Iguana Deck)
2007 Triple Rate (cruise only): $2,300 (Iguana Deck)
2007 Charter Rates (cruise only): High Season: $52,210; Low
Season: $49,760; Holiday Season: $54,660 [4/1/2007, 4/8/2007, 12/23/2007,
12/30/2007] (20 passengers)
Note: Please contact us for Charter season dates.
DRY DOCK DATES for 2007/2008:
Eric: Nov 2-7, 2008
Flamingo: Aug 26 - Sep 30, 2007
Letty: Aug 31 - Oct 5, 2008 |
Introduction
 A visit to the Galapagos lslands is an amazing
natural history experience and an adventure of a lifetime. You will delight
in the opportunity to be nose-to-nose with nature, from prehistoric reptiles
to silly seabirds; endemic plants and cactus trees to red and green sand
beaches; volcanic lava formations and craters to clear skies full of stars.
Itinerary
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: San Cristobal Island / Embark - Cruise
Only Starts
Arrive at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island, where your crew
meets you at the airport and escorts you to your anchored yacht. This
afternoon, visit Playa Ochoa, where you enjoy a subtle introduction to
the Galapagos with a beautiful, white, powder-sand beach. As the sun
sets, you cruise around Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido), a vertical tuff cone
formation that abruptly juts up almost 500 feet out of the ocean. Watch
sea lions, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and magnificent frigate
birds on the cliffs.
Day 4: Genovesa Island
You spend the entire day on Genovesa Island, one of the most spectacular
Islands in Galapagos. After a wet landing on Darwin Bay’s coral beach,
wind your way past tide pools where swallow-tailed and lava gulls
gather. Enter a forest of mangroves where colonies of great frigate
birds nest. The males inflate their red-throated pouches to attract
females that fly overhead. After swimming or sea kayaking, take a panga
ride along the jagged shoreline. See the beautiful red-billed tropic
bird. At Prince Philip’s Steps, find storm petrels and the elusive
short-eared owl, and watch the famous red-footed boobies nesting in Palo
Santo trees.
Day 5: Santa Cruz Isalnd / North Seymour Island
This morning, explore Bachas Beach, a white sand beach where sea turtles
often lay their eggs. The sheltered cove is a perfect spot for
snorkelling and swimming, and flamingos and marine iguanas are typically
found on the shores.
This afternoon, you disembark on North Seymour, also a small geological
uplift. After a dry landing, you follow a trail that leads us to sea
lions, swallow-tailed gulls and blue-footed boobies. Visit the largest
colony of magnificent frigatebirds found in Galapagos. As you stroll
along the beach, watch for sea lions body surfing the northern swells.
Day 6: Isabela Island / Fernandina Island
This morning, you visit Tagus Cove, Isabela. Six volcanoes flowed
together and formed Isabela, the largest Island in Galapagos. On a
nature walk, discover a salt-water lagoon, a scenic overlook, and a
spectacular view of lava fields, volcanic formations and the ocean. Note
graffiti dating back to the 1800's is written on the rocky cliffs.
Explore Tagus Cove in pangas or sea kayaks and find Galapagos penguins
and other seabirds.
After lunch, disembark at Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island, the
youngest and most pristine island found in Galapagos. Hundreds of marine
iguanas, the largest colony in Galapagos, bask in the sun along the
shoreline. Observe sea lion harems with resident bulls carefully
guarding their territory, as well as Flightless Cormorants and Galapagos
Hawks.
Day 7: Santiago Island / Bartolome Island
This morning, stroll along the shore at Puerto Egas looking for octopus,
starfish and other sea life caught in the tide pools. Catch a glimpse of
marine iguanas as they feed on exposed green algae. Watch for great blue
herons, lava herons, oystercatchers and yellow-crowned night herons.
Your walk ends at the grottos, deep pools of clear water where you
encounter fur sea lions once on the verge of extinction.
On Bartolome, which seems like the moon, is inhospitable to most plants
and animals. After a dry landing, climb 30 minutes up a steep slope to
the summit of a once active volcano. Pause along the way to marvel at
lava bombs, spatter cones and cinder cones. From the top, gaze out
across a panoramic view which includes the famous "Pinnacle Rock," an
eroded tuff cone.
Day 8: Santa Cruz Island
This morning, you visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Scientists
from all over the globe work at the station and conduct biological
research from anatomy to zoology. Observe year-old tortoises and learn
about the captive-breeding program. Next, stroll through the town of
Puerto Ayora (population: 10,000) -– the largest town in the Galapagos.
After lunch on board, aboard a bus and take an excursion to the
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. The rest of the
year, travellers visit Los Gemelos “The Twins”, a pair of large pit
craters where you find the bright red male vermilion flycatcher.
Afterwards, you head to "the tunnels," the largest lava tubes found in
Galapagos.
Day 9: Espanola Island
This morning, step onto Gardner Bay. Walk along seemingly endless
stretches of sandy beach where you’ll find colonies of sea lions. Swim
and snorkel with the sea lions and enjoy the colorful diversity of sea
life near Gardner Islet.
This afternoon, disembark at Punta Suarez to witness the highest rate of
“endemicism” in the Galapagos. Sea lions noisily greet you as you land
on their beach. From April to November waved albatross perform their
wild mating rituals only on Espanola. You will also likely find colonies
of Blue-footed Boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls and Red-billed Tropicbirds.
Observe a unique species of marine iguana identified with traces of red
and green colorings. Colorful Sally Light-foot crabs crawl along the
shoreline near the famous "blow hole."
Day 10: San Cristobal / Disembark / Quito -
Cruise Only Ends
If time permits, you visit the Interpretation Center which opened in
1999. Here, you gain a more complete understanding of the natural and
human history of the Islands. After your visit, transfer to the airport
for your return flight to Quito. 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.
DRY DOCK DATES for 2007/2008:
Eric: Nov 2-7, 2008
Flamingo: Aug 26 - Sep 30, 2007
Letty: Aug 31 - Oct 5, 2008
SCUBA DIVING PACKAGE:
Passengers who are certified, experienced divers can choose to purchase
a scuba package for $500 per person. The package includes two days of
diving (on Tuesday and Friday) with four dives/tanks total provided by a
local dive shop. The dive fee includes tanks, weight belt, weights, BCD,
regulator, wet suit, boots and hood. Divers must have experience with at
least 20 logged dives or advanced dive certification due to strong
currents, cold water, thermo-clines and large marine life. Please
inquire for full details (minimum 2 divers).
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;
adult Galapagos National Park tax, USD$100 (Children under 12 subtract
$50); all meals; all non-alcoholic beverages; accommodation on board
vessel; all excursions in the islands; snorkel gear; beach towels; hair
dryers; wet suit (but no guarantee there will be one available in your
size unless you reserve); kayaks, first come first serve basis (one
double, one single).
Not Included (Package):
International airfare; airfare to/from Galapagos Islands; traveler’s
insurance; gratuities to ship crew is left to the discretion of the
passenger; wet suit reservation for snorkelling ($25 for 7 nights; $20
for 4 or 5 nights; $15 for 3 nights per wet suit); International airport
departure tax, to be paid in cash.
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.
Request details for
your own cruise to the Galapagos |
Galapagos basics
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Tell me more
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Galapagos
Cruises
Trips leave year
round |
Santa Cruz
Expedition ship -
families
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families
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families
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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
20 passengers
8/11
days from $2450 |
Sky Dancer
Dive boat
16 passengers
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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