Galapagos Voyage

Join us once again for our voyage to the real Middle Earth as we experience Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. We’ll have a chance to explore the UNESCO world heritage site of colonial Quito, shop in the shadow of a volcano at the Otavalo Market, and stand on the equator before heading to the Galápagos Islands. Aboard the luxurious M/S Islander, we explore the islands synonymous with Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution while sea kayaking, Zodiac cruising, hiking and snorkelling. The islands promise an unforgettable experience where the water, land and air are alive with birds, plants and animals, many of which are found no place else on Earth.

Snorkel with sea lion pups, marine iguanas, penguins and sea turtles. Explore the volcanic islands alongside giant tortoise and the Flightless Cormorant. Our resource staff is second to none and will be veritable fountains of knowledge as they introduce us to the history, flora and fauna of these unique islands through guided walking tours, Zodiac tours and onboard lectures. Interacting with the Galápagos wildlife is a surreal experience. Whether it’s watching the mating dance of the Blue-footed Boobies from only steps away, feeling a seal pup brush by you in the water, or carefully winding your way through hundreds of sunning iguanas; the Galápagos Islands invite you to connect intimately with its ecosystem.

Highlights

• Experience the unique and very tame wildlife of the Galapagos on land and in the sea
• Travel onboard the luxurious M/S Islander
• Rich cultural excursions around Quito
• An experienced and engaging resource team onboard

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Quito
Arriving on our group flight from Miami, we’ll check into our Spanish villa style hotel in colonial Quito for our welcome reception.

Day 2: Old Town Quito and the Middle of the Earth
After breakfast, our local guides will take us on a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Old Town Quito. We’ll have a chance to visit the spectacular plazas, the centuries-old churches and the pre-columbia Gold Museum. After lunch, we’ll head just north of the city to the Mitad del Mundo (“Middle of the Earth”) where we’ll see equator coriolis-effect experiúments, shrunken heads and blowguns. After a visit to the Equatorial Monument, we head back to Quito for dinner.

Day 3: The Otavalo Market
Rising bright and early, we’ll venture to one of the most famous markets in South America, the Otavalo Market. We’ll wind up through the countryside, punctuated by volcanoes, mountain vistas and idyllic lakes. We’re greeted in Otavalo by a riot of brightly coloured handicrafts bursting from their stalls, jewellery sparkling in the sun, everywhere deals being made. This is the place in South America to find handmade weavings, garments, carvings and leather goods.

After a lunch at a nearby hacienda (colonial farm) we’ll visit a few of the surrounding villages that specialize in woodcarving and leatherwork. We will return to Quito in the evening for dinnner and a night of traditional Ecuadorian dancing.

Our itinerary in the Galapagos will focus on the areas with the greatest promise of wildlife. We will venture out from the Islander on inflatable Zodiacs to explore this wonderful world, landing on the islands to meet the creatures that call this region home. While exact itineraries are influenced by the National Park Service and weather, this is our intended itinerary.

Day 4: Quito to the Galapagos
We’ll be rising early and heading to the airport for our flight to Baltra Island, in the Galapagos, where the M/S Islander awaits. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) in search of the spectacular land iguanas that give this hill its name. These yellow and red giants, with their spiky spines, are endemic to the island and many have been repatriated here from the Charles Darwin Station’s breeding program. We’ll also spot blue-footed boobies, pelicans and maybe even some pink flamingos on this visit.

Day 5: Bartolomé Island
This island is one of the most picturesque and geologically interesting in the archiúpelago, renowned for its stark volcanic landscape and the famous Tuff Cone formation known as Pinnacle Rock. A double-sided, white sand beach becomes the perfect base from which to snorkel with the Galapagos Penguins that make the rocky shores of Bartolomé their home. An optional half-hour walk up the moon-like landscape of an extinct volcano, past spatter cones and lava tubes, rewards visitors with spectacular panoramic views. In the afternoon, we’ll head to Puerto Egas on the Island of Santiago. Santiago provides a chance to see the Galápagos Fur Seal, along with the opportunity to enjoy the best “tide pooling” in the archipelago.

Day 6: Puerto Ayora and North Seymour
This morning we’ll ascend into the highúlands in search of Giant Tortoise in the wild. Darwin’s ground finches will also be found here. Today we also have a chance to visit Puerto Ayora, the largest community in the Galapagos Islands, with almost 12,000 inhabitants and home to the Charles Darwin Foundation.

We continue on to North Seymour, a small, barren island, which is home to prickly pear cacti, great colonies of Blue-footed Boobies and Magnificent Frigate birds. Luckily, we’ll be there at the perúfect time to witness the Boobies’ mating dance and the Magnificent Frigates with their pouches fully inflated, trying to atútract a mate. On the sandy beach, Marine Iguanas and California Fur Seals spend the day sunning themselves.

Day 7: Punta Vicente Roca, Isla Isabela and Isla Fernandina
On the west coast of Isabela, we’ll take a morning Zodiac ride along the dramatic cliffs of Punta Vincente Roca where we’ll see Flightless Cormo- rants, masked and blue- footed boobies inhabiting the shoreline. We’ll fi nd the remnants of an ancient volcano that has formed a protected turquoise bay. An upwelling of coldwater currents attracts a particu- larly rich marine popula- tion here, making this a favourite snorkelling spot. In the afternoon we’ll make our way Fernandina, the youngest island in the Galápagos, a youthful 700,000 years old. Here, at Punta Espi- noza we’ll walk past the mangroves, over the “pahoehoe” and “aa” lava, being careful not to step on the marine igua- nas. We’ll watch as the male Flightless Cormorants bring gifts of nesting materials to their mates.

Day 8: Puerto Villamil, Isla Isabela
Villamil is often consid- ered the most beautiful site in the Galapagos with its palm-lined, white sand beaches. Behind Villamil are several brackish water lagoons, where Pink Flamingoes, Common Stilts, Whimbrels, White- Cheeked Pintails and Gallinules are usually seen. The beaches and lagoons near Villamil are home to the best migra- tory bird viewing in the Galapagos. Villamil is also home to the Darwin Station’s tortoise breeding centre on Isabela.

Day 9: Champion and Punta Cormorant (Floreana)
On our visit to Floreana we’ll learn it is best known for its colourful history of buccaneers, whalers, conúvicts, and coloúnists. Here, we’ll make our landúing on a unique green sand beach and follow a trail with good viewing opportuúnities for Large Billed Flycatchúers, Small and Medium Ground Finches and Cactus Finches. Flamingos sometimes feed in the island’s large lagoon. We’ll end at a beautiful white sand beach that’s as fine as flour. At Champion Islet, we’ll get into the water at one of the best snorkelling sites in the islands, with its playful colony of Sea Lions.

Day 10: Gardner Bay and Punta Suarez, Isla Espanola
Española Island is the oldest and most southernly island in the chain. Its remote location makes for some unique endemic inhabitants, including the only marine iguana to change colour during the mating season. We should also find some early Waved Albatross here, as Española is their only nesting place in the Galapagos, attracting 12,000 pairs each year. Mating for life, the males reacquaint themselves with their mates with a ritual dance that can take up to five days and includes a series of strutting, honking, and beak fencing

Day 11: Balútra to Quito
On Sunday we’ll arrive back at Baltra Island, where we’ll say goodbye to the M/S Islander and crew. Our flight will arrive back in Quito in the early afternoon. You’ll have the rest of the day to explore Quito’s “new” town and maybe finish your shopping at your leiúsure. In the evening join your new friends for a goodbye dinner.

Day 12: Depart Quito
This morning we bid farewell to our new friends and make our way home.

Featured Birds and Mammals:

• Galapagos Tortoise
• Galapagos Penguin
• Marine Iguana
• Swallow-tailed Gull
• Darwin's Finches
• Galapagos Mockingbird
• Blue-footed Booby
• Flightless Cormorant
• Galapagos Hawk
• Nazca Booby
• Green Turtle
• Sally Lightfoot Crab

Dates: April 4 - 14, 2013

Optional Pre-tour (Ecuador): March 28 – April 4, 2013

Vessel: M/S Islander

Tour Starts & Ends: Quito, Ecuador

*Can be combined with our Galapagos Pre-Tour March 28 - April 4, 2013

Price: TBA

Your Voyage Includes:

• 8-day/7-night voyage aboard the M/S Islander
• Four nights accommodation in Quito
• All meals
• Internal flights
•Team of resource specialists and onboard program
• Local guides
• Pre-departure materials
• Zodiac excursions, guided hikes and snorkelling
• Transfers between piers and applicable airports for those on group flights
• Service charges, embarkation taxes and port fees

Your Voyage Does Not Include:

• International flights and airport fees
• Mandatory medical/evacuation insurance
• Personal expenses (laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls)
• Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
• Discretionary gratuities to ship’s crew (approximately $10 - 14 USD per passenger per day)
• Visas, or inoculations if required
• Physician's fees confirming you are fit to travel
• Possible fuel surcharges
• Scuba fees

What to Expect

• Includes 4 nights in Quito and 7 nights aboard expedition ship
• All meals included
• Internal flights are included
• Includes zodiac excursions, guided hikes, and snorkeling
 

Previous checklists from our Galapagos Voyage:

2009 Galapagos Voyage species list (pdf)

Vessel

Capacity: 48 guests in 24 outside cabins.

Registry: Ecuador

Overall length: 164 feet

Public Areas: Ship is fully air-conditioned, lounge with bar and facilities for films, slide shows and lectures, library, covered deck with chairs and tables, outside deck, gift shop, doctor’s office.

Meals: Served in one seating, the menu is international with an Ecuadorian flair.

Cabins: All cabins have a window with outside view. Each has private facilities and climate controls.

Special Features: Ship is equipped with Zodiac landing craft, snorkelling gear, wetsuits, spa, guest e-mail station, video microscope, hydrophone and Splash-Cam. A ship’s doctor and an undersea specialist will be on board.