Cloud Forest - Andes - Galapagos 2010
January 6th - January 24th 2010
Land Cost £2,850
(plus international flight approx £700 - max. 15 passengers)
A 19-day journey that takes us away from the chilly British winter to tropical cloud forests literally buzzing with humming birds, to the high Andes of Ecuador and the Hacienda Zuleta one of the few places in the world where you are virtually guaranteed to see wild Andean Condors and then onto Galapagos for an eight day cruise on a beautiful motor yacht visiting some of the most spectacular islands in this remarkable archipelago. The trip will be fully escorted from the UK by Santiago Bejarano, one of the leading naturalists in the Galapagos. Our own private yacht – TIP TOP III
06 Jan - Set off from the UK to Quito via Amsterdam.
07 Jan - Arrive in Guayaquil, a steamy tropical city on the Pacific Coast of Ecuador. Check into our hotel and morning free to relax before a light lunch. During the afternoon we will explore the city before our welcome dinner and pre-Galapagos briefing at the Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
8-15 Jan - The Galapagos Islands - Flight to Galapagos Islands in the morning. Arrive in the islands around noon. The next eight glorious days will be spent cruising between the islands of the Galapagos Archipelago:
The yacht we will use is a spacious and comfortable motor yacht called Tip Top III which has great service and a very friendly crew. It accommodates 16 passengers in 10 double cabins each with private shower and toilet. There is a bar, dining room, library, sundeck and diving platform. All cabins and public areas are fully carpeted and air conditioned.
Just some of the luxuries you'll enjoy on the yacht's three decks are wall-to-wall carpeting, air conditioning, a TV, a VCR, a full sound system, an inviting dining room, a fully equipped bar, a library filled with a variety of reading materials, a spacious sundeck, and snorkelling equipment. Moreover, each of the craft's homey cabins is outfitted with a private bathroom with both hot and cold water, a personal safe, and a wardrobe.
We will be visiting the following islands:
Baltra and Bachas Beach : On our first day we fly out from Guayaquil, arriving to Baltra Island. From here we will be transferred to our private yacht, Tip Top III. In the afternoon we will visit the beautiful beach of Bachas on the northern coast of Santa Cruz, giving us the opportunity to see our first Greater Flamingos, Black-necked Stilts and Pin-tail Ducks. It also gives us the chance to practice snorkeling from the beach.
Espanola: Santiago’s and many other visitors favourite island with wonderful seascapes and the chance to see the beautiful Waved Albatross along with Blue Footed Boobies, Galapagos Hawk, Masked Boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Lava Lizards, Marine Iguanas and sea lions . Gardener Bay on the island is one of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago, with sea lions and its own Espanola Mockingbird. This island becomes more active as the afternoon goes on so we extend our stay here as long as possible.
Genovesa: A beautiful island, with the spectacular Darwin Bay, a huge flooded volcanic caldera, hope to Galapagos Fur Seas and tropicbirds. One of the best opportunities to see Red-footed and Masked Booby colonies and a large storm-petrel breeding colony. Here also the resplendent frigate birds nest here with more intensity than any other site we will visit.
Bartolomé: The home of a class Galapagos view of pinnacle rock and a population of Galapagos Penguins, which we get the chance to see above the water, and below for those who enjoy snorkelling.
Floreana: A stunning volcanic landscape, with lagoons that are home to flamingos, waders and a host of shore birds. Also home to the famous ‘post office bay’.
North Seymour Island: Here we will visit a large Magnificent Frigate bird colony and the Blue-footed Booby colony, alongside California Sea Lions, Marine Iguanas, Lava Herons, Lava Gulls, Brown Noddies and Swallow-tailed Gulls.
Santa Fe: The swimming and snorkelling around this island is wonderful, with sea lions, rays and a host of colourful fish. The island is also home to its own unique species of Land Iguanas (Conolophus pallidus).
Santa Cruz: The chance to see Giant Tortoises in the wild, visit the Charles Darwin Research station to see the programs underway to protect and restore the archipelago's unique wildlife as well as visiting Scalasia (giant daisy) forests in the highlands and the chance to see an array of finches.
James: A chance to take a close look at one of the sites visited by Darwin (Bucaneer Cove) the place where he spent the majority of his land visits in the Galapagos. In the afternoon we visit Puerto Egas, the best place for Galapagos Fur Seals, plovers, herons and oyster catchers.
South Plaza: The best island for observing land iguanas along with cactus finches, tropic birds and sea lions.
15 Jan - Quito -Fly to the city of Quito, nestled high in the Andes, arriving early afternoon. Our hotel here is the Hotel Quito which has beautiful views over the valley of Cumbaya and an outdoor heated swimming pool. Afternoon to relax. Evening meal together at a leading local restaurant with live Andean music.
16-18 Jan - Cloud Forest - After breakfast we will set off towards the cloud forest. Located on the slopes of the Andes as they run down towards Ecuador’s coastal planes, large areas of the Ecuadorean cloud forest remain untouched by man and have one of the highest diversity of epiphytes (plants that grow on top of other plants) anywhere in the world, with an array of orchids and other stunning tropical flora. The forest, which is less than two hours from Quito, boasts some 9,000 species of plant with over 320 bird species recorded in the valley near to our lodge, Sachatamia.
The area around the lodge has lots of easy trails and is literally buzzing with hummingbirds with over 20 different species spotted in a single day. The place is quite simply spectacular. The location of our lodge also allows us to visit some of the best reserves in the area like Mindo, Los Bancos and the Milpe and Rio Silanche Sanctuaries.
On the morning of the 18th January we will drive back towards Quito stopping at the Equator monument and on to Quito for a city tour in the afternoon of the old colonial sector declared by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site. Overnight we will stay in a beautiful colonial hacienda in the valley of Los Chillos called La Carriona.
19 Jan - Today after an early breakfast we set of to the beautiful high Paramo of the Antisana Volcano – a large glacier covered stratovolcano located to the south east of Quito. As well as stunning high Andean scenery we have the chance to see high paramo birds such as the Black Faced Ibis and Andean Condors, Andean Lapwings and the Andean Gull. We have lunch at the Hacienda and return to La Carrion late in the afternoon.
20-22 Jan - We depart from La Carriona after an early breakfast we will head across the Andes north of Quito to visit the hacienda Zuleta. The hacienda dates back to 1690 and is nestled in magnificent Andean scenery and home to a colourful Indian community. It will be our home for the next three days. Zuleta is also one of the few places in the world where you are virtually guaranteed to see wild condors. The place itself is exquisite, with great short hikes and horseback riding included for anyone wishing to explore the high-altitude grasslands and pre-Inca archaeological sites in the hacienda grounds. On the our last day at Zuleta we depart after breakfast to travel further north to visit the famous Indian market of Otavalo, the largest and most colourful Indian market in the Andes. Return to Quito in the afternoon of 22nd. Farewell meal together in a leading local restaurant and overnight at the Hotel Quito.
23 Jan - Transfer to airport for flight home
24 Jan - Arrive home
NOTE:
Land cost includes:
- Domestic flight from Quito to the Galapagos Islands.
- All accommodation in mainland Ecuador and aboard the yacht in the Galapagos. The price is based on 2 people sharing a double room. If you prefer your own room, there is a Single Supplement Cost of £160 per person for the land portion..
- All boat cabins must be shared, except by special arrangement.
- All meals and non-alcoholic beverages in Galapagos and mainland Ecuador.
- All transport in mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos.
- The services of a University-level Naturalist Guide conducting the land tours.
Land Cost Does Not Include:
- International airfare, National Park Entrance Fee ($110 per person)
- Departure Tax from Ecuador ($41 per person)
- Alcoholic beverages
