Ultimate Galapagos - Tortoise Special
29th October – 11th November 2008
Land cost £2,650
(plus international flight approx £670 - Maximum 15 passengers)
OUTLINE ITENERARY:
29 October - Depart UK
30 October - Arrive in Guayaquil
31 October - Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos)
01 November - Santa Cruz Island
02-09 November - From Santa Cruz board yacht for 8-day cruise
10 November - Flight back to the UK
11 November - Arrive back in UK
Ample time to explore on a 14-day special expedition that caters to the pace of nature lovers and photographers, with one of the best itineraries in one of the world’s most intriguing natural history destinations and accompanied by Santiago Bejarano, one of the best natural-history guides in the archipelago.
29 Oct Set off for Quito from local airport on KLM.
30 Oct - Guayaquil Arrive early in the morning on KLM. Transfer to our hotel. Time to relax before our late afternoon city tour of Guayaquil, a thriving steaming tropical city. Overnight in the Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
31 Oct - Galapagos – Baltra and Santa Cruz At 9 am the next morning we will take our flight to the Galapagos Isdlands, arriving to Baltra airport at around noon. From here we will be transferred to the Island of Santa Cruz, one of the largest islands in the Galapagos Archipelago with one of the healthiest giant tortoise populations living in the wild, despite being one of the islands which is inhabited by humans. We will stay here in a local hotel, which will enable us to explore the island in depth over the next days. After lunch we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we have the chance to explore intimately with the guidance of a researcher. Here we will see many resident tortoises along with a close look at the captive breeding programs that are working to return the Galapagos to their pre-colonisation pristine state. A perfect introduction to the Galapagos Islands and its amazing flora and fauna.
01 Nov - Highlands of Santa Cruz We will devote the whole day to exploring the Island of Santa Cruz in depth, visiting places where we can see giant tortoises in the wild and seeking some of the elusive island endemics in beautiful unique habitats like the Scalasia forest of the highlands. Here we can see Galapagos Finches, including the Woodpecker Finch, Small Tree Finch, Vegetarian Fin and Galapagos Rail and the colourful Vermillion Flycatcher. It is also a great time to see giant tortoises on their seasonal migration from the lowlands to the lush grazing of the highlands. We will have lunch in a farm in the highlands inhabited by a large population of tortoises and also have the chance to view some amazing lava tubes left from the time of Santa Cruz’s active volcanic island building.
02 Nov - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz The next morning we will visit the home of a friend of Santiago, Jacqueline de Roy’s home, mother of Tui de Roy, the world renowned nature photographer. Here, Jaqueline or one of her children will meet and talk to us about their perspective of life in the Galapagos Islands as some of the pioneering inhabitants. In her garden we also have the chance to spot Small, Medium and Large Ground Finches, Cactus Finch and Small Tree Finch, something very few people get the chance to see in one site. After lunch we have free time to stroll around the village, before going to board our yacht the Cormorant II, our home for the next eight days.
02-09 November - 8-Days Cruising the Galapagos on board the luxury catamaran Cormorant II The yacht we will use is a first class motor catamaran which was launched in 2006. Its cruising speed of 12 knots makes it one of the fastest boats in the archipelago which allows us to visit the western coast of Isabella Island and Fernandina Island, two spectacular sights. It has great food, a friendly crew as well as having a Jacuzzi and a sundeck. All the rooms are in the main deck with sea views as well as being en suite, with air conditioning and hot water.
Over the next glorious eight days we will visit the following Islands:
South Plaza: A great island with a large population of Land Iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus), the chance to see the Cactus Finch alongside the Small and Medium Ground Finches. Along the cliff we have Red-billed Tropicbirds nesting and a large sea lion colony.
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 archiapelago, 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.
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 snorkeling.
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’.
Isabella: One of the most spectacular islands and home to the largest population of the endemic Flightless Cormorants, the Galapagos Hawk and Galapagos Penguins. We will also visit Tagus Cove and Urbina Bay at the foot of the Alcedo Volcano, lifted out of the sea by a 1954 volcanic uplift and home to Land and Marine Iguanas and giant tortoises.
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.
Fernandina: One of the highlights of our trip will be our visit to Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, with the chance to observe Flightless Cormorants, the largest congregation of the Marine Iguanas which we can see sunning themselves by the hundred, Galapagos Penguins, Galapagos Hawks and amazing cactus seemingly growing out of fresh lava.
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)
09 Nov Departing for Baltra and the airport affter an early morning visit to one of the Islands we arrive in Guayaquil mid-afternoon. Farewell meal and overnight at the Grand Hotel in Guayaquil.
10 Nov Transfer to airport for flight home
11 Nov 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 £140 per person the time in mainland Ecuador and three days in Santa Cruz. 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.
Land Cost Does Not Include:
- International airfare
- National Park Entrance Fee ($110 per person) Departure Tax from Ecuador ($31.60 per person)
- Alcoholic beverages.
