Ulitimate Galapagos Tortoise Special - 2010
Nov 3rd - Nov 16th 2010
Land Cost £2,905
(plus international flight approx £700 - max. 15 passengers)
Ample time to explore on a 14-day special expedition to the Galapagos Islands that caters to the pace of nature lovers and photographers, with fantastic opportunities to see Giant Tortoises in the wild, and meet some of the experts helping restore the populations of these unique giants. The trip is timed to coincide with the best time to see Giant Tortoises in the wild as they travel up to the highlands to the areas we can visit. We also visit and explore in depth some of the most spectacular visitor sites in the archipelago, including Isabella Island, home to five species of Giant Tortoises. The trip will be fully escorted UK by Santiago Bejarano, one of the leading naturalists in the Galapagos together with a team of expert local naturalists.
PDF Downloads for this trip:
Detailed Itinerary
OUTLINE ITENERARY:
3 Nov Depart UK
4 Nov Arrive Guayaquil
5-12 Nov Galapagos
12 Nov Santa Cruz Island Charles Darwin Research Station
13 Nov Santa Cruz Island all day in the Highlands of Santa Cruz
14 Nov Santa Cruz Island – Guayaquil.
15 Nov Transfer to airport flight home
16 Nov Arrive in UK
3 Nov - Depart from UK – With KLM from local airports via Amsterdam mid-afternoon and the group can then meet up in Amsterdam for the onward flight.
4 Nov - Arrive 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. Welcome dinner at leading local restaurant and overnight in Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
5 -12 Nov - Galapagos - At 9am the next morning we will take our flight to the Galapagos Islands, arriving to Baltra airport at around noon. From here we will be transferred to our private yacht,
The yacht we will use is a spacious and comfortable motor yacht called Tip Top III. 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 snorkel equipment. Moreover, each of the craft's nine homey cabins has both hot and cold water, a personal safe, and a wardrobe. To ensure your safety, the vessel is also equipped with the most advanced navigational and safety equipment, all of which meets or exceeds international Coast Guard safety regulations.
We will be visiting the following islands:
Baltra and Bachas Beach : On our first day we fly out from Guayaquil, arriving to Baltra Island. In the afternoon we will visit Bachas – where we take a stroll along a beautiful white sandy beach with chances of seeing some marine iguanas, flamingos and a few land birds such as the Galapagos Dove and Darwin’s finches.
Bartolomé: With its distinctive Pinnacle Rock, superb lava flows and parasitic cones this island is the perfect introduction to the Galapagos and one of the most famous views of the archipelagos. Understanding the geology of the islands was crucial to Charles Darwins understanding of the way the wildlife evolved in the archipelago. A great place to snorkel with Galapagos Penguins!
Rabida: A distinctive red sandy beach which is created by an unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. Here we take an enjoyable stroll along the beach where will see a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwin’s Finches. It is also a great place to snorkel for beginners and those more experienced at snorkeling can see the combination of unique underwater species and submarine landscapes.
Isabela Island: Isabela's rich animal, bird, and marine life is beyond compare. Isabela is home to more wild tortoises than all the other islands. Isabela's large size and notable topography created barriers for the slow moving tortoises; apparently the creatures were unable to cross lava flows and other obstacles, causing five different sub-species of tortoise to develop. Today tortoises roam free in the calderas of Alcedo, Wolf, Cerro Azul, Darwin and Sierra Negra.
Punta Vicente Roca: (Isabela) Here the remnants of an ancient volcano form two turquoise coves with a bay well protected from the ocean swells. The spot is a good anchorage from which to take panga rides along the cliff that are the remains of the volcano or explore a partially sunken cave at the water's edge. Masked and blue-footed boobies sit perched along the point and the sheer cliffs, while flightless cormorants inhabit the shoreline.
Urbina Bay: Sitting beneath Volcan Alcedo, in 1954 Urbina Bay was subject to a major uplift of the Earth’s crust, rising almost 4 meters, dramatically extending the coastline of Isabela Island by over a kilometre. Here we will follow a trail across the uplifted bay towards the old beach where sea turtles nest, with great sightings of marine iguanas and possible Giant Tortoises if we are lucky.
Elizabeth Bay: a spectacular bay with mangroves, Penguins and sea turtles
Santa Cruz - Highlands: Our first chance to see Giant Tortoises in the wild. We also go in search of some of the elusive island endemics in beautifully unique habitats like the Scalasia forest of the highlands. Here we can see Galapagos Finches, including the Woodpecker Finch, Small Tree Finch, Vegetarian Finch and Galapagos Rail and the colourful Vermillion Flycatcher. Lunch in a farm in the highlands inhabited by a large population of wild tortoises
Punta Espinosa: (Fernandina) - Fernandina is the youngest and most active volcano in the Galapagos with eruptions taking place every few years. Here flightless cormorants build their nests, sea lions play in the tide pools and marine iguanas dot the sand.
Espanola: Santiago’s favourite islands and one of the highlights of any visit to the Galapagos thanks to the islands colony of Waved Albatross. Here we will witness some spectacular courtship displays as well as seeing the islands unique and colourful marine iguanas and large Lava Lizard and its own endemic species of mocking bird. There will also be nesting Blue-footed boobies and Nazca Boobies.
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’.
12 Nov - Galapagos – Baltra and Santa Cruz - After our cruise ends we will be taken to Baltra Island. From here we will make a relatively short journey across the Itabaca Channel to return to the Island of Santa Cruz, which has one of the healthiest giant tortoise populations living in the wild. We will spend the rest of the day exploring the highlands of Santa Cruz and seeing the magnificent giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Later in the afternoon we travel down to the town of Puerto Ayora where we will stay here in a charming new hotel – Galapagos Suites - a few minutes walk from the sea.
13 Nov - Santa Cruz – Charles Darwin Research Station and Highlands - After an early breakfast we will set off to 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 the chance to take a special behind the scenes look at the captive breeding programs that are working to return the Galapagos to their pre-colonization pristine state. Then we will travel up to the highlands of Santa Cruz again in time for lunch on a farm in the highlands inhabited by a large population of wild tortoises. In the afternoon, again we will go search of some of the elusive island endemics in beautifully unique habitats.
14 Nov - Puerto Ayora – Guayaquil - After breakfast we set off to the island of Baltra to take our flight back to Guayaquil. Farewell meal and overnight at the Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
15 Nov - Transfer to airport for flight home
16 Nov - Arrive home
NOTE:
Land cost includes:
- Return domestic flights from Quito to the Galapagos Islands.
- All accommodation meals and soft drinks in mainland Ecuador and aboard the yacht in the Galapagos.
- The price is based on 2 people sharing a double room.
- $10 Galapagos Migration Card.
- The services of expert local naturalists and all transport in mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos.
Land Cost Does Not Include:
- International airfare
- Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee ($100 per person)
- Departure Tax from Ecuador ($43 per person)
- Alcoholic beverages. Gratuities
Single Supplement:
- If you prefer your own room, there is a single supplement cost of £150 per person for the time in mainland Ecuador. All boat cabins must be shared, except by special arrangement.
If you would like any more information or to chat over the details of the trip we would be delighted to help. Please call Rachel or Santiago on 01482 872 716