Galápagos Family Adventure

Transcription

1 S T A N F O R D T R A V E L / S T U D Y Stanford Family Adventures Galápagos Family Adventure JUNE 26 TO JULY 5, 2019 Galápagos

2 Highlights EXPLORE colonial Quito and stand with one foot on each side of the equator WATCH in delight as marine iguanas spray salt from their nostrils SIT face to face with a giant tortoise in the Santa Cruz Highlands LEARN the dances of the blue-footed boobies and waved albatrosses Young Explorer Program Kids of all ages love our Young Explorer program, where they re grouped with travelers their own age for fun and educational activities while adults attend faculty lectures. They ll enjoy thoughtprovoking discussions and mind-bending games that fuel creativity, all while building new friendships. Our Young Explorer leaders are all recent Stanford grads and Stanford Sierra Camp counselors and are pros at understanding and adapting to the personalities and interests of each young explorer which means that everyone has a great time. CALL US: (650) US: family-adventures@alumni.stanford.edu VISIT US ONLINE: alu.ms/gofamily

3 Faculty Leader Hunter Fraser s interest in nature and the outdoors began when he was a child growing up in Massachusetts, where he collected earthworms, ants and other cute pets from his backyard. A family trip he took to the Galápagos as a teenager, together with a summer spent doing research at Stanford, cemented his budding interest in evolutionary biology. He received his doctorate in genetics from UC-Berkeley in 2005 and has been a member of the Stanford biology department since His research focuses on how changes in the DNA sequences of genomes translate into changes in observable traits. One of his favorite parts of being a faculty member is traveling with Stanford alumni; this will be the second Galápagos Family Adventure he s leading for us. I am excited to get back to the Galápagos and share my love of this truly wild place with Stanford families! Hunter Fraser, Galápagos Family Adventure Faculty Leader

4 G ALÁPAGOS I SLANDS Equator Eden Santa Cruz Charles Darwin Research Station North Seymour Baltra South Plaza Santa Fé Galápagos Quito ECUADOR San Cristóbal P a c i f i c O c e a n Española Itinerary WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26 Travel to Quito, Ecuador THURSDAY, JUNE 27 Quito Walk the streets of colonial Quito, stopping at Independence Plaza, the Presidential Palace and the Monastery of San Francisco, one of the most impressive religious buildings in the New World. At Mitad del Mundo, have fun straddling the Northern and Southern Hemispheres with one foot on each side of the equator. FRIDAY, JUNE 28 Quito / Baltra Island / Embark / Mosquera Islet Transfer to the airport to board our flight to Baltra Island in the Galápagos. Upon embarking our ship, stop at Mosquera Islet, a small volcanic uplift between Baltra and North Seymour Islands. Our guides will lead us past sea lion colonies as we learn more about the fragile marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the Galápagos. SATURDAY, JUNE 29 San Cristóbal Island At Cerro Colorado on San Cristóbal Island, we visit the breeding center for the highly endangered giant tortoise. In the afternoon, disembark on the eastern tip of the island at Punta Pitt. This is the only site in the Galápagos where its three species of boobies can be found together. SUNDAY, JUNE 30 Santa Fé Island / South Plaza Island Explore Santa Fé s idyllic white sand beach, which is populated by many sea lions. We may spot the endemic land iguana, unique to this island, during our morning walk. Next disembark at South Plaza Island, whose turquoise waters contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava rocks along the shoreline. Yellow-grey land iguanas sit beneath the cacti, waiting patiently for the pears to drop, and along the coastline we find sea lion colonies.

5 MONDAY, JULY 1 Santa Cruz Island Disembark on Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and its giant tortoise pens. The research station is the headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the National Park administration in the Galápagos. From here board buses for lunch in the cooler highlands. This afternoon opt to hike, bike, kayak or tour an organic coffee plantation. TUESDAY, JULY 2 Española Island Go for a walk at Punta Suarez on Española Island, where we enjoy its unique sea bird colonies, including waved albatrosses, Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls, as well as a view of the Galápagos famous blowhole. In the afternoon, the picture-perfect white coral beach of Gardner Bay is a beautiful setting for watching sea lions, mockingbirds and finches as we relax on the beach or snorkel in the bay s calm waters. WEDNESDAY, JULY 3 Santa Cruz Island / North Seymour Island Take a panga ride to Santa Cruz Island s Eden Islet, where we can observe blue-footed boobies diving into the water and catch sight of reef sharks and frigates. Next visit North Seymour Island, lifted from the ocean floor by a volcanic event; its origins as a seabed give the island its low, flat profile. THURSDAY & FRIDAY, JULY 4 & 5 Baltra Island / Disembark / Quito / U.S. Disembark our ship and transfer to the airport for our flight back to Quito. Upon arrival, transfer to our nearby airport hotel to relax and refresh in day rooms before returning this evening to the airport for departing flights, arriving back in the U.S on Friday. SIGN UP ONLINE: alumni.stanford.edu/trip?galapagosfamily2019 OR BY PHONE: (650)

6 Our Ship! The recently refurbished, 235-foot-long Santa Cruz II is chartered exclusively for Stanford and offers accommodations in 50 outside cabins, all with windows and ranging in size from 163 to 325 square feet. The ship features air conditioning throughout, an elegant dining room, sun deck with bar, Jacuzzi, library and observation deck. Go to our website or contact us for additional ship or cabin information. Program Cost* HORIZON DECK 163 sq. ft. with 2 twin beds and a window PANORAMA DECK EXPEDITION DECK HORIZON DECK ADULT CHILD CHILD DOUBLE DOUBLE TRIPLE** SINGLE** $7,995 $7,495 $7,095 1 $9,095 2 EXPEDITION DECK PANORAMA DECK PANORAMA DARWIN SUITE 163 sq. ft. with 2 twin beds and a window 163 sq. ft. with 2 twin beds and a window 325 sq. ft. with a double bed and a picture window $8,595 $8,095 $9,595 $9,095 $8,595 $10,095 $9,595 $9,095 * Stanford Alumni Association nonmembers add $300 per person. **A limited number of single and triple cabins are available. 1 Triple cabins are 192 sq. ft. 2 Single cabins on this deck are 127 sq.ft. The Stanford Difference for Young Explorers Not your ordinary kids camp You re taking your family on the trip of a lifetime and, of course, you want to be right beside your kids to witness their wonder and amazement. Rest assured you ll spend most of the trip together as a family. On occasion, kids-only adventures, tours and meals give adults time for more in-depth touring and discussions. Our professional tour manager and team of Young Explorer leaders (at least one for every 10 kids) join you every step of the way to make your family trip a breeze. Dedicated Young Explorer leaders Our savvy Young Explorer leaders are razor-sharp recent Stanford grads and former Stanford Sierra Camp counselors. They ll captivate the children with hands-on educational activities while the adults attend lectures. And they bring the whole family together for activities such as Family Olympics, Trivia Night or Disco Bingo. Create a Custom Family Adventure Regular program dates not doable for you? Interested in traveling with your own group or wanting to celebrate a special occasion? Private Editions allows you to create a one-of-a-kind vacation using Travel/Study s 50 years of travel expertise and with the added enrichment of Stanford faculty. Start with one of our tried-and-true itineraries or let our team help you plan your dream trip anywhere in the world. For more information: VISIT alu.ms/goyourway CALL (650) privateeditions@stanford.edu Access to Stanford scholars Have a child or grandchild who is keenly interested in the faculty leader s area of expertise? He or she is welcome to attend the lectures with you. On most trips, our faculty leaders design and deliver a lecture specifically for young explorers.

7 Trip Information Dates June 26 to July 5, 2019 (10 days) Group Size/Age 84 participants / Minimum age: 6 Included 3 nights of hotel accommodations in Quito (2 nights at the Hilton Colon and 1 night at the Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel) 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 8 dinners Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions Gratuities to porters, waiters, guides, drivers and ship crew for all group activities All tours and shore excursions as described in the itinerary Transfers and baggage handling on program arrival and departure days Round-trip flights between Quito and the Galápagos Minimal medical, accident and evacuation insurance Educational program with lecture series for adults and Young Explorer program for kids Pre-departure materials, including recommended reading list, a selected book (one for adults, one for each kid based on their age), map and travel information Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program Not Included International and U.S. domestic airfare Passport and visa fees Immunization costs Meals and beverages other than those specified as included Independent and private transfers Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance Excess-baggage charges Personal items such as internet access, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services Air Arrangements You are responsible for booking and purchasing airfare to the start location and from the end location of the program. These air purchases are NOT included in the program cost. To assist you in making these independent arrangements, we will send you information with your confirmation materials on when to arrive and depart. What to Expect Travelers should be in good health and good physical condition. This program includes some long days with early wake-up calls and activities scheduled throughout the day (and sometimes into the evening). Walking tours and hikes range from one to three miles, sometimes on uneven terrain. Snorkeling excursions require a degree of comfort about swimming independently. Travelers should be able to climb into and out of Zodiacs, with crew assistance, and feel comfortable disembarking from Zodiacs into several inches of water on wet landings. Located on the Equator, the Galápagos Islands have a surprisingly cool, sub-tropical climate. Temperatures during our program can be variable, ranging from the mid to upper 70s ( F) during the day in the Galápagos Islands to lows in the high 40s in the early mornings and evenings in Quito (altitude: 9,200 feet). The equatorial sun can be strong, and as such, sun protection is highly recommended. We welcome travelers six years of age and older on this program. Terms & Conditions Deposits, Payments, Cancellations & Refunds A $1,000 per-person deposit is required to reserve your space. Call the Travel/Study office at (650) or sign up online at alumni.stanford.edu/trip?galapagos family2019. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. Child rates apply to children ages 18 and younger on the date the adventure begins. Deposits and any payments are refundable, less a $500-per-person cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to departure. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place(s) can be resold, in which case a $1,000-per-person cancellation fee will apply. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability. Insurance Stanford Travel/Study provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage under our group-travel insurance policy. Our group policy is intended to provide minimal levels of protection while you are traveling on this program. You may choose to subscribe to optional trip-cancellation and baggage insurance. Information offering such insurance will be provided to travelers with their welcome materials. The product offered includes special benefits if you purchase your policy within 14 days of written confirmation of your participation on the trip. Eligibility We encourage membership in the Stanford Alumni Association as the program cost for nonmembers is $300 more than the members price. A person traveling as a paid guest of a current member will not be charged the nonmember fee. For more information or to purchase a membership, visit alumni.stanford.edu/goto/membership or call (650) Responsibility The Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and ship arrangements and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motor coach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner s risk entirely. It is understood that the ship s ticket, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the cruise company. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance. Neither the Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University nor our operators accept liability for any carrier s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour. Program prices are based on rates in effect in September 2018 and are subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charge. California Seller of Travel Program Registration # STANFORD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED ON RECYCLED, FSC-CERTIFIED PAPER IN THE U.S.

8 STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center 326 Galvez Street Stanford, CA (650) This Stanford Family Adventure was a once-in-alifetime trip shared with loved ones, and was so well-done in all aspects. It was a real memory maker and a learning experience not to be forgotten. Each day was expertly organized in a fun manner for all ages. Bravo! Christine Coffin, Galápagos Family Adventure, 2018 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Stanford Alumni Association TIME VALUE Galápagos