Conservation International Expedition Aboard the Integrity

Transcription

1 Conservation International Expedition Aboard the Integrity GALÁPAGOSJune 20 - July 1, 2018 ying some 1,000 km (620 miles) west of Lmainland Ecuador on the equator, Galápagos is one of Earth s most curious jewels of natural history. Galápagos is a true laboratory of evolution; reptiles and grassy plants thrive, while amphibians, orchids and bats are practically absent despite being hyper abundant on the nearby Ecuadorian mainland. Incredibly, nearly all Galápagos land animals are found nowhere else on Earth. Galápagos has recently been found to have the largest fish biomass reported to date on a reef worldwide. Outstanding uniqueness, unparalleled contribution to scientific discovery and exceptional threat from use and climate change make Galápagos one of the most important protected areas in the world. harles Darwin changed the world with the Cpublication of The Origin of Species by Natural Selection in 1859, sparking a revolution in thought that spawned countless new branches of science, and more importantly, an entirely new paradigm for how humans view themselves and the world of which they are a part. The Galápagos unique living heritage derives from an uncommon combination of geologic, oceanographic and climatic conditions. The 13 large islands, 6 smaller islands and countless rocks rise from the sea floor as the tips of enormous volcanoes. ituated near the triple junction of the Cocos, SNazca and Pacific tectonic plates, Galápagos is one of the most volcanically active sites on the planet today. Oceanographically, the archipelago is bathed with cold water from east and west, resulting in sea temperatures that oscillate between F (16-28 C) during two distinct seasons, the warm-wet season lasting from January to June and the misty (garúa) or cold-dry season, July to December. n 1959 the creation of Ecuador s first park, known Ias the Galápagos National Park, was created to protect the country s natural wealth. Galápagos was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1987 and the entire archipelago is also listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. At present, 97% of Galápagos 5,000 square miles (7,882 km²) of land area is fully protected within the Galápagos National Park. The Galápagos Marine Reserve was created in 1998 adding an even greater measure of protection to the equally important Galápagos marine ecosystems and the 840 square miles (1,350 km) of coastline. The Galápagos unique marine areas have earned it a ranking as one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World. our CI Expedition aboard the Integrity, YGalápagos premier 16 passenger luxury yacht, is designed to maximize your up-close contact with the Galápagos Islands and its unique wildlife.

2 DAY 1 June 20, 2018 INTERNATIONAL ARRIVAL Upon arrival in Ecuador, you will be directed to immigration and customs. At the customs exit, you will be met by the INCA representative, who will escort you to a private vehicle for the short ride to your hotel. Overnight: Wyndham Quito Hotel or Oro Verde Guayaquil Hotel DAY 2 June 21, 2018 SANTA CRUZ ISLAND About two hours before your scheduled departure for Galápagos, our representative will meet you in the hotel lobby to transfer you to the airport for your flight to Galápagos. After you disembark in Galápagos, the Galápagos National Park officials will process your entry into the Park. Afterwards, you will take a 15-minute ride to the Itabaca Channel, which separates Baltra Island from Santa Cruz Island. Crossing the exquisite blue water to Isla Santa Cruz is a refreshing, 15-minute ferry ride. Once on Santa Cruz, you will board a private vehicle for the trip into the highlands for lunch. You will notice dramatic changes in the vegetation as you travel along the paved road through the arid zone up to the Galápagos Safari Camp that is nestled in the lush vegetation of the rainforest highlands. Following lunch, you will visit the Manzanillo farm to see the giant Galápagos tortoises in their natural setting. Your Conservation International guide, Scott Henderson, has arranged two and one-half days of Santa Cruz exploration and special events for you. DAY 3 June 22, 2018 SANTA CRUZ ISLAND Overnight: Galápagos Safari Camp Today we will join Scott Henderson and the local CI- Galapagos team for a visit with local fisherman to talk about current CI work and how it has affected their livelihood. The day will continue with a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station where we will see conservation in action with endangered species recovery programs via a short hike down a raised walkway through beautiful natural park areas on the seaside. For certified SCUBA divers, there will be an optional half-day diving excursion (at additional cost) with the leading local dive operator, Scuba Iguana. If you are interested in the diving trip please inquire early so that we can make arrangements. In the evening the entire group will meet up again and go to Scott s Lava Java organic coffee farm for drinks and snacks. Overnight: Galápagos Safari Camp Note: There is a possible half-day SCUBA outing on Day 3. This add-on is only available to experienced divers and is an additional cost, arranged by request, and subject to availability. Please contact us for more information if you are interested.

3 DAY 4 June 23, 2018 PUERTO AYORA - EMBARKATION MV INTEGRITY We have the morning for more activities on Santa Cruz. In the afternoon we will board Integrity, anchored in Academy Bay. DAYS 5-10 June 24-29, 2018 EXPEDITION THROUGH THE REMOTE GALAPÁGOS ISLANDS Each day aboard the yacht will bring new sights, sounds and experiences. We will encounter many different animals in a variety of landscapes. Each day after breakfast, we will take a short skiff (locally known as panga ) ride to shore for either a wet beach landing or dry dock or rock landing. Our walks will be through a variety of coastal environments: sandy beaches, tide pools, lava flows, uneven rocky paths, steep steps and earthen trails to name a few. The walks are taken at a leisurely pace allowing plenty of time for discussion, bird watching, photography, learning about our surroundings, and simply listening to nature. By mid-morning we will return to our yacht. Since there is absolutely no food allowed on the islands, we are greeted with snacks and juices. Late morning activities may include snorkeling, swimming or kayaking, depending on the site, park rules and sea conditions. Lunch is the most important meal of the day in Ecuadorian culture. Lunch is a sit-down event with three courses. The meal starts with a salad or a traditional soup, followed by a hot entrée and dessert. After lunch, you can use this time to take a siesta, read one of the Galápagos-themed books from the library on board, write in your journal, or just enjoy the view and the refreshing ocean breeze on the Sun Deck. In the afternoon we disembark for a shore visit. Following our afternoon visit, we will enjoy sundowners on board, dinner, and our guide s expert talks on subjects ranging from conservation issues, Darwin s theory of evolution, climate, oceanography, formation of volcanic islands, human history of the islands, geology and any other topics passengers may request. Stargazing on clear nights is phenomenal. DAY 11 June 30, 2018 DISEMBARKATION - QUITO or GUAYAQUIL This morning the yacht will anchor in the harbor near the airport. From there we will be transferred to the airport and check-in for the return flight to the mainland. In Quito or Guayaquil you may choose to have an overnight stay or have a day use room, depending on your international flight departure. You may depart for home on an overnight flight. Overnight: Wyndham Quito Hotel or Oro Verde Guayaquil Hotel Meals: B/L

4 DAY 12 July 1, 2018 QUITO or GUAYAQUIL INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE Unless you have arranged additional adventures in Ecuador, our representative will transfer you to the airport for check-in to your homeward-bound flight Meals: B HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS Two nights mainland hotel in double accommodation, on Day 1 at the Oro Verde Guayaquil Hotel or Quito Airport Wyndham Hotel and on Day 11 with a day use room or overnight room at the Oro Verde Guayaquil Hotel or Quito Airport Wyndham Hotel. Optional hotel upgrades available. Sojourners may choose to overnight, before and/or after the trip in Quito at the hotel of their choice for additional charges (dependent on which Quito hotel, level of accommodation, and charges for all transfers between the Quito airport and the Quito hotel). For Sojourners who are unable to tolerate the altitude of Quito or for whom Guayaquil is better fit for their travel plans, an optional one night in double accommodation on Day 1 and a day use room or one night double accommodation on Day 11 at the Oro Verde Hotel Guayaquil can be arranged. ITINERARY Wednesday, June 20: Arrival in Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador Thursday, June 21: Santa Cruz Island Friday, June 22: Santa Cruz Island Saturday, June 23: Embarkation at Puerto Ayora - Santa Cruz Island Sunday, June 24: Gardner Bay, Gardner Islets, Punta Suarez - Española Island Monday, June 25: Punta Pitt, Cerro Brujo, Leon Dormido - San Cristóbal Island Tuesday, June 26: Santa Fé Island; South Plazas Island Wednesday, June 27: Darwin Bay, Prince Phillips Steps - Genovesa Island Thursday, June 28: Sullivan Bay - Santiago Island; Bartolomé Island Friday, June 29: Rábida Island; Sombrero Chino Island Saturday, June 30: Disembarkation Baltra Island; return to Quito or Guayaquil Sunday July 1: Depart Ecuador for home

5 WHAT IS INCLUDED All hotel accommodations as stated in the itinerary, accommodations aboard Integrity, all meals, including soft drinks, juice, water and draft beer while on board the Integrity, as stated in the itinerary 7-night Eastern Route cruise aboard yacht Integrity in shared double accommodation, June 23-30, Nights at Galápagos Safari Camp in shared double accommodation 2 Nights at Oro Verde Guayaquil or Wyndham Quito in shared double accommodation Naturalist guides for Santa Cruz and aboard Integrity Galápagos airfare in economy class between Quito or Guayaquil and Baltra/Galápagos Galápagos Transit Card All Guayaquil, Quito and Baltra/Galápagos airport transfers Entry fees for tortoise reserves and Lava Java Farm Gratuities for transfer services, hotel porters and baggage services while in Galápagos Use of the 2-person kayaks and snorkeling equipment when accompanied by naturalist, while aboard Integrity and only at the locations permitted by the Galápagos National Park $200,000 of Emergency Medical Assistance and Medical Evacuation Insurance for duration of scheduled Sojourn (12 days) International airfare WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED Galápagos National Park Fee: $100 adult, $50 child under 12 (subject to change without notice) Wetsuit rental (est. $40-$50 for a week) Optional SCUBA dive on Day 3 Gratuities to Galápagos yacht naturalist: (suggested range $100 $150 per traveler per week) Gratuities to yacht captain and crew (suggested range $200-$300 per traveler per week of service) Gratuities to guide on Santa Cruz (suggested range $15-$20 per traveler per day of service) Alcohol other than complimentary draft beer while on board the yacht Items of a personal nature including laundry, excess baggage charges, visa and passport fees Cell phone or satellite phone charges Gratuities for transfer services, hotel porters and baggage services while on mainland Any transfers not on designated tour days Any transfers into and out of Quito city Internet, cell phone or satellite phone charges Trip cancellation or interruption insurance Note - Trip price subject to change if there are cost increases, such as Ecuadorian government taxes or fees, that are beyond our control there is a potential increase in the government tax on the charter

6 CABIN DESCRIPTION & PRICING $11, $11, single only $10, $10, $10, For single traveler availability and pricing, please contact Ali Phillips

7 TO MAKE A RESERVATION Call INCA - International Nature & Cultural Adventures To reserve a space, a non-refundable deposit of $1,000, payable only by check or wire transfer to INCA. A trip payment of $4,500, payable only by check or wire transfer to INCA, is due 150 days prior to departure. The final trip balance, including for any additional services requested by the passenger, payable only by check or wire transfer to INCA, is due 90 days prior to departure. To pay trip payments via credit card, an administrative charge of 3.5% of the total amount of payment will be added Trip pricing is based on a minimum of twelve (12) travelers For Additional Information Please contact: ALI PHILLIPS Conservation International 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500 Arlington, VA Direct: Mobile: APhillips@conservation.org