We have chosen good quality services so that passengers go back home delighted with their trip to the enchanted islands.

Transcription

1 15 OPTIONAL EXTENSION 5 days / 4 nights program GALAPAGOS ISLANDS EXPEDITION QUIMBAYA TOURS EXCLUSIVITY IN GUARANTEED DEPARTURE Minimum of 2 participants After the UNFORGETTABLE ECUADOR program, Quimbaya Tours proposes to combine an Island Hopping with one or several daily tours in order to fully enjoy the Galapagos Islands at a reasonable price. We propose a 4 night program allowing passenger to spend the night on two different islands: ISABELA & SANTA CRUZ, and make a daily tour on an uninhabited island where fauna is more active. To this program, you can add nights or extra visits of your choice. This program includes standard hotels. Please take into account that these hotels do not have restaurants, for this reason meals are served in restaurants outside of the hotel. We have chosen good quality services so that passengers go back home delighted with their trip to the enchanted islands. (*) GUARANTEED DEPARTURES on following dates in 2016: January 27 to 31, 2016 February 16 to 28, 2016 March 16 to 20, 2016 April 20-24, 2016 May 18-22, 2016 June 22-26, 2016 July 20-24, 2016 August 24-28, 2015 September 28 to October 02, 2016 October 26-30, 2016 November 16-20, 2016 December 14-18, 2016 * If you prefer travelling on another date, please let us know in order to check for availability.

2 16 D1 GUAYAQUIL / BALTRA / SANTA CRUZ - about 2 hrs. flight This tour is programmed to fit with a flight schedule arriving at Baltra around 12:00. If passengers arrive earlier they will have to wait for the guide to come and pick them up at 12:00. If passengers arrive later, a hotel representative will help passengers meet with the rest of the group. Upon arrival at Baltra airport you will meet with your English speaking guide (for passengers arriving later than 12:00AM, a hotel s representative will meet you at the airport and help you join the rest of the group). You will take a short bus ride to Itabaca Channel, followed by a 5 minutes ferry ride to Santa Cruz Island. The adventure starts with a trip to Los Gemelos (The Twins), two enormous collapsed lava chambers, a breathtaking visual reminder of the power of nature. The short, easy hike to each of the twins is swarming with endemic flora and fauna, including the remaining Scalesia Forest, draped in liverwort, with large and small tree finches, the beautiful vermillion flycatcher and more. Box lunch Visit of an illuminated lava tunnel with a ceiling nearly 20 feet high in most places, this is an incredible opportunity to wander through the remnants of one of the most powerful forces in nature-lava flows. Stalagmites, stalactites, sulfur, mineral-colored walls, and the rippled floor formed from lava can all be experienced in this uniquely Galapagos stroll. In the humid zone, it s the ideal place to observe Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Since the arrival of settlers in Galapagos, farm animals live in close contact with giant tortoises. Farmers try to ensure that the new predators introduced by man, especially dogs and cats do not eat turtles when they are still small. In fact, one of the biggest problems in the Galapagos is the presence of animals that are not endemic to the islands. Endemic species must fight with introduced species in order to not lose their territory. In the afternoon, arrival to Puerto Ayora. Check-in at your hotel and late afternoon at leisure. Dinner in a local restaurant

3 17 D2 SANTA CRUZ / ISABELA At 7:00 am, departure for a navigation of about two hours to your next destination, Isabela Island. Depending on the season, rides can be a little bit rough but you might have the chance to see marine life such as whales, dolphins, manta rays, and whale sharks. Arrival at Isabela Island and hike to «Muro de las lagrimas», a towering wall of lava rocks built by prisoners during the time Isabela was a penal colony, famous for cruelty and torture practiced against the convicts. The Wall of tears was constructed by inmates during this period for no other purpose than to keep them distracted from the madness of isolation. Its main feature shows thousands of lava rocks stacked on each other without any cement to hold them together. On the way to the Wall, along the white sand beach, there are beautiful lagoons surrounded by mangroves and different migratory birds are commonly seen. Visit to Cerro Orchilla belvedere to observe the active volcanoes of the island. On the way to the belvedere, you will see the Humedales (Wetlands), hidden treasure of Isabela; series of lagoons, sandy beaches, rocky shores and mangroves. There are numerous trails leading to secluded beaches, natural pools, lava tunnels and possible encounters with Galapagos Tortoise released into the wild by the Breeding Center. This is one of the best places in Galapagos for observing migratory birds. Short visit to the pink flamingos lagoon. Then continue for a visit to Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center. Isabela is the only island in the world which has 5 different species of tortoises. At this Breeding Center it s possible to see tortoises in various stages of development, from eggs to small hatchling, to juveniles and to sub adults. Here you can learn about the processes of reproduction and breeding. In total there are about 300 tortoises of all size between juveniles and adults. The tortoises remain at the breeding center until they are big enough to survive on their own, when they are introduced to the wild. Lunch in a local restaurant Departure to Las Tintoreras. At the main dock, we will board a small craft to head out across the port, slowing down to view blue-footed boobies and perhaps Galapagos penguins sharing the same sunbathing space before turning a bend and docking.

4 18 Take an intriguing walk through a jagged lava field, passing abundant colonies of nesting marine iguanas and sea lions, to see a small canal of shallow waters full of resting white-tipped reef sharks. The view from here is something you will remember for the rest of your life! The black treacherous lava field, the emerald green sea, the green mangroves and the cloud-capped volcanoes of Isabela, create an afternoon backdrop you are not likely to forget. Dinner in a local restaurant. Check-in and overnight at the NEW CORMORANT HOTEL*** or SIMILAR D3 ISABELA / SANTA CRUZ 6:00 am departure to Santa Cruz Island on a 2 hours and half navigation. Arrival at Santa Cruz and breakfast at North Seymour hotel or in a local restaurant. Visit Charles Darwin Research Station. Although the great majority of Galapagos visitors come here to observe and appreciate natural wonders, it is also interesting to learn how the protection and conservation of the islands are carried out. Enjoy a guided tour to the fascinating Charles Darwin Research Station where you can learn about one of the most successful reptile breeding programs. Founded in 1964, this research station is supported by over 100 scientists and researchers from around the world, with the unique purpose to study, support and instrument the conservation efforts of the Galapagos Islands. Lunch in a local restaurant Visit to Tortuga Bay. Visitors must sign in and out at the start of the path with the Galapagos Park Service office. After a forty minutes walk by a trail surrounded by a cactus forest and a large variety of birds you will arrive at Tortuga Bay, a white sand beach with turquoise waters, considered like one of the most beautiful on the islands. It receives the massive visit of sea turtles at nesting time, sea lions, marine iguanas, pelicans, flamingos and lava gulls which are endemic to the Islands and are commonly found along the shore of the beach. It is a great location for swimming and even surfing. There are two beaches at Tortuga Bay; the main beach is used for surfing due to its strong waves. If you want to swim and just relax you can head to the west side of the beach where the waters are calm. The west cove offers a nice snorkeling and swimming area and a nice spot for relaxing. Dinner in a local restaurant

5 19 D4 SANTA CRUZ Visit to one of the following islands. Lunch is included on the boat during the visit According to availability on the requested date, we will confirm to you which island will be the one visited. Please note that the choice of the visited island depends of the National Park s regulations. ISLANDS THAT CAN BE VISITED ACCORDING TO AVAILABILITY AND ORGANIZATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK: BARTOLOME Famous for its Pinnacle Rock, this volcanic island offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the archipelago. Visitors have access to two sites: one that involves a climb to an incredible viewpoint and the other at the beach where snorkeling and swimming is enjoyed. You can snorkel with marine turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and other tropical fish. Occasionally penguins may be seen at the base of the tall pinnacle rock, which dominates Bartolome s landscape. SEYMOUR NORTE Here you will find birds nesting, mating and rearing their chicks all year round. Since most of the wildlife and birds in the Galapagos Islands are quite fearless, it is possible for visitors to get an up close view of the nests of many of the birds here, including the lovely Swallow-tailed Gulls, bright Yellow Warblers, Bluefooted Boobies and Frigate birds. You can also find Lava lizards, land iguanas and the Galapagos snake. Along the coast, one can also spot sea lions and marine iguanas swimming close to the shore. PLAZAS South Plaza Island is one of the smallest yet richest islands in the archipelago. A carpet of scarlet ice plant (Sesuvium) serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus. Yellow-gray land iguanas sit beneath, waiting patiently for pears to drop. The cliffs that overlook the ocean to the south is a great place for spotting swallow-tailed gulls nest and a large marine life, including manta rays. You might also see Red-billed tropic birds as well as Nazca and blue-footed boobies ride the windy currents. SANTA FE This island offers one of the more beautiful and sheltered coves of the Galapagos. Its turquoise lagoon is protected by a peninsula of tiny islets forming an ideal anchorage. Some of the island's endemic species include the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos Snake, different types of finches, and the Galapagos Mockingbird. Playful sea lions will usually accompany swimmers and snorkelers during beach time. At your return, dinner in a local restaurant. D5 SANTA CRUZ / FLIGHT TO GUAYAQUIL OR QUITO Transfer to Baltra airport to take your flight back to Ecuador s mainland. END OF OUR SERVICES IN GALAPAGOS.