2012 Lerner Lane Santa Ana, CA (714) (800) Fax (714)

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1 2012 Lerner Lane Santa Ana, CA (714) (800) Fax (714) ITINERARY FOR APRIL ECUADOR & GALAPAGOS ISLANDS GROUP APR 10- APR 11- Arrive in Quito. Private transfer to the Dann Carlton Hotel. Breakfast at the hotel. Take a half day city tour of Quito, including some of its most famous cathedrals, and historic buildings. Drive to the Middle of the World to learn about the effects that being on the equator has on gravity. Rest of the day free to explore Quito. APR 12-7:00 am- Transfer to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos. Pick up time will be reconfirmed at the hotel the night before departure. Avianca flight #1630 at 10:15 AM, Arriving at 12:40 PM. Upon arrival in the Galapagos, go through security checkpoints and then transfer to the M/V Galapagos Legend. Lunch and safety briefing on board the ship. PM Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill (San Cristobal Island) Dry landing. San Cristobal is the home of the capital town of the Galapagos Province, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Visit the interpretation center, which is an excellent place to learn about the nature and history of the islands, with information about the Galapagos islands volcanic origins, their remoteness from the continent, ocean currents, climate, arrival of the original species, among other points of interest. Human impact on the islands is also showcased, chronologically narrating the most significant events about the colonization of the islands. Later on, a high-intensity hike can be done to visit Tijeretas Hill, a beautiful landscape ending with a magnificent view of a nearby large frigate bird colony. If there is enough time, a town visit can be planned. / intermediate Type of terrain: flat /stairs Duration: 1 hour visit / 1 hour walk

2 APR 13- Breakfast on board the ship. AM- Gardner Bay, Osborn or Gardner islets (Española Island) Wet landing. Gardner Bay is a beautiful white coral sand beach guarded by a colony of sea lions. Here there are no trails, so visitors stay along the shore, spotting Galapagos hawks, American oystercatchers, Galapagos doves, hood mockingbirds, yellow warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and three species of Darwin finches, cacti finch (Geospizafuliginosa), the small ground finch (Geospizafuliginosa) and the warbler finch (Certhideaolivacea). Swimming and snorkeling offers a great variety of Galapagos marine wildlife: king angelfish, creole fish, damsel fish and parrot fish. Type of terrain: sandy Duration: 1 hour walk / 1hour snorkeling. PM - Suarez Point (Española Island) Dry landing. An island of geological interest, being one of the oldest in Galapagos, it has a high percentage of endemism due to its isolation from the rest of the islands. Due to the great variety of wildlife, this is one of the most attractive spots in the Galapagos. Here it is possible to explore volcanic formations and see large colonies of sea lion and seabirds including Española mockingbird, Nazca boobies, and the spectacular redbilled tropic birds. The singular marine iguanas here have a turquoise color with reddish parts during the breeding season, lava lizards, and the colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs. A somewhat lengthy hike brings visitors to the nesting grounds that sometimes overlap the trail. Other bird watchers favorites include Galapagos doves, Galapagos hawks, swallow-tailed gulls and the world s largest colony of waved albatross, an unequivocal highlight during mating season (April-December). Admire the island s dramatic backdrop, featuring the famous Soplador, a seaward blowhole that shoots water to 23 m. (75 ft.) into the air. Difficulty level: demanding Type of terrain: rocky Duration: 2 1/2 hours walk APR 14- Breakfast on board the ship. AM Post Office (Floreana Island) Wet landing. On the north side of Floreana is Post Office Bay, named for the wooden barrel installed by Captain James Colnett in 1793, which served as an informal post office for sailors passing through. Sailors would then take the letters with them to their destinations. Nowadays, our visitors continue this tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel, on the promise that other tourists will take that mail and send it for free. It

3 can take weeks, months, or even years to arrive! This island is best known for its endemic vegetation: scalesiavillosa, lecocarpuspinnatifidus, and Galapagos milkwort. Darwin finches, yellow warblers, and lava lizards are all common on Floreana. Afterward, there will be a chance to snorkel with the possibility of seeing green Pacific sea turtles and playful sea lions. Type of terrain: sandy & flat terrain Duration: 30 minutes walking / 1 hour snorkeling PM - Cormorant Point / Devil s Crown or Champion (Floreana) Champion is a small Islet located just offshore Floreana Island, dinghy rides and snorkeling here are done along a nice marine wall, filled with a variety of wildlife, like schools of endemic black striped salemas, blue lobster, long nose hawkfish, sea horses, coral hawkfish, sea lions, and the famous red-lipped batfish. Devil s Crown is considered one of the best sites for snorkeling; here you can watch Galapagos penguins, sea lions, turtles, sharks, dolphins, and a great diversity of fish. Wet landing. Cormorant Point first impression is on an olivine green sand beach. From here, a hike next to black mangroves takes to a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This island features some endemic plants such as the scalesiavillosa, white mangrove, and palo santo trees. The trail continues to a beautiful white-sand beach, one of the most important nesting sites of green Pacific sea turtles. It is important to avoid walking in the water due to the stingrays that may be hiding in the sand. From the beach it is easy to spot sea turtles, blue-footed boobies plunging into the water, and small reef sharks searching for food along the shoreline. Hike back to the landing beach for swimming or snorkeling amongst sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions, and more marine life. A small colony of Galapagos penguins resides on Floreana and can sometimes be observed as well. Type of terrain: sandy & flat terrain Duration: 1 hour walk / 1 hour snorkeling APR 15- Breakfast on board. AM - Fausto Llerena Breeding Center - Charles Darwin Station and Highlands Tortoise Reserve (Santa Cruz Island) Dry landing. Visit the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding program, where the famous Lonesome George (last surviving specimen of Pinta Island) lived for decades. The research is conducted by the Galapagos National Park staff with the collaboration of scientists from the Charles Darwin Station. Eggs have taken from Pinzon, Santiago, and Santa Cruz Islands to hatch without the danger of introduced species. After artificial incubation, the galapaguitos (newborn tortoises) are reared until the age of 5, when

4 they are released in their native habitats, with the ability to survive alone. Since the 1970s, more than 2000 specimens have been returned to their own islands. In addition, the Darwin Station works with scientific projects, botanical research, and more, providing environmental education to communities, schools within the Islands and tourists. If there is enough time, visit the town of Puerto Ayora. Type of terrain: flat Duration: 1 ½ hour visit Highlands Tortoise Reserve (Santa Cruz Island) Dry landing. In the mountains of the Galapagos is possible to admire different kinds of birds, such as tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets (usually standing on the tortoises shells). On the journey to the reserve, see the stark contrasts in landscape on the island. The road goes from the coast through the agricultural zone and straight up to the dense humid forests. Galapagos Giant Tortoises are also seen on the way, wandering through pastures and fields. This spot is a bird watchers haven since almost every land bird present on the island lives or migrates here. Type of terrain: flat & muddy sometimes (depending on season) Duration: 45 minute drive / 1 1/2 hour walk PM Ballena Bay / Eden Islet (Santa Cruz) Wet landing. Ballena (Whale) Bay is a beautiful green sand cove at the base of Dragon Hill on the west coast of Santa Cruz Island. The beach contains a large amount of olivine crystals of volcanic origin. A small population of tortoises from Pinzón Island lived at the site but were probably taken by whalers or previous inhabitants. Opportunity to see marine iguanas and sea birds followed by snorkeling. Difficulty level: intermediate Type of terrain: rocky Duration: 1 hour walk / 1 hour snorkeling APR 16- Breakfast on board. AM Carrion Point (Santa Cruz Island) Take a dinghy ride to the entry of the Itabaca channel. In this turquoise lagoon it is possible to see sharks, blue footed boobies, and a large variety of fish. Type of terrain: none Duration: 1 hour dinghy ride

5 . Afterward, transfer to the airport for return flight to Quito Upon arrival in Quito, transfer to the Dann Carlton Hotel. Rest of the day free. APR 17- Breakfast at the hotel. 11:00 AM- Pick up at the hotel and drive to Otavalo (2 hours). Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, then visit the colorful Ponchos market. After some free time in the market, visit local weavers to see how they create the wool, dye it, and weave it. Then head to Cuicocha crater lake, where you can walk around the lake for a chance to see some of the unique wildlife. Dinner in Cotacachi (on your own.) Transfer to Quito Airport around 6:30 PM. END OF SERVICES