Galapagos Wildlife Adventure: 11 Days

Transcription

1 Galapagos Wildlife Adventure: 11 Days Eastern Cruise

2 Galapagos Wildlife Adventure: Eastern Cruise Come aboard a deluxe cruise through one of the most exotic places on earth! Encounter rare wildlife found nowhere else in the world, from giant tortoises for whom the islands are named, to sea lions, iguanas, and blue-footed boobies. Hiking, swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling offer astonishing opportunities to get close to wildlife both underwater and on land. After each action-filled day, return to the luxury of your private yacht to rest and re-energize. On this route through the eastern isles you'll discover the natural wonders of Española, Genovesa, San Cristobal and more. Follow MT Sobek's naturalist guide for an immersive and unforgettable Galapagos experience. Details Testimonials Arrive: Quito, Ecuador Depart: Quito, Ecuador Duration: 11 Days Group Size: 8-16 Guests Minimum Age: 6 Years Old Activity Level: Level 2. "I have been on adventure travel trips to many places and with many companies, and this trip was the best ever a wonderful, knowledgeable guide, a great boat and, of course, The Galápagos!" Dana H. "Simply put, it was the trip of a lifetime. Epic in every sense of the world." William G. and Rebecca N.

3 REASON #01 REASON #02 REASON #03 MT Sobek was one of the first North American companies to bring visitors to the Galápagos Islands, with an inaugural charter for the Sierra Club in Guests love our Galápagos adventures because we charter a small yacht for a fully MT Sobekoperated experience with our own expert team of naturalist guides. Our guides and crew work hard maximizing the amount of wildlife encounters both on land and sea, and guides will always be snorkeling with you. ACTIVITIES LODGING CLIMATE Island cruising by deluxe yacht with daily Zodiac excursions to explore hidden coves. Hike, snorkel, kayak, and swim among unique endemic wildlife. Luxurious comfort aboard an 88foot catamaran yacht with a full crew to cater to your every need and an upscale hotel in Quito. Luis was born in Seville, Spain, and graduated from Mild climate year-round. December-May has daytime temperatures F Greg Estes first arrived in Galapagos in 1982 leading the the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid with a degree in Cambridge Darwin Centenary Galapagos Expedition to Environmental Biology. He is fluent in Spanish, English, and conduct research on the feeding ecology of marine iguanas. French and has guided in Galapagos for more than a decade. After graduating from the University of London, England, with In addition to being a professional nature photographer, Luis an honors degree in Biology, Greg s research in Galapagos has has a Master s Degree in Geographic Ecology and is active with encompassed a wide range of ecological projects, including conservation groups. A born teacher, he enthusiastically shares studies on sperm whales and the endangered Galapagos his knowledge of Galapagos with people of all ages. He lives in petrel. Greg, and his wife Thalia, have retraced Darwin s Quito with his wife, twin sons, and daughter and is MT Sobek s footsteps through Galapagos using information from his head naturalist guide. original notebooks and manuscripts of the famous voyage. Luis Die Greg has served as a licensed naturalist guide of the Galapagos National Park Service since 1982 and continues to work as naturalist and expedition leader in the islands. Greg Estes

4 Itinerary DAY 1 ARRIVE IN QUITO Welcome to the historic city of Quito, the capital of Ecuador! An MT Sobek representative will meet you outside customs at the airport and escort you to your hotel. After settling in at the hotel, the rest of the day is free unwind, take advantage of the pool's spa services or begin your exploration of this dynamic city. Dinner is on your own tonight. DAY 2 TOUR QUITO S OLD TOWN Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before setting out on half-day guided tour of colonial Quito. The city's UNESCO-listed old town contains the best examples of Colonial Baroque architecture in South America! After lunch, you are free to explore more of the old town, return to the hotel, or shop for handicrafts made by local artisans. Gather in the hotel at 6:30pm for a briefing with your fellow travelers and MT Sobek representative, who will discuss tomorrow's flight to the Galápagos Islands and the adventure ahead. Dinner is on your own tonight. Meals: (B) / (L) DAY 3 FLY TO THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS Rise for breakfast and an early transfer flight from Quito to Baltra Island in the Galápagos. After meeting your naturalist guide, take a short transfer from Baltra to Santa Cruz Island. Here a private vehicle awaits to take you to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz for a special opportunity to see giant tortoises in their wild and natural habitat. Next, transfer to Puerto Ayora, the largest settlement in the Galápagos. Stroll the main street to the harbor, where you will board the yacht and your basecamp for activities during the next week. Enjoy a welcome dinner. Activity: hours/up to 1 mile walking DAY 4 EXPLORE FLOREANA ISLAND Wake for a walk on Punta Cormorant, a sandy beach with green olivine crystals. Spot flamingos, sea lions and blue-footed boobies, and learn about the beach's importance for sea turtle nesting. Next, take a short Zodiac ride (small, motorized inflatable boats) to Devil's Crown. Here the current funnels plankton through the small eroded crater, attracting large schools of tropical fish creating a perfect place to snorkel. In the afternoon, visit historic

5 Post Office Bay for a chance to leave your mail at the famous post office barrel and pick up mail to hand deliver, as was the custom centuries ago. DAY 5 BIRDWATCH ON ESPAÑOLA ISLAND Experience incredible birdlife at Punta Suárez, including the endangered waved albatross (from April to December) and the Nazca booby. In fact birds are everywhere underfoot, on the trail, overhead, diving into the sea, taking off from cliffs, sitting on eggs, and engaging in ritual mating dances. A great tangle of marine iguanas is also usually present nearing our landing site. After lunch, you can swim, snorkel or sun bathe in the company of sea lions on the white-sand beach at Gardner Bay. DAY 6 VISIT ISLA LOBOS & SAN CRISTÓBAL ISLAND Isla Lobos is separated from San Cristóbal by a narrow channel, providing opportunities to snorkel with sea lions, sea turtles, and tropical fish. There is also a short rocky trail great for viewing blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, sea lions, and the picturesque León Dormido a huge volcanic monolith located just offshore. After lunch, journey to Punta Pitt, where all three species of boobies are known to nest. The trail at Punta Pitt winds up through eroded volcanic tuff formations to a plateau for a spectacular view of the island. Along the trail are endemic plants and wildlife unique to San Cristobal, such as the San Cristobal mockingbird and lava lizard. DAY 7 JOURNEY TO SANTA FÉ & SOUTH PLAZA ISLANDS After breakfast, explore the beautiful bay and turquoise waters of Santa Fé Island. Here you can snorkel and swim with tropical fish, sea lions and turtles, and see a large colony of sea lions basking on the beach. Along the rocky trail, you will find endemic land iguanas, seeking shade under prickly-pear cactus, and many birds from Galápagos hawks to Darwin finches. Next it's on to South Plaza Island, home to a colony of sea lions and a large

6 population of Galápagos land Iguanas. The southern part of the trail follows the cliff, where you will see many sea birds nesting or flying, including frigatebirds, boobies, and shearwaters. DAY 8 SEE RED-FOOTED BOOBIES ON GENOVESA ISLAND Genovesa Island is one of the most interesting for visitors! Explore Darwin's Bay a protected bay in a volcanic crater that long ago broke open to the sea. Enjoy the company of red-footed boobies, who may come aboard, and witness the great commotion between nesting boobies and frigatebirds. Those traveling between February and May could also see a compelling show of frigatebird courtship. After lunch, explore the cliffs by Zodiac before climbing to the island's plateau. Look out for red-footed and Nazca boobies, large-beaked ground finches, shorteared owls, and thousands of Galápagos storm petrels which nest in the island's lava tubes. DAY 9 DISCOVER SANTIAGO & BATOLOMÉ ISLANDS Get a sense of the primordial beginnings of our planet as you walk across black pahoehoe lava flows at Santiago's Sullivan Bay. See early colonizing plants struggling to gain a foothold in the tiny lava cracks as colorful lava lizards flit around. After lunch, visit iconic Bartolomé Island for an exceptional opportunity to snorkel among colorful tropical fish and, if you are lucky, a Galápagos penguin! End your Galápagos experience with a long climb up the wooden steps to the pinnacle of this ancient cinder cone. At the top you will enjoy a truly spectacular view of Bartolomé, Santiago, and other nearby islands. Back on the boat tonight, enjoy a festive farewell cocktail hour and a group dinner with the captain. DAY 10 DEPART FROM THE GALÁPAGOS & RETURN TO QUITO After breakfast aboard the yacht, disembark and transfer to the Baltra airport for the return flight to Quito. An MT Sobek representative will greet you at Quito airport and provide assistance to your nearby hotel. You can use

7 your hotel room as a dayroom with extended check-out and depart on a late evening flight home, or you can use your room as an overnight room and depart the next day. Lunch and dinner are on your own today. Meals: (B) DAY 11 DEPART FROM QUITO After breakfast at the hotel, use the complimentary shuttle to transfer to the airport in time for your outbound flight. Or, stay on in Quito to join us for one of our extensions in Ecuador or Peru! Meals: (B)

8 Dec 20-30, 2018 Feb 14-24, 2019 Feb 28 - Mar 10, 2019 Mar 28 - Apr 7, 2019 Apr 11-21, 2019 Jun 6-16, 2019 Nov 21 - Dec 1, 2019 Dec 19-29, 2019 Dec 19-29, 2019

9 2019 $ 6,495 per person Additional Cost $ 20 Transit Control Card $ 1,500 Single Supplement Special Offer 15% Early Bird Savings for 2019 PRICE INCLUDES Expert leadership from experienced adventure guides Accommodations as noted in the itinerary Meals as noted in the daily itinerary PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE International airfare, any airport taxes, or excess baggage charges Galápagos National Park fee, collected upon arrival (Age 12 and older: $100 / Age 11 and younger: $50) Lunch on Day 10 and dinners on 1, 2, and 10 Potable water and snacks throughout 1 glass of wine or beer at welcome and farewell dinners All tips and gratuities for support staff with the exception of your lead adventure guide(s) All necessary snorkling gear Optional tips to your lead adventure guides Personal expenses such as medical immunizations, phone calls, laundry, or souvenirs Airport transfers if arriving outside of Day 1 All group activities and ground transportation Wetsuit rentals Arrival and departure day airport transfers Optional travel protection

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