SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTURE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS 08 13 MAY 2019 OPTIONAL UNESCORTED ADD-ON AFTER PERU When you think South America you think Machu Picchu, Galapagos Islands, the Andes & vibrant markets, Incas and the Amazon, old cities and delicious cuisine! This unescorted add-on to the Galapagos Islands is offered in conjunction with our escorted tour to Peru and other optional add-ons to the Peruvian Amazon, Mainland Ecuador or the Ecuadorian Amazon. DETAILED ITINERARY GALAPAGOS ISLANDS CRUISE Why are the Galápagos Islands so special? Endemism many species are found here and nowhere else Close encounters with fearless animals and birds Virtually unchanged, pristine natural environments, haunting volcanic landscapes Inspiration for modern thinking: the islands biota (the animal and plant life of a particular region) inspired Charles Darwin to form his theories of modern evolutionary thinking Disconnect from the world! Day 01 - Wed 08 May continued: ARRIVAL GUAYAQUIL On arrival at Guayaquil airport, you will be met and transferred to HOTEL ORO VERDE or similar for overnight, before flying to the islands tomorrow. http://www.oroverdeguayaquil.com/ Day 02 Thu 09 May: GUAYAQUIL GALAPAGOS for SOUTH ITINERARY CRUISE Private transfer from your hotel to the airport for your flight to San Cristobal Island, Galapagos. For environmental reasons, your luggage will be checked for animals, seeds, plants, fruits, vegetables and anything else forbidden on the Galapagos Islands. You will be given an identification tag for the cruise, which should be worn for easy identification when you arrive at the airport in Galapagos. On arrival at the airport, passengers will be met by naturalist guides with your ship s name on a board: MV GALAPAGOS LEGEND. 10 minute bus ride to the pier to board the vessel. Orientation, cabin assignment - Junior Suite; lunch onboard. 1 P a g e
Should you prefer not to participate in any of the excursions on offer during your cruise, you are welcome to remain on board to enjoy the facilities provided, including the incredible Darwin Laboratory. Afternoon excursion to the Interpretation Centre and Tijeretas Hill on San Cristobal Island. Dry landing in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Islands. Visit the Interpretation Centre where you will learn about the islands history, the volcanic origins of the islands, their remoteness from the continent, ocean currents, climate, the arrival of the different species and their colonization of the islands and adaptation to conditions. Walk through beautiful landscape and admire the magnificent view at the foot of a frigate bird nesting colony. /intermediate Terrain: Flat with stairs Duration: 1 hour visit, 1 hour walk Dry landing Guests step from the Panga (dinghy) onto rocks or a dock Wet landing As the panga edges onto a sandy beach, guests are assisted into knee-deep water and they wade ashore Day 03 Fri 10 May: ESPAGÑOLA ISLAND Morning: Gardner Bay, Gardner & Osborn Islets Wet landing on a beautiful white coral sandy beach guarded by a colony of sealions. There are no trails so you will stay along the shore where you can spot Galapagos hawks, American oyster catchers, Galapagos ground doves, Hood mockingbirds, yellow warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas and three species of Darwin s finches. A great variety of marine life is on offer for those who wish to swim or snorkel. Terrain: Sandy Afternoon: Punta Suarez 2 P a g e
Dry landing on an island of geological interest with volcanic formations and amazing wildlife: large sealion colonies and sea birds including the Espagñola mockingbird, Nazca boobies and the spectacular red billed tropicbird. You will also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards and the colourful Sally Lightfoot crabs. Quite a long walk will bring you among Nazca and Blue-footed boobies, right up to the nesting grounds which sometimes overlap the trail. Other birding favourites include swallow-tailed gulls and the world s largest colony of Waved Albatross, an unequivocal highlight during mating season, which includes May. Admire the land s dramatic backdrop featuring the famous blowhole where water shoots up to 23m in the air. Difficulty level: Intermediate Terrain: Rocky Duration: 2 ½ hour walk Day 04 Sat 11 May: FLOREANA ISLAND Morning: Post Office Bay Wet landing on the north side of Floreana. In 1793 a wooden post barrel was erected for sailors passing through to take letters with them for delivery back home. Today visitors place postcards inside the barrel, hoping another traveller from their country will take the letters to their destination and post them. Here you may encounter finches, warblers, lizards. The island is best known for its endemic vegetation: Scalesia villosa, Lecocarpus Pinnatafidus and the Galapagos milkwort. Opportunity to snorkel. Terrain: Sandy Duration: 30 minute walk, 1 hour to snorkel Afternoon: Cormorant Point Devil s Crown Champion Islet Wet landing on an olivine green sandy beach. Hike from the black mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon which is home to one of the largest flamingo populations in Galapagos. Continue to a beautiful white sandy beach, one of the most important nesting sites of the Green Pacific Sea Turtles. Stingrays may be seen in the surf, as well as blue footed boobies diving for fish. A small colony of penguins resides on Floreana and you may be lucky enough to spot them as well. Terrain: Sandy & flat 3 P a g e
Day 05 Sun 12 May: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND Morning: Charles Darwin Research Station & Fausto Lerana Breeding Centre Dry landing. Visit the Darwin Research Station where the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding programme takes place as part of our efforts to preserve the fragile Galapagos environment and where the famous Lonesome George (the last surviving specimen of his species) lived for decades. Finches and other land birds can be seen in the prickly pear cactus forest. You will have some free time to visit the pretty town of Puerto Ayora and shop for souvenirs or stop at the local fish market. Terrain: Flat Duration: 1 ½ hour visit Later in the Morning: Highlands tortoise reserve Dry landing. Drive to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island where many land birds may be seen: finches, flycatchers, crakes, warblers and cattle egrets. During the journey to the highlands you will notice the contrast in ecosystems: from the coast to the agricultural zone and into dense humid forest. Tortoises may be seen in the wild along the way and in the reserve. Terrain: Flat, could be muddy Duration: 1 ½ hour visit Afternoon: Ballena Bay/Eden Islet 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 green beach is due to a large amount of olivine crystals of volcanic origin, formed when the magma was still underground. Opportunity to see marine iguanas and seabirds. Difficulty level: Intermediate Terrain: Rocky Day 06 Mon 13 May: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND BALTRA - MAINLAND Breakfast Carrion Point Santa Cruz One hour panga ride at the entry of the Itabaca Channel in a turquoise lagoon where you may spot sharks, blue footed boobies and different kinds of fish. After the excursion, transfer directly to the Airport for your flight back to the mainland. If you are staying on for the Ecuador Mainland add-on, your flight will be to Quito. If your tour has come to an end and you are flying home, you have the option of flying to either Guayaquil or Quito for onward international flight connections or for overnight** before flying out the next day. THIS FIGHT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR GALAPAGOS RATE. (Booked by Galapagos operator) **An overnight in Guayaquil or Quito is available on request, if required to tie in with flights home. 4 P a g e
You could extend the length of your cruise by adding on another cruise itinerary, subject to availability. GALAPAGOS RATES - PER PERSON SHARING 2-3 passengers USD 4330 4-6 passengers USD 4300 7-9 passengers USD 4260 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT (2-9 passengers) USD 1670 1 st SINGLE SUPPLEMENT booked USD 1670 From 2 nd SINGLE SUPPLEMENT booked USD 2789 INCLUDED 1 night accommodation in Guayaquil including breakfast Private transfer airport/hotel/airport In Galapagos: English speaking Naturalist guides Fuel surcharge, subject to change CGG Migration Control Card, subject to change Entrance fee to Galapagos, subject to change Island visits, lectures, excursions, activities on board Shuttle service from Quito/Guayaquil Airport-roundtrip Flight Quito or Guayaquil/Galapagos/return NOT INCLUDED International flights Travel insurance Medical services Alcoholic / non-alcoholic beverages Personal expenses Tips & gratuities 5 P a g e