Commerce Bank's Royal 50's Presents Ecuador & Its Galápagos Islands June 24 - July 2, 2016 This exciting vacation lets you sample the natural wonders of Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.
Vacation Highlights Cruise: 4-night cruise in an outside stateroom cruising the Galápagos National Park aboard the Isabela II; Charles Darwin Research Station; guided sightseeing each day with a local Naturalist Quito: sightseeing with a Local Guide; San Francisco Monastery, La Compania Church, Workshop & Museum of Oswaldo Guayasamin, and Equatorial Monument; welcome dinner Otavalo: guided sightseeing; visit an ancient Indian market Galápagos Islands Cruising: five days cruising the Galápagos National Park aboard the Isabela II; Naturalist-guided walks on each island; snorkeling and kayaking, expedition lectures on board; panga rides in the archipelago; visit Charles Darwin Research Station NOTE: Maximum elevation on tour: 9,200 ft. Ecuador & Its Galápagos Islands Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Quito, Ecuador Welcome to Quito! Day 2 Quito Included sightseeing showcases Quito s treasures: the historic stone murals of the Legislative Palace, Independence Plaza and the 16th-century SAN FRANCISCO MONASTERY, and the Jesuit s LA COMPANIA CHURCH with its stunning golden altars. Next, see the impressive paintings at the WORKSHOP & MUSEUM of Oswaldo Guayasamin. Top off your day with a photo in front of the EQUATORIAL MONUMENT, the Center of the World. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner. (B,D) Day 3 Quito. Excursion to Otavalo An in-depth Local Favorite experience into the traditional ways of the Otavalo people is in store for you today. First, visit OTAVALO S famous INDIAN MARKET, full of textiles, clothes, vegetables, and more. Next, in Peguche, famous for its exquisite weavings, you have the opportunity to visit homes and observe handicrafts being made. Finally, enjoy Andean delicacies prepared the traditional way at a former hacienda before returning to Quito. (B,L) Day 4 Quito: Baltra Galápagos Islands (Embarkation) Cruising: Santa Cruz Island Take a morning flight to Baltra, one of the remote Galápagos Islands. Upon arrival, transfer to the highlands of Santa Cruz, where your Naturalist introduces the island s lush and vibrant landscapes. Visit the giant tortoise RESERVE, where you will see the famous Galápagos tortoises in their wild habitat. Next, see the Twin Pit Craters, great depressions of volcanic material formed by a long process of slow sinking of the ground, where exceptional Scalesia trees, ferns, mosses, and orchids can be seen in the surroundings. Continue to the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION, established to help conserve the Galápagos natural habitat and protect the famous giant tortoises. While here, learn about the tortoise-rearing program and see many of the various islands tortoises. Later, board the sleek Isabela II for five days of CRUISING among various Galápagos Islands. Each day, travel ashore to the remote islands with your expert Naturalist, who introduces you to the unique fauna living free and fearless of man. On board the ship, join a briefing on the next day s adventure, followed by a Captain s welcome cocktail and dinner. (B,L,D)
June 24 - July 2, 2016 NOTE: The ship s itinerary may vary according to Galápagos National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, and seasonal changes to create the perfect cross-section of sites visited. Day 5 Galápagos Islands Cruising: Santa Fé & South Plaza Islands After breakfast, join your Naturalist for an exploration of SANTA FÉ ISLAND with its large population of sea lions. As you walk through the opuntia cactus forest, watch out for the endemic land iguanas found here. Galápagos hawks, a variety of finches, and mockingbirds are commonly spotted, too. Snorkel, swim, or kayak from the beach before returning to the boat for lunch. This afternoon at SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND, wildlife includes sea lions, land iguanas, marine iguanas, hybrid iguanas (only found on this island and a result of a cross between land and marine iguanas), and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Also known for its prolific birdlife, you will see blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, Audubon s shearwaters, and many other species. (B,L,D) Day 6 Galápagos Islands Cruising: North Seymour & Santa Cruz Islands Disembark at NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND, where your Naturalist will point out colonies of blue-footed boobies, Magnificent and Great Frigate Birds, swallow-tailed gulls, and lava herons. The shores teem with sea lions and marine iguanas, and are a good spot for snorkeling. Alternatively, you can take a ride on the glass-bottom boat to view the colorful underwater world. In the afternoon, visit LAS BACHAS on Santa Cruz Island, where abandoned WWII military barges can be found. Today it is an important nesting area for the East Pacific green sea turtle. You will also see brackish lagoons just steps away from the sea and white-sand beach, which is a feeding ground for various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos. (B,L,D) Day 7 Galápagos Islands Cruising: Bartolomé & Santiago Islands At BARTOLOMÉ ISLAND, hike to the summit for a stunning view of two beautiful bays and fascinating formations of lava flows and spatter cones, including the iconic Pinnacle Rock. You will also have the chance to snorkel or cruise on the glass-bottom boat and possibly see Galápagos penguins in tropical waters, sea turtles, and even some sharks and rays! On SANTIAGO ISLAND, walk over the lava flows from less than 100 years ago and learn firsthand how pioneering flora and fauna adapt to the volcanic surroundings. End your visit with a swim off the beach with the playful sea lions. Tonight, join your ship s captain at a farewell cocktail party and toast to a memorable vacation! (B,L,D) Day 8 Galápagos Islands (Disembarkation) Baltra Quito After breakfast, head to the airport in Baltra for your flight to Quito, where you will have free time this evening to prepare for your return flight home tomorrow. (B) Day 9 Quito Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) Commerce Bank s Royal 50 s Club is sponsoring this event for its selected customers. The Bank uses experienced tour guides and common carriers. Travelers who need special assistance on Royal 50's trips: You must report any disability requiring special attention while on vacation at the time the reservation is made. The Royal 50's Club will make reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of travelers with disabilities, but is not responsible in the event it is unable to do so nor is it responsible for any denial of services by air carriers, hotels, restaurants, or suppliers. The Americans with Disabilities Act is only applicable within the United States and facilities for individuals with disabilities are limited outside its borders. Most transportation services, including the motor coaches, are not equipped with wheelchair ramps.the passenger assumes the full risk and use of any prohibitions imposed by vendors. By signing this form you agree to hold Commerce Bank, its employees, successors, agents and assignees, harmless for all injuries, damages or other losses arising from participation in this event. Further, you hereby give permission to Commerce Bank to duplicate and use for advertising purposes any photographs of you taken during this trip. Commerce Bank is a registered service mark in Massachusetts of Commerce Bank & Trust Company. 2015 Commerce Bank & Trust Company. Commerce Bank member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. All rights reserved.
Pricing and Additional Information Per person price based on double occupancy: $4899.00 Single occupancy: $6669.00 Price includes: land/cruise, port charges, intra-tour air and taxes, meals and accommodations as specified in the itinerary, sightseeing and services of a professional cruise director. Book now while there is still space available! Airfare is on request basis only Air-inclusive price quotes will include all government-imposed taxes and fees applicable at the time of booking and will be shown as a Total Amount. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply. The identity of the carrier, which may include the carriers codeshare partner, will be assigned and disclosed at a later date. For more information please check our website, the carrier s website, or iflybags.com for up-to-date baggage pricing/restrictions. Travel Protection Plus is available for an additional $359.00 per person. Travel Protection Plus: (Must be purchased at the same time of initial deposit) For those who purchase the Globus Travel Protection Plan, Globus provides the Travel Protection Plus Plan as well. This plan allows you to cancel your vacation up to 24 hours, (or the prior business day, whichever is farther out) before the scheduled departure for any reason. Under this Travel Protection Plus Plan benefit, cancelling for a covered reason will result in a cash refund, minus travel protection premiums. In the event a passenger cancels for a non-covered reason, Globus will reimburse the cancellation penalty amount in travel certificates, minus the plan cost. Additional terms may apply. Please visit www.tripmate.com/wpf372g/home for covered and non-covered reasons. *Travel Protection rate is based on the land cost of the tour. Rate may vary with additional land services i.e. single supplements, extra nights and cabin upgrades. Cancellations and Cancellation Fees (If cancellation is received by Avalon) 179 90 days prior to departure: $250 per person cancellation penalty 89 60 days prior to departure: 35% of total price 59 30 days prior to departure: 50% of total price 29 1 days prior to departure: 80% of total price On departure day and later: 100% of total price Cancellation fees may also apply to any additional services, including accommodations, independently supplied services and optional excursions, reserved prior to, during and after the tour. Cancellation fees may also apply to any additional services, including accommodations, independently supplied services and optional excursions, reserved prior to, during and after the tour. Terms & Conditions: Please refer to the Avalon Waterways Brochure or visit our web site at www.avalonwaterways.com for a complete list of all Terms and Conditions that may apply to this tour. Payment of the deposit to Avalon constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. Dates, prices and itineraries are subject to change. Tour Code: WBG 60624 Please make checks payable to Avalon Waterways Deposit Due: $250 per person With Insurance: $609 per person Insurance must be purchased with deposit Commerce Bank Royal 50's Eileen Lessard or Patrick Wimberly (508) 459-4126
Tour: _WBG 60624 Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands Group Name: Commerce Bank s Royal 50's Club Payment Information Last four numbers on Credit Card: Type of card (circle one): Visa MasterCard American Express Discover Name as it appears on card: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Email Address: Accommodations (circle one): Double room Single room This payment is for Deposit. I authorize: $250 per person Decline Travel Protection $609 per person Include Travel Protection Additional Payment $ per person
Complete name as it appears on your passport Passenger 1 First Name Middle Name Last Name M/F Gender (circle one) Date of Birth Passport Number Nationality Date of Issue Expiration Date Authority/Place of Issue Place of Birth Passenger 2 First Name Middle Name Last Name M/F Gender (circle one) Date of Birth Passport Number Nationality Date of Issue Expiration Date Authority/Place of Issue Place of Birth Reservation forms can be returned to: Commerce Bank Royal 50 s Club PO Box 15020 Worcester, MA 01615 By signing this form you agree to hold Commerce Bank, its employees, successors, agents and assignees, harmless for all injuries, damages or other losses arising from participation in this event. Further, you hereby give permission to Commerce Bank to duplicate and use for advertising purposes any photographs of you taken during this trip.