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Ship Name: Santa Cruz -
Expedition Ship - 90
passengers
We strongly recommend two pre-cruise nights
and one post-cruise night in Quito or Guayaquil. Please
inquire about adding these or other services to your trip.
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Testimonials
Ship types
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Highlights
Perfect for families and couples who want
a quality cruise on a larger ship; great guides, comfortable ship,
and a well-planned itinerary.
Summary
The Galapagos Islands are considered one
of the most spectacular and pristine National Parks in the world.
Visitors delight in the abundant, unusual, and surprisingly approachable
wildlife--from Galapagos giant tortoises to playful sea lions to
the fascinating blue-footed boobies.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Day 1: Baltra Island / North Seymour Island
Arrive
Baltra Island this morning by plane and transfer to the dock to
board Santa Cruz. Enjoy a welcome, introductory briefing and lunch.
In the afternoon, disembark (dry landing) for a walk along the
coast and the interior of North Seymour Island. Observe blue-footed
boobies, frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, as well as sea lions
and marine iguanas. Enjoy an opportunity for snorkeling or coastal
exploration. Evening briefing, welcome cocktail and dinner.
Day 2: Isabela Island / Fernandina Island
Enjoy coastal
exploration by Panga, while the naturalist guide explains the dramatic
geology of the area with remains of lava flows and tuff stone layers.
This is the nesting place for flightless cormorants, the only existing
marine birds in the world other than penguins that have changed
their condition of flying birds to diving birds. Wildlife here also
includes sea lions, Galapagos fur seals, Galapagos penguins, blue-footed
and Nazca boobies and noddy terns. Depending on the conditions of
the ocean, it will be possible to schedule a snorkeling outing along
the cliffs of partly-sunken Ecuador Volcano, near the northern tip
of Isabela Island. This area has a very rich marine life, and is
seasonally visited by green sea turtles and oceanic sun fish (Mola
mola). Lunch on board.
Visit the youngest island of the archipelago, Fernandina, in
the afternoon. Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk over
dark lava. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness
and a lot of wildlife. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina
boasts a very unique environment with the highest density of marine
iguanas, who share their space with sea lions, sally-light foot
crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. Evening briefing
and dinner.
Day 3: Isabela Island
After breakfast, make a dry landing
on the northwest of Isabela to visit secluded Tagus Cove, a place
that provided a favorite anchorage for pirates and whalers over
the centuries. Old graffiti is still found on its walls. The vegetation
in the area includes the fragrant palo santo trees. An uphill hike
takes guests to the back of Darwin Crater, which is filled with
salt water. The view at the end of the trail is worth the climb.
Darwin is one of Isabela's six volcanoes, a remarkable contrast
to the lower islands to the east of the archipelago. Enjoy time
to swim or snorkel. There is no beach in the area, so these activities
are done from the Pangas. Lunch on board.
After lunch, disembark at Urbina Bay, located at the foot of
the volcanoes, Alcedo and Darwin. Here you can find corals, shells,
and many other calcareous organisms exposed above water. This area
is also home to large and very colorful Galapagos land iguanas,
giant tortoises (occasionally). Along the shoreline, after the hike,
guests may encounter flightless cormorants and see penguins while
snorkeling in this beautiful cove. Evening briefing and dinner.
Day 4: Santa Cruz Island
In the morning, disembark
(dry landing) to visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and
the giant tortoise pens. These are the headquarters of scientific
investigation, conservation and the National Park administration.
Enjoy lunch at the poolside of the Finch Bay Eco Hotel.
After lunch, visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, with their
impressive Scalesia forest and the geological formation of the twin
pit craters known as Los Gemelos. From December to mid-April, a
visit to see the giant tortoises in the wild may be included, if
weather conditions are good. Enjoy an evening briefing about the
next day's expedition plan and dinner.
Day 5: Floreana Island
Visit Post Office Bay this morning.
A short walk leads to the historic barrel site, where mail can be
left for guests from other vessels to be hand-delivered. Near Post
Office Bay, explore the north shore of Floreana along narrow channels
teeming with life. Rays, turtles and sea lions can be seen gently
swimming next to pangas. After a wet landing and a short walk up
to a volcanic cone, reach the Baroness's Tower, from where the entire
northern shore of the island can be seen. Learn more about the fascinating
past of this island. Lunch on board.
Disembark at Punta Cormorant (wet landing) at an olivine-crystal
beach for an easy walk that includes a brackish water lagoon where
bird species like greater flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts,
herons, sandpipers, and others may be observed. This outing also
includes a white-sand beach where sea turtles come out at night
to nest (from December to May). There is a possibility to go snorkeling
or ride the glass-bottom boat ride to Devil's Crown. Farewell cocktail,
evening briefing and dinner.
Day 6: Baltra Island
Disembark
at Baltra Island. Transfer to the airport for the flight back to
the mainland.
Above rates are per person and based on double occupancy
except in Boat Deck Single Standard cabin.
Additional Costs:
International Airfare
Galapagos Airfare (Quito or Guayaquil): Approx. $450-$600 per person
Galapagos National Park Fee: $100 per adult; $50 per child under
12
Galapagos Transit Card: $20 per person
Fuel surcharge may
apply
Single Rate: Double cabins may be used for single
use at 1.5 times the regular rate.
Triple Rate: Per person rate is the same as
the double rate in select Main Deck and Boat Deck Standard cabins.
Child Rate: 25% off for children under 15 years.
One child discount per full paying adult fare. Minimum child age
is 6. Must share cabin with their parents or guardians. Not offered
during peak season.
Peak Season:
During
these times, passengers must pay a surcharge of $137 per adult and
$105 per child. Child rates are not offered during peak season.
No discounts apply. In addition, double cabins for single use are
2 times the regular rate.
We strongly recommend
two pre-cruise nights and one post-cruise night in Quito or Guayaquil.
Please inquire about adding these or other services to your trip.
Included:
Shared transfer from main hotels
in Quito (Casa Gangotena, Hilton Colon, Swissôtel, Marriott, Dann
Carlton) and in Guayaquil (Hilton Colon, Oro Verde, Hampton Inn,
Sheraton) to airport for flights to/from Galapagos; cabin accommodations
aboard ship; all meals aboard ship; all shore activities and excursions;
guide and lecture services; sea kayaks; glass-bottom boat outings;
snorkeling gear; luggage handling; medical care on board (but not
the cost of medication); taxes and transfers on the island.
For Darwin Elite cabins only (Boat Deck Standard Plus, Superior,
Junior Suite and Master Suite): wine and beer at dinner; use of
VIP lounge at departure airport in the Galapagos Islands; explorers’
kit, expedition CD; Internet access in select areas; special edition
take-home coffee table book; and wetsuit rental. Subject to change
without notice,
Not Included:
Hotel nights before/after
cruise; transfers in Quito or Guayaquil; Galapagos National Park
entrance fee, subject to change without notice; Galapagos Transit
Card; international airfare; airfare to/from Galapagos Islands;
wet suit rental; Internet; alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages;
gifts and personal items; passport expenses; traveler's insurance;
laundry service; gratuities to ship staff and crew are left to the
discretion of the passenger; fuel surcharge may apply.
Airfare between Quito/Guayaquil and the Galapagos Islands:
The flights between mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) and
the Galapagos Islands are an additional cost. To secure
your seats on often overbooked flights, ExpeditionTrips must reserve
these flights for you at the time of cruise booking. Approximate
cost (including service fee): $450-$600 per adult; $250-$325 per
child under 12 (copy of passport required).
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