|
Ship Name: Cachalote I -
Sailing Vessel - 16
passengers
Activities: Birding,
Snorkeling, Wildlife ViewingWe 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.
|
Testimonials
Ship types
|
Highlights
This sailing vessel offers good value for the quality
of her programs.
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
Trips start and end at the same place, but alternately
weeks cruise a Westerly or Southern / Northern route.
| Southern
/ Northern Cruise - 8 days |
|
1: Baltra Island / Santa Cruz Island |
|
2: South Plaza Island / Santa Fe Island |
|
3: San Cristobal Island |
|
4: Espanola Island |
|
|
5: Floreana Island |
|
6: Santa Cruz Island / Santiago Island |
|
7: Genovesa Island |
|
8: Santa Cruz Island / Baltra Island |
| |
|
Southern / Northern Cruise
Day 1 - Baltra Island / Santa Cruz Island
The Charles
Darwin Research Station and headquarters of the Galapagos National
Park may be visited at Puerto Ayora, the Islands' most populated
human settlement. The highlands offer the lush humid zone with its
vegetation of Miconia bushes, Scalesia and inactive volcanic cones.
Santa Cruz has more endemic plants than any other island in the
Galapagos. You can see the Galapagos tortoises in their natural
habitat here.
Day 2 - South Plaza Island / Santa Fe Island
Plazas
consists of two very small islands that were uplifted from the sea,
separated by a channel. Only South Plazas has a visitor site. The
highlights include tall Opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas,
a rocky cliff that looks out towards open ocean which is also a
nesting site for red-billed tropic birds and gulls, and a seal lion
bachelor colony. Santa Fe is a smaller island with a visitor
site located on the northeast end of the island. Highlights include
Santa Fe land iguanas, pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, mockingbird,
and Palo Santo trees.
Day 3 - San Cristobal Island
San Cristobal
is the easternmost island of Galapagos and also one of the oldest.
Cerro Brujo is a white sand beach on the west side of San Cristobal.
Highlights include Sally Lightfoot crabs, marine iguanas, and sea
lions, Chatham mockingbird, and lava lizards. Visit Galapaguera
and El Junco; this lagoon is the only fresh water reservoir in Galapagos
and has great views from its altitude of 700 meters in the highlands
of San Cristobal. Rainwater has collected in the caldera
for hundreds of years and formed this lagoon. Galapaguera is a good
area to see tortoises in their natural environment.
Day 4 - Espanola Island
Espanola is the oldest of the
Southern Islands and is the southernmost in the archipelago. Because
of its remote location a unique range of endemic species evolved
here. You will visit Gardner Bay (Off of Espanola Island), a spectacular
beach inhabited by sea lion colonies. The wildlife at Punta Suarez
is plentiful and varied. Along the cliff visitors can enjoy the
blowhole where seawater is forced about 20 meters into the air.
The highlights are the waved albatross (April-Dec) that are only
found on Hood, Galapagos hawks, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies,
and Espanola lava lizards.
Day 5 - Floreana Island
At Point Cormorant, you visit
a flamingo lagoon where other species of shore birds may also be
seen, and you snorkel at the Devil's Crown, a submerged volcanic
cone. At Post Office Bay, one may leave letters like whalers did
in the 18th century, in a wooden barrel mailbox.
Day 6 - Santa Cruz Island / Santiago Island
Dragon
Hill is located on the northwestern side of Santa Cruz Island with
highlights including small lagoons with flamingos, Palo Santo trees,
and Opuntia cactus. Visit Santiago Island located between Isabela
and Santa Cruz Islands. This Island offers a wide variety of seabirds,
marine iguanas and fur seals. Sullivan Bay is of great geological
interest with a 100-year-old lava flow field, pahoehoe formations,
and lava bubbles.
Day 7 - Genovesa Island
Genovesa is an eroded, flat
volcanic island, with a natural harbor, which is actually the submerged
caldera of this volcanic island. You will visit El Barranco where
there is a good possibility of seeing the unique "Short eared
owl." During the dinghy rides along the cliffs, fur seals and several
species of seabirds can be spotted. At Darwin Bay, steep cliffs
dominate the island. This area is home to thousands of frigate birds,
red-footed boobies, Noddy terns, lava gulls, tropicbirds, doves,
storm petrels and Darwin's finches.
Day 8 - Santa Cruz Island / Baltra Island
Turtle Cove
is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and a perfect example of
how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and
unique habitat. Continue toward Baltra to disembark and board your
return flight to Quito or Guayaquil.
Above rates are per person, based on double
occupancy.
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 Rates: 1.5
times the regular rate. Please contact ExpeditionTrips.
Child Rate: 50% off the regular rate for children
under 12 yrs (one child per adult). Excludes holiday departures.
2015 Charter Rate: Low Season:
$47,360; High Season: $52,480
(charter rates are cruise only
and are not applicable to diving cruises or special itineraries)
Peak Season Supplement: An additional $130
per person on Christmas and New Year's departures
Low Season Dates: May 1 - Jun 15, Sep 1 - Oct
31, Dec 1-7
High Season Dates: Dec 8 - Apr
30, Jun 16 - Aug 31, Nov 1-30
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:
Cabin accommodations aboard
ship; all meals aboard ship; all shore activities and
excursions; guide and lecture services; transfers and baggage
handling between island airport and ship; fuel surcharge
(subject to change).
Not Included:
Hotel nights before/after cruise; transfers in Quito or
Guayaquil; Galapagos National Park entrance fee, USD$100
(children under 12 subtract $50), subject to change without
notice; Galapagos Transit Card ($20 per person), subject to
change; international airfare; airfare to/from Galapagos
Islands; drinks aboard ship; gratuities are left to the
discretion of the passenger; traveler’s insurance; wetsuits ($30
per person / week (for snorkeling use only); snorkeling gear
($10 per person / week (must be paid directly on board and in
cash only).
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-$400 per
child under 12 (copy of passport required).
|
|
.jpg)