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11 Days Galapagos Wildlife Wonderland Tour Package
Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights
Priced From: $5,275 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: Dec /08
December 20 and 27, 2008, Galápagos: Wildlife Wonderland becomes an 11-day journey with a 7-night Galápagos cruise! Discover a truly magical place like nowhere else on earth on a Galápagos Island adventure. Discover a unique group of islands that are still much as they were when Charles Darwin first explored them. Share the thrill of spotting bird and animal species that don’t exist anywhere else in the world as you explore this wonderful living laboratory with expert naturalists. You and your family will always remember wandering freely among these amazing creatures that have no fear of you – a special memory from our special Galápagos Island adventure!
Itinerary
• Indicates day of cruising
Day 1 – Arrive in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Our Galápagos Island adventure begins in Ecuador at the Hilton Colon Guayaquil. A transfer is included from Guayaquil International Airport to Hilton Colon Guayaquil. After your flight to Ecuador, get a good a night’s sleep so you’ll be rested and ready for your family's unforgettable Galápagos cruise to begin.
Lodging: Hilton Colon Guayaquil, Ecuador
Day 2 – Explore historic Guayaquil
Encounter the history and culture of Ecuador as you visit Guayaquil's Historical Park; walk through the Traditions Zone to learn about lifestyles, the Wildlife Zone to learn about Ecuador’s animals and plants, and the Urban-architectonic Zone to see historic architecture.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hilton Colon Guayaquil, Ecuador
• Day 3 – Galápagos Island adventure begins with modern-day dragons
Your family’s Galápagos Island adventure begins today as you fly to the volcanic island of Baltra and board your expedition ship, the M/V Santa Cruz. Call at Santa Cruz Island for your first encounter with the amazing birds and animals that call these special islands home. Many land iguanas, which look a lot like the dragons in some storybooks, make their nests here. Take a hike up Dragon Hill in search of a variety of Darwin’s finches and the unique Galápagos flycatcher. Tonight’s ECO (Explore, Conserve and Observe) Moment will reveal much about the islands and about our plans for the rest of this Galápagos Island adventure.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
• Day 4 – Tropical penguins and a lava walk
Hike to the summit of Bartolomé Island to take in the great view. Ride around Pinnacle Rock in a panga and snorkel in the warm, clear water, perhaps with Galápagos Penguins for company. Roam the black lava landscape of Santiago Island with your family and encounter friendly Galápagos fur seals. This Galápagos Island adventure is a great way to see these friendly mammals up close.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
• Day 5 – Swimming lizards and giant tortoises
Meet some species of Darwin's finches and other rare birds today on Rabida Island, with its red-colored beaches. Rabida is also home to many sea lions and marine iguanas. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island to see and learn about the famous Galápagos tortoises. Have your picture taken with them – these gentle giants aren’t at all camera-shy. Say hello to Lonesome George, an elderly tortoise thought to be the very last of his sub-species; your up-close encounter with these amazing reptiles will be a fond memory of your family’s Galápagos Island adventure.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
• Day 6 – Gigantic reptiles plus birds with funny feet
Today you have a chance to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. On North Seymour Island, you’ll walk among huge colonies of blue-footed boobies nesting on the ground and see how they live together and care for their young. Notice how proud they are of their big, bright blue feet. Learn more about all that you’ve seen during tonight’s ECO (Explore, Conserve and Observe) Moment.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
• Day 7 – Town and country in the Galápagos
Go ashore at the small port town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on the island of San Cristóbal. After visiting a special breeding center for tortoises, keep your eyes open for lava lizards and the vermilion flycatcher. Perhaps, if time permits, you’ll visit the only freshwater lagoon in the islands to see what surprises it holds. Go ashore on Cerro Brujo’s white coraline beach, where Charles Darwin actually walked when he first set foot in the Galápagos in 1835. Look for two residents found only on this island – the Chatham Mockingbird and the Chatham Lava Lizard – as well as many other types of birds. Another interesting ECO Moment awaits tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
• Day 8 – Waved Albatrosses and boobies galore
Watch Waved Albatrosses, the largest birds in the Galápagos with a wingspan of seven to eight feet, fling themselves off cliffs, which is the only way that they can get into the air. On Española, both masked and blue-footed boobies also abound; the view of the blowhole is well worth the walk. Floreana Island is home to a colony of pink flamingos, seeing these birds up close is one of the special experiences of your Galápagos Island adventure. Ask all your questions about them at the ECO Moment tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
• Day 9 – The youngest island
Go ashore at Fernandina Island, the youngest in the Galápagos chain. It is also one of the few islands to which outside wildlife has never been introduced. Marine iguanas, sea lions and colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs make themselves at home here. A cruise through the Bolivar Channel brings great views of Fernandina’s young volcanoes along with opportunities to see sea birds feeding, dolphins and maybe even whales. Depending upon the sea conditions, snorkel along the cliffs of the underwater Ecuador Volcano or explore the coast by panga. Perhaps you’ll see flightless cormorants, which have a funny ritual involving setting up housekeeping. Talk about all you’ve learned during your family’s Galápagos Island adventure with our on-board naturalists during our last ECO Moment tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
Day 10 – Homeward bound; Galápagos Island adventure ends
Say goodbye to the MV Santa Cruz and her crew today and board a flight back to the mainland of Ecuador. Join us for a farewell party by the hotel swimming pool this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hilton Colon Guayaquil, Ecuador
Day 11 – Journey’s end
Our Galápagos Island adventure ends in Guayaquil. A transfer from Hilton Colon Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport is included. You should allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
Save time, money and stress!
For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Galapagos vacation specialist.
Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-415-446-5252 or 1-800-330-8820
12/08
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