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10 Days Cruising the Galápagos Islands Vacation Package
Duration: 10 days / 9 nights Priced From: $4,565 pp Dbl. Occ. Dates: Feb, Jun, Sep - Nov /08   On our Galápagos Islands cruise, treasure troves of natural wonders appear daily! From Charles Darwin to today’s visitors, the Galápagos Islands continue to fascinate with unique wildlife viewing that is unlike any other place in the world. And since the birds and animals are unafraid of humans, you can get right up close to them. Make your own discoveries on a Galápagos Islands cruise aboard our exclusive yacht for 40 guests. Go ashore with an expert naturalist to view giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies feeding their young, and Sally Lightfoot crabs scurrying over the lava. Walk amidst sea lions and penguins on this active adventure. Itinerary
• Indicates day of cruising
Day 1: Greetings in Guayaquil
Tour begins: Hilton Colon Guayaquil. A transfer from Guayaquil International Airport is included to Hilton Colon Guayaquil. Most flights arrive late in the day. Lodging: Hilton Colon Guayaquil, Ecuador • Day 2: Galápagos Islands Cruise, expedition-style
Fly to Baltra Island in the Galápagos archipelago, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. Board Isabela II, an expeditionary-style yacht ideal for a Galápagos Islands cruise that takes you on island exploration with local naturalists and wildlife experts. Get an introductory briefing, then set sail for North Seymour Island. A panga, a Zodiac-style raft, takes you ashore – be prepared to wade ashore in shallow water if necessary! This island features the largest and most active seabird breeding colonies, including blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds. In the evening, your Galápagos Islands cruise gets off to an appropriate start with the Captain’s welcome reception and dinner. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Galápagos Islands Cruise aboard Isabela II • Day 3: Española (Hood) Island
Visit Española (Hood) Island, home to the only waved albatross colony in the Galápagos. At Gardner Bay, choose to walk on the white coral beach, go snorkeling, or ride a glass-bottom boat around offshore islets. Walk on the lava terrain of Punta Suarez to see the island’s avian sights, as well as marine iguanas and the island’s famous blowhole. On your Galápagos Islands cruise, naturalists accompany your excursions ashore. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Galápagos Islands Cruise aboard Isabela II • Day 4: World's most unusual post office, Floreana Bay
Explore Floreana Island's fascinating history, including Post Office Bay with a do-it-yourself postal service set up by 18th-century whalers. Discover a green beach due to olivine crystals, the pink flamingos (due to the shrimp they eat), and Devil’s Crown, an unusual rock formation. Gaze at the incredible night skies filled with brilliant stars and constellations from the observation deck. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Galápagos Islands Cruise aboard Isabela II • Day 5: Santa Cruz Island
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see some of the islands’ famous giant tortoises including Lonesome George, the sole survivor of the Pinta Island turtle subspecies. Stroll down the main street of Puerto Ayora, the largest town encountered on this Galápagos Islands cruise. Head to the highlands to see Los Gemelos, twin pit craters surrounded by prickly-pear cactus and Scalesia forest. Return to the ship for the evening; meals aboard Isabela II feature Continental and/or Ecuadorian cuisine. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Galápagos Islands Cruise aboard Isabela II • Day 6: Birds – more birds – and then some unusual birds
On Galápagos Islands cruise, a stop at Genovesa (Tower) Island, nicknamed Bird Island, is one of the highlights. You may see red-footed boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, storm petrels, and some of the 13 Darwin’s finches that inspired the theory of evolution. To learn more, check out the nature videos in the ship library at night. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Galápagos Islands Cruise aboard Isabela II • Day 7: A Darwinian day of iguanas and giant tortoises
Cross the equator to explore the lava landscape of Fernandina Island, boasting more marine iguanas than any other island; sightings might also include flightless cormorants, sea lions, and Galápagos penguins. Look for whales and dolphins as the ship crosses Bolivar Channel to Isabela Island, the largest in the chain. Seek out giant tortoises and land iguanas as you walk on an uplifted ocean floor at Urbina Bay past a previously submerged coral reef. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Galápagos Islands Cruise aboard Isabela II • Day 8: Technicolor vs. black-and-white
Look for marine iguanas, red-and-blue Sally Lightfoot crabs, and Galápagos fur seals on the black lava flows of Santiago Island. On nearby Bartolomé Island, seek out the only penguin found in the tropics, the Galápagos penguin. Hike up to the island’s summit for dramatic views of surrounding seascapes, the most frequently photographed vista in the islands. Take a panga ride, a glass-bottom boat excursion, or a snorkeling trip around colossal Pinnacle Rock. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Galápagos Islands Cruise aboard Isabela II Day 9: Farewell to the Galápagos, hello to Guayaquil
Your Galápagos Islands cruise comes to a conclusion when you disembark from the ship and fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city and most important port. Take a tour of the city, then spend some free time before recounting your amazing stories with your fellow travelers at the farewell dinner. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Hilton Colon Guayaquil, Ecuador Day 10: Time to depart for home
Tour ends: Guayaquil. A transfer is included from Hilton Colon Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport; you should allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Your Galápagos Islands cruise is a sweet memory as you travel homeward! Meals: Breakfast
Save time, money and stress! Contact: Travelwizard.com 11/08 |
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