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Sail around the Galapagos Islands by catamaran
Land Only clients should aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon/evening. Free transfers are available for all clients. A local guide will welcome you to Quito and explain the schedule for the next few days. *Accommodation: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)* * *
Today is free to relax, recover from the flight and explore the fascinating city of Quito. Quito is the second highest capital in the world, standing at 2850m on the western cordillera of the Andes. It is one of the smaller and more attractive of the colonial capitals of South America. Because of the altitude visitors to Quito are advised to take it easy at first. *Accommodation: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)* * *
*Morning Fly to Galapagos:* Transfer to Quito Airport and fly to San Cristobal Airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival to the Islands, you will pass through the airport inspection point to make sure that no foreign plant or animals are introduced to the island, and to pay the National Park Entrance Fee. Your guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour where a dinghy will be waiting to take you to the yacht. *Afternoon Lobos Islet (San Cristobal):** *The Asylum of Peace hike goes past a mesmerising cave and visits a fascinating freshwater spring. La Loberia beach is an ideal spot to enjoy the ocean, as well as the cute Sea lions that live there. *Accommodation:* *Archipel II*
*Morning South Plaza:* Popular South Plaza is not to be missed! This bizarre 'Jurassic islet' is the best place to see the emblematic 'Galapagos dragons', which crawl across it. *Afternoon Sante Fe:* Sante Fe is another crown jewel of the Galapagos, where the pale Barrington land iguana and practically every other creature is unique to the archipelago or this island alone. *Accommodation: Archipel II*
*Morning Chinese Hat:* Though recently born out of fire, the volcanic islet Chinese Hat does not appear to be any more inhospitable than Bartolome and lunatic Sullivan Bay/. /This tiny, rusty-coloured islet just begins to sprout. You arrive just in time to witness the next chapter about colonisation by pioneers! *Afternoon Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz):* Thanks to the successful breeding programme, Dragon Hill is still populated by the largest wild population of Galapagos land iguanas on Santa Cruz. *Accommodation: Archipel II*
*Morning Charles Darwin Research Station:* The most memorable part of the Charles Darwin Research Station will probably be the successful breeding centre and its celebrity 'Lonesome George'. *Afternoon Santa Cruz Highlands:* Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities for seeing wild Galapagos giant tortoises, roaming through pastures in the agricultural zone and in the transition zone of the adjacent El Chato Tortoise Reserve. *Accommodation: Archipel II*
*Morning Tintoreras Islet:* This group of jagged rocky islets just off the coast of Puerto Villamil forms one of the most stereotypical sites of the Galapagos. *Afternoon Arnoldo Tupiza Breeding Centre on Isabela Island:* In the Arnoldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Centre you can see hundreds of giant Galapagos tortoises of all sizes (the vulnerable hatchlings are not gigantic at all, even smaller than the size of your hand!). *Accommodation: Archipel II*
*Morning Moreno Point:* Fresh, promising greens of pioneer vegetation contrasts strongly with the dead, pitch-black lava flow that once reached the ocean at Moreno Point. *Afternoon Elizabeth Bay:* At the remote Elizabeth Bay you will enjoy the best dinghy-ride of the Galapagos, which combines a visit to the Marielas Islets in the mouth of the bay, with the highest mangles in its innermost heart. *Accommodation: Archipel II*
*Morning Tagus Cove (Isabela):* Tagus Cove is a historical anchorage at the northern entrance of Bolivar Channel (between Isabela and Fernandina). *Afternoon Espinoza Point (Fernandina):* Westernmost Fernandina harbours one of the world's most virgin, untouched ecosystems, and is another crown jewel of the Galapagos. *Accommodation: Archipel II*
*Morning Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz):* Strolling along its coastline, the blinding white Bachas Beach appears full of natural life. It is one of the most important breeding sites for Pacific Green turtles. *Afternoon transfer out to Baltra Airport:* Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra, where we will take the airport shuttle. From here we fly to Guayaquil where it's possible to connect with international flights this evening from 6pm onwards.
* Travel by internal flight, motor yacht and minibus
* 7 nights on board Archipel II in en suite, air-conditioned cabins, 2
nights comfortable hotel
All breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners included.
On board meals are plentiful with a wide choice of international and local
cuisine. Breakfasts will usually consist of cheese, meats, eggs, cereal,
toasts, yoghurts and fruits. Snacks are provided mid-morning and
mid-afternoon, and for lunches and dinner soup usually precedes the main
course.
Alcoholic drinks are available on board (approx. US$4 per beer, US$35 for a
bottle of premium wine, around US$8 for selected cocktails) and the crew
request that you do not bring your own alcohol with you. Drinking water, tea,
coffee and juice is freely available at no additional charge.
The chef can prepare meals for vegetarians and those with other dietary
requirements provided advance notice is given - please inform us at the time
of booking.
* Travel by internal flight, motor yacht and minibus
* 7 nights on board Archipel II in en suite, air-conditioned cabins, 2
nights comfortable hotel
This trip has been graded 1 (Leisurely) with a Safari Rating of 5.
This trip is great for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and those with an
interest in history or geology. Though you do not need to be particularly
fit, you should note that due to the volcanic nature of the Galapagos islands
there will be some walking on rough ground and sharp volcanic rocks. The
ability to withstand high temperatures and to swim will maximize your
enjoyment. Due to local regulations in the Galapagos we have specific time
slots for making our landings and site visits. There is usually very little
disruption to the schedule, but this can mean little room for deviation in
the event of poor weather or other circumstances.
In the Galapagos, each day will feature a mixture of walking, snorkelling and
exploring the islands by boat. To get closer to the designated landing sites
on each of the islands we disembark into small pangas (motorised dinghys).
Landings on the islands are divided into two types - wet and dry. For dry
landings, the panga will take you right up to a landing stage or rocky
outcrop where you can disembark without getting wet. However in some places
where there is no landing stage the panga will stop close to a beach and you
will be expected to walk through shallow water (generally no more than
ankle-deep) to the shore. The leader will always advise conditions prior to
leaving and it is possible to skip any particular excursion if you would
rather relax on board the boat.
There are plenty of opportunities for snorkelling in the Galapagos and this
is one of the best ways to experience the marine life. A mask and snorkel
will reveal an exciting underwater world with Sea lions, rays, turtles,
Marine iguanas and a colourful array of fish. On most days of the itinerary
there will be one or two snorkelling sessions. Snorkelling in the
Galapagos does not require any special skills, however, at times you will be
snorkelling in open water where there are fairly strong currents. Before
going into the water, the guide will evaluate the strength of the currents
and the general condition of the sea to make sure they are right for this to
be a safe and enjoyable activity. The dinghy will remain very close at all
times; if you get tired or feel like coming out of the water you only have to
raise your arm and they will come to pick you up so you can rest for a while
before going back in or stay in the dinghy until it is time to return to the
boat. Snorkelling equipment (snorkel, fins and masks) is provided, however,
is advisable to wear a wetsuit which not only protects you from the cold but
also makes floating much easier without as much effort.
We offer this Galapagos cruise in conjunction with our Ecuadorian partners,
and Exodus participants will join an international group, not all of whom
have booked through Exodus. Occasionally some of these may be younger than
Exodus' minimum age for this trip.
*Deposit terms*
At the time of booking we will ask you for the standard Exodus deposit plus
an extra 10% of the trip cost in order to secure your space on the boat. If
for any reason we are unable to secure the space and we have to cancel the
trip, you will of course receive a full refund.
*Cancellation terms*
Due to the nature of this holiday, this trip has slightly different
cancellation charges to those listed in the standard Exodus Booking
Conditions. After booking, if cancelling your travel arrangements, you will
have to pay cancellation charges as follows:
* More than 70 days – loss of deposit
* 70 days or less (or failure to join the holiday) – 100% of the holiday
cost
*Islands Visited on this Itinerary:*
*Santa Fe:* The dense vegetation of Santa Fe is made up of some of the
largest species of cactus, including a forest of prickly pear. Large numbers
of the endemic Santa Fe land iguana reside here – one of the largest land
iguanas found on the islands.
*South Plaza:* A tiny island formed of lava and carpeted with cacti and
plants that give it a luxurious red surface. There is abundant bird life on
South Plaza (including Tropic birds and Swallow-tailed gulls), as well as a
large number of land and Marine iguanas that feed on the cacti.
*San Cristóbal:* The easternmost island of the archipelago and the first
landing point for Charles Darwin in 1835. The Galapagos Islands' provincial
capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is on San Cristóbal, and the town is home
to the excellent Galapagos Interpretation Centre. Popular sites for visitors
to the island include El Junco Lake (one of the archipelago's few freshwater
lagoons), Frigatebird Hill (unsurprisingly named for the large colonies of
magnificent and great frigatebirds), and Kicker Rock, a towering split rock
that rises over 100m from the ocean. The highland cloud forests provide a
natural habitat for giant tortoises. Huge numbers of Sea lions are also
present on San Cristóbal and nearby Isla Lobos, reachable by boat, is a big
nesting site for Blue-footed boobies.
*Santiago:* Home of the Galapagos Fur seal, which likes the rocky shoreline
and shady spots of Santiago. Around 30,000 to 40,000 Fur seals live on the
islands, and the majority can be found close to Puerto Egas, either on the
rocks or on its black beaches. The island is a good place to see Galapagos
hawks and Darwin finches, and there’s a popular snorkelling site called
Chinese Hat where penguins, rays, turtles and playful Sea lion pups reside.
*Santa Cruz:* The second-largest island in the archipelago, Santa Cruz is
home to Puerto Ayora – where most Galapagos ships are docked for
embarkation – and the Charles Darwin Research Station, which conducts
tortoise research programmes and is heavily involved in the management and
conservation of the islands along with the national park authorities. The
Santa Cruz highlands are much greener than the dry lowlands of the other
islands and are home to freely-roaming groups of tortoises. In common with
the rest of the group, Santa Cruz has many interesting volcanic features such
as pit craters and lava tunnels, and there is also a noted flamingo lagoon at
Cerro Dragón.
*Isabela:* One of the youngest and most volcanically active islands with
stark lava fields blackening the landscape, Isabela is larger in size than
all of the other islands put together! Isabela was formed when six volcanoes
merged. The lunar-esque landscape of its interior is perfect for an unusual
trekking experience, and the island's cloud forest is home to five distinct
subspecies of the giant Galapagos tortoise. Marine life here is rich and
varied, and it's possible to see stingrays, White-tipped reef sharks and
turtles in the mangroves and submerged lava tunnels, as well as playful
dolphins and the odd glimpse of breaching Humpback whales.
*Fernandina:* The third-largest island, Fernandina is an active shield
volcano that is noted for its fine examples of Aa and Pahoehoe lava flows.
The ecosystem on Fernandina is remarkably untouched, and the island has never
been invaded by foreign species and predators. As a result, the cormorants
here had no real need to fly in order to find ample fish stocks, and
gradually evolved into flightless birds with small wings and feet that are
extremely well-adapted to swimming. Land iguanas have also flourished due to
the lack of predators, and the island is home to the largest colony in the
Galapagos.
*Galapagos Conservation Trust*
We are delighted to offer our client’s travelling to Galapagos and Ecuador
a six month free membership with Galapagos Conservation Trust, the UK’s
only charity dedicated solely to protecting the Galapagos Islands. With your
membership, you will receive a responsible travel guide, their biannual
magazine, invitations to exclusive events and information on GCT’s
conservation work and appeals. To redeem your membership, please email
gct"mailto:gct@gct.org%20"gct
@gct.org and quote the code EXO-GCT.
Catamaran - Archipel II
The *Archipel II* is a catamaran with an outside lounge and dining area, an
inside lounge/bar area and a spacious sun deck, perfect for relaxing and
observing the incredible Galapagos landscape. There are two cabins with
double beds and six twin cabins with two single beds. All cabins have air
conditioning and en suite bathrooms. Beach towels are provided and there are
also two sea kayaks on board for passenger use.
Please note that a lot of the travelling between islands is done overnight,
so some cabin noise and movement should be expected.
Boat specifications:
Catamaran
16 passenger capacity with 2 double cabins and 6 twin cabins.
Crew: 9 + 1 naturalist guide
Length: 27m
Beam: 11m
An English speaking naturalist guide registered by the Galapagos National
Park accompanies every departure. In Quito there will be a local,
English-speaking guide.
All breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners included.
On board meals are plentiful with a wide choice of international and local
cuisine. Breakfasts will usually consist of cheese, meats, eggs, cereal,
toasts, yoghurts and fruits. Snacks are provided mid-morning and
mid-afternoon, and for lunches and dinner soup usually precedes the main
course.
Alcoholic drinks are available on board (approx. US$4 per beer, US$35 for a
bottle of premium wine, around US$8 for selected cocktails) and the crew
request that you do not bring your own alcohol with you. Drinking water, tea,
coffee and juice is freely available at no additional charge.
The chef can prepare meals for vegetarians and those with other dietary
requirements provided advance notice is given - please inform us at the time
of booking.
In Quito, transport is in a private air-conditioned minibus and in the
Galapagos we use a Tourist Superior catamaran for our main navigation and
small semi-inflatable pangas (motorised boats or Zodiacs) for landings.
*Travelling land only: 10 days starting in Quito and ending in Guayaquil*
Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Quito in the afternoon of
Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided
in the Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two weeks before
departure.
Accommodation check‐in times are normally from around 3pm.
Exodus offers FREE airport arrival transfers for any flight for this trip, so
no matter which flight you choose to arrive on you will be met and
transferred to your hotel. We do not offer free departure transfers on this
trip because the tour ends at Guayaquil airport. All those taking advantage
of the free airport arrival transfers must provide full flight details in
advance; unless specified otherwise, the transfer will be to the Exodus start
(or pre-tour) hotel; transfers to other hotels in the same city may attract
an extra charge; transfers may be shared with other Exodus customers on the
same flight, or on a flight with similar arrival times.
In Quito and the highlands it should be warm by day and generally dry.
Maximum daytime temperatures are almost constant throughout the year at
20ºC, nights 8ºC. Some rain can be expected in February to May and October
to November but storms, though heavy, are generally short, and Quito is
considered to have quite a pleasant climate.
It is possible to visit the Galapagos at any time of year, but seasonal
variations do affect what you see and there are climatic changes to be aware
of. The weather is controlled by the two main ocean currents of the region,
the Humboldt, bringing cold water from the Antarctic, and El Nino, which
brings tropical water from the Gulf of Panama. How close to Galapagos they
converge (which varies from year to year) is the key to the weather.
'Dry season'
Generally speaking, late May to early December is the cooler 'dry' season. In
this period it is not necessarily dry, as there is a persistent light mist
(garua) and often light drizzle, and the higher mountain slopes are covered
in cloud and fog or rain. At this time the winds are in the southeast and are
higher than at other times, so seas can sometimes be choppy and anyone
worried about seasickness might be better advised to avoid it. Daytime
maximum temperatures lie between 27ºC and 31ºC, the cooler months being
July to November. In July and August the fairly strong winds introduce a
chill factor, and it can feel quite cold at nights, though throughout the
year the official night temperatures vary between 19ºC and 24ºC.
'Wet season'
Depending on how close the convergence of the two currents comes to
Galapagos, there may or may not be a wet season from January to April or May.
Approximately every seven years the El Nino current actually hits the islands
and there will be heavy rains in these months. In other years rain usually
falls sporadically from otherwise clear skies. The ocean temperatures are
higher, with generally calm seas and strong sunshine: pleasant, but
potentially very hot. Apart from an El Nino year, the weather is usually
better from December/January to April/May than at other times even if there
is some rain, and most people would regard these months as the best time to
go.
There are plenty of wildlife highlights throughout the year:
/January:/ Nesting land birds; Green sea turtles arrive to lay eggs on the
islands beaches; land iguana’s start breeding on Isabela.
/February:/ Nesting Marine iguanas on Santa Cruz; Greater flamingos start
nesting on Floreana.
March: The bright red throat pouches of frigatebirds are inflated during
mating season on Genovesa and San Cristobal.
/April:/ Huge numbers of Waved albatross on Española displaying courtship
rituals; eggs of Green sea turtles begin to hatch; land iguana eggs hatch on
Isabela.
/May:/ Courtship of Blue-footed boobies begins on North Seymour; Waved
albatross on Española start laying eggs.
/June:/ Giant tortoises migrate to the lowlands and start nesting; migrating
birds stop in the Galapagos to rest; migrating Humpback whales can often be
seen around the western islands.
/July:/ Dolphins and whales are more likely to be seen around the western
islands; Blue-footed boobies on Española start breeding.
/August:/ Nazca boobies nest on Genovesa Island; Sea lions start giving birth
to pups.
/September:/ Penguins seen in the water when snorkelling around Bartolome.
/October:/ Galapagos Fur seals start mating; Blue-footed boobies start
raising chicks.
/November/: Curious Sea lion pups found in the water amongst snorkelers.
/December/: Mating Green sea turtles; Waved albatross chicks fledge.
Sunglasses
Sunhat
Sunscreen
Strong-soled shoes for walking on the islands
Flashlight/Torch
Due to the limited storage facilities available on the boat, hard suitcases
will be difficult to store so we recommend that you take a soft holdall or
rucksack for this trip so that your bag can be unpacked into the cabin
storage and your holdall stowed away in the small space under the bed.
Internal flights in the destination country are subject to a weight limit of
20kg.
Canvas shoes or waterproof sandals for wading ashore if you don't like wet
landings
Swimming gear
Waterproofs
Camera with telephoto lens, spare memory cards and batteries
Binoculars
You should carry your money in US Dollars cash, since sterling can be
difficult to change and may incur a poor exchange rate. Please note that
obtaining change for larger denomination banknotes (US$100 and US$50) can be
difficult. Try to carry a number of small notes (US$1 or US$5) as many small
businesses and taxis do not carry large amounts of change. On this trip there
is a compulsory Galapagos Tax of US$100, which can only be paid locally and
will be collected by the National Park Service on arrival at Baltra. In
addition, all visitors to the Galapagos are required to obtain an immigration
control card in mainland Ecuador - this costs US$20 per person and will be
supplied and paid for locally. Please note that Galapagos taxes are subject
to increase without notice, and any such increase will be collected in Quito
or Baltra.
All food is provided in the Galapagos, but for the days in Quito we provide
breakfast only and you should budget roughly US$10-15 for lunch, and US$15-20
for main evening meals (22% tax included). It is of course possible to eat
more cheaply or expensively than this, and the cost estimates don't include
alcohol. Tipping is customary in restaurants and cafes throughout Ecuador,
and we recommend leaving a tip of between 10 and 15% of the total bill if the
service charge is not already included. Drinks and incidentals are quite
expensive in the Galapagos as everything is imported from the mainland.
Snorkelling equipment (mask, snorkel and fins) is available free of charge on
board, but wetsuits are charged at US$8 per day. Additional fees apply if the
equipment is damaged. Alternatively, you can bring your own equipment to
ensure a good fit.
On board the boat all transactions are in cash only. Only US dollars are
accepted on board.
*Optional Excursions*
The following optional excursions are available from Quito. Arrangements and
payment can be organised on arrival subject to availability.
Otavalo Day Tour (Saturday only) on a sharing basis, approx. US$90 per person
Cotopaxi National Park Day Tour (Thursday only) on a sharing basis, approx.
US$90 per person
Mindo Cloud Forest Day Tour on a private basis, approx. US$236 per person
(minimum of 2 people required)
Quito City Tour on a sharing basis (3 hrs approx) US$33 per person
Equatorial Monument Tour (3 hrs approx) US$22 per person
Bellavista Cloud Forest Day Tour approx. US$155 (1 client), US$147 per person
(2 clients), US$131 per person (3 clients).
Tipping is an optional but very much customary practice in Ecuador and forms
part of the service culture. Due to the dominance of US visitors in the
destination, tips are reasonably high and this is likely to add up during
your stay. Please remember that you are never under any obligation to give a
tip and you should only do so when you are happy with the service you have
received.
To show appreciation to local guides on the mainland, a tip of around US$7-9
per day from each group member is sufficient. Drivers and other local staff
may be given closer to US$5-8 in tips per day.
It is also usual for groups to tip the boat crew in addition to the guide. It
would be reasonable for each group member to contribute about US$15-18 a day
for the crew and staff in the Galapagos. You may also wish to tip the
naturalist guides directly and this is at your discretion, but US$8-10 per
person per day would be a good gratuity.
* Travel insurance
* Single accommodation (available on request)
* Visas or vaccinations
* Compulsory Galapagos taxes US$120, paid locally
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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