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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 minibus7 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.Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on
this holiday - please do inform us before departure of any special dietary
requests so that our local team can be well prepared.
Travel by internal flight, motor yacht and minibus7 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 termsAt 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 termsDue 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:From 99
days to 36 days before departure - loss of deposit35 days or less (or failure
to join the holiday) – 100% of the holiday costIslands 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 TrustWe 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@gct.org and quote
the code EXO-GCT.
Catamaran - Archipel IIThe 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:Catamaran16 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.Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on
this holiday - please do inform us before departure of any special dietary
requests so that our local team can be well prepared.
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 GuayaquilYour
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.
SunglassesSunhatSunscreenStrong-soled shoes for walking on the
islandsFlashlight/TorchDue 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
landingsSwimming gearWaterproofsCamera with telephoto lens, spare memory
cards and batteriesBinoculars
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 in cash (US dollars) and will be collected by the National Park
Service on arrival at San Cristobal. In addition, all visitors to the
Galapagos are required to obtain an immigration control card (Ingala card)
in mainland Ecuador - this costs US$20 per person and will be supplied and
paid for locally in cash (US dollars). Please note that Galapagos taxes are
subject to increase without notice, and any such increase will be collected
in Quito or San Cristobal. 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 ExcursionsThe 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 personCotopaxi 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 personEquatorial Monument
Tour (3 hrs approx) US$22 per personBellavista 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 insuranceSingle accommodation (available on request)Visas or
vaccinationsCompulsory 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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