luxury galapagos

L U X U R Y T O U R S

luxury galapagos, galapagos explorer II

LUXURY GALAPAGOS 7 DAY CRUISE EX QUITO

Day 1 (Monday) - Quito

Arrival in Quito , reception and transfer to the Marriott Hotel in Quito

Day 2 (Tuesday) - Quito Tour

After breakfast, a full guided tour in private, of Quito . The tour will include; the Plaza de la Independencia the Parque Alameda , The Plaza de San Francisco , La Compañia, the markets, and the “Middle of the world monument”

Day 3: Wednesday

Quito – San Christobal – Cerro Brujo – Bartolome Island Transfer to Quito airport and fly to the Galapagos Islands to join your luxury Galapagos cruise for the next 8 days aboard the Galapagos Explorer II on a Balcony Suite. Upon arrival, all travelers must clear an airport inspection point to ensure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands and to pay the park entrance fee of USD100. You will then be transferred to the harbour and board ‘Pangas”, motorised crafts which will take you to the Explorer. Itineraries for the Luxury Galapagos Explorer II are subject to change, but a typical itinerary is as follows:- From the Explorer, we will do a wet landing on the beach at Cerro Brujo to view the various sea-lions and plethora of birds such as the Yellow Warbler, Ground Finch, Plover, Catchers, Lava Heron and the Blue Footed Booby). We will then have a dry landing and disembark at Bartolome Island for an optional 40 minute trek to the summit point. Bartolome, a desolate island with few plants is the most visited and most photographed island in the Galapagos.

Day 4 : Bartolome Island – Puerto Egas , Santiogo Island
We will view Bartolome Island in the morning and then in the afternoon, head towards Puerto Egas, Santiago Island . Several species of land birds, including 10 species of the Darwin Finches as well as the Galapagos Hawk. It is also the best site in the Archipelago to watch the Galapagos Fur Seal. (BLD)

Day 5 : Punta Espinosa – Fernandina – Isabela Island – Punta Vincente Roca
Fernandina is the westernmost island of the Archipelago. The colossal shield of the still active volcano Fernandina reaches 1,494 m. Punta Espinoza is home to one of the largest communities of Marine Iguanas, as well as Californian Sea Lions and Galapagos Flightless Cormorants.

Day 6: Saturday North Seymour Island – Santa Cruz North Seymour is an ‘uplifted’ (as opposed to volcanic) island and so is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. It is home to numerous Blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos. The bay is also encircled by the dozy and tended town Puerto Ayora.

Day 7 : Islas Lobos – Interpretation center Today we will visit the small island of Lobos , situated outside San Cristobal . It was named after the many sea lions that live there. There are also blue-footed boobies and on the east coast, Leon Dormido (also called Kicker Rock) is located.

Day 8: Espanola Island – Punta Suarez – Charles Station – Puerto Ayora
Espanola Island or ‘Hood’ is one of the oldest of the islands. It is small and flat with no visible volcanic crater or vent. Punta Suarez is one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sandy or pebble beaches. In addition to five species of nesting seabirds there are the curious and bold Hood Island mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the brilliantly colored marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island.

Day 9: Darwin bay – Genovesa Island – El Barranco This morning we will have a wet landing for an easy stroll observing thousands of bird life, mainly frigate birds, red footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds. You will have a change to visit the area further on foot. After lunch, we head to Genovesa, a collapsed volcano which attracts vast numbers of pelagic seabirds that come here to nest and breed: great frigate birds, red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and storm petrels.

Day 10: Ochoa Beach - San Christobal Today we will encounter many sea lion colonies and numerous blue-footed boobies. Transfer to the airport for the flight back to the mainland for your return flight to Quito and late flight home

Prices and full itinerary available on request. Click on the e-mail link below.

Last modified: 22 June 2008 11:47