Galapagos Expedition: Darwin’s Playground, Far West · GALAPAGOS EXPEDITION: DARWIN’S...
Transcript of Galapagos Expedition: Darwin’s Playground, Far West · GALAPAGOS EXPEDITION: DARWIN’S...
GALAPAGOS EXPEDITION: DARWIN’S PLAYGROUND, FAR WEST EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 1
DID YOU KNOW? In part, the incredible mix and wealth of diversity of Galapagos Islands’ animal and marine life is due to the convergence of three major oceanic currents: the Humboldt, Panama and Cromwell Currents.
EXPEDITION IN BRIEF:• Snorkeling daily (no experience necessary!) with
opportunities to view sea lions, turtles and indigenous
marine life
• Spend time at exploring the fascinating inner islands and
the more remote outer reaches for a true adventure
• Consider pairing this journey with a classic Antarctic
Explorer expedition for some of the best highlights of the
Southern Hemisphere
Galapagos Expedition: Darwin’s Playground, Far WestThe Galapagos Islands are a treasure trove of natural wonders, and the best way to explore
them is on board the small expedition ship Evolution. It will take you were few vessels travel, to
the remote western side of Isabel Island and its neighboring island, Fernandina. While on this
adventure you can swim with sea turtles and penguins; walk among blue-footed boobies and
other seabirds nesting on the islands; hike a dormant and active volcano; watch for whales and
possibly see the Galapagos’ largest land iguanas while you visit Urbina Bay. This adventure can
be enjoyed on its own, or paired with a classic Antarctic Explorer expedition to create a true
Southern Hemisphere experience!
GALAPAGOS EXPEDITION: DARWIN’S PLAYGROUND, FAR WEST EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 2
Included Activities
While in the Galapagos you will find that you are constantly active, doing nature hikes, snorkeling, swimming
and sea kayaking all in an effort to get up close to the islands’ amazing animals. The Galapagos National Park has
structured activities in the Galapagos around interaction with wildlife and the habitat. That is really what the
Galapagos is all about. We make our trips more active by planning landings in places that offer better hikes like at
Tagus Cove or to the top of Bartolomé Island. We also offer itineraries that take in the more remote sites and outer
islands, rather than staying solely in the more traveled inner islands (not all yachts are equipped to travel to the
outer islands). We maximize our opportunities to snorkel and kayak on each trip.
KAYAKING
Sea kayaking is offered on all of our departures and you
require no previous experience to enjoy this activity. Our
sea kayaks are the ideal means by which to get some good
exercise and explore the cliffs and shores of the various
visitor sites around the archipelago. A typical cruise week
offers great opportunities to go kayaking around secluded
coves, shores, mangrove estuaries and beautiful beaches.
Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, sea lions and
many other animals can be seen up close on a kayak and
even as they swim!
SNORKELING
Snorkeling is a favorite activity in the Galapagos Islands and
requires no previous experience to be enjoyed immensely.
You will be offered the opportunity to go snorkeling almost
every day at various snorkeling sites around the archipelago.
You will have the chance to snorkel with playful sea lions,
marine iguanas, green sea turtles and many other wonderful
creatures. For non-divers, this is an incredible way to get a
glimpse of the marine.
GALAPAGOS EXPEDITION: DARWIN’S PLAYGROUND, FAR WEST EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 3
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DAY 4 Isabela Island
Hike along the uplifted section of
sea floor in Urbina Bay at the base of
the Alcedo Volcano. Our naturalists
point out the tortoises, colorful land
iguanas and other wildlife that feed
on the vegetation. Board our Zodiacs
for an excursion to Tagus Cove,
where we look for penguins, flightless
cormorants, pelicans along the cliffs
before a chance to snorkel and swim.
Punta Vicente Roca. Take to the water,
where we swim and snorkel among
sea turtles, penguins and possibly even
sea horses. Explore the lava fields of
Punta Espinosa, located on Fernandina,
the youngest and most volcanically
active island in the Galapagos. Here
we spot flightless cormorants and
marine iguanas. Whale watch from the
Evolution’s open-air decks as we cross
the Bolivar Channel.
Actual itinerary may vary based on weather conditions.
ISABELA
PINTA
MARCHENA GENOVESA
SOUTH PLAZAS
SANTA CRUZ SANTA FE
ESPAÑOLA
FERNANDINA
FLOREANA
SAN CRISTÓBAL
Paci�c Ocean
Galapagos Islands
to Mainland Ecuador
from Mainland Ecuador
PINZÓN
RÁBIDA
BARTOLOMÉ
LOS HERMANOS
TORTUGA
FlyCruise StartEnd
EQUATOR
Charles Darwin Research Station
Dragon Hill
Bachas Beach
Edèn Islet
BALTRA
SANTIAGO
Sullivan Bay
UrbinaBay
Espinosa Point
Vincente RocaPoint
Tagus Cove
Interpretation Center
Suarez Point
Gardiner Islet
Highlands
PTO. BAQUERIZO MORENA
DAY 1 Arrive Guayaquil, Ecuador
Fly independently to Guayaquil,
Ecuador, and transfer to the pre-
expedition hotel.
DAY 2 Embarkation Day, Whaler Bay and
Eden Islet
Fly to Galapagos, landing on Baltra,
and board the Evolution. During
World War II, Baltra was used as a
United States Air Force base. After a
safety briefing, hike along Whaler Bay,
site of one of the islands’ oldest whaling
camps. Just off the coast, discover tiny
Eden Islet, where we may spot Nazca
boobies, blue-footed boobies, marine
iguanas and large schools of mustard
rays while on a peaceful Zodiac cruise.
DAY 3 Isabela Island and Fernandina Island
Zodiacs take you on a dramatic ride
into the heart of a sunken volcano at
Itinerary
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DAY 10 Depart Guayaquil
Board independent flights home.
All itineraries are subject to approval by
the Galapagos National Park and may vary
according to changes in park regulations.
and preserve Galapagos wildlife. Head
into the forested highlands, with ample
opportunity to see and photograph
giant tortoises in their verdant natural
habitat.
DAY 8 Española Island
As the southernmost island in the
archipelago, Española’s relative
isolation has resulted in not only an
abundance of unusual wildlife, but
species and subspecies that are endemic
to the island, such as Española (Hood)
mocking-bird, Española (Hood) racer
snake, Española (Hood) lava lizard,
waved albatross and brightly colored
marine iguanas. Enjoy a Zodiac cruise
before wading ashore to Punta Suarez
through a sea lion colony. Walk along
the cliffs looking for waved albatrosses,
Galapagos hawks, Hood mockingbirds
and the red-colored race of marine
iguana en route to Española’s blowhole,
where waves spout 90 feet (27 m) into
the air. After a relaxing lunch, swim,
snorkel and kayak in the waters off
Gardner Bay, or simply bring along
your book or a camera and relax on the
white sands.
DAY 9 San Cristóbal Island and Depart
Galapagos
End your Galapagos Islands cruise by
returning to San Cristóbal to visit the
Interpretation Center, opened by the
park in 1998. Fly to Guayaquil, with
time to relax at the post-expedition
hotel.
DAY 5 Bartolomé / Santiago Island:
Sullivan Bay
Visit Bartolomé Island, hiking to the
top of a dormant volcano for a dramatic
panorama, including famed Pinnacle
Rock. The island is dotted with craters,
cinder cones, lava flows, spatter cones
and broken lava tunnels which run
down from the summit. Our Zodiac
drivers will take non-hikers for a cruise
around the cliffs, observing a stunning
volcanic landscape and Galapagos
penguins. Swim and snorkel with sea
lions and maybe even speedy penguins.
This afternoon, hike across the
panoehoe lava of Sullivan Bay, seeing
some of the hearty flora colonizing the
landscapes. Stroll along the coralline
beach spotting black and white
oystercatchers.
DAY 6 Santa Cruz Island: Bachas Beach
and Dragon Hill
Walk along the white sands of Bachas
Beach looking for Sally Lightfoot crabs,
black necked stilts and whimbrels.
Snorkel in the calm waters where
sea turtles nest. Named for the area’s
large land iguanas, Dragon Hill is an
important nesting site for iguanas
reintroduced by the Charles Darwin
Research Center. Walk to a lagoon
where we often find flamingos,
common stilts and pintail ducks.
DAY 7 Santa Cruz Island
Begin at the Charles Darwin Research
Station, famous for its tortoise breeding
programs. See baby tortoises and learn
about vital work being done to study
IMPORTANT REMINDER Embracing
the unexpected is part of the legacy –
and excitement – of expedition travel.
When traveling in extremely remote
regions, your expedition staff must allow
the sea and the weather to guide route
and itinerary details. This itinerary
is a tentative outline of what you’ll
experience on this voyage; please be
aware that no specific itinerary can be
guaranteed. A measure of flexibility is
something all of us must bring to a polar
expedition.
Last revised: September 25, 2015
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EXTEND YOUR STAY Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via email, live chat or phone (1.888.892.0073) for seamless, worry-free booking of all trip extensions.
Note: Baggage allowance on charter flight is 44 lbs (20 kg) checked
and 22 lbs (10 kg) carry-on.
*MANDATORY FLIGHT AND PARK FEES INCLUDE:• Roundtrip domestic airfare
from mainland Ecuador to Galapagos Islands
$600
• National Park entrance fee $100
• Galapagos National Park INGALA transit card
$20
Total Package Cost: $720 USD
THIS EXPEDITION EXCLUDES
• Mandatory domestic flights and park fees*
• International airfare
• Passport and applicable visa expenses
• Government arrival and departure taxes not
mentioned above
• Meals ashore unless otherwise specified
• Baggage, cancellation, interruption, and medical
travel insurance
• Excess baggage charges
• Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges
unless specified
• Phone and internet charges
• Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for
shipboard staff and crew
• Additional overnight accommodation
THIS EXPEDITION INCLUDES
• Shipboard accommodation with daily
housekeeping
• All breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks on
board
• Complimentary soft drinks and juice on board
• All shore landings per the daily program
• Leadership throughout the voyage by our
experienced Expedition Leader
• All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily
program
• Formal and informal presentations by our
Expedition Team and special guests as scheduled
• Photographic journal documenting the
expedition
• Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
• Hair dryer in every cabin
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges
throughout the program
• All luggage handling aboard ship
• Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum
benefit of US$100,000 per person
• Arrival and departure transfers in Guayaquil
• One night pre- and post-expedition hotel
accommodation in Guayaquil, with breakfast
• Transfers to and from domestic flight to
Galapagos
Inclusions
GALAPAGOS EXPEDITION: DARWIN’S PLAYGROUND, FAR WEST EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 6
HOW TO BOOK YOUR EXPEDITION & ADVENTURE OPTIONSTo book your cabin or inquire about the availability of Adventure Options, contact a Polar Travel Adviser 1.888.892.0073 (+1.203.803.2666).
1.888.892.0073
Mandatory flight and park fees additional at $720 USDAll rates per person in USD.
Dates Days Start/End Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5
Mar 17 –
Mar 26, 17
10 Guayaquil $7,698 $7,248 $6,748 $6,398 $6,198 • •
Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship EVOLUTION
GALAPAGOS EXPEDITION Darwin’s Playground, Far West
Dates & Rates