Galapagos Cruise - Santa Cruz

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Quito

Deluxe Hotel or Premium Upgrade HotelArrive in Quito, Ecuador and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Quito.

Day 2: Quito

Deluxe Hotel or Premium Upgrade HotelToday is at your leisure. A variety of day tours are available for purchase. Overnight in Quito.

Day 3: Baltra Island / Embark / Santa Cruz Island - Cruise Only Starts

Arrive to Baltra Island and transfer by bus to the dock to board the Santa Cruz. Cabin assignment and introductory welcome talk. Later, lunch, and ship’s boat drill. On Santa Cruz, enjoy a Zodiac ride among mangrove-lined islets allows the observation of the bird life and dramatic landscape and coastline. The black lava will reveal the presence of marine iguanas, and you may find sea turtles, rays and sharks in the shallow turquoise waters. Next, enjoy a walk to a brackish water lagoon frequented by greater flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and a variety of shore and lagoon birds. Further along the trail, head to Dragon Hill, offering beautiful views and a fairly large number of land iguanas and bird watching.

Day 4: Bartolome Island / Santiago Island

On Bartolome Island, hike to the summit. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase, but the view from the top is worth the effort. There will be time for a panga ride (dinghy) around Pinnacle Rock to observe penguins, snorkeling and swimming from the beach, or a ride on the glass-bottom boat. Lunch on board. In the afternoon, visit Puerto Egas, Santiago Island. This is a great location to see shore birds and sea birds. The trail brings you to a colony of the endemic Galápagos fur-sea lions. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon emerald green algae beds. Enjoy outstanding snorkeling and swimming from the beach before the walk. Weather permitting, stargazing on deck in the evening.

Day 5: Rabida Island / North Seymour Island

Disembark at Rabida Island on a red-colored beach. Stroll along the beach and observe a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, and several species of Darwin’s Finches. Very close to the beach is a salt pond where Greater Flamingos can be seen. From June to November, a large colony of pelicans nests nearby. This is a great place to snorkel from the beach due to the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. Today's afternoon starts with a dry landing for a view of the coast and the interior of North Seymour Island, one of the few uplifted islands in Galápagos Archipelago. The trail leads guests to explore colonies of blue footed boobies, magnificent frigate birds, and swallow-tail gulls. The sandy shore teems with Galápagos sea lions and marine iguanas. Vegetation is made up of cacti, Palo Santo trees and Salt Bushes. Evening briefing on tomorrow’s outings.

Day 6: Santa Cruz Island

Board a bus and take an excursion to the highlands. Watch the scenery change as you wind your way through all seven vegetation zones found in Galapagos. From June to January you can find giant tortoises on a private farm in the highlands. The rest of the year, travelers visit Los Gemelos "The Twins," a pair of large pit craters where you find the bright red male vermilion flycatcher. Afterwards, you head to "the tunnels," the largest lava tubes found in Galapagos. This afternoon, you visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Scientists from all over the globe work at the station and conduct biological research from anatomy to zoology. Observe year-old tortoises and learn about the captive-breeding program. Next, stroll through the town of Puerto Ayora (population: 10,000)—the largest town in the Galapagos.

Day 7: San Cristobal Island

Disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the provincial capital of the Galápagos Islands (population 4,000), along a crescent-shaped bay. This morning, visit the breeding center for tortoises (La Galapaguera) at Cerro Colorado, including a 45-minute bus ride. Seeing the semi-saddle back shape of the tortoises can be a great way to understand adaptation to dry-tropical environments. If time allows, a quick visit to El Junco Lagoon (the only permanent freshwater lagoon of the islands) could bring many surprises. If you plan not to take the official morning program, an “at your own pace option” is also available. You may visit the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center, which emphasises human history and conservation. Afterwards, stroll through Puerto Baquerizo Moreno before heading back to the ship.Return to the ship for lunch. Today, new guests will join your voyage.The ship then takes you to Cerro Brujo’s white coralline beach. Here, you may spot blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds, Yellow Warblers, Galapagos flycatchers, and some shore birds. Back on board, a briefing on the next day's activities and dinner.

Day 8: Española Island / Floreana Island

Morning outing at Punta Suarez (dry landing) for an exciting walk on lava/boulder terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April - December), Nazca (masked boobies), blue-footed boobies, swallow-tail gulls, and the famous blowhole. Also, look for red-green-black marine iguanas, and of course a rookery of sea lions at the landing site. Back on board for lunch. Disembark at Punta Cormorant (wet landing) at an olivine-crystal beach for an easy walk that includes a brackish water lagoon where bird species like Greater flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, sandpipers, and others may be observed. This outing also includes a white-sand beach where sea turtles appear at night for nesting (from December to May). Possibility of snorkeling from the beach, or join a glass-bottom boat or advanced snorkeling panga, if conditions permit. Briefing and dinner onboard.

Day 9: Fernandina Island / Isabela Island

This morning brings you to the youngest island, Fernandina. Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness and wildlife. Lava terrain calls for good walking shoes. Lunch back onboard. As you sail along the Bolívar Channel, astonishing views of the Galápagos’ youngest volcanoes can be seen. In the afternoon, depending on ocean conditions, enjoy a snorkeling outing along the cliffs of partly-sunken Ecuador Volcano, in the northern tip of Isabela Island. Since there is no landing site at this location, enjoy exploration by dinghy (panga), while your guides explain the dramatic geology of the area. This is the nesting place for flightless cormorants. You will also likely find sea lions, Galápagos fur seals, Galápagos penguins, blue-footed and Nazca boobies and green sea turtles. Details about the next day’s activities before dinner.

Day 10: Baltra Island / Disembark / Quito - Cruise Only Ends

Deluxe Hotel or Premium Upgrade HotelDisembark at Baltra Island and transfer by bus to the airport for your flight back to the mainland. This afternoon is at your leisure. Overnight in Quito.

Day 11: Quito / Home

This morning, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Trip Details

Ship	Santa Cruz
Just Released Offer	Book the August 22nd 8-day Galapagos cruise in an Upper Deck Twin and receive complimentary pre/post-cruise land arrangements in Quito from ExpeditionTrips.Applicable Date (11 Days total): 8/22/2008- Two pre-cruise nights at a boutique hotel in Quito- One post-cruise night at a boutique hotel in Quito- Four airport/hotel transfers in QuitoNot Included: Airfare; gratuities; Galapagos National Park tax; travel insurance. Offer subject to availability and applicable only to the following departures.Note: Trip begins August 20, cruise portion begins Augst 22.
Highlights	Perfect for families & couples who want a quality cruise on a larger ship; great guides, comfortable ship, and well planned itinerary.
Trip Notes	Itineraries is subject to change. ExpeditionTrips.com is not responsible for itinerary changes.Itinerary for Wednedsday Schedule: Day 1: Arrive Quito Day 2: Quito Day 3: San Cristobal Island / Embark Day 4: Espanola Island / Floreana Island Day 5: Fernandina Island / Isabela Island Day 6: Baltra Island / Santa Cruz Island Day 7: Bartolomé Island / Santiago IslandDay 8: Rabida Island / North Seymour Island Day 9: Santa Cruz IslandDay 10: San Cristobal Island / Disembark / Quito Day 11: Quito / Home Languages: In addition to English, French, German, and Italian are available on request and with a minimum of 10 guests.Included (Cruise Only): Cabin accommodations aboard ship; all meals aboard ship; all shore activities and excursions; guide and lecture services; use of glass-bottom boat and snorkeling gear; transfers and baggage handling between island airport and ship.Not Included (Cruise Only): Hotel nights before/after cruise; transfers in Quito or Guayaquil; international airfare; airfare to/from Galapagos Islands; Galapagos National Park entrance fee, USD$100 (children under 12 subtract $50), subject to change without notice; Galapagos Transit Card ($10 per person), paid in cash upon arrival to airport; bar purchases; gifts and personal items; passport expenses; traveler's insurance; international airport departure tax, must be paid in cash; laundry service; gratuities to ship staff and crew are left to the discretion of the passenger; wetsuit rental ($30 per person for the voyage, plus taxes); fuel surcharge ($168 per person, per trip).Included (Package): Three hotel nights in Quito in either a Deluxe Hotel, or Premium Upgrade hotel for an additional $150 per person (hotel based on availability); four transfers in Quito; adult Galapagos National Park entrance fee, USD$100 (Children under 12 subtract $50); Cabin accommodations aboard ship; all meals aboard ship; all shore activities and excursions; guide and lecture services; use of glass-bottom boat and snorkeling gear; transfers and baggage handling between island airport and ship.Not Included (Package): International airfare; airfare to/from Galapagos Islands; Galapagos Transit Card ($10 per person), paid in cash upon arrival to airport; gratuities; bar purchases; gifts and personal items; passport expenses; traveler's insurance; international airport departure tax, must be paid in cash; wetsuit rental ($30 per person for the voyage, plus taxes); fuel surcharge ($168 per person, per trip).If you are booking a cruise only program, we are happy to add hotels, air and land arrangements as requested, and you will be quoted for services.Airfare between Quito/Guayaquil and the Galapagos Islands: Approximate cost: $375-$450 per adult; $225-$275 per child under 12 (copy of passport required). Prices vary based on shipping company and departure dates. Please note, ExpeditionTrips.com charges a $25 per person service charge to issue these air tickets.
Departure Notes	Cruise Only - Starts Mondays & Fridays (8 days)Package - Starts Saturdays & Wednesdays (11 days)
Payment Policy	A deposit of $500 per person is required to confirm your reservation. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Payment MethodsDeposit: credit cards are accepted (VISA, MC, AmEx, Discover); Final payment: check or wire.WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS FOR FINAL PAYMENT.

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