Galapagos Cruise - Santa Cruz

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Quito

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

Day 3: San Cristobal Island / Embark - Cruise Only Starts

Arrival by plane to San Cristóbal Island and transfer to the Santa Cruz. Cabin assignment and lunch. After lunch, introductory welcome talk and boat drill. 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 for a briefing on the next day's activities, followed by a cocktail offered by the Captain and dinner.

Day 4: Española Island / Floreana Island

Enjoy a morning outing at Punta Suarez 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. Among its landbirds, the Hood island mockingbird, and three species of Darwin’s finches are common highlights. Also, look for red-green-black marine iguanas, and of course a rookery of sea lions right at the landing site. For those planning not to walk the entire trail, there will be a dinghy ride arranged along the coastline of Punta Suarez, followed by a very short walk under easy walking conditions. Back on board for lunch. Disembark at Punta Cormorant 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 come out at night for nesting (from December to May). Snorkeling can take place from the beach, and for those experienced marine enthusiasts, Devil's Crown can be an option. Non-snorkelers can enjoy an introduction to the Marine Reserve on the glass-bottom boat. This evening, briefing and dinner.

Day 5: 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 with lots of wildlife. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their island habitat with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, and hawks. Lava terrain calls for good walking shoes. Enjoy lunch back on board. As you sail along the Bolívar Channel, astonishing views of the Galápagos’ youngest volcanoes can be seen. In the afternoon, depending on the conditions of the ocean, 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, take a coastal exploration by dinghy where your naturalist guides explain the dramatic geology of the area with remains of lava flows and tuff stone layers. This is the nesting place for flightless cormorants. Wildlife here also includes sea lions, Galápagos fur seals, Galápagos penguins, blue-footed and Nazca boobies and noddy terns. This area has a very rich marine life, and is seasonally visited by green sea turtles. Details about the next day’s activities before dinner.

Day 6: Santa Cruz / Disembark / Baltra / Quito – Cruise Only Ends

Deluxe Hotel or Premium Upgrade Hotel Disembark early for a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station (optional). After a 30-minute bus ride along the highlands, you arrive at the Station. Here, learn about the rearing in captivity program for the famous giant tortoises, the conservation efforts promoted by this institution, and stroll among the giant prickly-pear cactus forest. After an hour visit, transfer to the Baltra Island airport for your flight back to the mainland. (Passengers not taking this optional excursion may stay onboard for a later wake-up call, then disembark directly at Balta Island and transfer to the airport.) Back in Quito, the afternoon is at your leisure. Overnight in Quito.

Day 7: Quito / Home

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

Trip Details

Ship	Santa Cruz
Just Released Offer	Members of ExpeditionTrips.com save 20% per person on select Galapagos package departures. Applicable Dates: 9/3/2008, 9/24/2008 Per Person Discounted Rates: (Package) Main Deck Twin Standard: $1,440; Upper Deck Twin Standard: $1,500; Boat Deck Twin Standard: $1,612; Boat Deck Standard Plus Twin: $1,670; Boat Deck Single Standard: $2,434; Boat Deck Superior Twin/Double: $1,730; Boat Deck Junior Suite Twin: $1,797; Boat Deck Master Suite Double: $2,022 Per Person Regular Rates: (Package) Main Deck Twin Standard: $1,800; Upper Deck Twin Standard: $1,876; Boat Deck Twin Standard: $2,015; Boat Deck Standard Plus Twin: $2,089; Boat Deck Single Standard: $3,042; Boat Deck Superior Twin/Double: $2,162; Boat Deck Junior Suite Twin: $2,246; Boat Deck Master Suite Double: $2,528 New Reservations Only
Highlights	Perfect for families and couples who want a quality cruise on a larger ship; great guides, comfortable ship, and a well planned itinerary.
Trip Notes	This itinerary is subject to change. ExpeditionTrips.com is not responsible for itinerary changes. 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 (2008: $15 per voyage; 2009: $19 per voyage); 2008/2009 fuel surcharge ($72 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 (2008: $15 per voyage; 2009: $19 per voyage); 2008/2009 fuel surcharge ($72 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: The flights between mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) and the Galapagos Islands are an additional cost. For your cruise security, ExpeditionTrips must reserve these flights for you at the time of cruise booking. Approximate cost (including service fee): $400 – $450 per adult; $225-$275 per child under 12 (copy of passport required).
Departure Notes	Cruise Only - Starts Fridays (4 days) Package - Starts Wednesdays (7 days) Ship in Dry Dock: Sep 2009
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.

Browse Similar Trips

• Iguazu Discoverer
• Galapagos Adventure - 7 Days
• South America Explorer

• Papallacta Hot Springs
• Galapagos Cruise - Santa Cruz
• Galapagos + Peru

• Great South American Journey - Rio to Quito
• Land of the Inca - La Paz to Lima
• Galapagos Family Adventure

• Galapagos Cruise Ship - 10 Days
• Great South American Journey
• Galapagos Cruise - Polaris

• Home
• International Airfare
• Hotels
• Hostels
• Community
• RTW Guide
• Travel Blogs
• Adventure Trips
• Travel Gear
• Travel Insurance
• Eurail