Itinerary
Six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador, surrounded by open ocean, a volcanic archipelago straddles the equator. The Galapagos Islands, forged of black lava and named for the giant tortoises that are among its most noted inhabitants, are like nowhere else in the world. Home to a profuse array of wildlife, the islands offer an immersion in nature that feels primeval, where lizards and penguins and bluefooted boobies share the beaches with us, unconcerned by our presence. Herman Melville called the Galapagos “Las Encantadas,” or Enchanted Isles, an apt moniker for a realm that remains otherworldly, even today
Day 1: Quito, Ecuador
Arrive in Quito and transfer to the Hilton Colon.
Day 2: Quito
Visit famed Otavalo Market or tour the city of Quito. Convene for a welcome dinner this evening.
Day 3: Quito / San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands
Fly to the Galapagos where we meet our Expedition Leader and board our yacht. We quickly discover the magic of the islands, with a chance to snorkel with sea lions at Playa Ochoa. A sunset cruise around Kicker Rock affords views of blue-footed boobies perched on its 500-foot high cliffs and frigate birds soaring overhead.
Day 4: Genovesa
Genovesa Island is a collapsed volcano that attracts vast numbers of seabirds that come here to nest. Inside the flooded crater we are surrounded by a cacophony of red-footed boobies, lava gulls, storm petrels and yellow-crowned night herons. At Darwin Bay, we swim again with sea lions.
Day 5: Bachas Beach/North Seymour
Snorkel and sunbathe at Las Bachas, a fabulous white sand beach on Santa Cruz. The powdered coral is a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Bright orange Sally Lightfoot crabs pepper the black lava at water’s edge. On North Seymour we find a large nesting colony of magnificent frigate birds and land iguanas that display an intense yellow color during mating season.
Day 6: Fernandina / Isabela
Fernandina is the youngest and most active volcano in the Galapagos. We land at Punta Espinoza, where flightless cormorants nest on barren lava while colonies of marine iguanas bask nearby. Cruising across Bolivar Channel, keep watch for whales and dolphins. On the largest island, Isabela, we explore Tagus Cove by panga (motorized rafts), finding penguins, pelicans and graffiti dating to the 1800s when the names of ships were carved into the rock above a historic anchorage for pirates and whalers.
Day 7: Isabela
Elizabeth Bay
On Isabela’s west coast is a marine sanctuary – no landings are permitted. We explore the small islets in the bay by panga, where we’re likely to see penguins and blue-footed boobies perched on the rocks and diving for pompano and dorado. As we cruise through a giant red mangrove cove, look for brown pelicans, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, golden rays and sea lions.
At Urbina Bay, we step ashore on a white sand beach to witness one of the best examples of geological uplift in the Galapagos, a phenomenon that occurs when molten rock beneath the surface suddenly shifts. In 1954 the shoreline was uplifted nearly 15 feet (4 meters). The coastline was driven 3/4 of a mile further out to sea, exposing giant coral heads and stranding marine organisms on what was now on shore. Urbina is also home to a colony of some of the largest land iguanas in the islands.
Day 8: Santiago / Santa Cruz
At Puerto Egas on Santiago we search the tidepools for octopus, starfish and marine iguanas feeding on algae. This afternoon we continue to Santa Cruz, the highest island in the chain. Those who wish to participate in our unique camping opportunity will disembark and transfer to the remote highlands of Santa Cruz for the night. Our private camp, with views of the ocean, is tucked among lush vegetation that attracts giant tortoises. A bus returns us in the morning to rejoin our boat for the day's activities.
Day 9: Santa Cruz / Darwin Station / Santa Fe
In the misty craters of the Santa Cruz highlands, we search for giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Lava tubes lace the ground beneath the scalesia forest, and we may venture into one of the caverns. We also visit Puerto Ayora, the main town on Santa Cruz, and tour the world-famous Charles Darwin Research Station. At the tortoise-rearing facility, we’ll see tiny babies bred to help increase the depleted population as part of the station’s conservation mission. This afternoon we cruise to Santa Fe, where we find one of the most scenic turquoise lagoons in the Galapagos as well as a host of endemic species including the Galapagos hawk and mockingbird, a variety of Darwin’s finches, and land iguanas that feast on the fruit of the prickly pear cactus. We’ll have a chance to snorkel from the beach, perhaps enticing some of the resident sea lion colony to swim with us.
Day 10: San Cristobal / Quito
At Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, capital of the Galapagos, we visit the National Park Interpretation Center. Late this morning we fly back to Quito and transfer to our hotel before gathering for a farewell dinner.
Day 11: Depart Quito
Transfer to the airport for flights home or for extensions to the Amazon rainforest, Machu Picchu or Easter Island.
Dates and Costs
Trip Duration
11 Days
2012 Dates
May 11 - 21
2013 Dates
May 10-20
Please note
In some cases a minimum number of travelers may be required to maintain exclusivity of our scheduled departures.
Private Group Charters :
We also offer private charters of several different vessels. These charters are great for family, friend, or corporate groups and provide privacy and flexibility amidst one of nature’s greatest sites.
For full details and pricing call The Independent Traveller.
2012 Fees
Iguana (Category 1) $5,795
Booby (Category 2) $6,095
Dolphin (Category 3) $6,395
Children 14 and under will receive a $500 discount off all departures. Children must be at least 7 years old to participate in this trip.
Single Supplement
If available, 1.25 times regular rate on a first come, first served basis on our scheduled trips only. If requested, we can also match you with a roommate during your stay on the boat. If one is not available, you will not be charged the single supplement for the boat portion of the trip, but you will be required to pay the $315 supplement for the land portion of the program.
Deposit: $500 (non-refundable)
Please note: We reserve the right to upgrade cabins at our discretion in order to accommodate matches for willing to share passengers.Other options and vessels are available for independent departures. Please call us! Prices are per person based on double occupancy and are given in US Dollars.
Prices may increase for 2013.
Extra Information
Location of Adventure
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
Group Size Limit
Approximately 20 Travellers.
A very important feature of our trips is the limited group size as nature expeditions are best experienced with smaller sized groups of travelers.
Included
Accommodations, meals from breakfast on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 11 (except lunch and dinner on Day 10), safe drinking water, services of a professional Expedition Leaders, local guides and boat crew, some gratuities, airport transfers, Otavalo Market or Quito City Tour excursion, use of wetsuits and snorkel gear on all scheduled departures, permit fees.
Not Included
Travel to and from Quito, Rerturn air Quito to Galapagos (to be added to your invoice), most gratuities, alcohol, Galapagos tax and transit card (approx.$110 for adults, $60 for children under 12, collected in advance), airport departure tax (approx $40), items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, etc.), travel insurance, optional activities.
Physical Requirements
Easy/Moderate/Flexible
The activities on this trip consist of island walks, swimming and snorkeling. Trails can be rough and uneven, and walking over slippery rocks is sometimes necessary when coming ashore. Passengers must be able to walk one mile to participate in this trip, and be able to get in and out of our motorized pangas, which can be very unsteady in rough water. A few wet landings, where we disembark from the panga directly into the water and walk up onto the beach, are included. Snorkeling can be a big component of this trip with nearly daily excursions offered (no experience required). Travellers are not required to participate in every activity.
Important Information
Perhaps nowhere else on earth is a more appropriate destination for wildlife and photography than the Galapagos Islands. With rare and friendly wildlife found at every turn, our Expedition Leaders are able to unveil the beauty and intricacies of nature in a warm and intimate manner. The key to the success of our Galapagos adventures is the small group size. On The M/V Letty we accommodate just 20 guests and two Expedition Leaders. We break down into even smaller groups when on land. The splitting of the group also serves to allow our guests to move at their chosen pace, although it is important that guests be able to walk on some uneven terrain up to a mile or two, as well as disembark the panga in sometimes rough conditions. In addition to land excursions, we will have the opportunity to snorkel almost every day while in the islands.
Another very important and exciting element of this trip is that we are afforded a unique opportunity to stay in the highlands of Santa Cruz at our firstclass camp, a private property with walk-in safari tents and classic outfitted tree houses overlooking the Pacific. On this private land the islands’ famed tortoises roam freely and give us a unique look at the islands in days gone by.
Please note: The itinerary provided is meant as a guideline, and is subject to change without notice. On rare occasions, it may be necessary to deviate from our regular itinerary for reasons beyond our control. In these instances we will provide the best available alternative.
Getting There & Getting Home
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador anytime on Day 1, and depart anytime on Day 11. We are prepared to handle all your round-trip travel arrangements, including flights for your extensions.
We can serve you best if The Independent Traveller makes these reservations for you, as they are intimately familiar with the special requirements of this program and can arrange the most efficient and cost effective travel for you.
