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Day 1: Miami/Guayaquil
Transfer from your gateway city to our group flight in Miami, where we check
in for our early evening flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador. On arrival, receive a
transfer to a fine hotel for the night. (In-flight meals)
Day 2: Guayaquil/San Cristóbal/Cerro Brujo
After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to the airport and fly to the Galapagos
Islands. Our crew meets us at San Cristóbal Island and excorts us on the
short bus trip to the harbor, where our 32-guest expedition ship, the M/V Evolution,
awaits us. This afternoon we visit the powder-white sands of Cerro Brujo for
swimming and snorkeling, with a good chance of sea lions joining us. We'll likely
see blue-footed boobies, yellow warblers and finches. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Española (Hood) Island: Punta Suarez and Gardner Bay
In the morning visit Punta Suarez, also located on Hood Island, where we wade
ashore through a large sea lion colony. The curious Hood mockingbird, found only
here, may alight on your head if you permit it. We'll also see Galapagos doves,
Galapagos hawks and the red-colored race of marine iguana that is found only
here. The huge waved albatross nests here between April and December. Albatross
courtship displays are elaborate and highly amusing. Albatrosses are graceful
in the air but back-heavy and ungainly on land. Because they are unable to launch
themselves into flight from the ground, they must waddle to a cliff and jump
off the edge! Finally, we walk to Epañola's famous blowhole, where incoming
waves spout 90 feet into the air. In the afternoon visit Gardner Bay on Hood
Island, where we can swim and snorkel among sea lions. Dominant male sea lions
mark out territories along the shore and patrol them noisily, defending against
other males who might want to invade the "harem." (B, L, D)
Day 4: Santa Cruz Island
Today visit Santa Cruz Island. We begin at the Charles Darwin Research Station,
world famous for its research and tortoise breeding programs, where we learn
about the vital work being done to study and preserve Galapagos wildlife. We
walk to the village of Puerto Ayora, the largest human settlement in the Galapagos,
with free time to explore. Then we drive to the highlands and see a very different
side of the Galapagos: the forested highlands. We look for giant tortoises in
the wild, and walk through the forest surrounding a pair of pit craters, and
time permitting explore a lava tube. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Santiago (James) Island/Bartolomé Island
Santiago has several sites to visit at the western end of James Bay. Puerto Egas,
with its black sand beaches, was the site of a small salt mining industry in
the 1960s. A walk inland to the salt crater is an excellent opportunity to spot
land birds such as finches, doves and hawks. A walk down the rugged shoreline
will turn up marine species, including iguanas basking on the rocks and sea lions
lazing in the tide pools. At the end of the trail there is a series of grottoes
where fur seals and night herons rest on shady ledges. Just north of James Bay
is Buccaneer Cove, a particularly scenic area of steep cliffs and dark beaches.
In the afternoon we visit Bartolomé Island, which provides important clues
as to how life began on the Galapagos. A few hardy plants have begun to colonize
the lava rock. From atop Bartolomé's volcanic cone there is a splendid
panorama of lava flows, beaches, sea, neighboring islands and the jagged Pinnacle
Rock. We will also have an opportunity to swim, snorkel and kayak here, possibly
with penguins and sea lions for company. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Genovesa (Tower) Island/Darwin Bay
Genovesa Island contains one of the largest and most diverse bird populations
in the Galapagos. From our pangas we see red-billed tropicbirds. In the morning,
we climb Prince Philip's Steps to an area with colonies of Nazca boobies and
great frigatebirds, which have a very large wingspan and a slender, dramatic
silhouette in flight. Breeding males inflate their strawberry-colored chest pouches
to an enormous size. There are also red-footed boobies and the subtly-colored
Galapagos dove, once endangered but now increasing in number. In the afternoon
we visit Darwin Bay, home to the nocturnal swallow-tailed gull and the rare lava
gull. A walk along the cliffs gives us fine views of the Pacific Ocean. We have
a chance to swim and snorkel here. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Fernandina Island - Punta Espinosa/Isabela Island - Tagus Cove
The morning finds us at Renandina, the youngest and most volcanically active
island in the Galapagos. We land at Punta Espinosa. There are flows of ropy "pahoehoe" lava
that have been newly colonized by lava cactus. Flightless cormorants build their
nests on the point, sea lions sprawl on the beach and play in the tidepools,
Sally Lightfoot crabs scuttle along the rocks, and marine iguanas dot the sand.
In the afternoon, we sail round to Isabela Island and explore Tagus Cove, whose
surrounding cliffs are marked with the names of pirate and whaling ships from
long ago. On our panga ride we look for penguins, flightless cormorants, pelicans
and iguanas. We then have a chance to stretch our legs as we walk uphill to the
rim of the crater of Darwin Volcano and look down into Darwin Lake. The landscape
is impressive, with plants characteristic of the dry zone. We may see several
species of Darwin's finches here. (B, L, D)
Day 8: North Seymour Island/Black Turtle Cove
In the morning we visit North Seymour Island, where there are good nesting sites
for a large population of magnificent frigatebirds. Blue-footed boobies perform
their courtship dance in the more open areas, and swallow-tailed gulls percho
on the cliff edges. Despite the surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions
haul out onto the beach and can be found along with marine iguanas. Caleta Tortuga
Negra ("Black Turtle Cove") is a beautiful and peaceful area of mangroves,
where on our panga ride we look for schools of golden rays, endangered green
sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, lava herons and blue-footed boobies. For
part of the time, we'll turn off the motors of our pangas and just drift silently
through the cove.
Day 9: Kicker Rock/San Cristóbal/Guayaquil
The morning we sail out to Kicker Rock, which rises 500 feet straight up, and
has the shape of a sleeping lion. We enjoy a panga ride, seeing the thousands
of seabirds which nest here, inluding blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies and
swallow-tailed gulls. Back at San Cristóbal, we visit the Interpretation
Center to learn about conservation efforts in the Galapagos. Fly to Guayaquil,
where we enjoy a farewell dinner at our hotel. (B, L aloft, D)
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Day 10: Guayaquil/Miami
We take a morning flight to Miami, and connect with flights home. (B, L aloft)
Day 1 : U.S. / Quito
Arrive in Quito, meet our representatives, then transfer to the Swissôtel.
(Meals Aloft)
Day 2: Quito
Spend a full day exploring Quito, including a visit to Independence Square, the
Baroque/Moorish Church of San Francisco and Panecillo Hill, where the winged
Virgin of Quito watches over her city. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and
an afternoon at leisure. We spend tonight at the Swissôtel. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Quito / Zuleta / Otavalo
Depart Quito for a scenic drive through the Andean highlands, en route to Otavalo.
Take backroads through the colorful Zuleta region and meet craftsmen whose beautiful
textiles are sold at Otavalo Market. After a day in the countryside, proceed
to your hotel, Hacienda Pinsaqui. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Otavalo / Quito
Before breakfast, take time to stroll the gardens of the hacienda, which attract
many birds. Depart Pinsaqui for the world-famous Otavalo Market, a weekly “get-together” orchestrated
by one of the most prosperous Indian communities in South America. Later, return
to Quito and spend tonight at the Swissôtel. (B,L,D)
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