Travel to Ecuador, Galapagos: Galapagos Christmas Cruise - Eric, Flamingo, Letty

Home  >  Destinations  >  South America  >  Galapagos  >  Galapagos Christmas Cruise - Eric, Flamingo, Letty

Galapagos Christmas Cruise - Eric, Flamingo, Letty

			DAYS: 11 GRADE: I define PRICE: From $4430 per person * $535 Internal Flights and Park Fees * HIGHLIGHTS: Quito Galapagos cruise wildlife interactions snorkeling kayaking ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels/Lodges Yacht/Ship MEALS: As noted  [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch,   D-Dinner] Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services Send to a Friend Print this Itinerary

New Year's and Christmas in Ecuador is the most festive and colorful time for a Galapagos family vacation. Experience the fascinating blend of Indian and Spanish culture and holiday festivities in the Andes and embark on a Galapagos Islands adventure to discover exotic and bizarre wildlife voyaging throughout Darwin's archipelago. During this 8-day voyage, you will visit major wildlife sites including the remote Genovesa Island. We hike among cinder cones, lava flows, white and black sand beaches, and rocky cliffs, and snorkeling and swim with sea lions in the clear Equatorial waters.

The Eric, Flamingo and Letty are three 83 foot Galapagos yachts that each accommodate up to 20 passengers. They are certified "Smart Voyager" vessels for minimizing their impact on the fragile island habitat and each carries sea kayaks so guests can explore the islands close up.

DAY 1 :  ARRIVE QUITO
Arrive in Quito and transfer to Casa Aliso, a charming refurbished mansion turned boutique hotel in the fashionable "La Floresta" neighborhood.  Overnight Casa Aliso (or similar). [Meals on your own]

DAY 2 :  QUITO
We begin our Ecuador vacation with a half-day city tour of colonial Quito, including the bustling Independence Plaza, the dazzling gold-leafed altars of La Compania Church, and the impressive San Francisco Church. Visit the Mitad del Mundo Equatorial marker and ethnographic village and museum. Afternoon and evening are free to explore this beautifully restored city with its busy pedestrian plazas, shops, coffee bars, pubs, and many excellent restaurants. Overnight Casa Aliso (or similar). [B]

	Your home in the Galapagos is the comfortable and intimate M/Y Eric, Flamingo and Letty

DAY 3 :  GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Private transfer this morning to the domestic airport for the 2 hour flight to begin our trip to Galapagos. We meet our naturalist guide and transfer to the Eric, Flamingo, or Letty. We are greeted by the ship's crew who take care of your luggage and run through safety drills before our Galapagos adventure gets under way to Playa Ochoa, where we test snorkeling equipment and abilities while swimming with playful sea lions. Behind the beach, a tidal lagoon hosts many bird species, including the rare Chatham mockingbird.  At sunset, we cruise around Leon Dormido, or "Kicker Rock," a tuff cone which abruptly rises nearly 500 vertical feet out of the ocean.  On the nearby cliffs, we may spot blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and the magnificent frigatebird.  Overnight onboard the Eric, Flamingo or Letty. [BLD]

Watch out for Galapagos wildlife sharing the trails with Blue-footed boobies!

DAY 4 :  GENOVESA & DARWIN BAY

We spend the entire day on Genovesa (Tower), considered to be one of the most spectacular Islands in Galapagos for bird species. This morning, a dry landing at Prince Philips Steps takes us to a forest of Palo Santo trees, where red-footed boobies nest.  Striking Nazca (formerly masked) boobies nest near the trail.  In an open lava field, observe large numbers of  storm petrels, and if you are lucky, we will see the elusive short-eared owl.  Following the walk, kayaks are available for paddling along the shoreline.  Look for the beautiful red-billed tropic bird usually found in the crevices.  Following lunch, we have a wet-landing on Darwin Bay, a coral sand beach where swallow-tailed and lava gulls gather near the tide pools.  Enter a forest of Optuntia cactus and mangroves where colonies of great frigate birds nest. In a dramatic display, the earthbound males inflate their red-throated pouches to attract females as they fly overhead.  The trail leads through a rich inter tidal zone where your naturalist guide helps you identify a wide diversity of wildlife.  After the walk, we can swim and snorkel from the beach with sea lions in these warmer northern waters.  Returning to the Eric, we set sail early to motor to the western islands.  Overnight onboard the Eric, Flamingo or Letty. [BLD]

DAY 5 :  SANTA CRUZ & NORTH SEYMOUR
This morning we visit Las Bachas, the Spanish translation of "barges."  There is a long stretch of soft, white sand beach and interior lagoons where we find the greater flamingo.  The snorkeling from the beach here is exceptional.  This afternoon we have a dry landing at North Seymour, a geological "uplift."  We follow a trail which leads us to swallow-tail gulls, blue-footed boobies, and the endemic land iguanas.  Visit the largest colony of magnificent frigatebirds found in Galapagos.  As we stroll along the beach, we find marine iguanas and sea lions body surfing the northern swells.  Following the walk, there is a snorkeling opportunity offered in deep water.  Overnight onboard the Eric, Flamingo or Letty. [BLD]

DAY 6 :  FERNANDINA & ISABELA
This morning we have a semi-wet landing at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina, the youngest of the Galapagos Islands and the most pristine of all the islands.  Recent lava flows formed by an active volcano stretch around the rugged coastline.  Hundreds of marine iguanas, the largest colony in the Galapagos, bask in the sun.  Observe sea lion harems with the resident bull carefully guarding the territory.  Flightless cormorants build their nests on the point, and Galapagos hawks soar overhead.  After lunch, we cross the Bolivar Channel where we often spot whales and dolphins riding the bow wave.  The afternoon brings us to a dry landing at Tagus Cove on the adjacent island of Isabela.  Six volcanoes flowing together created this, the largest island in the archipelago.  During the walk, we discover a salt water lagoon, a scenic overlook with spectacular views of of the ocean and neighboring islands, lava fields and volcanic formations.  Graffiti dating back to the 1800s is scrawled on rocky cliffs.  Explore the cove by Zodiac or via one of our sea kayaks to seek out penguins, boobies, pelicans and other seabirds.  An excellent snorkeling opportunity is offered here following your hike.  Overnight onboard the Eric, Flamingo or Letty. [BLD]

	Kids commune with animals and learn about evolution on our Galapagos family vacations.

DAY 7 :  ISABELA
This morning, our excursion is a Zodiac ride to Elizabeth Bay.  We begin with a visit to a secluded cove lined with large red mangrove trees sheltering turtles, rays and shorebirds.  We motor to the rocky islets known as "Las Marielas," where a colony of nesting penguins, flightless cormorants, and marine iguanas may be found.  We disembark this afternoon at the base of Alcedo Volcano at Urbina Bay.  Here we find 4 miles of exposed coastal seabed and remnants of marine life brought to the surface during a dramatic uplift in 1954, following a volcanic eruption.  The remains of coral skeletons, some of them waist-high, are visited after a wet landing on the beach.  You may also see nesting brown pelicans and flightless cormorants, as well as giant marine iguanas which inhabit this area.  Overnight onboard the Eric, Flamingo or Letty. [BLD]

DAY 8 :  SANTIAGO & RABIDA
This morning, we have a wet landing at Puerto Egas, Santiago.  Stroll with your naturalist guide along the shore, looking for octopus, starfish and other sea life caught in the tidal pools.  At low tide, catch a glimpse of marine iguanas as they feed on exposed green algae.  Watch for great blue herons, lava herons, American oystercatchers and yello-crowned night herons.  Our walk ends at the grottos, deep pools of clear water where we encounter fur seals once thought on the verge of extinction.  Before returning to the yacht, there is a snorkeling opportunity where you may view massive numbers of brilliant tropical fish.  As an alternative, you may use the kayaks to explore the marine environment. 

Following lunch this afternoon, we disembark on Rabida Island, located just off Santiago.  Rabida sports the most diversified volcanic rocks of all the islands and is considered the geologic center of the Galapagos archipelago.  The dark red sand beach originated from erosion of volcanic stones.  Follow a trail leading to the salt water lagoon, and hopefully observe greater flamingos as they feed.  Brown pelicans also nest in the mangroves at the far side of the lagoon.  Excellent snorkeling from the beach lies at the end of your walk.  Overnight onboard the Eric, Flamingo or Letty. [BLD]

DAY 9 :  SANTA CRUZ & SANTA FE
Travel by bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.  The scenery gradually changes as we wind our way through all seven of the vegetation zones found in the Galapagos.  Here we visit the tortoise reserve in hopes of encountering the giant tortoises in their natural habitat.  We visit Los Gemelos, Spanish for The Twins, a pair of large pit craters and habitat for the brilliant vermilion flycatcher.  A special treat is a stop at the largest lava tube found in the Galapagos, eye-popping evidence for the origins of the islands. 

Alternately, we may choose to visit the Charles Darwin Station.  Here we visit the tortoise corals, and the breeding center where hatchlings are raised before repatriation to their native islands.  Scientists from all over the world come to work and study here, conducting important biological and environmental research.  You may also visit Lonesome George, the last surviving member of the La Pinta species. 

The afternoon brings us to Santa Fe, a volcanic uplift.  We begin with a wewt landing on a beach populated with sea lions.  We also observe some of the largest land iguanas in the islands, the last few remaining species endemic to Santa Fe.  Some of these lizards grow to 5 feet in length, with very pronounced spines along the back.  We also walk through a forest of giant prickly pear cactus, an important food source for the iguanas.  Back onboard the yacht, you are invited to the Captain's Farewell Cocktail hour, followed by dinner and briefing.  Overnight onboard the Eric, Flamingo or Letty. [BLD]

DAY 10 :  RETURN TO QUITO
We conclude our Galapagos Islands vacation by disembarking with our guide who accompanies passengers to the Galapagos Island airport for the afternoon flight to the mainland. Transfer in from the Quito airport and overnight at Casa Aliso (or similar). [B]

DAY 11 :  DEPART
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home or extend your trip to visit more of Ecuador's natural wonders. [B]
 

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Jeff Stivers 1(800)345-4453 C o n t a c t Sherry Howland 1(800)345-4453