Travel to Ecuador, Galapagos: Galapagos Christmas Odyssey on the Samba

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Galapagos Christmas Odyssey on the Samba

			DAYS: 11 GRADE: I define PRICE: From $3295 per person (Includes Local Air) HIGHLIGHTS: Quito Galapagos cruise Wildlife interactions Snorkeling 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

Explore the fascinating blend of Indian and Spanish culture in Quito, South America's oldest capital city and designated UN World Heritage Site, and voyage among the unique Galapagos Islands. Discover plants and animals unique to particular islands as you travel throught the archipelago. Our expert naturalist guides explain how these species have evolved and adapted over time. During an 8 day cruise you will visit the major wildlife sites, including some of the more remote outer islands. Meet exotic and bizarre wildlife as you venture among cinder cones, lava flows, white and black sand beaches, and rocky cliffs and cool off with snorkel in clear equatorial waters. Your vessal for this voyage of discovery is the Samba, a classic steel-hulled motor yacht built for just 12 passengers.

DAY 1 :  ARRIVE QUITO
Airport reception and transfer to Cafe Cultura, or similar, for overnight.  [Meals on your own]

DAY 2 :  QUITO
Enjoy a half-day city tour of colonial Quito today. Begin in the charming hillside neighborhood of Guapulo where the quaint cobblestone streets and lavish walled residences of ambassadors are found. Continue into the main area of Quitos New Town, passing the American Embassy and House of Culture, before entering old colonial center which houses the bustling Independence Plaza, the dazzling, gold-leafed altars of La Compania Church, and the gorgeous San Francisco Church. Finish the orientation with a visit to Mitad del Mundo, the Equatorial marker, and an ethnographic village and museum. Learn about the broad diversity of people living in this small nation, from descendents of African slaves on the Pacific coast to the remote Achuar people of the rainforest.  The rest of the day is free for you to relax and prepare for the cruise. Overnight Cafe Cultura, or similar. [B]

Note: You may also want to take a scenic ride up the slopes of Volcan Pichincha to a height of 13,285 ft. on the Telefarico cable car for a commanding view of the city and the surrounding Andes Mountains. (Additional $125 per person, includes lunch)

	The Samba is exclusively for a maximum of twelve passengers.

DAY 3 :  GALAPAGOS
Private transfer this morning to the domestic airport for the 2 hour flight to the Galapagos. You are met and warmly greeted by your naturalist guide and transferred to the Samba.  The ship's crew will greet you on board, take care of your luggage, and run through safety drills. Enjoy fresh fruit drinks as the yacht makes her way to Lobos Island. Just north of San Cristobal, Lobos offers a serene environment with great chances to view various wildlife. Because of its protected, peaceful atmosphere, many rare and endangered species of plants and birds may be found here. Watch Blue-footed Boobies dive for fish and see lazy sea lions bask on the lava shores. As the sun sets, enjoy a typical Ecuadorian meal, the nightly briefing, and formal presentation of the captain and crew. During the rest of this week, you will leisurely voyage through the stunning Galapagos Islands, among a varied landscape of diverse flora and fauna. Overnight on the Samba. [BLD]

DAY 4 :  SANTA CRUZ ISLAND & CHARLES DARWIN STATION
Visit the famous Charles Darwin Station on Santa Cruz Island and learn about current research and conservation initiatives including several breeding programs that hope to reintroduce specific tortoise species back onto the island of their origin. Meet Lonesome George, possibly the oldest resident of Galapagos and the last surviving individual giant tortoise of his Pinta Island sub-species. In the lush green highlands, explore lava tubes and pit craters, and look for wild giant tortoises. Enjoy a typical Ecuadorian lunch at a local restaurant. Overnight on the Samba. [BLD]

Explore the vibrant Galapagos marine environment during frequent snorkeling excursions.

DAY 5 :  ESPANOLA & PUNTA SUAREZ ISLANDS
Relax on the beach with the sea lions at Gardener Bay, Espanola. Snorkeling from shore here, you can find plenty of beautiful fish as well as harmless nurse sharks and gentle sea turtles. Due to its isolation, Espanola has a high number of endemic species found only on this island and you will visit the nesting site of over ten thousand pairs of Waved albatross. At one meter high with a two meter wing span, the Waved albatross is one of the most impressive and comical aerial acrobats in the world. Remarkabley, they are found no where else on Earth. This afternoon head Punta Suarez for an outstanding opportunity to see more wildlife including five species of nesting seabirds like the Hood Island mockingbirds, Galapagos doves, and Galapagos hawks. Prehistoric-looking Marine iguanas and giant lava lizards roam the terrain. A short hike leads to the Blowhole, a fissure in the lava cliffs which blasts incoming breakers into geysers over 90 feet high. Overnight on the Samba. [BLD]

DAY 6 :  FLOREANA ISLAND & POST OFFICE BAY
Of all the islands in the Galapagos, Floreana has the most intriguing human history. Learn about the 18th century whalers who created the wooden barrel in Post Office Bay which is still used as a general mail distribution center, and the particularly eccentric self-proclaimed baroness who mysteriously disappeared one night. However, the wildlife is still be found here and the fine olivine and white sand beaches are common nesting areas for green sea turtles. A nearby lagoon is home to flamingos, pintail ducks, stilts, and other shorebirds. Visitors may also spot stingrays and white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the shallows of the bay. Overnight on the Samba. [BLD]

	The Galapagos are a showcase of unusual vegetation, wildlife and geology

DAY 7 :  ISABELA ISLAND & ELIZABETH BAY
The largest island in the archipelago, Isabela is made up of five shield volcanoes joined together by eons of lava flows. Each of the ancient volcanoes is home unique and distinct subspecies of giant tortoises which have evolved here. The rugged coastline features marine iguanas, penguins, flightless cormorants, and great blue herons. The hike to the interior visits a lagoon with flamingoes and other seabirds. At Elizabeth Bay, enjoy a panga ride through the mangrove area to see the rays, turtles, sea lions, and, circling overhead, Galapagos hawks. Overnight on the Samba. [BLD]

DAY 8 :  ISABELA & FERNANDINA ISLANDS
Urbina Bay at Isabela Island is a perfect place to see the geological activity of the Galapagos Islands. In 1954 sudden movements of the tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface caused a 3 mile long section of the shore's edge to rise 13 feet out of the water, dramatically exposing the marine reef. From here, head out to Fernandina, the youngest and westernmost island in the Galapagos. Punta Espinosa is a narrow stretch of land where some of the most unique Galapagos species can be seen including Sally Lightfoot crabs, penguins, and Marine iguanas, which congregate in larger groups here than on any other island. Watch penguins throw themselves off the rocks into the water, while the panga driver skillfully eludes the reef to reach the landing site near a small mangrove forest. The Marine iguanas are everywhere: basking in the sand, swimming near the shore, grazing on the exposed seaweed in the lava, and blocking the way at the landing dock, one of the few places where you can watch them feed underwater. Overnight on the Samba. [BLD]

Sea lions can be found throughout the islands.

DAY 9 :  SANTIAGO & BARTOLOME ISLANDS
After landing this morning at the beautiful black sand beach of Puerto Egas, on Santiago, embark on a hike through the dry interior of the island. Keep your eyes out for hawks, doves, and finches before reaching the opposite coastline. Deep aquamarine colored grottos shelter sea lions and night herons, as well as invertebrates such as sea urchins, octopus, and starfish. This is one of the few places in the Galapagos to spot fur seals basking on the black lava rocks. In the afternoon visit Pinnacle Rock on Bartolome Island, where penguins are often spotted. Hike up to the summit of the island for spectacular views of the Rock, the white-sand beaches and the lush mangrove swamps below. Identify various volcanic formations like spatter and tuff cones with your guide, keeping an eye out for pelicans and Galapagos Hawks. Overnight on the Samba. [BLD]

DAY 10 :  RETURN TO QUITO
Disembark in the morning. Your guide will accompany you to the Galapagos airport for your afternoon flight to the mainland. Transfer in from the Quito airport and overnight at Cafe Cultura or similar. [B]

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

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

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