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South American Vacations did a superb job in arranging all the details of our recent visit to Peru. We were met at each airport by gracious and informative guides who were passionate and well informed about Peru's history and heritage. All our hotels met all of our expectations and the travel arra ... more Timothy and Marcia Bell
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Four Day Galapagos Islands Cruise Aboard the Galapagos Journey III
Day 1
Quito/Baltra/Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz)
Day 2
Punta Suarez/Gardner Bay (Espanola)
Day 3
Santa Fe/South Plazas
Day 4
North Seymour/Baltra/Quito
Save $100 plus Free Quito-Galapagos Airfare on the August 1, and 8 Departures. Call for Availability.
Note: The route and program may vary according to National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety reasons and wildlife encounters.
IGTOA's Traveler Funding Program
South American Vacations is an active member of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association). In support of IGTOA's Traveler Funding Program, we contribute $50 for each passenger that we send to the Galapagos Islands. You'll travel knowing that you support the lasting protection of Galapagos Islands.
Sixty percent of the funding of this program goes directly to the Charles Darwin Foundation for science, conservation, and education. Their work, carried out through the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galapagos National Park, is vital to the preservation of the islands. You can visit their web site to learn more http://www.darwinfoundation.org
. The remainder goes toward IGTOA's mission of creating a model of responsible and sustainable tourism.
Four Day Galapagos Islands Cruise Aboard the Galapagos Journey III
The E/C Galapagos Journey III is an 88 ft. catamaran that offers stability and comfort. It accommodates 16 passengers in eight comfortable air conditioned cabins with ocean views, lower beds, and private bathrooms. On board, there are eight crew members plus one naturalist guide. The ship also features a comfortable dining room, inside/outside bars, and a sun deck. Wetsuits can be rented on board ($20). Activities: Wildlife viewing, hiking, and snorkeling.
Dry Landing: Guests step from the dinghy directly onto rocks or a dock. Wet Landing: As the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee-deep water and wade ashore.
Day 1: Quito/Baltra/Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz)
The flight from Quito (via Guayaquil) to the Galapagos is approximately 2 ½ hours on a Boeing 727. Upon arrival at Baltra travelers pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands and to pay the park entrance fee of $100 (unless prepaid). Your guide will meet you, collect your luggage and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbor. Motorized rafts, called 'Pangas' will then transport you to the E/C Galapagos Journey III and our crew will welcome you onboard. After a safety briefing, we set sail and eat lunch, after which the first island visit is made.
Charles Darwin Research Station. The Charles Darwin Research Station is based at Santa Cruz. Visitors are encouraged to donate to this organization, which carries out investigations and advises the Ecuadorian government and travel agencies on minimizing the impact of tourism on the islands. It contains a national-park information center and a museum. The station is also a tortoise breeding and rearing center, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared to be reintroduced back to their natural habitat. (None of the US$100 park fee goes toward the research station). (L,D)
Day 2: Punta Suarez/Gardner Bay (Espanola)
Punta Suarez is the best visitor site on Española island. Visitors can follow a trail of lava rocks where blue-footed boobies have made their nests and a variety of iguanas bask in the sun. The trail continues towards the colony of waved albatross (one of the Galapagos most spectacular seabirds) well worth visiting being as this site is home to the only colony of waved albatrosses in the Galapagos. Just beyond the colony is a blowhole where if you sit long enough you can watch seabirds performing their aerial acrobatic moves and their less graceful attempts to land and take off.
Gardner Bay. Española is the southernmost island of the archipelago and being somewhat outlying, it has a high portion of endemic fauna. The beautiful white-sand beach of Gardner Bay, located at the eastern coast, provides an excellent beach for swimming and snorkelling. You will also enjoy the company of the overly curious Hood mockingbirds which are endemic to this island. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Santa Fe/South Plazas
Santa Fe is one of the most entertaining destinations for shore excursions in the Galapagos Islands. It has two trail choices for visitors, one of which takes you to the tallest Opuntia cactus in the Galapagos. While the other trail takes you into the highlands where land iguanas can be seen. After a long walk, the opportunity to swim in calm waters or snorkel with playful sea lions will be pretty tempting.
South Plazas Island. One of a pair of small uplifted islands a short distance from the east coast of Santa Cruz, South Plaza has unique Sesuvium plants and Opuntia cactuses scattered across the landscape which provide some of the most interesting wildlife observations available in Galapagos. Land iguanas are easily seen from the trail, frequently under the shade of cactuses, waiting for a prickly pear to fall. Swallow-tailed gulls, along with various other sea birds, use the rising air to glide effortlessly over the escarpment and the protected rocky seashore is prime habitat for a large colony of noisy sea lions. (B,L,D)
Day 4: North Seymour/Baltra/Quito
North Seymour. Located slightly to the north of Baltra, North Seymour is a low, flat island, formed as a result of sub-marine lava uplift. Covered with low, bushy vegetation, it contains the largest colony of magnificent frigatebirds in the Galapagos. There is also a large population of blue-footed boobies that perform an amusing courtship dance when nesting conditions are right. The dance consists of the birds taking big goofy strides, slowly picking-up high their blue feet, wings spread whilst whistling and honking - it really is one of the highlights of this island.
After your visit to North Seymour, a bus transfer to Baltra airport is provided allowing you to catch your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil and your final destination. (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Four Day Galapagos Islands Cruise Aboard the Galapagos Journey III
Save $100 plus Free Quito-Galapagos Airfare on the August 1, and 8 Departures. Call for Availability.
Single
Double
Triple
Standard Cabins
$2,939
$1,679
n/a
All prices are in U.S. Dollars. Click here to see our prices in your currency.
The above prices are valid until December 31, 2010.
Four Day Galapagos Islands Cruise Aboard the Galapagos Journey III
The Price of This Tour Includes
South American Vacations' expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
Transfers in the islands between the airport and dock on the date of the cruise.
Accommodations on board the E/C Galapagos Journey III.
All meals scheduled on board.
Two daily excursions to the islands conducted by bi-lingual naturalist guides.
