Read a sampling of what our
clients said about their trips
The trip to Peru was excellent in every detail. I loved all the hotels. The guides were all just fabulous! Machu Pichu was even more spectacular than I hoped for. The food was delicious and the weather was great. I am so glad we took the Hiram Bingham train. It was worth the extra money.
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Four Day Galapagos Islands Cruise Aboard the Galapagos Odyssey
Day 1
Baltra/Interpretation Center/Loberia (San Cristobal)
Day 2
Gardner Bay/Punta Suarez (Espanola)
Day 3
Punta Cormorant/Post Office Bay (Floreana)
Day 4
North Seymour/Baltra
Free Quito-Galapagos Airfare on All August 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 Odyssey
Galapagos Odyssey is a brand new 135 ft. luxury yacht that accommodates 16 passengers on four decks. All of her ten cabins are air conditioned and have either queen or twin lower beds, a small desk, sofa, mini-bar and closet, and private bathroom. Amenities on board include a Jacuzzi, al fresco dining area, spa service, and spacious sun and shade decks.
Activities: Wildlife viewing, hiking, snorkeling and diving (purchased separately).
Day 1: Baltra/Interpretation Center/Loberia (San Cristobal)
Upon arrival at Baltra, you will pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands. Guides will meet you, collect your luggage and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbor. You will be transported by motorized rafts, called 'Pangas' across Itabaca Channel, then by bus to Puerto Ayora to the M/V Galapagos Odyssey, where the crew will welcome you onboard. After departure and lunch, the first island visit is made.
The Galapagos Interpretation Center was built with the cooperation of the Spanish Science Centre and offers an excellent introduction to the Galapagos islands, their marine life, and flora and fauna. It is located in the outskirts of the small city of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Province.
Later, you will visit Loberia, which is located ten minutes by bus or 30 minutes by foot south of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Travelers frequently note the unusual color of the plants as they near the beach. La Loberia is home to a large sea lion colony and nursery. There are frequently dozens of sea lions visible at any time. Low tide is one of the best times to visit however, since it is when the mothers bring the pups into the tide pools for swimming lessons. Here you'll enjoy the sea lions, marine iguanas, bird watching, and even Galapagos giant tortoises. You have to always stay on the path and try not to disturb the wildlife. (L,D)
Day 2: Gardner Bay/Punta Suarez (Espanola)
Located on the north-eastern coast of Espanola, Gardner Bay provides an excellent beach for relaxing, swimming, and observing sea lions. You can also observe sharks in the crystalline waters of the ocean.
Punta Suarez is a rocky point of land that sustains one of the most impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in the Galapagos. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea affording the visitor spectacular views of soaring birds and of the blow whole, where water spouts up to 50-75 feet into the air according to the intensity of the surf. (B,L,D)
Day 3: Punta Cormorant/Post Office Bay (Floreana)
Punta Cormorant offers one of the largest and the best flamingo lagoons in the Galapagos. It is situated between two tuff cones that give the area a special atmosphere. There are various species of shorebirds to be seen besides flamingos, the most frequent are common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks and other migratories. This is a unique zone due to the high percentage of endemism in the plant life. Also of interest are the two distinct beaches: the "green beach" (due to a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the "flour sand beach" made up of coral.
Post Office Bay is the location of a wooden barrel that was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship. It has been used since this time by mariners and tourists as a post office. The idea is to carry letters or postcards to their destination by hand. Apart from being the Post Office Barrel, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonists. (B,L,D)
Day 4: North Seymour/Baltra
North Seymour is an uplifted (as opposed to volcanic) island and so is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges. Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach and can be found bodysurfing. Watch your step, as the boobies don't worry much about where they nest, and you might just step on one. The trees are dotted with male frigate birds trying to attract the attention of the ladies by inflating their bright red skin flaps. They sometimes fly in the air to call more attention to themselves, which is a funny display, as the puffy flap throws off their sense of balance. There's a circular path that takes you through the island to a beautiful, rocky shore where the waves crash a silvery-blue.
Transfer to the airport in Baltra for your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil. (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Four Day Galapagos Islands Cruise Aboard the Galapagos Odyssey
Free Quito-Galapagos Airfare on All August Departures. Call for Availability.
Single
Double
Triple
Lower Deck
$2,309
$1,779
n/a
Main Deck
$3,559
$1,779
n/a
Upper Deck
$3,559
$1,779
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 Odyssey
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 M/V Galapagos Odyssey.
All meals, water, coffee, and tea.
Two daily excursions to the islands conducted by English speaking naturalist guides.
