Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary D)
Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary D)
Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary D)
10 Days Starting in Quito, Ecuador and ending in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Visiting: Quito, Santa Cruz, Floreana Island, Española Island, San Cristóbal, San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos Islands, Santa Cruz Island
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WGAD
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Age range:
12-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable adventure with the "Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary D)" tour, exploring the enchanting Galapagos Islands aboard the comfortable Archipel I catamaran. Over seven nights, immerse yourself in the breathtaking natural beauty and unique wildlife of this iconic archipelago. Experience close encounters with near-tame animals, including the famed Galapagos giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, and playful sea lions. Snorkel alongside vibrant marine life, and enjoy guided excursions with an experienced naturalist. The Archipel I offers a cozy atmosphere with eight air-conditioned cabins, a spacious sundeck, and excellent onboard service. Begin your journey in Quito, explore the islands' diverse landscapes, and conclude in Guayaquil. This adventure promises incredible wildlife viewing, photographic opportunities, and a deeper understanding of the Galapagos' ecological wonders.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Quito
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hotel Casona de la Ronda
The adventure starts in Quito, aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon/evening. Free transfers are available for all clients – check the Joining Instructions for more information. A local guide will welcome you to Quito and explain the schedule for the next few days.
Accommodation: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)
Day 2 : Discover Quito At Your Leisure
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hotel Casona de la Ronda
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is free to relax, recover from the flight and explore the fascinating city of Quito, the second-highest capital in the world, standing at 9,350ft (2,850m) on the western cordillera of the Andes. It is one of the smaller and more attractive of the colonial capitals in South America. Because of the altitude, visitors to Quito are advised to take it easy at first.
Accommodation: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)
Day 3 : Fly To Baltra Airport On The Galapagos And Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (Santa Cruz)
Location: Santa Cruz
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: Fly to Galapagos
Transfer to Quito Airport and fly to Baltra Airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, you pass through the airport inspection point to make sure no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the island, and to pay the national park entrance fee. Your guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour where a dinghy will take you to the yacht.
Afternoon: Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (Santa Cruz)
On a tour of the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, you can see the tortoises of Española Island, ending in the tortoise exhibit corral. Tortoises of this corral are accustomed to humans – an excellent chance to capture a photo for your wall back home.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 4 : Floreana Island
Location: Floreana Island
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: Cormorant Point
You have the chance to spot Galapagos penguins from the dinghy or a flamingo lagoon against the backdrop of extinct tuff cones and scented palo santo bushes. Don't expect to see flightless cormorants here, though, they live exclusively in west Galapagos.
Afternoon: Post Office Bay
Bring your postcards and drop them in the traditional barrel at this historic site. They might arrive home quicker than you!
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 5 : Española Island
Location: Española Island
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: Gardner Bay
One of the jewels of the Galapagos, Española provides the exclusive opportunity to become an eyewitness of evolution.
Afternoon: Suarez Point
The west tip of Española is a dream for birdwatchers and photographers. Feel as though you're within an exciting nature documentary and hike a short distance from colourful marine iguanas.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 6 : San Cristóbal
Location: San Cristóbal
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: Pitt Point
Two wind-sculpted tuff cones at Pitt Point constitute the easternmost end of the Galapagos and were the first sight of land for the crew of Darwin’s HMS Beagle.
Afternoon: Witch Hill
Enjoy a leisurely afternoon in Witch Hill's crescent-shaped beach of soft powdery sand.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 7 : San Cristóbal Island
Location: San Cristóbal Island
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: Lobos Islet
The Asylum of Peace hike goes past a mesmerising cave and visits a freshwater spring. La Loberia beach is an ideal spot to enjoy the ocean and see the cute sea lions that live there.
Afternoon: Interpretation Centre
The Interpretation Centre provides a perfect explanation of this unique archipelago – the exhibition reveals what makes it so unique. Information panels, pictures, documents, maquettes and dioramas delve into the background and conservation stories of the islands.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 8 : South Plaza And Santa Fe
Location: Galapagos Islands
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: South Plaza
Popular South Plaza is not to be missed! This Jurassic islet is the best place to see the emblematic Galapagos dragons, which crawl across it.
Afternoon: Sante Fe
Sante Fe is another jewel of the Galapagos, where the pale Barrington land iguana and practically every other creature is unique to the archipelago or this island alone.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 9 : North Seymour And Chinese Hat
Location: Galapagos Islands
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: North Seymour
North Seymour is another cruise highlight. It’s home to the most extensive seabird breeding colony in the archipelago and you can walk just a short distance from frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies.
Afternoon: Chinese Hat
Though recently born out of the fire, the volcanic islet of Chinese Hat does not appear to be any more inhospitable than Bartolomé and Sullivan Bay.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 10 : Disembark Santa Cruz; Fly Baltra To Guayaquil And End
Location: Santa Cruz Island
Meals Included: Breakfast
Morning: El Chato Reserve – Twin Craters
El Chato Reserve is a protected area and part of the Galapagos National Park. It extends from Cerro El Chato as far down as the southwestern coast of Santa Cruz Island.
Afternoon: Transfer to Baltra Airport
Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to San Cristóbal, where we take the airport shuttle. From here, we fly to Guayaquil where it's possible to connect with international flights from 6pm onwards.
What's Included
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All breakfasts, seven lunches, seven dinners
All meals including breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are provided throughout the tour.
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All accommodation
Accommodation is included for the duration of the tour.
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All transport and listed activities
All transportation and activities listed in the itinerary are included.
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Tour leader throughout
A tour leader will accompany the group throughout the journey.
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Snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel and fins) available free of charge on board
Snorkeling equipment is available for use at no additional charge.
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be arranged separately.
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Single accommodation (available on request)
Single accommodation is not included but can be requested for an additional charge.
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Visas or vaccinations
Visas and vaccinations are not included and must be arranged by the traveler.
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Compulsory Galapagos taxes US$120 (US$220 as of August 1st, 2024), paid locally
Compulsory Galapagos taxes are not included and must be paid locally.
Food
All breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners are included.
On board meals are plentiful with a wide choice of international and local cuisine. Breakfasts usually consist of cheese, meats, eggs, cereal, toasts, yoghurts, and fruits. Snacks are provided mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and for lunches and dinner soup usually precedes the main course.
Alcoholic drinks are available on board (approximately US$4 per beer, US$35 for a bottle of wine, around US$8 for selected cocktails) and the crew request you do not bring your own alcohol with you. Drinking water, tea, coffee, and juice is freely available at no additional charge.
Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this trip – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared.
Accommodation
Cruise around the Galapagos on Archipel I, a catamaran with a spacious sundeck, loungers, dining areas, and a lounge with a stocked bar. The vessel has eight cabins, all with air conditioning and private bathrooms, and offers snorkeling equipment and sea kayaks for guided adventures.
Mode of Transport
The tour includes flights from Quito to Baltra Airport in the Galapagos Islands, with transfers to the Archipel I catamaran. Travel between islands is often done overnight, providing a unique experience of the Galapagos archipelago.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see during the Galapagos Encounter tour?
During the Galapagos Encounter tour, you have a high chance of spotting Galapagos giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, great and American frigatebirds, marine iguanas, waved albatrosses, Galapagos sea lions, and green sea turtles.
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What activities are included in the Galapagos Encounter tour?
The tour includes snorkeling with iridescent fish, playful sea lions, and turtles, as well as wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities with near-tame animals. You will also have the chance to use double sea kayaks and snorkeling equipment on guided adventures.
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What is the accommodation like on the Archipel I catamaran?
The Archipel I catamaran features a spacious sundeck, loungers, a dining area, a lounge with a stocked bar, and another dining space. It has eight cabins: two with double beds and six with two single beds, all equipped with air conditioning and private bathrooms. The vessel is overseen by nine crew members and an experienced naturalist guide.
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Are there any special considerations for solo travelers on the Galapagos Encounter tour?
Solo travelers cannot have single cabins on the catamaran and will be paired with another guest of the same sex for the seven nights on board. Single rooms can be arranged for a supplement for the hotel nights in Quito, subject to availability.
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What should I know about the meals provided during the tour?
All breakfasts, seven lunches, and seven dinners are included. Meals on board offer a wide choice of international and local cuisine, with snacks provided mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Alcoholic drinks are available for purchase, and drinking water, tea, coffee, and juice are freely available. Vegetarians and vegans can be catered for with prior notice.
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What is the itinerary for the first day of the Galapagos Encounter tour?
The adventure starts in Quito, where you should aim to arrive at the hotel in the afternoon or evening. Free transfers are available for all clients, and a local guide will welcome you to Quito and explain the schedule for the next few days.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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