Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary D)
Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary D)
Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary D)
10 Days Starting in Quito and ending in Guayaquil
Visiting: Quito, Baltra Island, Santa Cruz, Floreana Island, Española Island, San Cristóbal Island, South Plaza Island, Santa Fé Island, North Seymour Island, Sombrero Chino, Guayaquil
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WGAD
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Physical rating:
Leisurely
Age range:
12-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$8400
$8169 (USD)
The Big ADVENTURE Sale: -$231
Tour Overview
This 8 day north-western tour aboard the catamaran Archipel I gives an extensive overview of the Galapagos Islands by combining the circumnavigation of the Isabela Island with excursions in the northern points of the archipelago. Explore the untouched western end of Galapagos, which has just been born out of fire and the lush highlands. Nutrient rich ocean upwellings are a magnet to all kinds of marine and birdlife. Visit the sea bird colonies of popular North Seymour as well as the isolated and exclusive Genovesa. On the spectacular volcano islet of Bartolomé and the lava flow at Sullivan Bay, you will certainly get impressed by the creative forces and fascinating pioneer species.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Quito
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)
Meals Included: No Meals
Land Only clients should aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon/evening.
Free transfers are available for all clients. A local guide will welcome you
to Quito and explain the schedule for the next few days.
Day 2 : Discover Quito At Your Leisure
Location: Quito
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is free to relax, recover from the flight and explore the fascinating
city of Quito. Quito is the second highest capital in the world, standing at
2850m on the western cordillera of the Andes. It is one of the smaller and
more attractive of the colonial capitals of South America. Because of the
altitude visitors to Quito are advised to take it easy at first.
Day 3 : Fly To Baltra Airport On The Galapagos & Highlands (Santa Cruz)
Location: Baltra Island, Santa Cruz
Accommodation: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
*Morning Fly to Galapagos:Â *Transfer to Quito Airport and fly to Baltra
Airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival to the Islands, you will pass
through the airport inspection point to make sure that no foreign plant 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 be waiting to take you
to the yacht.
*Afternoon Highlands (Santa Cruz):Â *Â Santa Cruz offers excellent
opportunities for viewing wild Galapagos giant tortoises, roaming through
pastures in the agricultural zone and in the transition zone of adjacent El
Chato Tortoise Reserve.
Day 4 : Floreana Island
Location: Floreana Island
Accommodation: Archipel I
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Morning Cormorant Point: Please don't expect flightless cormorants at Cormorant Point (they live exclusively in West Galapagos). Instead, you may have the only opportunity in the East to spot Galapagos penguins from the dinghy, or a flamingo lagoon against the pockmarked backdrop of extinct tuff cones and scented palo santo bushes.
Afternoon Post Office Bay: Bring your postcards and post them in the peculiar traditional barrel on this historic site that seems to be located at the end of the world.
Day 5 : Espanola Island
Location: Española Island
Accommodation: Archipel I
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning Gardner Bay: Being one of the crown jewels of the Galapagos, Espanola gives you the exclusive opportunity to become an eyewitness of evolution.
Afternoon Suarez Point: Espanola's west tip is a true birdwatcher's and photographer's dream. Feel as though you're within an exciting nature documentary and hike a short distance past the most colourful Marine iguanas.
Day 6 : San Cristobal Island
Location: San Cristóbal Island
Accommodation: Archipel I
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning Pitt Point: Two wind sculptured tuff cones at Pitt Point constitute the easternmost end of Galapagos and were the first sight of land of HMS Beagle with Darwin aboard.
Afternoon Witch Hill: Enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the lovely setting of Witch Hill's crescent-shaped natural beach of soft powdery sand.
Day 7 : San Cristobal Island
Location: San Cristóbal Island
Accommodation: Archipel I
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 fascinating freshwater spring. La Loberia beach is an ideal spot to enjoy the ocean, as well as the cute Sea lions that live there.
Afternoon Interpretation Centre: The Interpretation Centre gives a perfect explanation of this unique archipelago. Its exhibition helps you learn what makes this archipelago so unique. Information panels, pictures, documents, maquettes, and dioramas tell background and conservation stories about the islands.
Day 8 : South Plaza & Santa Fe
Location: South Plaza Island, Santa Fé Island
Accommodation: Archipel I
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
*Morning Prince Philip's Steps:Â *Not only because of its historical English
name (Tower) Genovesa has a royal touch. Follow in the footsteps of Prince
Philip - Galapagos lover for many years - and visit this favourite birding
spot with the largest breeding colonies of red-footed and Nazca boobies, and
look for a remarkable short-eared owl that hunts on foot!
*Afternoon Darwin Bay:Â *As one of the outer islands and most exclusive
places on the Galapagos, Genovesa is well worth last night's longer
navigation. This compact site in the heart of its flooded crater shows the
extreme varied coastal ecosystems of the Galapagos in miniature; nearly too
much for a single day.Â
Day 9 : North Seymour & Chinese Hat
Location: North Seymour Island, Sombrero Chino
Accommodation: Archipel I
Accommodation Name: Archipel I
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning North Seymour: North Seymour is another highlight of your cruise. In the archipelago’s most extensive seabird breeding colony 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 Chinese Hat does not appear to be any more inhospitable than Bartolomé and lunatic Sullivan Bay. This tiny, rusty-coloured islet just begins to sprout. You arrive just in time to witness the next chapter about colonisation by pioneers!
Day 10 : Disembark Santa Cruz; Fly Baltra To Guayaquil And End
Location: Santa Cruz, Baltra Island, Guayaquil
Meals Included: Breakfast
*Morning Charles Darwin Research Station:**Â *The most memorable part of the
Charles Darwin Research Station will probably be the successful breeding
centre and its celebrity 'Lonesome George'.
*Afternoon transfer out to Baltra Airport:* Assisted by the naturalist guide
and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra,
where we will take the airport shuttle. From here we fly to Guayaquil where
it's possible to connect with international flights this evening from 6pm
onwards.
What's Included
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Meals
9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners.
* All breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners
* All accommodation
* All transport and listed activities
* Tour leader throughout
* Snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel and fins) available free of charge on
board
* We can include flights from the UK. Please contact us for a quote.
What's Not Included
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Compulsory Galapagos taxes US$120, paid locally
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
Accommodation
The Archipel I catamaran has an outside lounge and dining area, an inside lounge/bar and a spacious sun deck, perfect for relaxing and observing the incredible Galapagos landscape. There are two cabins with double beds and six twin cabins with two single beds. All cabins have air conditioning and private bathrooms. Beach towels are provided and there are two sea kayaks for passenger use.
Please note, a lot of the travelling between islands is done overnight, so some cabin noise and movement should be expected.
Boat specifications:
Catamaran
16-passenger capacity with two double cabins and six twin cabins
Crew: Nine plus one naturalist guide
Length: 88ft (27m)
Beam: 36ft (11m)
Virtual 360 Tour – Archipel I – https://catamaranarchipel.com/VR/ARCHIPELL.html
Single rooms can be arranged for a supplement for the hotel nights in Quito, subject to availability – please enquire at the time of booking. Unfortunately, we cannot offer single cabins on board the boat in the Galapagos, and you will be paired with another traveller of the same sex for the seven nights on board.
Food
All breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners included.
On board meals are plentiful with a wide choice of international and local
cuisine. Breakfasts will 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 (approx. US$4 per beer, US$35 for a
bottle of wine, around US$8 for selected cocktails) and the crew request that
you do not bring your own alcohol with you. Drinking water, tea, coffee and
juice is freely available at no additional charge.
The chef can prepare meals for vegetarians and those with other dietary
requirements provided advance notice is given - please inform us at the time
of booking.
Check out our Q&As
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
16+ age people can go on this tour.
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What is the maximum group size?
16
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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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 allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus 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 charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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