Galapagos Wildlife Cruise - Cachalote Explorer
Galapagos Wildlife Cruise - Cachalote Explorer
17 Days Starting in Quito and ending in Guayaquil
Visiting: Quito, Baltra Island, Santa Cruz Island, Puerto Ayora, Santa Fé Island, San Cristóbal Island, Española Island, Floreana Island, ሀመር።, Genovesa Island, Rabida Island, Guayaquil
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WAWA
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Physical rating:
Leisurely
Age range:
16 to 99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
For those with a serious wildlife interest, this 14-night cruise allows for a full exploration of the entire archipelago as we combine the week-long A and B itineraries of the ‘Galapagos Islands’ trip, enabling us to visit both the eastern and western islands. Sailing to the less visited western islands is sure to be a highlight as we spend time at Isabela, the largest and most volcanically active place in the Galapagos, with a rich variety of marine life. The extraordinary archipelago of the Galapagos left a lasting impression on Darwin and is likely to do the same for you. An enchanted world characterised by stark lava fields, cactus forests, volcanic craters, mangrove lagoons and turquoise waters. Step over snoozing Sea lions, watch the courting rituals of Blue-footed boobies or snorkel with turtles, sharks and rays.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Quito
Location: Quito
The group flight usually arrives into Quito this evening. 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.
Accommodation: Hotel Vieja Cuba (or similar)
Day 2 : Discover Quito At Your Leisure
Location: Quito
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 2,850m 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.
Accommodation: Hotel Vieja Cuba (or similar)
Day 3 : Fly To Galapagos; Visit Santa Cruz Highlands And Charles Darwin Centre. Embarkation.
Location: Baltra Island, Santa Cruz Island, Puerto Ayora
Meals Included: breakfastlunchdinner
Transfer to Quito Airport and fly to Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. We take a short ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island where we drive to the highlands to look for Galapagos giant tortoises. This afternoon visit the Charles Darwin Centre to learn about the ecology of the islands and visit the centre's tortoise hatchery. After this we board our boat at Puerto Ayora, the island's main town. For today's excursion it's a good idea to have access to your camera, sun cream and appropriate clothing: comfortable footwear for some short walks (possibly amongst grass), light clothes, a hat/cap and a light waterproof in case of a shower or mist.
The Galapagos Wildlife Cruise does both of our two seven-night cruising itineraries back-to-back. Whether the cruise does Itinerary A (eastern islands) or B (western islands) first depends on the departure date of your trip (please ask your sales consultant if unsure). Below we list the schedules for the cruise itineraries A and B for each day.
Accommodation: Cachalote Explorer
Day 4 : Galapagos Cruise Day 2
Location: Santa Fé Island
Meals Included: breakfastlunchdinner
Walk on tiny Plaza Island to see a cactus forest, land iguanas and seabirds, then cruise to the white sand beaches of Santa Fe.
Day 5 : Galapagos Cruise Day 3
Location: San Cristóbal Island
Meals Included: breakfastlunchdinner
A day at San Cristobal Island: the white sand beach, Blue-footed boobies and old cone of Cerro Brujo, Galapagos giant tortoise at Galapaguera and crystal clear waters around the island.
Day 6 : Galapagos Cruise Day 4
Location: Española Island
Meals Included: breakfastlunchdinner
Swim with Sea lions and Marine iguanas at Gardener Bay on Espanola Island. In the afternoon, walk amongst Nazca and Blue-footed boobies and nesting Waved Albatross (in season) next to pounding surf at Punta Suarez.
Day 7 : Galapagos Cruise Day 5
Location: Floreana Island
Meals Included: breakfastlunchdinner
At Floreana Island snorkel in the spectacular sunken crater of Devil's Crown amongst thousands of fish. Visit the lagoon at Punta Cormorant (often with flamingos) and Post Office Bay, the mailbox used by 18th Century whalers.
Day 8 : Galapagos Cruise Day 6
Location: ሀመር።
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 : Galapagos Cruise Day 7
Location: Genovesa Island
Meals Included: breakfastlunchdinner
Less-visited Genovesa Island is home to an abundance of Red-footed boobies, Fur seals, Storm petrels and Short-eared Owls. Here, we look for tropicbirds at Prince Philip Steps before snorkelling, whilst at Darwin Bay, Galapagos mockingbirds can usually be seen.
Day 10 : Galapagos Cruise Day 8
Location: Baltra Island, Puerto Ayora
Meals Included: breakfastlunchdinner
Today we return to Baltra via Turtle Cove (Itinerary A-B) or North Seymour Island (Itinerary B-A), restock and start the second cruise itinerary of your trip. This is a changeover day, where clients taking shorter itineraries may leave or join the boat. We usually arrive in Puerto Ayora around 15:30 and and can have some free time here, where there are many shops, cafes and restaurants. This is your only chance for some shopping before we return to the islands! Alternatively, you could visit Finch Bay to observe birds in the lagoon or walk 2.5km along a paved trail to Tortuga Bay this afternoon, where it's possible to see Marine iguanas, shore birds and sea turtles on this stunning 1km beach.
Day 11 : Galapagos Cruise Day 9
Location: Rabida Island
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12 : Galapagos Cruise Day 10
Location: ሀመር።
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13 : Galapagos Cruise Day 11
Location: ሀመር።
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 14 : Galapagos Cruise Day 12
Location: ሀመር።
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 15 : Galapagos Cruise Day 13
Location: ሀመር።
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 16 : Galapagos Cruise Day 14
Location: ሀመር።
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 17 : Fly To Guayaquil; End Guayaquil.
Location: Guayaquil
Meals Included: breakfast
What's Included
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All breakfasts, 14 lunches, 14 dinners
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All accommodation
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All transport and listed activities
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Tour leader throughout
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Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
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Arrival and departure transfers
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Snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel and fins) available free of charge on board
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
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Compulsory Galapagos taxes USD120, paid locally
Food
All breakfasts, 14 lunches and 14 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$32.50 for a bottle of wine, around US$10 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. Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this holiday - please do inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so that our local team can be well prepared.
Accommodation
14 nights on board a motor yacht, the Cachalote Explorer, in en suite, air-conditioned cabins, and 2 nights comfortable hotel.. Single rooms can be arranged for a supplement for the two 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 up with another traveller of the same sex for the 7 nights on board.
Check out our Q&As
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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.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
Book with Confidence
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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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