Christmas in the Galapagos 2008
8 day cruise aboard the
first class yacht Galaxy
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December 19. QUITO
Arrival to Quito. Reception and transfer to your hotel.
December 20. QUITO ––SANTA CRUZ - HIGHLANDS
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Baltra. Welcome by the crew of the Millennium yacht before a visit to the second largest island in the Galapagos, Santa Cruz. With six different zones of vegetation: Coastal, Arid, Transition, Scalesia, Miconia, and Pampa Zones. The lush green scenery of the Santa Cruz highlands is a welcome contrast to the aridity of the lower islands.
December 21. FLOREANA- PUERTO CORMORANT
Punta Cormorant offers two highly contrasting beaches; the landing beach is of volcanic origin and is composed of olivine crystals, giving it a greenish tinge. At the end of the short trail is a carbonate beach of very fine white sand, formed by the erosion of coral skeletons; it is also a nesting site for green sea turtles. Between these two beaches is a salt lagoon frequented by flamingoes, pintails, stilts, and other wading birds. An old eroded volcanic cone called Devil's Crown is a popular roosting site for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans, and frigates and it is not uncommon to see red-billed tropicbirds in rocky crevices. The center of the crown is an outstanding snorkeling spot full of sea lions and colourful fish.
December 22. ESPAÑOLA – GARDNER BAY – PUNTA SUAREZ
Today, we will visit the isolated Española where there is a high percentage of endemic fauna. Gardner Bay, on the eastern shore has a magnificent beach. The beach is frequented by sea lions, and is a major nesting site for marine turtles. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers will come across many species of fish, turtles and perhaps even sharks. On a trail leading to the western part of the island, several nesting sites of the waved albatross will be encountered. These huge birds nest here from April to December. Finally at Punta Suarez, along with many nesting seabirds there are mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks. Several types of reptile, including the marine iguana and the lava lizard, are also inhabitants of the island. Here you may also see a spectacular blowhole, which shoots spray 30 metres into the air .
December 23. LEON DORMIDO - SAN CRISTOBAL - LA LOBERIA
Today we will pass the shattered rock "Leon Dormido" also known as Kicker Rock, which serves as a nesting place for many sea birds. A visit to the Interpretation Centre at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno before visiting La Lobería, 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 mother's bring the pups into the tide pools for swimming lessons. Here you will see the sea lions, marine iguanas and even giant tortoises.
December 24. SANTA FE – CALETA TORTUGA NEGRA
Santa Fe has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the archipelago. A turquoise lagoon with two small white sandy beaches are protected by a peninsula where sea lions rest. A trail runs along the side of the coast and then crosses through an Opuntia Forest. These prickly pear cacti are the largest found anywhere in the Galapagos. The Santa Fe species of land iguanas are also larger and of a paler yellow than on the other islands. After the hike you can swim or snorkel in the bay in the company of sea lions. Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Beach), here among the mangroves, turtles enjoy swimming in the calm waters peaking their heads above the surface while fish, rays and small sharks circle below. To the west of Black Turtle Beach lies Bachas beach whose sand is made of decomposed coral, making it white and soft, and a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches there is a small brackish water lagoon, where occasionally we can observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels.
December 25. GENOVESA – DARWIN ISLAND
Genovesa Island also known as Tower Island is an oasis for sea birds is located in the northeast part of the Galapagos and is a relatively small island which is in fact a low-lying volcano rising just above the ocean surface. To reach this remote location visitors journey across rough open waters for a lengthy 8-10 hour, all- night sail from Puerto Ayora. Having arrived at Tower, entering into Darwin's Bay can be a challenge for the captain and crew, who must cross a shallow-narrow channel into the caldera itself to anchor at the base of the steep crater walls. Once inside the volcano birds are visible by the thousands.
Tower attracts an enormous number of pelagic seabirds such as great frigate birds, red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and storm petrels which all breed here by the thousands. Though there are two official visitor sites on the island, due to conservation concerns visits to Prince Philip's Steps are limited. Vessels with 12 passengers or less are the only ones permitted by the National Park Service.
Darwin Bay was created when the island's large crater collapsed below sea level. Landing on the white coral beach in the middle of the bay requires a wet landing and once ashore the number of birds seems overwhelming, masked boobies soar overhead; great frigate birds display their pouches while resting on the nearby rocks and plants, mockingbirds scamper quickly across the sand. It's easy to see why Darwin Bay is a favorite of birders. Beyond the beach a series of tidal pools carved out of black volcanic rock offer wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels and turnstones a place to fish. Yellow-crowned, black-crowned and lava herons and white and yellow warblers have also been seen in the area. Darwin Island is an eroded volcano located on a volcanic ridge which extends from the northwest part of the Galapagos Platform to the Galapagos Spreading Center, some 150 km to the north. Darwin is only 165 m above sea level and the island is only the tip of a much larger volcano that rises more than 1000 m above the sea floor. The volcano is now extinct; and the island has been calculated to be almost 400,000 years old. There are several smaller volcanoes located along the Wolf-Darwin lineament that do not reach the sea surface. This small islet is inhabited only by sea birds and is rarely visited. It is however, a wonderful place for snorkeling and scuba diving, Darwin is well-known among divers for the diverse and abundant marine wildlife. Here divers are virtually guaranteed to see large schools of hammerhead sharks which are rare in the main group of islands
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December 26. BARTOLOME ISLAND –SULLIVAN BAY
Before breakfast, we will disembark at Bartolome Island (dry landing) for a hike to the summit. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase but the view from the top is worth the effort. Return to the boat for breakfast. Panga ride around the colossal Pinnacle Rock, with time to enjoy the beach (wet landing) and perhaps some snorkelling with the Galapagos Penguins.
December 27. PUERTO AYORA - QUITO
Our last day on the Enchanted Islands where after breakfast we will visit The Charles Darwin Research Station. The station is also a tortoise breeding centre, where tortoises of different species are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most famous inhabitant is probably Lonesome George, the only survivor of this specific turtle species. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the mainland. Arrival in Quito, reception and transfer to your hotel .
December 28. QUITO (Breakfast)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
End of services. |
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Price per person based on 3*hotel accommodation: $3750 per person, minimum 2 sharing
Price per person based on 4*hotel accommodation: $3850 per person, minimum 2 sharing
Price per person based on 5*hotel accommodation: $3950 per person, minimum 2 sharing
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OUR PRICE INCLUDES: |
- Accommodation at a selection of hotels and aboard the Galaxy yacht.
- Flights: Quito – Galapagos -Quito
- All meals on board the yacht except lunch and dinner on the last day.
- Level III naturalist guide.
- Ground transportation on the islands & in Ecuador.
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OUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: |
- Meals not specified on the itinerary.
- Airport taxes.
- Personal expenses such as telephone bills, laundry expenses, beverages, etc.
- Insurance against theft, loss, illness and/or accident, cancellation and curtailment, etc.
- Entrance into the Galapagos National Park. US$100.00 per person payable in cash and an additional US$10.00 per person for the tourist monitoring programme.
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Ask for details regarding our land extensions in Ecuador before or after the cruise or our Galapagos land tour option |
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For current availability contact us at info@amazingperu.com
and we will send you the relevant t dossier
along with a 90 day fixed quote, terms and conditions.

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