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GEC - Galapagos Explorer Cruise - 4, 5 & 8 Days

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GEC - Galapagos Explorer Cruise - 4, 5 & 8 Days

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$1,550.00
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Tour Overview

The Galápagos Explorer II is one of the safest luxury cruise ships available and is one of the best for exploring the whole Galapagos archipelago. The luxury cruise ship has only suites – all with 250 square feet of space. There is an open-air jacuzzi, piano bar, library, lecture hall, salon, gallery, restaurant, and solarium so that guests can enjoy their luxury Galapagos cruise as much as possible. 3, 4, or 7 night cruises aboard the Galapagos Explorer II include all meals, daily excursions to the islands, educational lectures with professional guides, and transportation to and from the ship. While aboard, you'll see the spectacular coastline of the islands with its pristine beaches and crystal clear waters. Stop off at San Cristobal Island to stroll along the white sandy beach close to egrets, blue herons, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island, and walk among friendly giant tortoises.

Tour Type
4****

Tour Price
$1550.00 - €1183.00 - £1016.00

Single supplement
Contact us for quote

Local Payment
Included in tour price

Duration
4,5 & 8 days

Travel in & VISA requirements for
Ecuador

Start location
Quito

End location
Quito

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Tour Description

Tour itinerary
EAST ITINERARY - 3 nights / 4 days

Day 1: Wednesday - Galapagos (Barquerizo Moreno Airport)
Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Pto. Baquerizo Moreno airport. Transfer to the Galapagos Explorer II

San Cristobal (Brujo Hill)
Perhaps one of the nicest beaches in the Galapagos is Brujo Hill - a huge expanse of fine white sand that feels like sifted flour between your toes. It's home to a colony of sealions and blue-footed boobies, and you'll find egrets and great blue herons behind the beach in a lagoon. There's also great snorkeling in the turquoise waters.

Day 2: Thursday - Española (Suarez Point)
Suarez Point is often listed as a Galapagos favorite visitor site. Along a 2 mile (3km) walk you have the chance to see blue-footed boobies and waved albatross as well as the famous 'blowhole' spurt water high into the air. The landscape is great for photography.

Española (Gardner Bay)
Española Island (also called Hood) is the southernmost island and teems with wildlife. It is the breeding site of nearly all of the world's 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses. Gardner Bay has a lovely white sanded beach where you will see a sea lion colony. It is a good place for snorkeling or just relaxing on the beach.

Day 3: Friday - Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station)
The visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station allows you to learn about the giant tortoise breeding and repatriation program and the eradication of introduced species. You will be able to walk among the giant tortoises. The station is also home to the world«s rarest animal. There is only one Pinta Island giant tortoise remaining on this planet. He is known as Lonesome George and when he dies the Pinta tortoise will be extinct. Afterwards you will have an opportunity to look around Puerto Ayora (souvenir shopping etc.)

Rabida (Jervis)
Rabida Island (also called Jervis) is a bird-watcher's delight. Some of the rarest species are in abundance, such as 9 varieties of finches, large billed flycatchers, Galapagos hawks and brown pelicans. The trail starts along the red sand beach and then to the top of a hill where you will have a great view of the surrounding landscape.

Day 4: Saturday - Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach)
Wet landing. This beach is located on north side of Santa Cruz Island.
Here you will encounter many sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and have the opportunity to walk on the white sand beach.
Transfer to Baltra airport to take the flight back to the continent.

For 7 nights passengers remain on board.

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WEST ITINERARY - 4 nights / 5 days

Day 1: Saturday - Galapagos (Baltra Airport)
Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra airport. Transfer to Galapagos Explorer II.

Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill)
Wet landing. Visitors walk to a saltwater lagoon which is occasionally visited by pink flamingos. Then youâll hike up to Dragon Hill, which offers a beautiful view of the bay.
This area is a nesting site for numerous reintroduced land iguanas.
There is also a peculiar scalesia tree forest.

Day 2: Sunday - Bartolome
Bartholomew Island is the home to the Pinnacle Rock and the most famous vista in Galapagos. You may see sharks swimming close to the shore. You may also get a chance to swim with the Galapagos Penguin. Climbing to the top of this island rewards visitors with panoramic views of varied lava formations, volcanic peaks and a moon-like landscape.

Egas Point (also called South James Bay) is on the northwest side of Santiago Island. The lava and black sand beaches make for great photography. Puerto Egas is one of the few places in Galapagos where you can see Galapagos ãFur sealsä. We start with an easy walk along the beach. The lava and black sand beaches make for great photography.Ê Here you will also find good snorkeling off the beach with a broad array of marine life to be seen.

Day 3: Monday - Fernandina (Espinosa Point)
No foreign species have ever invaded Fernandina Island, and, as a result, it claims to be one of the most pristine ecosystems in Galapagos.Fernandina is the youngest island in Galapagos. The La Cumbre volcano with its lava fields spreading out to the ocean dominates the landscape. We land at Punta Espinosa, and after walking past a colony of marine iguanas and a group of sea lions, visitors arrive at the island's highlight - the flightless cormorant nesting site.

Isabela (Vicente Roca Point)
The largest and one of the most volcanically active islands, Isabela provides habitat for five subspecies of giant tortoise - one for each of its five volcanoes. We will visit Punta Vicente Roca which has beautiful volcanic scenery, with amazing lava intrusions as well as a huge sea cliff.

Day 4: Tuesday - North Seymour Island
North Seymour is a very low-lying island and has a very large population of blue footed-boobies. It is also home to the largest colony of the magnificent frigate birds in Galapagos. The large red pouch of the males makes for quite a spectacle. The first half of the trail is sandy but the second half is rocky (be sure to bring good walking shoes).

Santa Cruz (Highland)
Travelers can trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz and visit Chato Hill, where youâll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises in their natural habitat.
Additionally, travelers can walk inside the dormant lava tubes.

Day 5: Wednesday San Cristobal (Interpretation center)
We disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Islands. From there we take a one hour bus ride to the Galapaguera. The Galapaguera allows you to see the Giant tortoises in its natural environment. You can see baby tortoises and well as the large adults.
Transfer to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno airport.

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7 nights ITINERARY can start in the west or in the east and can begin Wednesday or Saturday.


Highlights
Brujo Hill (San Cristobal)
Suarez Point (Española)
Gardner Bay (Española)
Charles Darwin station (Santa Cruz)
Rabida Island
Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)
Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)
Bartolome Island
Egas Port (Santiago)
Espinoza Port (Fernandina)
Vicente Roca Point (Isabela)
North Seymour Island
Highlands and lava tunnels (Santa Cruz)
Loberias or Interpretation center (San Cristobal)

What's Included
3, 4 or 7 night accomodation onboard
all inclusive program
all onboard meals
excursion and activities
guided visits
lectures and conferences
land and luggage transportation in the island, airports and ship
 

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