GALÁPAGOS ITINERARY
Beyond Darwin’s Footsteps
2014 DEPARTURE DATES
ROYAL AFRICAN SAFARIS
North America Toll Free 1-877-337-4176 International +1-416-915-4145
www.royalafricansafaris.com
[email protected]
APRIL 24 - MAY 4
MAY 22 - JUNE 1
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ITINERARY IN BRIEF
Day 1- Thu:
- Arrival in Quito - O/N Plaza Grande Hotel
Day 2- Fri: - City Tour of Old Quito /Aerial Tram - Welcome dinner - O/N Plaza Grande Hotel
Day 3- Sat:
- Fly to San Cristobal. Board the Grace. Isla Lobos, Kicker Rock
Day 4- Sun:
- Hood Island, Punta Suarez and Gardner Bay, Gardner Islet, Osborn Islet
Day 5- Mon:
- Floreana, Post Office Bay, Asylum of Peace, Punta Cormorant, Champion Islet
Day 6- Tue:
- Santa Cruz, Dragon Hill, Highlands, Puerto Ayora, Charles Darwin Research Station
Day 7- Wed:
- Santa Cruz Isl. Las Bachas: Santiago Island - Chinese Hat
Day 8- Thu:
- Rabida Island: Jervis James Island: Sullivan Bay
Day 9- Fri: - Bartolomew, Pinnacle Rock and Overlook, North Seymour Island
Day 10- Sat:
- Mosquera Islet. Departure from Baltra Island Airport O/N Plaza Grande
Day 11-Sun:
- International Departure
Activities include: Wildlife viewing, walking/hiking, kayaking and snorkeling
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Day 1 - Thursday
Arrival in Quito - Overnight Plaza Grande
On arrival in Quito this afternoon/evening you will be met by
a local guide who will transfer you to the Plaza Grande Hotel.
Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 2 - Friday
City Tour, Dinner and overnight at Plaza Grande
Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby at 9 a.m. for an
Aerial tram tour. Following lunch you will have a tour of the
old City of Quito. Quito was declared a UNESCO “World
Heritage Site” in 1978, thanks to its historic center, which is
the largest and best preserved in Latin America. The colonial
center of the Franciscan city of Quito is a treasure trove of
baroque art and architecture, including buildings, churches, monasteries and narrow streets that reflect Ecuador's unique
blend of indigenous and Spanish cultures.
The welcome dinner this evening will be a the Plaza Grande at 7.30 p.m. hosted by your Royal African partner.
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Day 3 - Saturday
Morning: Fly to San Cristobal Island
Afternoon: Lobos Island and Kicker Rock
We will meet in the hotel lobby early this morning for transfer to
the airport for your flight to the Galápagos which arrives in San
Cristobal mid-morning. The turquoise blue water surrounding
the coast is visible from the air as one approach’s the island of
San Cristobal.
History suggests that it is here that Charles Darwin reported
encountering a pair of giant tortoises feeding on cactus during
his first landing here in 1835. On landing in Puerto Baquerizo,
the administrative capital of the islands and a sleepy little port
town, you’ll pass through Park Inspection, after which you’ll be
met by your Galápagos guide.
Heading to the port, you’ll be treated to views of the harbor
where your yacht awaits you below. It’s a very short ride to the
harbor and it’s not long before you will be crossing from shore
to reach the Grace, your home and adventure center for the next week. The captain and crew will greet you and after settling
into your cabins, the Grace will set sail.
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Heading up the coast from Wreck Bay and Puerto
Baquerizo, you will see Lobos Island (Isla Lobos) across
a small channel off the coast of San Cristóbal. This
basalt island outcropping lives up to its name of “Sea
Lion Island” with its noisy population of frolicking and
barking beasts. It is also a nesting place for blue-footed
boobies and an excellent spot for snorkeling.
This is your first chance to share the water with a
playful colony of the ‘wolves of the sea’.
Leon Dormido also known as Kicker Rock, a
spectacular rock formation rises 152 meters (500 feet)
out of the Pacific. It takes the form of a sleeping lion,
but from another angle you can see that the rock is
split, forming a colossal tablet and, piercing the sea, a
great chisel ready for etching.
Small vessels, such as the Grace, can navigate through
the narrow channel between the rocks
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Day 4 - Sunday
Morning: Española (Hood) Island
Afternoon: Gardner Bay
Hood is the southernmost island of the archipelago, and is one of the
most popular due to the breathtaking variation and sheer number of
fauna that greet the visitor. The giant tortoise was reintroduced to
Hood in the 1970’s and counts as one of the park’s great success
stories.
The quantity and variety of wildlife at Punta Suarez is remarkable. Sea
lions surf the waves beyond the breakwater landing, and tiny pups are
known to greet your toes upon arrival. A few steps inland are the
largest variety of marine iguana in the Galápagos. They bear
distinctive red and black markings, some with a flash of turquoise
running down their spine, and they nap in communal piles. Along the
western edge of the island, masked boobies nest along the cliff’s
edge, which descends to a rocky beach before rising to an open area
and a large gathering of nesting blue-foot boobies. Further east along
the cliffs is the “Albatross Airport” where “waved albatross” line up to launch their great winged bodies from the cliffs, soaring out
over the dramatic shoreline of crashing waves and driven spray. In the trees set back from the cliff is one of only two places in the
world where the waved albatross nests.
Gardner Bay offers a magnificent long white sandy beach, where colonies of sea lions laze in the sun, sea turtles swim offshore
and inquisitive mockingbirds boldly investigate new arrivals.
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Day 5 - Monday
Floreana Island
Morning: Post Office Bay and Asylum of Peace
Afternoon: Punta Cormorant and Champion Islet
In 1793 British whalers set up a barrel as the island’s Post Office to
send letters home on passing ships. The tradition continues to this
day, simply by dropping a post card into the barrel without a
stamp. The catch is, you must take a post card from the barrel and
see that it gets to the right place. That is how the system began
and continues to this day. Some claim it works better than the
post office.
Seen 250 meters north from Punta Cormorant is an old submerged
volcanic cone that has been worn down by waves. Devil's Crown
is home to a myriad of marine species including a variety of corals,
pencil sea urchin, wrasses, angelfish, amberjacks and many other
creatures, making for some of the best snorkeling in the
Galápagos. The eroded crater walls form a popular roosting site
for seabirds including boobies and pelicans.
Baroness Viewpoint is a fantastic place to absorb the environment of the Galápagos. Once inhabited by an indulgent Baroness
and her three lovers, the history of this island is intriguing. The legends about this baroness are associated with a fascinating
murder mystery. There are easy trails in this area for exploring the flora and fauna of Floreana.
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Punta Cormorant offers two highly contrasting beaches;
the strand where the yacht anchors is composed of
volcanic olivine crystals, giving it a greenish tint that
glitters in the sun. From here a trail crosses the neck of
the isthmus—that rises to form a cinder cone—to a
beach of very fine white sand, formed by the erosion of
coral skeletons. Between the two beaches is a salt
lagoon frequented by flamingoes, pintails, stilts and other
wading birds.
A small island off the coast of Floreana, Champion is one
of the top snorkeling spots in the islands (the island itself
is off-limits to visitors). Occasionally, dolphins are sighted
as the boats approach the shore. The snorkeling is truly
phenomenal. Lucky visitors will get to see white-tipped
reef sharks, Galápagos Penguins, sea turtles, eels, and
more in addition to the usual selection of dazzling reef
fish. Champion Island is special because it is one of two
places where the nearly- extinct Charles (Floreana) Mockingbird is still found.
Walking on Champion is not allowed, but our guide will take you on a panga ride around it, and if lucky, you may get to spot a
Charles Mockingbird or other bird species such as Swallow-tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies or Brown Noddies.
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Day 6 - Tuesday
Santa Cruz Island - Dragon Hill - Galápagos Safari Camp and the
Highlands
Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galápagos and
something of a hub for the archipelago. The small town of Puerto
Ayora in the southwest of this large round volcanic island is the
economic center of the Islands, with the largest population of the four
inhabited islands (approx. 10,000). Tourism—including refurbishing
and resupplying of yachts—together with fishing and boat-building,
are major sources of commerce.
Dragon Hill is one of the newest visitor's sites on the Island. Named
for the large number of land iguanas that frequent the area, Dragon
Hill has become an important nesting site for iguanas reintroduced
there by the Charles Darwin Research Centre. A walk up Dragon Hill
allows impressive views of the bay.
Around noon today we will take a picturesque drive up to the Galápagos Safari Camp for lunch. For those guests who have been
in Africa with us, this will somewhat resemble our African safari camps. It consists of a beautiful central lodge in which we will
enjoy a leisurely meal together enjoying views of the Daphne Islands in the distance. After lunch we will explore the surrounding
area before returning to the Grace later this afternoon.
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Day 7- Wednesday
Santa Cruz Island - Bachus Beach: Santiago Island - Chinese
Hat.
In WWII the American army abandoned two barges, the remains
of which can be seen on Bachas beach where the sand is made
of decomposed coral, making it white and soft, and a favorite site
for nesting sea turtles. Sally Lightfoot crabs are abundant on the
lava rocks along the water's edge. These crabs will eat anything
they can get their claws on. On this hike, you will see flamingoes,
and a good variety of other birds including black necked stilts and
whimbrels.
Tiny Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat) is off limits to large groups
and one day boats, making it one of the least visited sites in the
central islands. Sea lions, marine iguanas and American oyster
catchers abound. On the north shore of Santa Cruz is a living
illustration of how mangroves alter the marine environment to
create a rich and unique habitat. Three species of mangrove
crowd from the shore out into the lagoon, which reaches almost a mile inland. As we drift though the quiet waters in our panga,
we are likely to see spotted eagle rays and diamond shaped mustard rays, swimming in a diamond formation. White-tipped reef
sharks slip beneath the boat and Pacific green sea turtles come to the surface for air and to mate. Waterfowl, including pelicans,
herons and egret, all feed in the cove.
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Day 8 - Thursday
Morning: Rabida (Jervis) Island
Afternoon: James Island - Sullivan Bay
Named after an 18th century British admiral, John Jervis, the Earl
of St. Vincent, Isla Rabida is also commonly known by its English
name of Jervis Island. Sitting some 5 km south of Isla Santiago,
this tiny island is only five square kilometers in size. Known for its
unique reddish-maroon terrain, Isla Rabida is also home to large
populations of sea lions, pelicans and flamingoes. Though this
island is uninhabited, visiting here is a must to enjoy the intriguing
natural beauty and wildlife of the area. Another sight not to be
missed is the saltwater lagoon where vast numbers of brightly
colored pink flamingoes can be seen lazying around male sea
lions that have been ousted from their groups.
Sullivan Bay is one of the most outstanding volcanic sites in the
Galápagos, and its lava field is a variety of interesting patterns.
The Sullivan Bay lava is known a Panoehoe (Hawaiian for Rope). This thin-skinned lava's molten material cools down after an
eruption, causing the surface materials to buckle and create a rope like appearance. Panoehoe Lava is rare in the rest of the
world, but common with the volcanoes of Hawaii and the Galápagos Islands.
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Day 9 - Friday
Bartholomew Island
Morning - Pinnacle Rock
Afternoon - North Seymour Island
Today you will visit Bartholomew (Bartolomé Island). This dry landing—no wet feet!—is the entrance to a 600-meter (2000-foot)
pathway complete with stairs and boardwalks leading to Bartholomew’s summit. At the top you will be rewarded with
spectacular views of Santiago Island and James Bay to the west, and far below, Pinnacle Rock, famous for a towering
spearheaded obelisk that rises from the ocean’s edge and is the best known landmark in the Galápagos. After our walk to the
summit, we will return to the Grace and prepare to go snorkeling with sea lions and Galápagos penguins at the base of Pinnacle
Rock.
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
These are the only penguins found north of the equator. Sea lions snooze on
rocky platforms, ready to slide into the water to play with snorkelers!
After lunch, we will explore North Seymour Island, a good nesting site for
frigate birds and Blue-footed boobies. Cliffs only a few meters high form the
shoreline, where swallow-tailed gulls sit perched in ledges. A tiny forest of
silver-grey Palo Santo trees stand just above the landing, usually without
leaves, waiting for the rain to bring them into bloom.
This island is teaming with life! You might have to give way to a passing sea
lion or marine iguana; blue-footed booby nests sit beside the trail where
mating pairs perform their courtship dance. Further along, the rocky shore
displays white sand, and large flocks of pelicans mass for a dive bomb
feeding frenzy. The trail turns inland to reveal the largest nesting site in the
Galápagos of the “magnificent frigate bird.” These huge, dark acrobats have
two-meter wingspans, and males, with puffed up scarlet throat sacks; sit
precariously perched in low bushes to watch over their equally large chicks.
Mosquera’s proximity to Baltra means we can spend the maximum amount of
time here before heading back to port, so take time to laze on the white sandy shore looking west toward the Daphnes, now
illuminated in the morning light, as bull sea lions patrol the waters before you.
Your flight to the Mainland departs in the early afternoon arriving in Quito around 5 p.m.
Grande for overnight. Dinner is on your own this evening.
You will be transferred to the Plaza
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ITINERARY IN DETAIL
Day 11 - Sunday
You will be transferred to the airport for your International flights. Sadly time to say goodbye!
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SAFARI COST
COST PER PERSON IN US Dollars:
Albert Deck: Master Suites A1 & A4 - $11,472
Albert Deck: Twin Suites A2 & A3 - $10,239
Carolina Deck: Double C1 & C2 - $10,929
Carolina Deck: Twin C5 - $ 9,703
(Carolina Deck: Single only C3) - $10,503
Your cost includes:
Your cost does not include:
Your Royal African host
3 nights at a 5 star hotel in Old Quito with breakfasts
Two Galápagos guides on board the whole cruise
Guided Aerial tram tour out of Quito
Guided City tour of old Quito
Airport transfers for both international and Galápagos flights
Welcome dinner in Quito on Day 2
Galápagos return flights
Galápagos Park Entry and Transit fees
Fuel Tax
An extra chef brought in from Ecuador
Liquor and wines (excellent quality) beer and soft drinks
Laundry
International flights to and from Quito
Any options that are not within the specified itinerary dates
and/or not described in the itinerary
Gratuities for crew and guides
Trip cancellation and health insurance (and Insurance for
Scuba diving if participating)
Visa and passport fees
Anything of a personal nature
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TERMS & CONDITIONS
Booking Fee:
Due to the individual nature of this voyage, a booking deposit of US$3,000 per person must be received before your
reservation can be confirmed. This fee is non-refundable, and it will be deducted from the total amount payable. A
minimum of 12 guests is required for this departure to take place. In the event that we do not have 12 guests confirmed
120 days before departure, all deposits will be refunded in full.
Payments: A final payment for the balance of the trip will be due 90 days from your trip departure date. Checks should be made
payable to Royal African Safaris or by bank wire transfer. Credit cards are not accepted
Cancellation:
Due to the nature of this voyage, all payments are non-refundable.
This itinerary is subject to change without notice for various factors including but not limited to: safety, weather, mechanical breakdown,
unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the Captain, Guide, Royal African Safaris and its partner Quasar Expeditions and the
Galápagos National Park. This itinerary is an accurate representation of what takes place during a typical trip through the Galápagos Islands
at the indicated landing sites, as well as during the excursions in mainland Ecuador.
The Galápagos is a natural ecosystem, making animal encounters there ultimately unpredictable and therefore exceptional in the way they
typically occur. Though Galápagos species seem to have little fear of humans, they are wild animals subject to environmental factors,
including their own instincts that can affect sightings, which means these encounters cannot be guaranteed. Accepting all these factors,
including adhering to the rules of the Galápagos National Park, is a condition of participation on this trip. Your cost is also subject to change
based on any exceptional increases in fuel, park fees, or currency fluctuation.
All individuals come at their own risk and must therefore provide their own travel, health and accident insurance coverage during this trip. In
addition, we strongly advise guests to take out cancellation insurance to cover any possibilities of personal health or family matters that
would result in the inability to travel.