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The Galapagos Islands 07
Cost:
B cabin US 4095 Approx 4500 CDN
2007 Departure
Feb 14 - 24, 07 / Oct 31 - Nov 10, 07
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Tour Leader Robin Tapley |
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| Robin is a wonderful naturalist, and an expert tour leader, who always garners great accolades form the participants on his tours. He is the Senior Naturalist at the Delta Grandview Resort in Muskoka, Ontario and is well known for running its very successful natur and astronomy programs. He has led many Quest tours to the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, Muskoka and New Brunswick. |
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Tour Leader David Milsom |
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| David is an expert naturalist who has travelled throughout Europe, North and South America. He is a keen nature photographer with an excellent knowledge of birds, mammals and butterflies. David has led Quest trips to Newfoundland, Texas, Colorado, England, Galapagos Islands, Tunisia, Spain and Canada's High Arctic and the Antarctic. |
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Tour Leader Glenn Barrett |
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| Glenn has worked for the Canadian Wildlife Service since 1994. He has also conducted field studies in Alaska and also the Galapagos Islands where he spent six months. He is a keen naturalilst, wildlife photographer and is past president of the Hamilton Field Naturalist' Club. |
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Audrey Nowicki - Quest Expedition Cruise sales Manager |
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When travellers return from visiting the Galapagos Islands, their eyes sparkle with wonder as they tell marvellous tales. You may think their stories are pure fabrication: birds that no longer fly, tortoises weighing up to 300 kilos, penguins from the Antarctic living right on the equator, and Blue-footed Boobies doing sophisticated mating dances. But you would be wrong. The Galapagos Islands are just as amazing as everyone says…there is nothing in the world quite like them!
THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Itinerary
(Breakfast - B, Lunch - L, Dinner - D)
,Day 1 Wednesday
Arrival in Quito, Ecuador
Our adventure begins on our arrival in Quito, a dazzling old colonial city nestled in the snow-capped Andes Mountains. After clearing airport Customs, we’ll be met and taken to our hotel for a good night’s rest before our trip to the Otavalo Market. Those participants that have just completed the Amazon or Machu Picchu extensions will also join us when we arrive.
o/n Grand Hotel Mercure, Quito
Day 2 Thursday
Otavalo Mini Country Tour
In the morning, we’ll visit the Indian market of Otavalo, where some of Ecuador’s very best handicrafts, weavings, and jewellery are available for very reasonable prices. Afterwards, we’ll continue on to the nearby village of Peguche and a visit to a local weaver’s studio. We’ll have a delightful lunch at an old restored hacienda, now a refined country inn. Along the way, we’ll be traveling through beautiful countryside where the fascinating agricultural mosaic of rural Ecuador predominates.
o/n Grand Hotel Mercure, Quito (B, L)
Day 3 Friday
Flight to Baltra, Galapagos
After an early breakfast, we’ll transfer from our hotel to the airport for the morning jet flight to the Galapagos Islands. (Please note that we will be returning to this hotel after we finish the cruise, so you will be able to leave any extra winter clothing in the luggage room). The TAME flight will take us to Baltra and, after going through the entry formalities, we’ll meet our Ecuadorian naturalist guide. It’s then just a short drive to the dock at Baltra where the M/V Beluga is waiting for us, ready to begin the cruise.
o/n M/V Beluga (B, L, D)
Days 4–9 Saturday–Thursday
Exploring the Galapagos Islands
During our cruise, we’ll be stopping at a number of interesting islands in the Galapagos archipelago. The M/V Beluga follows a set itinerary that is approved by the administration of the Galapagos Islands National Park. However, it is possible that, depending on weather conditions and the wildlife of the islands, the actual islands and the order in which they are visited may be modified during the cruise.
The M/V Beluga usually includes the following islands in its 8 days / 7 nights itinerary.
North Seymour
After leaving the port of Baltra, a short sail will bring us to our first landing. We’ll have our first panga ride to the shore of this very small island to visit the largest colony of Magnificent Frigatebirds in the Galapagos archipelago. This will also be our first opportunity to see the beautiful endemic Lava and Swallow-tailed Gulls.
Espanola (Hood)
At Gardner Bay, nocturnal Green Turtles bury their eggs in the white sand beach, Hood Mockingbirds peck at your camera bag and the swimming is excellent. We’ll also sail to the other side of the island and enjoy the Blue-footed Boobies and Waved Albatross colonies. Nazca Boobies also nest along the cliffs overlooking the well-known blowhole. Due to the rocky terrain on the trails of this island, hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes and perhaps a trekking pole are recommended.
Floreana (Charles)
Flamingos feed in the island’s large salt-water lagoon and colonies of sea lions line the beach. This is also a good area for snorkelling and enjoying some of the wonderfully diverse and colourful Galapagos fish.
Bartolome
This is one of the best-known islands in the archipelago mainly because of its spatter cones and striking Pinnacle Rock, which seem to appear on most postcards from the islands. There is also a tiny colony of Galapagos Penguins residing at the foot of Pinnacle Rock.
Santiago (James)
There is an excellent place to land here and a pleasant trail that we follow along the shoreline. There are some fascinating tidal pools and many shorebirds feeding at the water’s edge. We also see Fur Seals and the endemic Galapagos Hawk, Dove and Mockingbird on this island.
Isabela (Albemarle)
This is the largest island with 5 active volcanoes. We land at Punta Moreno on a beautiful rocky shore and hike across an extensive lava field to some small ponds that are teeming with wildlife. Tagus Cove, our next landing, is famous for its historical graffiti. Sailors’ and ships’ names from the 1800’s are engraved in the rocks. A dry landing and hike takes us to a vantage point that provides great views of both Isabela and Fernandina Islands.
Fernandina (Narborough)
Fernandina is just over 100,000 years old and is one of the youngest islands in the Archipelago. It is also the most volcanically active with the last spectacular eruption taking place in 1995. Our landing at Punta Espinosa is at the edge of an expansive lava field with a very interesting trail. The tidal pools and the snorkelling opportunities make this one of the best landings on the Galapagos. The Galapagos Penguins, nesting Marine Iguanas, Flightless Cormorants, dolphins, and perhaps spouting Bryde’s Whales, seen from shore, are an added bonus on this landing. The beautiful, but menacing, Volcan la Cumbre oversees the area. There is also a great view of the island of Isabela.
Santa Cruz (Indefatigable)
We’ll spend a day on this island for Puerto Ayora is the home of the Charles Darwin Research Station, the operations centre for wildlife and conservation programs in the Galapagos. We’ll also drive up to the highlands where the varied cloud habitats produce some interesting vegetation and endemic land birds, including Tree, Warbler and Vegetarian Finches. The Tortoise Reserve is in the highlands and is home to many species of the famous giant Galapagos Tortoises.
o/n M/V Beluga (B, L, D)
Day 10 Friday
Turtle Cove / Baltra / Return to Quito
This is our last day in the Galapagos Islands. We’ll spend an hour first thing in the morning, paddling silently through a mangrove lagoon. This lagoon is a nursery area for Hammerhead, Black-tipped and White-tipped Reef Sharks. Golden and Eagle Rays glide slowly by our pangas and Green Sea Turtles are everywhere. This is a magic lagoon and a great experience. Our boat will return to Baltra and the crew will transfer us to the airport for our return flight to Quito. A farewell dinner, at a local Quito restaurant, is planned for the evening.
o/n Grand Hotel Mercure, Quito (B, L, D)
Day 11 Saturday
Departure Day
We will be taken to the International airport for our flights home. (B)
Please Note: Depending on your airline and flight
schedules, you may require an optional day room in Quito.
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| Tour Information |
| Leader:
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| Length: |
11 Days |
| Limit: |
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| Departing: |
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| Cost: |
B cabin US 4095 Approx 4500 CDN |
| Deposit: |
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| Note: |
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| 2007 Departure
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Feb 14 - 24, 07 / Oct 31 - Nov 10, 07
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