galapagos expedition: darwin’s playground, far west · galapagos expedition: darwin’s...

GALAPAGOS EXPEDITION: DARWIN’S PLAYGROUND, FAR WEST EXPEDITION DOSSIER | 1

DID YOU KNOW? In part, the incredible mix and wealth of diversity of Galapagos Islands’ animal and marine life is due to the convergence of three major oceanic currents: the Humboldt, Panama and Cromwell Currents.

EXPEDITION IN BRIEF:• Snorkeling daily (no experience necessary!) with

opportunities to view sea lions, turtles and indigenous

marine life

• Spend time at exploring the fascinating inner islands and

the more remote outer reaches for a true adventure

• Consider pairing this journey with a classic Antarctic

Explorer expedition for some of the best highlights of the

Southern Hemisphere

Galapagos Expedition: Darwin’s Playground, Far WestThe Galapagos Islands are a treasure trove of natural wonders, and the best way to explore

them is on board the small expedition ship Evolution. It will take you were few vessels travel, to

the remote western side of Isabel Island and its neighboring island, Fernandina. While on this

adventure you can swim with sea turtles and penguins; walk among blue-footed boobies and

other seabirds nesting on the islands; hike a dormant and active volcano; watch for whales and

possibly see the Galapagos’ largest land iguanas while you visit Urbina Bay. This adventure can

be enjoyed on its own, or paired with a classic Antarctic Explorer expedition to create a true

Southern Hemisphere experience!


Included Activities

While in the Galapagos you will find that you are constantly active, doing nature hikes, snorkeling, swimming

and sea kayaking all in an effort to get up close to the islands’ amazing animals. The Galapagos National Park has

structured activities in the Galapagos around interaction with wildlife and the habitat. That is really what the

Galapagos is all about. We make our trips more active by planning landings in places that offer better hikes like at

Tagus Cove or to the top of Bartolomé Island. We also offer itineraries that take in the more remote sites and outer

islands, rather than staying solely in the more traveled inner islands (not all yachts are equipped to travel to the

outer islands). We maximize our opportunities to snorkel and kayak on each trip.

KAYAKING

Sea kayaking is offered on all of our departures and you

require no previous experience to enjoy this activity. Our

sea kayaks are the ideal means by which to get some good

exercise and explore the cliffs and shores of the various

visitor sites around the archipelago. A typical cruise week

offers great opportunities to go kayaking around secluded

coves, shores, mangrove estuaries and beautiful beaches.

Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, sea lions and

many other animals can be seen up close on a kayak and

even as they swim!

SNORKELING

Snorkeling is a favorite activity in the Galapagos Islands and

requires no previous experience to be enjoyed immensely.

You will be offered the opportunity to go snorkeling almost

every day at various snorkeling sites around the archipelago.

You will have the chance to snorkel with playful sea lions,

marine iguanas, green sea turtles and many other wonderful

creatures. For non-divers, this is an incredible way to get a

glimpse of the marine.


EXTEND YOUR STAY Contact our Polar Travel Advisers via email, live chat or phone (1.888.892.0073) for seamless, worry-free booking of all trip extensions.

DAY 4 Isabela Island

Hike along the uplifted section of

sea floor in Urbina Bay at the base of

the Alcedo Volcano. Our naturalists

point out the tortoises, colorful land

iguanas and other wildlife that feed

on the vegetation. Board our Zodiacs

for an excursion to Tagus Cove,

where we look for penguins, flightless

cormorants, pelicans along the cliffs

before a chance to snorkel and swim.

Punta Vicente Roca. Take to the water,

where we swim and snorkel among

sea turtles, penguins and possibly even

sea horses. Explore the lava fields of

Punta Espinosa, located on Fernandina,

the youngest and most volcanically

active island in the Galapagos. Here

we spot flightless cormorants and

marine iguanas. Whale watch from the

Evolution’s open-air decks as we cross

the Bolivar Channel.

Actual itinerary may vary based on weather conditions.

ISABELA

PINTA

MARCHENA GENOVESA

SOUTH PLAZAS

SANTA CRUZ SANTA FE

ESPAÑOLA

FERNANDINA

FLOREANA

SAN CRISTÓBAL

Paci�c Ocean

Galapagos Islands

to Mainland Ecuador

from Mainland Ecuador

PINZÓN

RÁBIDA

BARTOLOMÉ

LOS HERMANOS

TORTUGA

FlyCruise StartEnd

EQUATOR

Charles Darwin Research Station

Dragon Hill

Bachas Beach

Edèn Islet

BALTRA

SANTIAGO

Sullivan Bay

UrbinaBay

Espinosa Point

Vincente RocaPoint

Tagus Cove

Interpretation Center

Suarez Point

Gardiner Islet

Highlands

PTO. BAQUERIZO MORENA

DAY 1 Arrive Guayaquil, Ecuador

Fly independently to Guayaquil,

Ecuador, and transfer to the pre-

expedition hotel.

DAY 2 Embarkation Day, Whaler Bay and

Eden Islet

Fly to Galapagos, landing on Baltra,

and board the Evolution. During

World War II, Baltra was used as a

United States Air Force base. After a

safety briefing, hike along Whaler Bay,

site of one of the islands’ oldest whaling

camps. Just off the coast, discover tiny

Eden Islet, where we may spot Nazca

boobies, blue-footed boobies, marine

iguanas and large schools of mustard

rays while on a peaceful Zodiac cruise.

DAY 3 Isabela Island and Fernandina Island

Zodiacs take you on a dramatic ride

into the heart of a sunken volcano at

Itinerary



DAY 10 Depart Guayaquil

Board independent flights home.

All itineraries are subject to approval by

the Galapagos National Park and may vary

according to changes in park regulations.

and preserve Galapagos wildlife. Head

into the forested highlands, with ample

opportunity to see and photograph

giant tortoises in their verdant natural

habitat.

DAY 8 Española Island

As the southernmost island in the

archipelago, Española’s relative

isolation has resulted in not only an

abundance of unusual wildlife, but

species and subspecies that are endemic

to the island, such as Española (Hood)

mocking-bird, Española (Hood) racer

snake, Española (Hood) lava lizard,

waved albatross and brightly colored

marine iguanas. Enjoy a Zodiac cruise

before wading ashore to Punta Suarez

through a sea lion colony. Walk along

the cliffs looking for waved albatrosses,

Galapagos hawks, Hood mockingbirds

and the red-colored race of marine

iguana en route to Española’s blowhole,

where waves spout 90 feet (27 m) into

the air. After a relaxing lunch, swim,

snorkel and kayak in the waters off

Gardner Bay, or simply bring along

your book or a camera and relax on the

white sands.

DAY 9 San Cristóbal Island and Depart

Galapagos

End your Galapagos Islands cruise by

returning to San Cristóbal to visit the

Interpretation Center, opened by the

park in 1998. Fly to Guayaquil, with

time to relax at the post-expedition

hotel.

DAY 5 Bartolomé / Santiago Island:

Sullivan Bay

Visit Bartolomé Island, hiking to the

top of a dormant volcano for a dramatic

panorama, including famed Pinnacle

Rock. The island is dotted with craters,

cinder cones, lava flows, spatter cones

and broken lava tunnels which run

down from the summit. Our Zodiac

drivers will take non-hikers for a cruise

around the cliffs, observing a stunning

volcanic landscape and Galapagos

penguins. Swim and snorkel with sea

lions and maybe even speedy penguins.

This afternoon, hike across the

panoehoe lava of Sullivan Bay, seeing

some of the hearty flora colonizing the

landscapes. Stroll along the coralline

beach spotting black and white

oystercatchers.

DAY 6 Santa Cruz Island: Bachas Beach

and Dragon Hill

Walk along the white sands of Bachas

Beach looking for Sally Lightfoot crabs,

black necked stilts and whimbrels.

Snorkel in the calm waters where

sea turtles nest. Named for the area’s

large land iguanas, Dragon Hill is an

important nesting site for iguanas

reintroduced by the Charles Darwin

Research Center. Walk to a lagoon

where we often find flamingos,

common stilts and pintail ducks.

DAY 7 Santa Cruz Island

Begin at the Charles Darwin Research

Station, famous for its tortoise breeding

programs. See baby tortoises and learn

about vital work being done to study

IMPORTANT REMINDER Embracing

the unexpected is part of the legacy –

and excitement – of expedition travel.

When traveling in extremely remote

regions, your expedition staff must allow

the sea and the weather to guide route

and itinerary details. This itinerary

is a tentative outline of what you’ll

experience on this voyage; please be

aware that no specific itinerary can be

guaranteed. A measure of flexibility is

something all of us must bring to a polar

expedition.

Last revised: September 25, 2015



Note: Baggage allowance on charter flight is 44 lbs (20 kg) checked

and 22 lbs (10 kg) carry-on.

*MANDATORY FLIGHT AND PARK FEES INCLUDE:• Roundtrip domestic airfare

from mainland Ecuador to Galapagos Islands

$600

• National Park entrance fee $100

• Galapagos National Park INGALA transit card

$20

Total Package Cost: $720 USD

THIS EXPEDITION EXCLUDES

• Mandatory domestic flights and park fees*

• International airfare

• Passport and applicable visa expenses

• Government arrival and departure taxes not

mentioned above

• Meals ashore unless otherwise specified

• Baggage, cancellation, interruption, and medical

travel insurance

• Excess baggage charges

• Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges

unless specified

• Phone and internet charges

• Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for

shipboard staff and crew

• Additional overnight accommodation

THIS EXPEDITION INCLUDES

• Shipboard accommodation with daily

housekeeping

• All breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks on

board

• Complimentary soft drinks and juice on board

• All shore landings per the daily program

• Leadership throughout the voyage by our

experienced Expedition Leader

• All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily

program

• Formal and informal presentations by our

Expedition Team and special guests as scheduled

• Photographic journal documenting the

expedition

• Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock

• Hair dryer in every cabin

• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges

throughout the program

• All luggage handling aboard ship

• Emergency evacuation insurance to a maximum

benefit of US$100,000 per person

• Arrival and departure transfers in Guayaquil

• One night pre- and post-expedition hotel

accommodation in Guayaquil, with breakfast

• Transfers to and from domestic flight to

Galapagos

Inclusions


HOW TO BOOK YOUR EXPEDITION & ADVENTURE OPTIONSTo book your cabin or inquire about the availability of Adventure Options, contact a Polar Travel Adviser 1.888.892.0073 (+1.203.803.2666).

1.888.892.0073

Mandatory flight and park fees additional at $720 USDAll rates per person in USD.

Dates Days Start/End Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5

Mar 17 –

Mar 26, 17

10 Guayaquil $7,698 $7,248 $6,748 $6,398 $6,198 • •

Expedition Aboard the Adventure Ship EVOLUTION

GALAPAGOS EXPEDITION Darwin’s Playground, Far West

Dates & Rates

galapagos expedition: darwin’s playground, far west · galapagos expedition: darwin’s...

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