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Leader: Weldon Lee Price: $3995 (based on dbl occp - single suppl avail) Deposit: $300 Limit: 8 Days: 10 days/9 nights From: Quito, Ecuador Includes: airfare (Quito-Galapagos), land transfers, cruise (7 nights/8 days), accommodations (dbl cabins), meals, English speaking naturalist/guide, National Park fee
The fabled Galapagos Islands, home of the giant tortoise, is your destination for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds indulge in courtship activities at arm' length. Marine iguanas patiently pose on rocks at water's edge. It's not uncommon for frigatebirds to hitch a ride on the ship's railing as pods of bottle-nosed dolphins swim playfully alongside.
Photograph friendly sea lions swimming next to you as you snorkel the tropical waters of this island paradise. Nazca boobies, pink flamingos, flightless cormorants, penguins, albatross, frigatebirds, land iguanas, lava lizards, and the colorful Sally lightfoot crabs -- the list of exotic species is practically endless.
Our home during this adventure will be the M/Y Seaman (or similar boat), a 75-foot motor yacht with all the amenities including a fully air-conditioned carpeted interior, comfortable lounge with large panoramic windows, and last but not least, baths with hot showers. The gallery serves fine meals featuring Ecuadorian cuisine. Her sun deck is both shaded and open -- perfect for lounging after a hard day photographing the archipelago's friendly wildlife.
A special program is planned for each day.
Nature's Most Enchanting Wildlife Photography Destination
NOTE: Galapagos Travelers Non-photographer spouses are welcome on our Galapagos Wildlife adventure for an additional cost of $2325 which includes airfare, lodging, 8-day cruise, all meals, and land transfers.
Exotic Hummingbird Extension Join us for an additional 7 days as we travel to Ecuador's tropical rainforest for the premier hummingbird photo shoot of all times and save $$$ over our regular price. Your cost, just $1275 ($825 for non-photographer spouse).
Itinerary
Day 1 Upon your arrival in Quito, Ecuador, you'll be delivered to the intimate La Carriona, a gorgeous 200-year-old Spanish hacienda surrounded by picturesque mountains and stone patios. Tonight, you can swim in the pool, relax at the Jacuzzi while sipping a Caipirinha, a Brazilian drink that's become one of my favorites when traveling in South America, or just wander around Quinta or Sangolqui. The service at La Carriona is almost as good as the food.
Day
2 Following breakfast, you'll board an early flight for the Galapagos
Islands. It's 35 minutes to Guayaquil where you'll have a 20 minute layover
followed by an hour and forty minute flight to Baltra, where your guide will be
waiting for you to begin your cruise. Your first landing will be Bachas Beach,
situated along the northern edge
Day 3 Blue-footed boobies and Sally lightfoot crabs are sure to find their way into your viewfinder as colorful lava lizards scurry about four feet. The white sand beaches of Bartolome are perhaps the most lovely of all the islands -- perfect for an afternoon of snorkeling with, and photographing, sea lions. At the foot of Pinnacle Rock, reside a colony of Galapagos penguins.
Day 4 Genovesa Island, your destination today, is considered one of the most biologically interesting islands. A variety of birds call Genovesa home, including Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, Galapagos owls, frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, lava herons, and the rare lava gull. Also to be seen are sea lions; and fur seals which are actually a species of sea lion rather than a true seal.
Day 5 Following a good night's sleep aboard the Seaman, you'll embark for Las Plazas and on to the southern end of Santa Cruz Island. Giant tortoises breed in captivity at the Darwin Research Station. Marine iguanas inhabit the coastal rocks of Academy Bay while their cousins, the land iguanas populate Las Plazas, as do sea lions. In addition to the many sea and shore birds, such as lava herons, Darwin's finches are common sights around Academy Bay.
Day 6 Today, you'll journey into the highlands of Santa Cruz Island where, with a little luck, you'll have the opportunity to photograph vermillion flycatchers. Overnight, you'll travel to Espanola Island, also known as Hood.
wildlife are found on Espanola. It's the only marine iguanas have a particularly striking red coloration. You'll photograph them too, as well as the comical blue-footed and Nazca boobies. The hood mockingbird also lives on this island, as do red-billed tropic birds.
Day 8 Today, you'll find yourself on Floreana Island, also known as Charles of Santa Maria Island. Floreana is the south-eastern-most island in the archipelago. Pink flamingos feed in Flamingo Bay, while sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach near Cormorant Point. Colonies of sea lions and blue-footed boobies also call the island their home.
Day 9 Before anchoring at Baltra for your return flight to the mainland, you'll visit North Seymour Island, a small island immediately north of Baltra. This will be your last chance to capture on film any image that was missed earlier in the week. Afterward, you'll board your flight back to Quito where you'll be transported, once again, to La Carriona and a good night's rest.
Day 10 All good things must come to an end, including your Galapagos adventure. Following an early breakfast, you'll be transported to the airport where you'll board your flight back to Miami.
This itinerary is meant as a guide. Exact routing depends on National Park Service approval.
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Dates: Apr 19-28, 2008
of Santa Cruz Island next to Turtle Cove. Here,
your subjects will be Galapagos sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies,
and the colorful Sally lightfoot crabs. During the evening, as you sleep, your
boat captain will charter a course for the next leg of your journey -- Rabida
and Bartolome Islands.
Day
7 The world's densest and most diversified concentrations of