Ecuador

Starting Price:	£2,511.00
Trip Length:	8 days

Galapagos Penguin

Galaven Expedition Yacht

Cabin

Galaven Expedition Yacht - 8 days / 7 nights Tuesday to Tuesday - Option B

Description Pricing Itinerary

The new Galaven Expedition Yacht is ideal for exploring the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands in style and comfort. The Galaven Expedition holds up to 20 passengers and all accommodations offer spectacular ocean views from private cabins. The Galaven Expedition makes frequent stops that allow travelers to thoroughly embrace the unique wildlife and habitat of the archipelago. All visits are accompanied by trained and bilingual Galapagos National Park guides able to increase your understanding and appreciation of your magnificent surroundings.

These ship itineraries alternate every two weeks due to Galapagos National Park regulations, Galapagos cruises are not permitted to visit the same island within a two week period. This itinerary is available every two weeks; please check with your Yampu travel consultant for applicable travel dates.

Additional information on this trip:

Days of Week the Trip can Start:
Tuesday

Go Back To Galaven Expedition Yacht

Day 1

Tuesday
Today we will take flight from Ecuador's mainland to Baltra. Upon arrival we will be greeted for airport reception and transferred to the Galaven Expedition Yacht to begin our Galapagos adventure.

Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado, San Cristobal
Today we will visit the southeastern part of the island, which is a protected dry forest and the breeding grounds of wild tortoises.

Day 2

Wednesday
Santa Fe Island
We make a wet landing on Santa Fe to visit the cactus forest and a colony of land iguanas that are native to the island. Here we can also see the Galapagos mockingbird, magnificent frigate, brown pelican, and several species of Darwin’s finches.

Plazas Island
We make a dry landing on the pier of Plaza Sur where we can enjoy the juvenile antics of the sea lions. This island was originally formed by uplifted lava and the terrain includes an impressive cactus forest. On land we will see land iguanas and several species of tropical birds.

Day 3

Thursday
Charles Darwin Research Center, Santa Cruz Island
We make a dry landing to visit the Charles Darwin Station and its interpretive center. Here we witness the efforts and results of the ongoing field work conducted in the name of science. While on the island we have the chance to stroll the main street of Puerto Ayora and browse the many local handicraft shops.

Los Gemelos, Santa Cruz
Today we will visit los Gemelos (or twins) a pair of craters approximately 30 meters deep located on either side of the road to Baltra. The holes could be created because of a volcanic explosion or because of magma chambers inside earth.

Day 4

Friday
Wetlands & Muro de las Lagrimas (the Wall of Tears), Isabela Island
The wetlands adjacent to Puerto Villamil contain a series of nine trails that allow visitors to enjoy its natural beauty. Play del Amour (Lovers’ Beach) is a popular site where marine iguanas, pelicans, and blue-footed boobies can all be spotted.

Sierra Negra, Isabela Island
Today we visit the active Sierra Negra Volcano.

Day 5

Saturday
Punta Moreno, Isabela
Located on the southwestern side of Isabela, Punta Moreno has a pristine and isolated landscape covered with black lava flows and brackish lagoons. There are a number of birds including frigates, flamingos, and pelicans.

Urbina Bay, Isabela Island
Urbina Bay is located on the central-west coast of Isabela Island at the foothills of Volcanoes Alcedo and Darwin. After a wet landing on the dark, volcanic sand beach we will walk further inland with a good possibility of seeing giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The inland is also an excellent nesting ground for the large and colorful land iguanas while flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, and penguins can all be seen along the rocky shoreline. Afterward we have the opportunity to swim or snorkel.

Day 6

Sunday
Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island
Today we visit the archipelago’s youngest island, Fernandina. This island has the most active volcano in the Galapagos with eruptions occurring every few years. Punta Espinoza has a fascinating combination of barrenness and abundance of wildlife that we will observe during a brief one-mile walk. The island has no introduced animals and therefore has a very unique environment with a high density of marine iguanas, sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, and Galapagos hawks. The lava terrain on the island calls for good walking shoes.

Vicente Roca Point, Isabela Island
Vicente Roca Point is made up of two separate coves and located on the north-western coast of Isabela. Today we will be able to explore the large bay that is home to seahorses, sea turtles, and the Mola-mola (sunfish). There will be an opportunity to snorkel and swim.

Day 7

Monday
Espumilla Beach and Buccaneer Cove, Santiago Island
Today we will visit the main attractions of Santiago Island including the holy stick forest, beautiful Espumilla beach, and the amazing landscape over Buccaneer Cove. Espumilla is an important beach for nesting marine turtles; here you can also see the white-checked pintail, finches, and mockingbirds.

Bartolome Island
This island is perhaps the most photographed location in the entire archipelago. As we arrive on the island we see volcanic formations including lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. We make a dry landing and walk to the top of the island in order to see the most famous Galapagos vista: Pinnacle Rock & Santiago Island. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase, but the view from the top is well worth the effort. After returning to the dingy we ride around Pinnacle Rock for our first chance to see the small Galapagos penguins. Before returning to our boat there is time for an optional swim or snorkel.

Day 8

Tuesday
Daphne Island
Daphne Island is a major site for an ongoing scientific research project monitoring the island’s finches. We will visit this island and venture up a steep trail from the shore to the crater rim of a volcano. During the way we will spot the famous finches, masked boobies, and Galapagos Martins.

Today we will transfer to Baltra airport for our flight back to Ecuador's mainland to connect with another Yampu add-on of your choice.

8 days , from £2511

Occupancy Type	Main Deck
Double	£2511
Single	£3499

Prices shown above are per person, in Sterling (Ł).

Yampu only offers the Galaven Expedition Yacht as an add-on to our highlight programs. If booking alone, booking fee may apply. Prices include air transportation from Quito or Guayaquil to Galapagos return, 7 nights accommodation on the Galaven Expedition Yacht including all meals, bilingual naturalist guide, and all planned tours.

Rates also include $100 Galapagos National Park entrance fee payable in cash upon arrival as a contribution to the preservation of the Park, and the $10 Transit Control Card.

Rates do not include gratuities, fuel surcharges and local airport taxes that are payable in the country of destination are also not included. Taxes and security fees that can be paid at time of ticketing are already included in the quote.

All cruise itineraries are subject to change.

By traveling to the Galapagos with Yampu Tours, you will be making the choice to travel responsibly. As members of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association), Yampu donates $7 for every traveler that travels to the Galapagos with us. We are dedicated to helping preserve the islands while supporting sustainable Eco-tourism. As an IGTOA member, we are informed, involved, and concerned.

There will also be an optional Galapagos Conservation contribution of $50 per passenger added to your final proposal.

The contribution will go towards:

Creating benefits and educational opportunities for local people.
Strengthening responsible tourism management.
Building strong financial support for conservation among the travel industry and travelers.

Promoting high professional standards for the tourist industry.

Yampu Tours is a trading name of Yampu Tours & Travel Ltd – Registered in England, Company No: 6054303 ATOL Number: 9522 VAT Number 919 1679 90 – 0800 011 2424 – Email Us