25th September 2006
11 nights in the Galapagos, a naturalists paradise
Aboard Cachalote I
£2510 per person Outline Itinerary
Day 1 fly from Heathrow to Quito via Madrid and transfer to Hotel Grand Mecure for overnight stay.
Day 2 guided tour of Ecuador's historic capital. Quito is only 22km south of the equator, set at latitude and surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. The old centre of the city is UNESCO World Heritage Listed and the buildings and narrow streets evoke a sense of the past.
Day 3 transfer to Quito airport for onward flight to the airport on Isla Baltra. Upon arrival board the vessel Cachalote I and set sail. Visit Islas Plazas, two small islands lying just off the east coast of Santa Cruz that are noted for their sea lion colonies and an abundance of bird life that nest on the sheer cliffs including swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds, frigatebirds, pelicans, masked boobies and blue-footed boobies.
Day 4 visit Santa Cruz, the second largest island in the archipelago. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre, which is about a 20-minute walk from the main centre Puerto Ayora and enjoy encounters with giant tortoises. Also visit the highlands.
Day 5 sail to Isla Espanola, also known as Hood, the most southerly island in the archipelago. A sea lion colony resides on the white-sand beach of Gardner Bay, while at Punta Suarez a trail leads through masked and blue-footed booby colonies. At this time of year albatross are nesting providing excellent opportunities for encounters with these magnificent birds.
Day 6 visit the green mineral-tinged beach of Punta Cormorant and Post Office Bay on Floreana. There is also a flamingo lagoon near to the beach.
Day 7 sail to the largest of the Galapagos Islands Isabela, which boasts five active volcanoes. Explore the lava flow of Punta Moreno where flamingos can be seen and visit Elizabeth Bay know for its marine life, especially penguins, rays and turtles.
Day 8 a further day of exploration on Isabela takes in Urbina Bay where cormorants, pelicans and marine iguanas can be observed on land and turtles can be seen in the bay. Sail to Isla Fernandina, which lies off the west coast of Isabela. This is the most recently formed of the island group as can be witnessed by the volcanic landscapes. Punta Espinosa is known for its concentrations of marine iquanas as well as oystercatchers, blue herons and yellow warblers.
Day 9 to the east of Isabela on Santiago is Puerto Egas where the many tidal pools attract fur seals and sally lightfoot crabs in abundance. Also visit tiny Isla Bartolome, with its appealing landscape.
Day 10 return to Santa Cruz looking out for the marine life at Turtle Cove, before disembarking back at Baltra. Fly to Quito and transfer to Hotel Grand Mecure for overnight stay.
Day 11 transfer to airport for return flight from Quito to UK via Madrid.
Day 12 arrive Heathrow.
Holiday details
Duration 11 nights
Departure date 25th September 2006
Price (per person) Twin £2510 Single £3709
Price includes return flights between Heathrow and Quito (via Madrid with Iberia) in economy class, return flights between Quito and Galapagos, accommodation on board the vessel for 7 nights including all meals, 3 nights in total in Quito at the Grand Mecure Hotel on a breakfast basis, return transfers in Quito between airport and the hotel, UK departure tax, services of guides whilst in Quito and the Galapagos Islands, complimentary city tour of Quito and a 1 year membership to the Galapagos Conservation Trust.
DISCOVER THE WORLD
Discover the World is one of the UK's leading tour operators, with seven specialist travel programmes. For over two decades we have been operating high-quality holidays to ensure our clients get the most out of their travel.
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