The Finch & the Tortoise - Itinerary B
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Overview
The Galapagos: watch your step - iguanas, sea lions and boobies ahead.
(Was Galapagos Adventure)
Itinerary
Day 1 - Quito
Explore Quito, the capital of Ecuador and the highest capital city in the world with a judicial building (bear with us). La Paz, in Bolivia, is the actual highest capital city in the world, but it doesn't have a judicial building. We think someone, somewhere was extremely bored when they gave Quito that title.
- If arriving early, perhaps spend time getting acquainted with Quito
- Evening pre-departure meeting at approx 6pm (details will be at the hotel Reception)
Day 2 - Baltra via North Seymour
Man of war birds, pirate birds, frigate pelican, frigatebirds - whatever you want to call them, these things are ridiculous (FYI, we call them frigatebirds). They've got the largest wingspan in comparison to their body out of any bird species in the world, and they can stay airbourne for an entire week. Head to North Seymour and see if you can't spot some of these awesome critters.
- Take an early morning flight to Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. Please note the pick-up time will usually be as early as 4am as Quito airport is a one hour drive and we must allow for delays and check-in times (Your Tour leader will confirm this time with you at the pre-departure meeting on day one.)
- Board the M.Y. Pelikano and set off on the Galapagos cruise
- Sail to North Seymour - one of the Galapagos’ most visited islands
- Gain good views of Daphne Major and Minor
- Keep eyes peeled for the magnificent frigatebird, blue-footed boobies, sea lions and marine iguanas
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 3 - San Cristobal & Cerro Brujo
Visiting a tiny island and a powder beach is a pretty fine way to spend a day, but just wait 'til you reach Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock). The water surrounding this rock, that juts 150m out of the sea, is a playground for wildlife. It's like Sesame Street, with less Cookie Monsters and more marine iguanas.
- Visit Isla Lobos and spend the morning relaxing by the island’s rocky shores alongside blue-footed boobies and sea lions
- Be lucky to spot some the Sally Lightfoot crabs and the frigatebird
- Continue on to Cerro Brujo, a fine powder beach on San Cristobal’s north coast and spend time snorkelling and relaxing
- Head to Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido) and cruise through the channel - one of the finest experiences in the Galapagos
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 4 - Española
Española is also known as Hood Island. But you won't find any turf-wars or marine iguana cartel here, just 12,000 pairs of waved albatross and a whole bunch of other Galapagos wildlife living in harmony. Brightly coloured lava lizards are endemic to Española - they're basically marine iguanas that look like they got in a fight with a rainbow and lost. Very cool.
- Cruise to Española - the breeding site of nearly all of the world's 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses
- Take trails right through the middle of booby colonies, where Galapagos doves and mockingbirds are also often seen
- Gain an epic panorama and a cliff-top viewpoint
- Perhaps see the elaborate courtship rituals performed by albatrosses before the female chooses her lifelong mate
- Visit Gardner Bay and one of the archipelagos longest stretches of white sand
- Go snorkelling alongside reef sharks, turtles and many species of tropical fish, including surgeon, parrot and angelfish
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 5 - Floreana
Wildlife often steals the show in the Galapagos, but Floreana has a pretty interesting human history. It would take far too long to explain it all in this day-by-day itinerary, but make sure you write a letter to leave in the 220-year-old post box. We told you it was pretty interesting.
- Visit the island of Floreana - one of the most beautiful islands in the Galapagos
- Post a letter for passing boats at Post Office Bay
- Go swimming with turtles
- Head to Punta Cormorant and hike from a greenish-coloured sand beach, through black mangrove beds, towards a flamingo-filled lagoon
- Pass Galapagos millwork, passion flower and the unique button mangrove
- Take a panga ride to the Mirador - excellent for viewing marine life such as golden eagle rays, sea turtles, sea lions and Galapagos penguins (This is dependant on the weather conditions and is viewing trip only)
- Take in sweeping views of the coastline from Enderby Island to Post Office Bay, including Cerro Straw and the pool of flamingos at Punta Cormorant
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 6 - Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz & Charles Darwin Research Station
Giant tortoise can grow up to four feet long. Think about that. That's about three and a half feet of tortoise more than you'll ever have seen before. Pay them a visit on Santa Cruz.
- Visit the town of Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station
- Perhaps have a close-up encounter with a giant tortoise
- See loads of newborn and young giant turtles, thanks to the research station's breeding program
- Fly back to Quito for overnight
BreakfastDay 7 - Quito
Brekkie. Goodbyes. Home. Until next time, compadre.
- The trip ends today after breakfast
Breakfast -
What to Know
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Map
Map Itinerary
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Dates
Trip Dates and Prices
Show more departures...Start Date – End Date Trip Status Price 25 May 2013 - 31 May 2013 1 Closed US $2,435 Closed 08 Jun 2013 - 14 Jun 2013 2 Request US $2,435 Book Now 22 Jun 2013 - 28 Jun 2013 0 Request US $2,495 Contact Us 06 Jul 2013 - 12 Jul 2013 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 20 Jul 2013 - 26 Jul 2013 0 Request US $2,495On Sale Sale: US $2,012 Contact Us 03 Aug 2013 - 09 Aug 2013 1 Available US $2,495 Book Now 17 Aug 2013 - 23 Aug 2013 5 Available US $2,495On Sale Sale: US $2,012 Book Now 14 Sep 2013 - 20 Sep 2013 7 Available US $2,495On Sale Sale: US $2,205 Book Now 28 Sep 2013 - 04 Oct 2013 5 Available US $2,435On Sale Sale: US $1,952 Book Now 12 Oct 2013 - 18 Oct 2013 2 Available US $2,435 Book Now 26 Oct 2013 - 01 Nov 2013 7+ Available US $2,435 Book Now 09 Nov 2013 - 15 Nov 2013 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 23 Nov 2013 - 29 Nov 2013 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 07 Dec 2013 - 13 Dec 2013 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 21 Dec 2013 - 27 Dec 2013 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 15 Feb 2014 - 21 Feb 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 01 Mar 2014 - 07 Mar 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 15 Mar 2014 - 21 Mar 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 29 Mar 2014 - 04 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 12 Apr 2014 - 18 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 26 Apr 2014 - 02 May 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 10 May 2014 - 16 May 2014 7+ Available US $2,435 Book Now 24 May 2014 - 30 May 2014 7+ Available US $2,435 Book Now 07 Jun 2014 - 13 Jun 2014 7+ Available US $2,435 Book Now 21 Jun 2014 - 27 Jun 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 05 Jul 2014 - 11 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 19 Jul 2014 - 25 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 02 Aug 2014 - 08 Aug 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 16 Aug 2014 - 22 Aug 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 30 Aug 2014 - 05 Sep 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 13 Sep 2014 - 19 Sep 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 27 Sep 2014 - 03 Oct 2014 7+ Available US $2,435 Book Now 11 Oct 2014 - 17 Oct 2014 7+ Available US $2,435 Book Now 25 Oct 2014 - 31 Oct 2014 7+ Available US $2,435 Book Now 08 Nov 2014 - 14 Nov 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 22 Nov 2014 - 28 Nov 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 06 Dec 2014 - 12 Dec 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 20 Dec 2014 - 26 Dec 2014 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now 03 Jan 2015 - 09 Jan 2015 7+ Available US $2,495 Book Now -
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What to know
On arrival in the islands you must pay the US$110 national park fee to enter Galapagos National Park.