Duration: 10 days/ 9 nights
2020 Dates: January 23rd, February 20th, May 28th, July 9th, July 23rd, August 6th, October 15th, October 29th, November 12th.
2021 Dates: January 21st, February 18th, April 15th, April 29th, May 13th, May 27th, June 10th, July 8th, August 5th, October 14th, October 28th, November 11th, November 25th, December 9th
• Mentioned dates are Day 1 on the Itinerary and two days before cruise departure.
TOUR PRICES:
2 Nights in Quito (Hotel, private transfers and private city tour) +
8 Days/ 7 Nights Cruise aboard the M/Y Passion luxury yacht
Stateroom: $5,845 per person double occupancy.
Suite: $6,895 per person double occupancy.
NOTE: Additional cost will apply for the following:
The Galapagos National Park Fee and municipal tax: $100 p/person ($50 per child)
Transit Control Card: $20 per person
TIPS for the cruise crew and guide.
International flights and Flights Quito/Galapagos/Quito are not included
ITINERARY:
DAY 1/ QUITO
Arrival. Reception at the airport and private transfer to your hotel. Lodging at Boutique Hotel Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar for two nights.
DAY 2/ QUITO
Breakfast. In the morning you’ll explore picturesque Old Town Quito, a World Heritage Site with plazas, churches and monasteries from the early colonial times. You’ll walk along quaint cobbled streets and visit Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square) or Plaza Grande, with its Presidential Palace, Archbishop’s Palace, the Cathedral, Municipal Palace and nearby you’ll visit La Compañía, a Jesuit church overflowing with Baroque art and gold. You’ll also stop at Plaza de San Francisco and its church that have been a center of activity since pre-Incan times when the square was the Tianguez (main marketplace). There you’ll visit the church’s museum which houses four thousand pieces including sculptures and oil paintings from the Escuela Quiteña. After enjoying a snack at Café Tianguez you’ll walk to “La Ronda”, one of the first streets of the city known for the artisans’ workshops and restaurants. After La Ronda, you will visit one of the most popular viewpoints of Quito: El Panecillo Hill. It is topped by a 41m tall aluminum mosaic statue of La Virgen de Quito that features a crown of stars, angelic wings and a chained dragon. From the top you’ll be able to enjoy marvelous views of the sprawling city of Quito and the surrounding volcanoes in the distance. Lodging. (B)
DAY 3/ SANTA CRUZ ISLAND/BALTRA – CRUISE M/Y PASSION –
HIGHLANDS & FAUSTO LLERENA BREEDING CENTER
After arriving at Baltra airport, you will be greeted by an Angermeyer Cruises representative and then board a bus that will take you to the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island for your first visit in the Galapagos. The Highlands are lush and green in contrast to the arid coastal vegetation. The highland forests are dominated by the endemic Scalesia tree and are home to many bird species, including the short-ear owl. Here, you’ll have lunch at a local ranch while looking for the famous giant tortoises, which are in constant migration from the highlands to the coast. After lunch, you will head to Puerto Ayora for your second visit, the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center. In the breeding center, you will see tortoises from different islands. The animals are found in large semi natural pens for their protection, but also to ensure an easy view for the visitors. The pens are divided according to four different stages: eggs, neonates, juveniles (held here until they are mature enough to be “repatriated”) and adults.
Afterward, you will head back to Puerto Ayora where you will have some time to explore the town and shops by yourselves (this is the only chance of shopping in Galapagos on this itinerary) before boarding the M/Y Passion at around 5:00 p.m. Once on board, the crew and captain will welcome you, have a short security drill and enjoy dinner and the briefing for the next day’s activities. (B,L,D)
DAY 4/ CRUISE M/Y PASSION
PUNTA CORMORANT, DEVIL’S CROWN & POST OFFICE BAY
AM: Wet landing onto the olivine beaches of Punta Cormorant, where you will be seeking Greater Flamingos on the brackish lagoon on your way to another special beach with the finest sand you’ll set foot on, a sea turtle nesting ground where sharks and rays also visit regularly. You’ll end the outing with a short panga ride to snorkel in the Devil’s Crown, and old volcanic crater and a key snorkeling site.
PM: After lunch, you will visit Post Office Bay (wet landing), where you can drop your postcards in the barrel as the whalers did centuries ago and select cards to hand deliver when you return home. (B,L,D)
DAY 5/ CRUISE M/Y PASSION
BLACK BEACH & ASILO DE LA PAZ
AM: This morning you will visit Floreana Island’s Black Beach to learn about the intriguing human history of the island and its first inhabitants. You will visit this fresh water source known as Asilo de La Paz, as well as the caves that served as hideouts for pirates and where the first Galapagueño was born, according to the stories of Floreana, which involve the infamous Baroness Eloise Wagner Von Bousquet and her lovers who mysteriously began to disappear after settling on the island.
PM: After your visit, you will have the best opportunity for a not-so-common yet well-beloved activity in the archipelago, a full afternoon navigation to look for whales and dolphins. This afternoon is completed by the impressive landscapes of Isabela and the Cerro Azul volcano.
(B,L,D)
DAY 6/ CRUISE M/Y PASSION
PUNTA MORENO & URBINA BAY
AM: You’ll arrive at Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos. After breakfast, you’ll step ashore at Punta Moreno (dry landing) onto a superb pahoehoe lava flow surrounded by giant shield volcanoes, some of which are still active! From here you will take a short hike to a lagoon where flamingos are usually present.
PM: You’ll disembark at Urbina Bay (wet landing) onto a black sand beach, a nesting site for green sea turtles. You’ll take a brief hike inland in search of land iguanas and giant tortoises (seasonal) that migrate to and from the highlands. At the beach, you will admire the remains of a geological uplift exposing coral heads and marine fossils, and if the sea conditions and time are on our side, you will also snorkel in these waters. (B,L,D)
DAY 7/ CRUISE M/Y PASSION
TAGUS COVE & PUNTA ESPINOSA
AM: Dry landing near Tagus Cove, a historical pirate hideaway where names of countless ships are recorded for posterity on the cliff face. Hike through beautiful Galapagos landscapes to Darwin Lake, a salt-water crater lagoon surrounded by tuff stone.
PM: You’ll cross Bolivar Channel to Fernandina Island, one of the world’s most pristine sites, and disembark (dry landing) at Punta Espinosa.
Strolling along the shoreline, you will be on the lookout for flightless cormorants, Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos penguins and hawks, sooty-colored marine iguanas and bright red-orange Sally Lightfoot crabs.
(B,L,D)
DAY 8/ CRUISE M/Y PASSION
PUERTO EGAS, BUCANEER’S COVE & ESPUMILLA BEACH
AM: At Puerto Egas (wet landing) you’ll disembark on a dark sand volcanic beach with an interesting history of human settlement. Sleepy Galapagos fur seals lounge under arches of lava carved by the ocean and occasionally dip into the crystalline pools, also known as “grottos”. Walk along the shore and observe the abundant marine life.
PM: At Buccaneer Cove you will take a panga ride around the beautiful coastline. This place got its name because it used to be a refuge for British Buccaneers, which anchored here to collect supplies and clean their ships among other activities. The cove is very scenic with views of the cliffs and a dark beach. Do not forget to look for two unusual rock formations known as “the monk” and “elephant rock”. You’ll head to central Santiago to disembark at Espumilla (wet landing), onto a golden-colored sand beach, used by green sea turtles as a nesting site.
A forest trail will take you through some of the largest specimens of Palo Santo on the islands to observe yellow warblers, the amazing Galapagos flycatcher, and Darwin finches. (B,L,D)
DAY 9/ CRUISE M/Y PASSION
SULLIVAN BAY & NORTH SEYMOUR
AM: You’ll head across the Sullivan Bay (dry landing) in Santiago to walk over a recent lava flow, including very fresh pahoehoe lava formations, lava bubbles containing crystallized minerals and pioneer plants. Along the shoreline, you may find Galapagos penguins and herons going after small fish.
PM: You’ll disembark on North Seymour (dry landing), a small uplifted island, where you will walk right up to bird nesting colonies of the two species of frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls, and experience, depending on the season, spectacular mating ritual displays.
(B,L,D)
DAY 10/ CRUISE M/Y PASSION – MOSQUERA ISLET /BALTRA – QUITO
AM: Mosquera is a small islet located between Baltra and North Seymour Islands and measuring about 160 meters across and 600 meters long. It is home to one of the largest sea lion colonies and is also a haven for shorebirds. Orcas occasionally come to the islet to feed on the sea lions. After this visit, the ship will sail to Baltra where passengers ending their trip will disembark and go to the airport. Flight to QUITO. Arrival and connection to your international flight back to the U.S.A.*
(B)
* Or stay additional nights in Quito.
NOTE: During the cruise, in addition to the land visits there will be a good balance of other activities such as snorkeling, panga rides and kayaking.
END OF OUR SERVICES
OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:
– GALAPAGOS CRUISE for 8 Days/7 Nights aboard M/Y PASSION Western Islands
– Local bilingual guides for excursions. Programmed visits to the islands with a certified bilingual naturalist guide
-Lodging for 9 nights (2 nights at mentioned or similar category hotels + 7 nights aboard S/S Mary Anne)
– Snorkel gear (mask, snorkel and fins).
– Kayaks
– Private transfers and excursion in Quito. Bus and Ferry transfers in Galapagos.
– Meals as mentioned in itinerary: All breakfasts (B), 7 lunches (L), 7 dinners (D). Unlimited coffee, tea, water and natural juices aboard the cruise.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE:
– International airline tickets
– Flights Quito/Galapagos (Baltra Airport)/Quito. Airfare may vary from about $450 per person.
– Galapagos National Park entrance fee. Galapagos Transit Control Card.
– Wet suit rental fee
– Personal expenses, tips.
– Alcoholic drinks and bottled beverages, and other meals or services not mentioned in the itinerary description.
