Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary A)
Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary A)
Galapagos Encounter - Archipel I (Itinerary A)
10 Days Starting in Quito and ending in Guayaquil
Visiting: Ecuador, Galapagos Islands
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WGAA
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Age range:
12-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTour Overview
This eight-day southwestern tour aboard the catamaran Archipel I gives an extensive overview of the Galapagos by combining the circumnavigation of Isabela Island with excursions in the southernmost points of the archipelago. It also gives the chance to snorkel with sea lions in the Loberia and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station in Santa Cruz.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Quito
The adventure begins in Quito, aim to arrive at the hotel this afternoon/evening. Free transfers are available for all clients. A local guide will welcome you to Quito and explain the schedule for the next few days.
Accommodation: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)
Day 2 : Discover Quito At Your Leisure
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is free to relax, recover from the flight and explore the fascinating city of Quito, the second-highest capital in the world, standing at 9,350ft (2,850m) on the western cordillera of the Andes. It is one of the smaller and more attractive of the colonial capitals in South America. Because of the altitude, visitors to Quito are advised to take it easy at first.
Accommodation: Hotel Casona de la Ronda (or similar)
Day 3 : Fly To San Cristóbal Airport And Visit Interpretation Centre
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: Fly to Galapagos
Transfer to Quito Airport and fly to San Cristóbal Airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, you will pass through the airport inspection point to make sure no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the island, and to pay the national park entrance fee. Your guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour where a dinghy will take you to the yacht.
Afternoon: Interpretation Centre
The Interpretation Centre provides a perfect explanation of this unique archipelago – the exhibition reveals what makes it so unique. Information panels, pictures, documents, maquettes and dioramas delve into the background and conservation stories of the islands.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 4 : Sante Fe And South Plaza
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: Sante Fe
Sante Fe is a jewel of the Galapagos, where the pale Barrington land iguana and practically every other creature is unique to the archipelago or this island alone.
Afternoon: South Plaza
Popular South Plaza is not to be missed! This Jurassic islet is the best place to see the emblematic Galapagos dragons, which crawl across it.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 5 : North Seymour And Chinese Hat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: North Seymour
North Seymour is another cruise highlight. It’s home to the most extensive seabird breeding colony in the archipelago and you can walk just a short distance from frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies.
Afternoon: Chinese Hat
Chinese Hat is a 170ft (52m) high volcanic cone, forming another islet right off the rocky coast of Santiago, where a small colony of Galapagos penguins have settled. Approaching Chinese Hat from the north, you will understand the meaning of the name. This is an excellent place to learn more about volcanoes, lava bombs and lava tunnels.
You arrive just in time to see how this barren islet is being colonised by pioneer plant species! Beautiful beaches of white coral sand and holes in the eroding lava fields are filled with lava sand, which enables rooting. Galapagos sea lions and countless marine iguanas contribute to fertilisation and thus create many favourable options for newcomers, such as saltbush and the sesuvium carpet.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 6 : Santa Cruz Island
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: El Chato Reserve – Twin Craters
The native scalesia forest of El Chato Tortoise Reserve is the best place to search for Galapagos giant tortoises in their most authentic setting! Despite the interesting breeding centres – where you are guaranteed to find tortoises in their corrals – there is nothing better than to observe them in their wild environment. Though it can be quite moist and muddy, your visit may turn into an adventurous quest when they have left their favourite pond silently.
The Twin Craters are found on either side of the road leading to Puerto Ayora. These impressive formations are not really volcanic craters but were formed by magma domes, which hardened on the outside while the lava flowed inside, leaving huge, empty magma chambers that eventually collapsed and left two large holes. The craters lie within a lush scalesia cloud forest, a high-altitude plant species that are endemic to the Galapagos. This area is also home to the carpenter finch, which uses tools to search for food. There may also be opportunities to see the vermillion flycatcher, a small red-breasted bird.
Afternoon: Fausto Llerena Breeding Center
On a tour of the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, you can see the tortoises of Española Island, ending in the tortoise exhibit corral. Tortoises of this corral are accustomed to humans – an excellent chance to photograph them.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 7 : Isabela Island
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: Moreno Point
Moreno Point is on the north coast of Isabela Island, between the volcanoes Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. The trail runs along a solidified pahoehoe lava flow into a complex of coastal lagoons. The main attractions here are several bird species, which are found around the lakes and mangroves.
Afternoon: Urbina Bay
Urbina Bay runs along the west coast of Isabela, between Elizabeth Bay and Tagus Cove and close to Alcedo Volcano. It's home to large, colourful land iguanas, giant tortoises, and lots of Darwin finches. Additionally, the coastline here underwent a major uplift in 1954, which caused the shore to expand 0.75mi (1.2km) out. As a result, you can now find corals, shells, and many other calcareous organisms exposed above the water.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 8 : Fernandina And Isabela Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: Espinoza Point (Fernandina)
Fernandina is the third-largest island in the archipelago and has a single visitor site: Punta Espinoza, at the northeastern tip. Here, marine iguanas gather in larger groups than on any other island. They bask in the sand, swim near the shore and sometimes block the way at the landing dock. Fernandina is also home to the flightless cormorant, which can longer fly but has wings, tails and feet perfectly adapted for finding food in the ocean.
Afternoon: Vicente Roca Point (Isabela)
While having lunch, we cross the Bolivar Channel for the last time to Vicente Roca Point, just at the mouth of Isabela’s seahorse-shape. While entering a dark cave below a spectacular arch, the roar of waves accompanies you and, just around the corner, the collapsed amphitheatre of Volcan Ecuador offers an impressive view. The calmer cove waters are well-protected against the ocean swell and are fairly cold, but a great place for snorkelling among various species of shark, penguin, puffer fish and even seahorses.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 9 : Santiago And Rabida Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning: Puerto Egas (Santiago)
Puerto Egas is historic and the favourite site on Santiago for wildlife lovers; it’s even the best place in the archipelago to observe Galapagos fur seals.
Afternoon: Rabida
Upon landing at this remarkable red beach, you will usually be greeted by a large bachelor colony of Galapagos sea lions.
Accommodation: Archipel I
Day 10 : Disembark Santa Cruz; Fly Baltra To Guayaquil And End
Meals Included: Breakfast
Morning: Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz) and transfer to Baltra Airport
Our last adventure is brief but enchanting and takes place en route to the airport. Explore by dinghy the green landscape of Black Turtle Cove, which is mostly comprised of mangrove trees that host innumerable aerial and aquatic species. The quiet emerald lagoon and surrounding shallow bays enable the easy observation of sea turtles and groups of sharks.
Then, assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to Baltra, where we take the airport shuttle. From here, we fly to Guayaquil where it's possible to connect with international flights from 6pm onwards.
What's Included
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All breakfasts, seven lunches, seven dinners
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All accommodation
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All transport and listed activities
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Tour leader throughout
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Snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel and fins) available free of charge on board
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
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Compulsory Galapagos taxes US$120 (US$220 as of August 1st, 2024), paid locally
Food
All breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners are included.
On board meals are plentiful with a wide choice of international and local cuisine. Breakfasts usually consist of cheese, meats, eggs, cereal, toasts, yoghurts, and fruits. Snacks are provided mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and for lunches and dinner soup usually precedes the main course.
Alcoholic drinks are available on board (approximately US$4 per beer, US$35 for a bottle of wine, around US$8 for selected cocktails) and the crew request you do not bring your own alcohol with you. Drinking water, tea, coffee, and juice is freely available at no additional charge.
Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this trip – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared.
Accommodation
Cruise around the Galapagos on Archipel I, a catamaran overseen by nine crew members. On top is a spacious sundeck (come here for stretching views over the Pacific Ocean and islands), plus loungers and a dining area.
Inside, there’s a lounge with a stocked bar and another dining space. Additionally, the vessel has eight cabins: two with double beds and six with two single beds; all have air conditioning and private bathrooms.
The experience is undoubtedly enhanced by the on-board naturalist, an expert on the wildlife of the Galapagos. The vessel also has four double sea kayaks and snorkeling equipment, which we can use on guided adventures.
Boat specifications:
Catamaran
16-passenger capacity with two double cabins and six twin cabins
Crew: Nine plus one naturalist guide
Length: 88ft (27m)
Beam: 36ft (11m)
Take a virtual tour of the Archipel I: www.catamaranarchipel.com/VR/ARCHIPELL.html
Worth knowing
Single rooms can be arranged for a supplement for the hotel nights in Quito, subject to availability – please enquire at the time of booking. We cannot offer single cabins on the catamaran; therefore, solo guests will be paired with another guest of the same sex for the seven nights on board.
Travelling between islands is often done overnight, so expect some cabin noise and movement.
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
16+ age people can
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What is the maximum group size?
16
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.