Ecuador Cloud Forest and Galapagos Cruise
DAY 1: ARRIVAL – QUITO
Upon arrival, you will have a private transfer from the Airport to the Hotel with private transportation accompanied by an English speaking guide.
Depending on the time of arrival, a Panoramic City tour can be done during the afternoon. At dark, the architectural facades of Quito’s historical centre are beautifully lit and their detailed art deco and neoclassical ornaments are emphasized. At the end you can marvel the illuminated metropolis in all its glory from the panoramic viewpoint of El Panecillo hill.
Accommodation: Sierra Madre or similar
Upon arrival, you will have a private transfer from the Airport to the Hotel with private transportation accompanied by an English speaking guide.
Depending on the time of arrival, a Panoramic City tour can be done during the afternoon. At dark, the architectural facades of Quito’s historical centre are beautifully lit and their detailed art deco and neoclassical ornaments are emphasized. At the end you can marvel the illuminated metropolis in all its glory from the panoramic viewpoint of El Panecillo hill.
Accommodation: Sierra Madre or similar
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DAY 2: QUITO – BELLAVISTA CLOUD FOREST BIRD PARADISE / MINDO
Our two-day trip is a wonderful way to become acquainted with the special environment of a cloud forest so close to Quito – only one hour 45 minutes away! We offer our guests a unique stay in paradise, surrounded by myriads of hummingbirds and exuberant forests! Early in the morning, you’ll depart from your hotel in Quito City, Arrival at Bellavista and breakfast. You will enjoy gourmet food, the fabulous views of forest and mountains, and an extensive network of safe, well-marked trails, forest hikes and discover the ecology of this mysterious forest - and/or bird watching Accommodation: Bellavista Cloud Forest reserve Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Diner |
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DAY 3: BELLAVISTA CLOUD FOREST / MINDO - QUITO
After a refreshing night’s sleep, an early morning bird hike in the serene morning light is well worthwhile. At 8 AM, our special Bellavista breakfast is served. Afterwards, perhaps explore on your own, or go with a guide to a waterfall! Every hike reveals something new even for those of us who are fortunate enough to live in the forest every day!! Lunch is served at 1 pm, and afterwards you choose whether you want to take a short hike or just relax while enjoying the flight and activity of the hummingbirds. Arrivals in Quito are expected at around 5 PM, afterward you’ll be going to your hotel for the overnight.
Accommodation: Hotel Sierra Madre or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After a refreshing night’s sleep, an early morning bird hike in the serene morning light is well worthwhile. At 8 AM, our special Bellavista breakfast is served. Afterwards, perhaps explore on your own, or go with a guide to a waterfall! Every hike reveals something new even for those of us who are fortunate enough to live in the forest every day!! Lunch is served at 1 pm, and afterwards you choose whether you want to take a short hike or just relax while enjoying the flight and activity of the hummingbirds. Arrivals in Quito are expected at around 5 PM, afterward you’ll be going to your hotel for the overnight.
Accommodation: Hotel Sierra Madre or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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DAY 4: QUITO – GALAPAGOS – 4D/3N GALAPAGOS CRUISE ON BOARD OF NEMO I M/C (cruise starts on Fridays or Mondays)
Your prívate transfer will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the airport and start your adventure to the Galapagos. At Baltra Airport you have to pay your Galapagos National Park entrance fee and your luggage is inspected. In front of the arrival hall you will meet your naturalist guide and fellow passengers, and the airport shuttle will transfer you to the ferry across the Itabaca Channel. On Santa Cruz you continue by bus through the lush highlands to the harbour of Puerto Ayora. Our inflatable dinghies (‘zodiacs’) take you the last stretch to the yacht. PM: Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz) The Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) and the headquarters of the Galapagos National Park Service share same location on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora. From here biological research and indispensable conservation management of this unique archipelago are directed. The complex houses a bunch of interpretation and information centers about the National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve around. Most memorable from your visit will probably be the successful breeding center and the enclosures with Galapagos giant tortoises; even after the death of its world famous resident, emphatically called ‘Lonesome George’ († June 2012; the last known individual of the Pinta subspecies, who sadly failed to reproduce offspring). Most remaining adult giant tortoises in the corals are former pets and many of them are accustomed to human company. Accommodation: Motor Catamaran Nemo I Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
PRICES PER PERSON IN STANDARD DOUBLE ACCOMMODATION: USD $2355 (*): Other types available with a supplement NOTES
Includes
Does not include
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DAY 5: 4D/3N GALAPAGOS CRUISE
The longest nocturnal passage of this route will bring you to Pitt Point, the extreme eastern cape of San Cristobal (and of the entire archipelago). On top of these eroded cliffs you can find blue-footed, red-footed and Nazca boobies breeding together, and also frigate birds with bright red, balloon-sized pouches in the mating season! You will land in a bachelor’s colony of Galapagos sea lions, and stroll along a cute nursery colony at the scenic beach below Witch Hill in the afternoon. AM: Pitt Point (San Cristobal) Two wind sculptured tuff cones at Pitt Point constitute the extreme eastern end of San Cristobal, and thus of the archipelago as well. These cliffs were the first sight of land when HMS Beagle and Charles Darwin arrived on September 15th 1835. On the small green sand beach, you will be welcomed by a cacophony of barking Galapagos sea lions. This is a bachelor colony, where males usually recuperate from and prepare themselves for fighting and mating. From saltbush and spiny shrubs behind the beach a trail leads up to an area of tropical dry forest vegetation: most of the year leafless palo santo trees, yellow cordia shrubs, tiny prickly pear cacti and carpetweed, that turns red in the dry season. After the pretty steep climb through a gully to the cliff top, you can wander around the only colony in Galapagos that counts with all three species of booby: blue-footed, red-footed and Nazca booby; as well as both species of frigatebird (great and magnificent), famous because of their scarlet balloon-sized pouches during mating season. Frigatebirds rather attack returning boobies and conduct aerial battles than fishing themselves and get a wet suit. |
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PM: Witch Hill (San Cristobal)
To scout out the dangerous reefs HMS Beagle’s Captain FitzRoy climbed in 1835 to the top of the obvious tuff-cone that overlooks this scenic bay. Nowadays it is called Witch Hill and not any more the main attraction of this site, but part of its romantic coastal panorama. Let your eyes travel from the volcanic cone, over the turquoise bay to the razor-sharp contours of Kicker Rock at the horizon, one of the photogenic landmarks of Galapagos.
You can walk about 1km/0.6mi along the romantic, crescent-shaped beach and feel with your feet the soft and powdery white coral sand (in fact it is pulverized by parrot fishes, that destruct living coral reefs). Enjoy the Galapagos sea lion rookery with its cute babies, or study the rich intertidal and bird life (mainly brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls). Behind the beach and the narrow stretch of dunes, there is a dark lava tongue with several saline lakes that used to be a local salt mine (necessary for conservation of fish). Here reside some coastal and wading birds such as the great blue heron.
Accommodation: Motor Catamaran Nemo I
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
To scout out the dangerous reefs HMS Beagle’s Captain FitzRoy climbed in 1835 to the top of the obvious tuff-cone that overlooks this scenic bay. Nowadays it is called Witch Hill and not any more the main attraction of this site, but part of its romantic coastal panorama. Let your eyes travel from the volcanic cone, over the turquoise bay to the razor-sharp contours of Kicker Rock at the horizon, one of the photogenic landmarks of Galapagos.
You can walk about 1km/0.6mi along the romantic, crescent-shaped beach and feel with your feet the soft and powdery white coral sand (in fact it is pulverized by parrot fishes, that destruct living coral reefs). Enjoy the Galapagos sea lion rookery with its cute babies, or study the rich intertidal and bird life (mainly brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls). Behind the beach and the narrow stretch of dunes, there is a dark lava tongue with several saline lakes that used to be a local salt mine (necessary for conservation of fish). Here reside some coastal and wading birds such as the great blue heron.
Accommodation: Motor Catamaran Nemo I
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6: 4D/3N GALAPAGOS CRUISE
Heading back towards the heart of the archipelago you will visit extraordinary Santa Fe and not to be missed South Plaza that belongs to most popular sites. Below bizarre giant prickly pear cacti you will encounter characteristic land iguanas and other endemic creatures that are unique to this island. Although these ‘Jurassic islets’ are different to every other site in the National Park, at the same time these are so typical Galapagos with their sharp contrasts, amazing diversity and stunning concentration of wildlife. While sailing along Santa Cruz we will lookout for whales.
AM: Barrington Bay (Santa Fe)
Practically every animal on Santa Fe is unique; endemic to Galapagos, or even to this island alone and extremely vulnerable! This extraordinary island is remnant of the probably most ancient volcano of Galapagos, and gave evolution enough time and isolation to create its wonders.
Your experience starts already before anchoring, when the contours of its bizarre giant prickly pear cactus (opuntia) forests become distinguishable. These largest cacti of the islands have extremely thick trunks indeed, and can grow over 10m/33ft tall! You will land right into a Galapagos sea lion colony on the beach. From their outlooks at the beach ridge surprisingly fearless Galapagos hawks are ready to snatch away a lava lizard; not worrying that even these are unique…
Almost every visitor of Santa Fe becomes eager to get a glimpse of the rare Barrington land iguana. But this pale endemic version is not as easy to spot as its modelling counterparts on South Plaza. This one asks for an adventurous quest (rather untypical to Galapagos); other times it surprises waiting for you next to the trail. Whether you spot it, or not, you will keep going from one surprise into the other.
While snorkelling in the azure coloured Barrington Bay between tropical reef fish, maybe a curious Galapagos sea lion is willing to play with you!
PM: South Plaza
The southern of both Plaza islets is best place to encounter endemic Galapagos land iguanas. Watch your step and don’t stumble over one of them whilst distracted by equally bizarre giant prickly pear cactus-trees! These iguanas are not only ugly as Darwin pronounced, but also very patient and photogenic models with strikingly saffron colours. Overpopulation and severe food competition have affected their smaller size. It is incredible to see how cactus spines don’t harm them while chewing pads, flowers and fruits. Beware as well for some unique hybrids between a male marine iguana and a female land iguana.
Arriving at the upper rim, you get to know the other, wild and windy face of South Plaza that provides a complete different habitat. About 20m/75ft downwards impressively droning waves splash against the foot of massive cliffs. Being talented rock climbers, sun basking marine iguanas have escaped the cool shadows of the wall. Clouds of petrels, storm petrels, shearwaters and brown noddies make spectacular flights and sometimes appear to walk on the waves. Take your binoculars and don’t miss the red-billed tropicbird with its graceful long tail and spectacular mating fights. These cliffs are also a nesting place for the endemic swallow-tailed gull, most beautiful gull in the world. Its neatly lined eyes are perfectly adapted for its exceptional nightly fishing habits.
Accommodation: Motor Catamaran Nemo I
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Heading back towards the heart of the archipelago you will visit extraordinary Santa Fe and not to be missed South Plaza that belongs to most popular sites. Below bizarre giant prickly pear cacti you will encounter characteristic land iguanas and other endemic creatures that are unique to this island. Although these ‘Jurassic islets’ are different to every other site in the National Park, at the same time these are so typical Galapagos with their sharp contrasts, amazing diversity and stunning concentration of wildlife. While sailing along Santa Cruz we will lookout for whales.
AM: Barrington Bay (Santa Fe)
Practically every animal on Santa Fe is unique; endemic to Galapagos, or even to this island alone and extremely vulnerable! This extraordinary island is remnant of the probably most ancient volcano of Galapagos, and gave evolution enough time and isolation to create its wonders.
Your experience starts already before anchoring, when the contours of its bizarre giant prickly pear cactus (opuntia) forests become distinguishable. These largest cacti of the islands have extremely thick trunks indeed, and can grow over 10m/33ft tall! You will land right into a Galapagos sea lion colony on the beach. From their outlooks at the beach ridge surprisingly fearless Galapagos hawks are ready to snatch away a lava lizard; not worrying that even these are unique…
Almost every visitor of Santa Fe becomes eager to get a glimpse of the rare Barrington land iguana. But this pale endemic version is not as easy to spot as its modelling counterparts on South Plaza. This one asks for an adventurous quest (rather untypical to Galapagos); other times it surprises waiting for you next to the trail. Whether you spot it, or not, you will keep going from one surprise into the other.
While snorkelling in the azure coloured Barrington Bay between tropical reef fish, maybe a curious Galapagos sea lion is willing to play with you!
PM: South Plaza
The southern of both Plaza islets is best place to encounter endemic Galapagos land iguanas. Watch your step and don’t stumble over one of them whilst distracted by equally bizarre giant prickly pear cactus-trees! These iguanas are not only ugly as Darwin pronounced, but also very patient and photogenic models with strikingly saffron colours. Overpopulation and severe food competition have affected their smaller size. It is incredible to see how cactus spines don’t harm them while chewing pads, flowers and fruits. Beware as well for some unique hybrids between a male marine iguana and a female land iguana.
Arriving at the upper rim, you get to know the other, wild and windy face of South Plaza that provides a complete different habitat. About 20m/75ft downwards impressively droning waves splash against the foot of massive cliffs. Being talented rock climbers, sun basking marine iguanas have escaped the cool shadows of the wall. Clouds of petrels, storm petrels, shearwaters and brown noddies make spectacular flights and sometimes appear to walk on the waves. Take your binoculars and don’t miss the red-billed tropicbird with its graceful long tail and spectacular mating fights. These cliffs are also a nesting place for the endemic swallow-tailed gull, most beautiful gull in the world. Its neatly lined eyes are perfectly adapted for its exceptional nightly fishing habits.
Accommodation: Motor Catamaran Nemo I
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7: 4D/3N GALAPAGOS CRUISE ON BOARD OF NEMO I M/C
On this last morning you will explore the evergreen mangle forest of Black turtle cove, and feel a while as if you are in the Amazon rainforest instead of at the north coast of Santa Cruz. These lagoons and adventurous creeks teem with marine and bird life, and (seasonally) with mating turtles and sharks.
AM: Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz)
The ancient mangle at Black Turtle Cove has grown out to forest proportions and forms the backdrop for a distinct adventure. You might even feel yourself a while in the Amazon rain forest instead of close to sea; though on a closer look vegetation mainly exists of red mangroves with characteristic aerial roots that let them survive in salty and brackish water. By inflatable dinghy we will explore the calm emerald lagoon and enter the surrounding shallow creeks of these salt-water marshes. The outboard engine is sometimes turned off, so that you can enjoy the ambiance at its fullest. You have to keep your eyes peeled when looking around and staring into the crystal clear waters to observe all the life that is flying and swimming around.
You can spot silently hunting lava herons on the banks and brown pelicans nesting on top of the mangroves. Various species of ray and shark come to this nutritious cradle to give birth; scaloped hammerhead sharks come back to the place where they’ve born and their babies tend to be close to the surface. Pacific green turtles (black turtles was their former name) visit this cove in their reproduction season (November-January); if you’re lucky you can catch them mating at the surface! Afterwards their eggs are deposited on coral sand beaches along this north-western coastline of Santa Cruz.
AM: Transfer to Baltra airport
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. Your guide will accompany you until the check-in counters in the departure hall.
We expect that you will return home with stunning pictures and unforgettable memories for life!
Accommodation: End of services
Meals: Breakfast
On this last morning you will explore the evergreen mangle forest of Black turtle cove, and feel a while as if you are in the Amazon rainforest instead of at the north coast of Santa Cruz. These lagoons and adventurous creeks teem with marine and bird life, and (seasonally) with mating turtles and sharks.
AM: Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz)
The ancient mangle at Black Turtle Cove has grown out to forest proportions and forms the backdrop for a distinct adventure. You might even feel yourself a while in the Amazon rain forest instead of close to sea; though on a closer look vegetation mainly exists of red mangroves with characteristic aerial roots that let them survive in salty and brackish water. By inflatable dinghy we will explore the calm emerald lagoon and enter the surrounding shallow creeks of these salt-water marshes. The outboard engine is sometimes turned off, so that you can enjoy the ambiance at its fullest. You have to keep your eyes peeled when looking around and staring into the crystal clear waters to observe all the life that is flying and swimming around.
You can spot silently hunting lava herons on the banks and brown pelicans nesting on top of the mangroves. Various species of ray and shark come to this nutritious cradle to give birth; scaloped hammerhead sharks come back to the place where they’ve born and their babies tend to be close to the surface. Pacific green turtles (black turtles was their former name) visit this cove in their reproduction season (November-January); if you’re lucky you can catch them mating at the surface! Afterwards their eggs are deposited on coral sand beaches along this north-western coastline of Santa Cruz.
AM: Transfer to Baltra airport
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. Your guide will accompany you until the check-in counters in the departure hall.
We expect that you will return home with stunning pictures and unforgettable memories for life!
Accommodation: End of services
Meals: Breakfast
