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: Reina Isabel 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: Reina Isabel 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 Reina Isabel 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 Reina Isabel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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DAY 4 : TUESDAY
AM – Arrival at Baltra Airport Upon arrival at Seymour Ecological Airport, a check-up is carried out first, to ensure that no foreign plant or animal species are introduced into the islands. Furthermore, your TCC (Transit Control Card) is stamped; it must be kept safe during your trip, as it has to be presented again on your return flight. In addition, entrance to the Galapagos National Park is due for entry (US $100), if this has not yet been paid. Your guide will meet you at the airport, assist you with the luggage, and accompany you on the short bus ride to the harbour of Baltra. Here you will climb aboard the M/Y Aqua! After greeting the crew and the captain, your cabins will be assigned to you and then you will enjoy your first lunch on-board. PM – North Seymour This islet is one of most visited sites, and it is teeming with birdlife. An easy circular path takes you through the archipelago’s most extensive colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. At the beginning of the breeding season, adult frigate bird-males blow up their vivid red pouches to impressive football-sized balloons. This is one of the few spots where you can compare the magnificent and the great frigate bird breeding next to each other. DAY 5: WEDNESDAY AM – South Plaza South Plaza is located at the east of Santa Cruz Island, and forms part of two islands known as Islas Plazas. Despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the Galapagos are found here. The Plazas land iguanas are smaller than their relatives found on other islands. There are several hybrid iguanas, a result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana; they are unique, recognisable at first glance by their black/grey color, with a land iguana's crest, but face and tail of the marine iguana. The large population of iguanas is due to the presence of tuna, their favourite food. Swallow-tailed gulls nesting in the rugged cliffs are seen along with other seabirds such as Audubon shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds and brown pelicans. PM – Santa Fe Located in the south-eastern part of the Galapagos, this island was formed from an uplift rather than being of volcanic origin, which is why it is mostly flat. There are some theories which claim that this could be the oldest island in the Archipelago. Santa Fe is home to a number of endemic species like the Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats and one of the two species of lands iguanas of the islands. After disembarking into the beautiful and clear waters you will be in contact with one of the many sea lion colonies. Along the trail, many salt bushes can be seen as well as the giant prickly pear cactus - gigantism is a characteristic of oceanic islands. There are many possibilities to snorkel with playful sea lions and tropical fish. DAY 6: THURSDAY AM: Charles Darwin Station (Santa Cruz) Our dinghies will bring you to the touristic pier of Puerto Ayora, from where you will be brought to the Charles Darwin Research Station. This is where biological research and indispensable conservation management of this unique archipelago are carried out. The complex houses interpretation and information centres about the National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve. The most memorable part of your visit will probably be the successful breeding centre and the enclosures with Galapagos giant tortoises. After your tour, you will return to the yacht for lunch. At approx. 2:00 p.m., we will be arriving at our next destination, Cormorant Point. PM – Devil’s Crown & Cormorant Point After breakfast the inflatable dinghies will bring you to the rocky rim of Devil’s Crown, which is located just outside the bay of Cormorant Point. If fantastic deep-water snorkelling (with sometimes stronger currents) is not your thing there are other options such as bird-watching, or alternatively you can enjoy an inflatable dinghy ride (landing is prohibited on these marine visitor’s sites). After a snack we make a wet landing on the greeny beach of Cormorant Point. From here you will follow the sandy path to the other, powdery sand beach of the peninsula, which has been formed by a lava tongue (Easy Level; about 1.5 km, 1 mi). En route you can observe the American flamingo lagoon from different viewpoints and perspectives. After a short displacement to Post Office Bay and lunch, you can post your holiday greetings in the traditional barrel just behind the beach (wet landing), which is also a comfortable place to relax. You can then explore the submerged crater rim that surrounds the neighbouring bay of Baroness Lookout in your own pace by sea-kayak, or by inflatable dinghy. DAY 7: FRIDAY AM – Dragon Hill Dragon Hill boasts two key-species which are very likely to be seen during every visit to the Galapagos, though not too commonly distributed throughout the islands: Galapagos land iguanas and American flamingos. You will climb a hill with giant opuntia cacti where these ‘dragons’ feed and breed. Although they are quite shy and elusive, you stand a fair chance of seeing the success of this project with your own eyes.The short walk crosses the coastal vegetation zone, as well as the somewhat higher arid zone with vulnerable tropical dry forest. In the warm and wet season in the first half of the year everything turns green. Evergreen giant prickly pear cacti with internal reservoirs used a different survival tactic in this dry climate to the leaf dropping palo santo trees; in the end both were successful. Moreover, this is a very photogenic spot as well, with breathtaking panoramas over the bay and towards an intriguing steep volcanic spout of red lava that overlooks the area. Dragon Hill has become popular because of its saline lagoons behind the beach; these contain algae and shrimp and attract seasonally foraging American flamingos. Dragon Hill is the best location on Santa Cruz to observe them. Transfer to Baltra Airport It’s time to say goodbye to Galapagos! It’s been a pleasure to accompanying you on this unique trip and hope to see you again very soon! Assisted by the naturalist guide and some crew members, the dinghy will bring you and your luggage to the Seymour Ecological Airport, where we will take the shuttle back to the airport. In case you have booked your trip for a longer stay with us, we would be welcoming any potential new fellow passengers to the yacht, and continue our trip to the next visiting site! |
2020-2021 PRICES PER PERSON IN STANDARD DOUBLE ACCOMMODATION: with 2 people = USD $2595 single supplement = USD 850 NOTES
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Does not include
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