You can see and experience frigate birds blowing up their chest, salt snorting marine iguanas, woodpecker finches ferreting out grubs among 32 species of endemic birds, five reptiles, and four endemic mammals. These are just a few of the sights that you will be watching: marine and land iguanas, giant land tortoises left from the age of reptiles, sea lions and fur seals, flightless cormorants, penguins on the equator, flamingos, tropic birds, two species of frigate birds, three species of boobies and a confusing array of Darwin's finches. The underwater life is also a highlight of the trip.

                                                          
            ©Roger Devore                                          ©Roger Devore                           ©Roger Devore

 In the Galapagos, each bird, each animal stands out like a sentinel. It is the tameness and uniqueness that catches your attention and the behaviors and antics that holds it. Who can resist the antics of blue footed boobies displaying their prized blue feet?

                                          
                                          ©Roger Devore                              ©Roger Devore                               ©Roger Devore            

On the Islands: The yacht anchors at each island destination and passengers are ferried to the landing point in small boats called pangas (dinghies). On island walks we follow marked paths which may alter slightly from season to season to skirt nesting bird areas. Naturalist guides accompany all groups. Some islands have excellent swimming beaches and snorkeling areas. You may bring your own mask and snorkel (flippers optional). Mask and snorkel may be rented on board. The terrain is often uneven and passengers should be in good physical condition.

                               
                               ©Roger Devore                              ©Roger Devore                             ©Roger Devore

This itinerary visits some different parts of the island chain than the last Nature Workshops Galapagos trip, and returns to the best parts of our last trip.

Our itinerary is designed to give you the maximum experience of the Galapagos in the time available. It has been very carefully thought about and worked out over the years. Yet, it will be purposely flexible to allow us to take advantage of the unexpected opportunities, seasonal highlights, and special events. Each day will be on a different island or different part of one of the larger islands. Many days we will make two or more stops, returning to our floating home for lunch.

Day 1 May 03. Arrive Quito, Ecuador. Transfer to hotel and overnight

Day 2 May 04. Meet for Breakfast & City Tour. Quito is a high elevation city located on the equator. We will have a guide to take us to the best locations in the city.

 Day 4 May 06.   GENOVESA (also known as bird Island): DARWIN BAY, is the caldera of a collapsed volcano. Bird life will include swallow-tailed gulls, red-footed booby, nazca booby, large ground finch, large cactus finch, sharp-billed ground finch, small marine iguanas, and great frigate bird. EL BARRANCO: Here we will find tropic birds, red-footed boobies and other nesting seabirds.

 Day 5 May 07. SANTIAGO ISLAND: SULLIVAN BAY: The main attraction of this bay is the broad, pahoehoe or rope lava flow. BARTHOLOME ISLAND, most likely the first of the islands to rise from the sea, Bartholome, is a small island that has beautiful white sand beaches and luxuriant green mangroves. Here, penguins may join us at the swimming beach, and a hike to the summit of a once-active volcano rewards us with beautiful panoramic views of the often-photographed Pinnacle Rock panoramic and it’s amazingly moon landscapes

 Day 6 May 08. CHINESE HAT: Sombrero Chino gets its name from its appearance, which is that of a Chinese hat. Sitting just off the south-eastern tip of Santiago, this is a fairly recently formed island. There is a tiny sea lion colony on the north shore cove. Galapagos penguins  oystercatchers, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and sally light foot crabs are common here. DRAGON HILL: It is  named because it’s healthy population of land iguana. Dragon Hill offers a beautiful view of the landscapes from the top of the hill. Two small salt water lagoons are located behind the beach, where it is possible to see flamingos.

 Day 7 May 09.  ISABELA: BREEDING CENTER / WALL OF TEARS & THE HUMEDALES: Isabela, the largest island in the archipelago, occupies over fifty-eight percent of entire landmass of the Galapagos. It is a relatively recent island and consists of a chain of five fairly young and intermittently active volcanoes. Breeding Center: the giant tortoise rearing center of Isabela is located 1.5 kilometers from Pto. Villamil. In total there are 330 tortoises, both juveniles and adults. Humedales: This site is a series of lagoons know for its migrant bird populations. The black-necked stilt is one of the most famous birds of the area. TINTORERAS:  The islet of the Tintoreras is situated to the south of Puerto Villamil. It has a small lbya of completely tranquil turquoise water, where is possible to appreciate sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, etc.

 Day 8 May 10. FERNANDINA ISLAND:  PUNTA ESPINOSA: Fernandina Island is the youngest and most active volcano in the Galapagos, with eruptions taking place every few years. The flat lava of Punta Espinosa offers a stark and barren landscape, but here flightless cormorants build their nests on the point, sea lions sprawl on the beach or play in the tide pools and large numbers of marine iguanas dot the sand.

 Day 9 May 11. SANTIAGO ISLAND: PTO. EGAS: with its black sand beaches, was the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960’s. Here we can swim and play with Galapagos sea lions in a quiet grotto cut into the lava cliffs. We may also see diving blue-footed boobies, sally light foot crabs and colorful lava lizards scurrying at our feet. RABIDA ISLAND: One of the special features of Rabida Island is its remarkable red color, which is a result of the high percentage of oxidized iron in the composition of lava. Here we will witness the nine varieties of finches also the large-billed flycatchers and brown pelicans. Here a small salt-water lagoon where greater Flamingos can be seen and a beautiful colony of sea lions. 

 Day 10 May 12. BLACK TURTLE COVE is one of the most beautiful marine sites; located in a small mangrove lagoon. It is a nursery grounds for many marine species such as sharks, spotted eagle rays and sting rays. Also it is a favored breeding ground for the sea turtle.  It is also a wonderful site for watching, herons, finches and blue-footed boobies feeding. 

Park Tax: The islands are part of the Ecuadorian National Parks system and the entrance fee (US$ 100) is collected individually from each guest on arrival to Galapagos.

Departure Tax: On international flights from Quito, there is a US $ 41departure tax.

Fee Includes: transfers between airport and hotel, three nights double accommodations in Quito, a city tour in Quito and domestic airfare between Quito and Baltra, transportation between ship and airport in Baltra, shared double cabin accommodation aboard ship, all meals aboard ship, island sightseeing, naturalist guide authorized and qualified by the Galapagos National Park,

Fee Does Not Included: Meals in Quito (a large breakfast is included each day), customary tips for crew and local guides, bottled drinks, Park Fee ($100), Airport Tax ($41), international air fare to and from Quito, alcoholic beverages on board, and any items of a personal nature.

Cancellation Policy (dictated by Outfitter)

more than 90 days prior to departure - full refund minus $125 per person

89-61 days prior to departure - 50% of deposit

60 - 31 days prior to departure - 50% of workshop fees

30-0 days prior to departure - 100% cancellation penalty

All losses apply only if trip is not full at start of workshop.

We strongly recommend trip insurance for this trip.

Quito Optional day trips:

May 2 - day trip to Mindo Y Tulipe - You would need to arrive in Quito NLT May 01 to do this trip.

May 3 - day trip to Otavalo Market - You need to arrive in Quito NLT May 02 to do this trip.

                        
                        ©Angelo Mourino                        ©Angelo Mourino                                       ©Angelo Mourino

Start your trip through the Awakening Valley in Calderón with its bread-dough figures and Cayambe for the local food specialties. Passing by some of the most attractive artisan centers and Andean landscapes, you arrive in Otavalo and its famous indigenous market just in time to bargain for hand-knitted wool sweaters, colorful tapestries, wood carvings, silver jewelry, native paintings, woolen and straw hats, and much more. Stopping for lunch at a traditional hacienda we enjoy the amazing landscape of this beautiful area and continue to do so throughout our return to Quito.
                                

Suggested Reading: Much has been written about the Galapagos, but for a practical introduction I recommend GALAPAGOS – A Natural History Guide, by M. H. Jackson, University of Calgary Press.Equally good and much newer is Fitter, Fitter, and Hosking, WILDLIFE OF THE GALAPAGOS, Princeton University Press, 2002, 254 pp. This book is quite the bargain from Amazon.com.  Julian Fitter was one of the first to introduce guided natural history tours in the Galapagos. These are two of the most useful books on the Galapagos you can own. You will do yourself a favor by buying one now and reading or skimming it before the trip. If you want still another fine book, try Swash, Still and Lewington, AN IDENTIFICATION GUIDE TO THE BIRDS, MAMMALS & REPTILES OF THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, Yale University Press. You may also get a thrill by reading Darwin’s The Voyage of the Beagle for historical and intellectual background. You can relive part of the thrill and sense of discovery yourself on this incredible voyage.