LATIN AMERICA GALAPAGOS,
THE ENCHANTED ISLES 10 Days from £3795 pp twin share with flights
An introduction to the unique Galapagos Islands with this 5 night cruise around the Western Islands.
DAY 1 – Fly to Quito Morning fl ight from Heathrow with Iberia or LAN via Madrid to Quito. Spend 2 nights in Quito at the Mercure Grand Hotel Alameda.
DAY 2 – Quito Morning tour of Quito’s UNESCO-listed colonial centre and the Equatorial Monument.
DAY 3 – Baltra and North Seymour Islands Fly via Guayaquil to Baltra and transfer to the M/V Santa Cruz for your 5-night cruise, starting with North Seymour Island to observe bird colonies of blue footed boobies, two species of frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. Welcome cocktail and dinner.
DAY 4 – Isabela and Fernandina Island Coastal exploration by panga to see fl ightless cormorants, sea lions, Galapagos fur seals, Galapagos penguins, blue-footed and Nazca boobies and noddy terns. Afternoon visit to the youngest island of the archipelago, Fernandina, which boasts a high density of marine iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, sally light-foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the fl ightless cormorant. Snorkelling off the shore.
DAY 5 – Isabela Island Giant Tortoise Blue-footed Booby
Dry landing on the northwest of Isabela for an uphill hike to the back of Darwin Crater; one of Isabela’s six volcanoes. Panga ride along the volcanic shore of the cove to see boobies, penguins, fl ightless cormorants, terns, and sea lions. Afternoon disembark at Urbina Bay. This area is also home to large and very colourful Galápagos land iguanas, giant tortoises and is a good spot to observe Darwin’s fi nches.
GALAPAGOS CALENDAR
When is the best time to visit the Galapagos? Timing your visit to the Galapagos depends on what you would like to do and see. Boasting a sub-tropical climate, there are two distinct seasons. December to May is the warmest time of the year with calm seas and water perfect for snorkelling whilst June- November offers cooler, drier weather.
January-March in the Galapagos
January sees the start of the rains and with it the arrival of nesting birds and green sea turtles. On the islands of Santa Cruz and Isabela, the iguanas begin their breeding cycles, whilst the rising sea temperatures herald the arrival of the waved albatross.
April-June in the Galapagos As the rains subside the waved albatross arrive in ever increasing numbers. Land iguana and sea turtle eggs begin hatching and the water clarity makes for excellent snorkelling. May sees the blue- footed boobies begin their eye-catching mating displays.
July-September in the Galapagos Cooling seas offer increased prospects for whale and dolphin sightings, whilst August brings the arrival of migrant birds and the return of giant tortoises to the highlands. September sees the penguin colonies off Bartolomé reach their most active period, meanwhile the male sea lions are fi ghting for dominance.
October-December in the Galapagos October fi nds the islands echoing to the mating cries of fur seals. As sea temperatures rise, November creates perfect mating conditions for green sea turtles and, as the year ends, tortoise eggs hatch and the newborn albatross chicks start to fl edge.
DAY 6 – Santa Cruz Island Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the highlands of Santa Cruz Island to enter the famous Giant Tortoise Reserve. Witness the impressive migrations these giant reptiles must endure every year for feeding and reproduction.
DAY 7 – Floreana Island Near Post Offi ce Bay, explore the narrow channels teeming with life. Rays, turtles and sea lions can be seen gently swimming next to the pangas. An easy walk that includes a brackish water lagoon where bird species like greater fl amingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, sandpipers and others may be observed. Farewell Cocktail, departure briefi ng and dinner.
DAY 8 – Guayaquil Fly to Guayaquil for a fi nal night at the Oro Verde Hotel.
DAYS 9/10 – Fly to the UK Evening fl ight via Madrid with Iberia or LAN to the UK, arriving the following morning.
DEPARTURES MONTHLY Mashpi Lodge © Dominic Hamilton
ECUADOR EXTENSION
Ecuador offers a wealth of opportunities for further exploration. Why not take the opportunity to extend your holiday and take a pre-cruise Amazon tour, or perhaps experience the Avenue of the Volcanoes on our Spirit of the Andes tour? The cloud forest location of Mashpi Lodge offers a variety of nature trails. A 3 night pre-tour extension at Mashpi Lodge costs from £955 per person.
Visit our website for further information –
www.balesworldwide.com
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