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Galapagos WildlifeAdventure:
Eastern Cruise
11 Days
Galapagos WildlifeAdventure: Eastern Cruise
Come aboard a deluxe cruise through one of the most exotic places on earth!
Encounter rare wildlife found nowhere else in the world, from giant tortoises for
whom the islands are named, to sea lions, iguanas, and blue-footed boobies. Hiking,
swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling offer astonishing opportunities to get close to
wildlife both underwater and on land. After each action-filled day, return to the luxury
of your private yacht to rest and re-energize. On this route through the eastern isles
you'll discover the natural wonders of Española, Genovesa, San Cristobal and more.
Follow MT Sobek's naturalist guide for an immersive and unforgettable Galapagos
experience. See below for a sample itinerary of your day-to-day activities.
Arrive: Quito, Ecuador
Depart: Quito, Ecuador
Duration: 11 Days
Group Size: 8-16 Guests
Minimum Age: 6 Years Old
Activity Level:
.
Details Testimonials
"I have been on adventure travel trips to manyplaces and with many companies, and this trip wasthe best ever—a wonderful, knowledgeable guide, agreat boat and, of course, The Galápagos!"
Dana H.
"Simply put, it was the trip of a lifetime. Epic inevery sense of the world."
William G. and Rebecca N.
REASON #01
MT Sobek was one of the first
North American companies to
bring visitors to the Galápagos
Islands, with an inaugural charter
for the Sierra Club in 1970.
REASON #02
Guests love our Galápagos
adventures because we charter a
small yacht for a fully MT Sobek-
operated experience with our own
expert team of naturalist guides.
REASON #03
Our guides and crew work
hard maximizing the amount
of wildlife encounters both on
land and sea, and guides will
always be snorkeling with you.
ACTIVITIES
Island cruising by deluxe yacht
with daily Zodiac excursions
to explore hidden coves. Hike,
snorkel, kayak, and swim
among unique endemic wildlife.
LODGING
Luxurious comfort aboard an 88-
foot catamaran yacht with a full
crew to cater to your every need
and an upscale hotel in Quito.
CLIMATE
Mild climate year-round. Dec-
May has daytime temperatures
76-86°F and water temperatures
of 70-75°F. Jun-Nov has daytime
temperatures of 67-77°F and
water temperatures of 65-72°F.
Luis was born in Seville, Spain, and graduated from
the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid with a degree in
Environmental Biology. He is fluent in Spanish, English, and
French and has guided in Galapagos since 1999. In addition
to being a professional nature photographer, Luis has a
Master’s Degree in Geographic Ecology and is active with
conservation groups. A born teacher, he enthusiastically shares
his knowledge of Galapagos with people of all ages. He lives in
Quito with his wife, twin sons, and daughter and is MT Sobek’s
head naturalist guide.
Luis Die
Greg arrived in Galapagos in 1982 leading the Cambridge
Darwin Centenary Galapagos Expedition to conduct research
on the feeding ecology of marine iguanas. After graduating
from the University of London, with an honors degree in
Biology, Greg's research in Galapagos has encompassed a
wide range of ecological projects, including studies on sperm
whales and the endangered Galapagos petrel. Greg and his
wife have retraced Darwin's footsteps through Galapagos using
information from his original notebooks and manuscripts of the
famous voyage.
Greg Estes
ItineraryARRIVE IN QUITO
Welcome to the historic city of Quito, the capital of Ecuador! An MT Sobek representative will meet you outside
customs at the airport and escort you to your hotel. After settling in at the hotel, the rest of the day is free unwind,
take advantage of the pool's spa services or begin your exploration of this dynamic city. Dinner is on your own
tonight.
DAY 1
EXPLORE QUITO
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before setting out on half-day guided tour of colonial Quito. The city's UNESCO-listed
old town contains the best examples of Colonial Baroque architecture in South America! After lunch, you are
free to explore more of the old town, return to the hotel, or shop for handicrafts made by local artisans. Gather
in the hotel at 6:30pm for a mandatory briefing with your fellow travelers and MT Sobek representative, who will
discuss tomorrow's flight to the Galápagos Islands and the adventure ahead. Dinner is on your own tonight..
DAY 2
Meals: B, L
FLY TO THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
Rise for breakfast and an early transfer flight from Quito to Baltra Island in the Galápagos. After meeting your
naturalist guide, take a short transfer from Baltra to Santa Cruz Island. Here a private vehicle awaits to take you to
the lush highlands of Santa Cruz for a special opportunity to see giant tortoises in their wild and natural habitat.
Next, transfer to Puerto Ayora, the largest settlement in the Galápagos. Stroll the main street to the harbor,
where you will board the yacht and your basecamp for activities during the next week. Enjoy a welcome dinner.
DAY 3
Activity: 1-1.5 hours/up to 1 mile walking
Meals: B, L, D
EXPLORE FLOREANA ISLANDDAY 4Days 4 - 9 may slightly vary depending on your departure date. Wake for a walk on Punta Cormorant, a sandy
beach with green olivine crystals. Spot flamingos, sea lions and blue-footed boobies, and learn about the beach's
importance for sea turtle nesting. Next, take a short Zodiac ride (small, motorized inflatable boats) to Devil's
Crown. Here the current funnels plankton through the small eroded crater, attracting large schools of tropical
fish — creating a perfect place to snorkel. In the afternoon, visit historic Post Office Bay for a chance to leave your
mail at the famous post office barrel and pick up mail to hand deliver, as was the custom centuries ago.
Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling
Meals: B, L, D
BIRDWATCH ON ESPAÑOLA ISLAND
Experience incredible birdlife at Punta Suárez, including the endangered waved albatross (from April to
December) and the Nazca booby. In fact birds are everywhere — underfoot, on the trail, overhead, diving into the
sea, taking off from cliffs, sitting on eggs, and engaging in ritual mating dances. A great tangle of marine iguanas
is also usually present nearing our landing site. After lunch, you can swim, snorkel or sun bathe in the company of
sea lions on the white-sand beach at Gardner Bay.
DAY 5
Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling
Meals: B, L, D
VISIT ISLA LOBOS & SAN CRISTÓBAL ISLAND
Isla Lobos is separated from San Cristóbal by a narrow channel, providing opportunities to snorkel with sea lions,
sea turtles, and tropical fish. There is also a short rocky trail great for viewing blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds,
sea lions, and the picturesque León Dormido — a huge volcanic monolith located just offshore. After lunch,
journey to Punta Pitt, where all three species of boobies are known to nest. The trail at Punta Pitt winds up
through eroded volcanic tuff formations to a plateau for a spectacular view of the island. Along the trail are
endemic plants and wildlife unique to San Cristobal, such as the San Cristobal mockingbird and lava lizard.
DAY 6
Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling
Meals: B, L, D
JOURNEY TO SANTA FÉ & SOUTH PLAZA ISLANDSDAY 7After breakfast, explore the beautiful bay and turquoise waters of Santa Fé Island. Here you can snorkel and
swim with tropical fish, sea lions and turtles, and see a large colony of sea lions basking on the beach. Along the
rocky trail, you will find endemic land iguanas, seeking shade under prickly-pear cactus, and many birds — from
Galápagos hawks to Darwin finches. Next it's on to South Plaza Island, home to a colony of sea lions and a large
population of Galápagos land Iguanas. The southern part of the trail follows the cliff, where you will see many sea
birds nesting or flying, including frigatebirds, boobies, and shearwaters.
Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling
Meals: B, L, D
SEE RED-FOOTED BOOBIES ON GENOVESA ISLAND
Genovesa Island is one of the most interesting for visitors! Explore Darwin's Bay — a protected bay in a volcanic
crater that long ago broke open to the sea. Enjoy the company of red-footed boobies, who may come aboard,
and witness the great commotion between nesting boobies and frigatebirds. Those traveling between February
and May could also see a compelling show of frigatebird courtship. After lunch, explore the cliffs by Zodiac before
climbing to the island's plateau. Look out for red-footed and Nazca boobies, large-beaked ground finches, short-
eared owls, and thousands of Galápagos storm petrels which nest in the island's lava tubes.
DAY 8
Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling
Meals: B, L, D
DISCOVER SANTIAGO & BATOLOMÉ ISLANDS
Get a sense of the primordial beginnings of our planet as you walk across black pahoehoe lava flows at Santiago's
Sullivan Bay. See early colonizing plants struggling to gain a foothold in the tiny lava cracks as colorful lava lizards
flit around. After lunch, visit iconic Bartolomé Island for an exceptional opportunity to snorkel among colorful
tropical fish and, if you are lucky, a Galápagos penguin! End your Galápagos experience with a long climb up
the wooden steps to the pinnacle of this ancient cinder cone. At the top you will enjoy a truly spectacular view of
Bartolomé, Santiago, and other nearby islands. Back on the boat tonight, enjoy a festive farewell cocktail hour
and a group dinner with the captain.
DAY 9
Activity: 5-6 hours hiking, swimming & snorkeling
Meals: B, L, D
DEPART FROM THE GALÁPAGOS & RETURN TO QUITODAY 10After breakfast aboard the yacht, disembark and transfer to the Baltra airport for the return flight to Quito. An
MT Sobek representative will greet you at Quito airport and provide assistance to your nearby hotel. You can use
your hotel room as a dayroom with extended check-out and depart on a late evening flight home, or you can use
your room as an overnight room and depart the next day. Lunch and dinner are on your own today.
Meals: B
DEPART FROM QUITO
After breakfast at the hotel, use the complimentary shuttle to transfer to the airport in time for your outbound
flight. Or, stay on in Quito to join us for one of our extensions in Ecuador or Peru!
DAY 11
Meals: B
Feb 28 - Mar 10, 2019
Mar 28 - Apr 7, 2019
Apr 11 - 21, 2019
Jun 6 - 16, 2019
Nov 21 - Dec 1, 2019
Dec 19 - 29, 2019
2019
$ 6,495 per person
Additional Cost
$ 545 Internal Airfare
$ 20 Transit Control Card
$ 1,500 Single Supplement
PRICE INCLUDESExpert leadership from experienced adventureguides
Accommodations as noted in the itinerary
Meals as noted in the daily itinerary
Potable water and snacks throughout
1 cocktail at welcome and farewell dinners on theyachtAll tips and gratuities for support staff with theexception of your lead naturalist guide & yacht crew
All necessary snorkeling gear
All group activities and ground transportation
Arrival and departure day airport transfers
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDEInternational airfare, any airport taxes, or excessbaggage chargesGalápagos National Park fee, collected upon arrival(Age 12 and older: $100 / Age 11 and younger: $50)
Lunch on Day 10 and dinners on Day 1, 2, and 10
Optional tips to your lead naturalist guide & yachtcrewPersonal expenses such as medical immunizations,phone calls, laundry, or souvenirs
Airport transfers if arriving outside of Day 1
Optional travel protection
Wetsuit rentals