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 Galapagos - Enchanted Islands Visiting Quito Queen City of the Andes, Otavalo - the Indigenous colorful market and Galapagos Islands for 8 days aboard the M/V EXPLORER INCLUDING:
Round trip airfare from Miami to Quito and Guayaquil-Miami via American Airlines. Meeting and transfer service. Tours as noted in itinerary including entrance fees and English speaking naturalist guides. Hotel MARRIOTT OR HILTON for 4 nights including room taxes and service charges with Buffet Breakfast. The 8 day/7 night Galapagos Cruise aboard the M/V EXPLORER-outside cabins-PREMIUN SUITE. Meals as noted in itinerary B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner.
Airfare from Quito to Baltra Island via Tame Airlines. Tips to airport porters.
NOT INCLUDED:
Services not mentioned in itinerary. Passport fees. Departure taxes: Galapagos National Park Tax upon entry $100.00: Airport departure tax of $2.00 in Quito
Insurance. Tips to hotel porters and naturalist guide in Galapagos . USA departure tax $232 (Inc. USA airport tax/security/fuel surcharges).
* As of Aug.01, 2007…..The new international departure tax in Quito will be USD40,80 per person, Guayaquil however will remain at USD26,00 per person.
DEPOSITS:
US$500.00 per person at the time of booking.
Final payment is due 60 days before departure.
INSURANCE:
Through Insure America, cost for this program starts at US$US$407-655. Please see information on the Insurance section..(click here)
CANCELLATIONS:
Cancellations must be in writing and received by Tara Tours Inc.
Penalties are as follows prior to departure date:
121 days or more…$100 per person
120-61 days $250 penalty per passenger service charge.
60-31 days 50% penalty
30 or less -no refunds |
| Call (800) 999-1216 for more information or to book today! Mention code 7417685 | | Tara Tours | | Offer valid through 12/31/2008 | | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | Quito | SUN MIAMI-QUITO : Depart Miami for Quito, Ecuador. After going through customs and immigration, you will be transferred to the new hotel MARRIOTT or HILTON. (deluxe rooms). | | Day 2 | Quito | MON. QUITO : Afternoon drive along the northern residential section and see the impressive Parliament Building. Then stroll downtown to visit the colonial temple and monasteries designated by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. Visit San Agustine Convent with its colonial cloisters, coffered ceilings and vast collection of paintings. Continue to the Independence Plaza flanked by the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Municipal Building and Archbishop's Palace. Next, visit the great church and Monastery of San Francisco with the Virgin of Quito at its main altar. Your scenic tour ends at a lookout point with a great view of Quito (B) | | Day 3 | Quito | TUE. OTAVALO NATIVE MARKET : This excursion goes north, to the land of the Otavalos and South America's most famous Indian fair along the Panamerican Highway through dramatic mountain scenery to the textile market of Otavalo, where guests will enjoy visiting the many stalls full of ponchos, scarves, blankets, wall hangings, woven belts (fajas), hats, handbags and much more. Here Otavalenos barter in silence, in marked contrast to the raucous noise of other markets; take your time to negotiate the best bargains. Then, proceed to Peguche, an Indian village very near Otavalo that is home to the artisans who do the weaving in their homes; guests can learn about their culture and everyday life and then take the cobblestone road to San Pablo, with a stop along the way at a weaving workshop specialized in fine backstrap loom woven textiles. Lunch is at one of the charming country inns or haciendas of the area.
Return to Quito and to hotel Marriott or Hilton. (B,L)(B,L) | | Day 4 | San Cristobal | WED-QUITO-SAN CRISTOBAL : Transfer to the airport for your flight to San Cristobal Island in Galapagos Islands to board the M/V "Galapagos Explorer II.
Your first day in Galapagos you'll visit one location near San Cristobal Island. At Cerro Brujo (wet landing), you'll go to the beach for swimming and snorkeling activities. You can see: blue footed boobies, brown pelicans, coast bird (whimbrels, sander lings, etc), Darwin's finches, yellow warblers. Free time to walk on the beach. | | Day 5 | Galapagos Islands | THU-GALAPAGOS ISLANDS : Morning at Punta Suarez (Hood Island) which is on the west end of Espanola, has a landing beach where visitors are generally greeted by a colony of sea lions. On the nearby lava rocks one of the most colorful subspecies of marine iguana can be found, along with brilliant red Sally light-foot crabs. Among the birds in the immediate area are long-billed mockingbirds, Galapagos doves, short-eared owls, an occasional lava heron, oystercatchers and swallow-tailed gulls. Behind Punta Suarez, on a cliff plateau, blue-footed and masked boobies nest. Beyond the booby colonies and farther inland, are many waived albatross colonies.
Afternoon at Gardner Bay in Espanola Island
About 1km long beach that is among the most magnificent in all Galapagos. It is home to many sea lion colonies and the turquoise colored water makes a beautiful contrast to the white sand that consists of shell dust. Mocking birds fight for their territory and inspect the backpacks of the tourists.
About 50m of the coast there is a rock where you can encounter tropic fish and rays while snorkeling. But more spectacular is the Gardner Rock that can be reached with a panga. It is home to white-tipped reef shark, cactus finch and other colorful sea dwellers and very popular among snorkelers. (B,L,D) | | Day 6 | Galapagos Islands | FRI- GALAPAGOS ISLANDS : Morning at Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz Island. P. Ayora is famous because the Charles Darwin Research Station. A wildlife reserve has been set aside under the guidance of the Ecuadorian Land Commission and the Charles Darwin Station. Tortoises from different islands can also be seen in captivity at the Charles Darwin Station at Puerto Ayora.
Afternoon at Rabida
A small island (5 km2), covered by dry and coastal vegetation, has a central volcano of 367 m2. Rabida contains the largest variety of lava types, being red the dominant color. A salt-water lagoon provides occasional sights of Flamingos. While the beach holds a large sea lion colony, fur seals also may be seen here. Red sands and teal waters characterize this island. Sea lions cover the waterfront, and the bull is always making a show of his bravado. There's a short walk to the top of the trail where you can take fabulous photos of the clear waters and volcanic peaks. There's also great snorkeling. Keep near the rocks and keep your eye out for sharks and rays. (B,L,D). | | Day 7 | Santa Cruz Island | SAT. SANTA CRUZ ISLAND : Morning: Bachas Beach, White sand beach where you can see some nesting site for sea turtles, a small lagoon, whimbrels, heron, pelican, Sally Lightfoot crab and other species
Afternoon: Dragon Hill A bay located at the northwest site of the Santa Cruz Island, known as Cerro Dragon since long time ago by the whaling men because of the important colonies of land iguanas that lived in this area.
During almost all the year, you can see flamingos in marshland lakes as some migratory birds. You will also have the opportunity to see Darwin Finchs, hood mockinbird, lava lizards. This area has an arid vegetation where you can find some oppuntia cactus, palo santo (bursera) and some other endemic plants.
This place has a wonderful landscape as you can see the Rabida Island at the west and Santa Cruz Island at the East. In the beach zone you can see some endemic coast plants and also some marine iguanas, sea lions, American oystercatchers, pelicans and a small blue-footed bobbies colony. (B,L,D) | | Day 8 | Bartolome Isalnd & James (Santiago) Island | SUN. BARTOLOME ISLAND & JAMES (SANTIAGO) ISLAND : Morning: Bartolome Island
The first destination is Bartolome, an island of varied volcanic formations with a 350-foot summit and a fabulous 360 degrees view. Depending upon the weather, you may be able to spot five other islands, one of the most spectacular views of the archipelago. You'll make a wet landing in a cove to see a small colony of Galapagos penguins-the only penguins north of the equator. Sea lions are also found here. Behind the beach can be found red and white mangroves, salt bush, morning glory and prickly pear cactuses.
Afternoon: Puerto Egas, James (Santiago) Island
This afternoon you'll visit Puerto Egas on James (Santiago) Island. The landing is on a black beach with eroded rock formations in the background. The trail crosses the dry interior, where the remains of a salt-mining enterprise can still be seen and then continues along the coast. Intertidal pools are home to a variety of invertebrate organisms. Land iguanas are scattered around feeding on exposed algae while Oyster Catchers try to capture Sally Lightfoot Crabs. The trail then leads to the Fur Seal Grottos, one of the only places in the islands where Fur Seals can be seen. Puerto Egas is a good spot for taking pictures. (B,L,D) | | Day 9 | Fernandina Island & Isabela Island | MON. FERNANDINA ISLAND & ISABELA ISLAND : Morning: Fernandina Island
On the youngest and western most island in Galapagos, you'll land at Punta Espinoza, a narrow stretch of land where some of the most unusual Galapagos species can be seen. While the panga driver skillfully eludes the reef to reach the landing site near a small mangrove forest, look for penguins diving off the rocks into the water. Sally Lightfoot Crabs disperse on the lava near the shore and herons, sandpipers and wimbrels explore the mangrove roots. Marine iguanas congregate in larger groups here than on any other island.
Following a trail inland, two different types of lava flows can be seen and compared. At the tip of one of the small peninsulas, Flightless Cormorants are found. Without predators on the island, these serpent-necked birds adapted for swimming and not for flight, another example of evolution at work in "nature's laboratory."
Afternoon: Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island
Largest of the Galapagos islands, Isabela is composed of six shield volcanoes merged into a single land mass. Located on the north-western tip of Isabela island, we'll visit of Punta Vicente Roca by dingy. The dingys are launched on a coastal ride that skirts 400-500-feet cliff sides. Blue-footed boobies, masked boobies & pelicans can be seen here. Also, very many sea-turtles feed along this shoreline. Reaching a rocky pile of large basalt, there are colonies of fur-seals & marine iguanas in groups, basking in the sun. Sea lions are also present.
Continuing along the sheer cliffs, the dingy now, approach a secluded cove where, at it's end, dark and yellow rock are superposed. Now we are close to the large cave that allows for snorkeling or sight seeing. Along the cave there are Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, masked boobies, brown noddy 's, blue footed boobies and a breathtaking scenery. (B,L,D) | | Day 10 | North Seymour & Santa Cruz Island | TUE. NORTH SEYMOUR & SANTA CRUZ ISLAND : Morning: North Seymour
A small flat island. Rocks then a long sandy stretch where sea lions and marine iguanas hang out next to a surf wave. The interior has a Palo Santo small Opuntia cactus forest with Bluefooted boobies and magnificent Frigate bird colonies. An hour and a half visit. Dry landing.
Afternoon: Highlands & Lava Tunnels
You and your family will board a bus for a 45-minute ride through changing vegetation zones to the Santa Cruz Highlands. Here, about 40 giant tortoises live in the wild. By approaching quietly, you can find and observe a turtle on your own. You also hike to tunnels made by cooling lava. (B,L,D) | | Day 11 | Guayaquil | WED. SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND-GUAYAQUIL : Morning visit the Interpretation Center -donated by the Spanish Government in 1998, this state of the art facility offers both tourist and the inhabitants a complete education on the Islands. Your visit to the Archipelago is taken to a new level, since its inauguration.
Afternoon: Return flight to Guayaquil with transfer to hotel Hilton. (B) | | Day 12 | Miami | THU. GUAYAQUIL-MIAMI : Transfer to the airport for flight to Miami and homeward bound. (B) |
| | Rates includes airfare from Miami via American Airlines.
*From Dec.10 to 31 -please add $300 per person.
ADD-ONS & VIA AMERICAN AIRLINES:
For same package add $140 from ORL,TPA, JAX, FMY and Zone 1; $190 from ATL; add $230 from BDL, BOS,BWI, EWR, NYC, PHL, RDU, WAS, + Zone 3 - - Add $290 from CHI, CLE, DTT; - Add $320 from DEN, DFW, HOU, MSY, SJU ZONE 2 & 4; Add $390 from LAX, SFO + ZONE 5; Add $410 from Zone 6. RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME. |
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