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The 16-passenger Beluga is a spacious, comfortable 110 foot motor yacht. Traveling aboard a yacht ensures the visitor receives the most intimate Galapagos cruise experience. Truly an ‘up close and personal’ experience with nature and the rugged beauty of the Galapagos Islands. Lean over the bow and watch the dolphins riding the bow wave inches away; spot whales swimming through placid waters in the distance; anchor at night in a quiet and secluded coves; stroll along the beach amongst the sea lions and watch the boobies dive into the surf. This truly is a unique opportunity. On a Galapagos cruise aboard the Belug easy nature hikes, effortless snorkeling and kayaking bring you into intimate contact with astounding birds and wildlife. Naturalist guides point out all the unique flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands.

Our Galapagos cruises combine the finest small ships with the most talented naturalist guides and offer a range of activities designed to bring you into intimate contact with the unique creatures and ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands. Spend more time ashore hiking among nesting birds, more time snorkeling with sea lions, or perhaps just relaxing on a crescent beach.

Galapagos cruise packages aboard the Beluga begin and end in colonial Quito, Ecuador and include Quito hotel accommodations, airport/hotel transfers, round trip flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands and a half day tour of the Quito's old town, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. Join us and see why, quite simply, our small ship and yacht cruises to the Galapagos Islands are the vacation of a lifetime!

Day 1 - Arrive Quito Ecuador

Upon arrival at the Quito, Ecuador international airport you are met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: na

Day 2 - Colonial Quito

South America's oldest capitol city, Quito sits at 9,184-feet elevation. It has been amazingly preserved and is protected as a UNESCO world heritage site. Enjoy a three hour guided walking tour of Quito's colonial center including Independence Plaza, La Compania Church and San Francisco Cathedral. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy this lively city, rest or prepare for your Beluga Galapagos Cruise.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 3 - Fly Quito to Baltra, Galapagos Islands & North Seymour Island

Depart on a three-hour flight to the island of Baltra in the Galapagos. Upon arrival you are met by our Expedition Leader, transfer to the ship and continue on to North Seymour Island. The region's largest colony of Magnificent Frigate birds is found on North Seymour, as well as nesting Blue-footed Boobies and Swallow Tailed Gulls.

Accommodations: Beluga
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Hood (Espanola)Island: Punta Suarez, Gardner Bay

One of the oldest of the Galapagos Islands, Hood is small and flat with no visible volcanic crater or vent. Located on the western tip of the island, one of the world's densest and most diversified concentrations of wildlife is found at Punta Suarez. The area is famous for its marine iguanas with unique copper-red patches, swallow-tailed gulls, lava lizards, finches, long-billed mockingbirds, blue-footed and masked boobies and oystercatchers. When heavy swells are running, Punta Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting thirty yards into the air. Gardner Bay, located on the eastern shore, hosts a magnificent beach frequented by a transient colony of sea lions and is a major nesting site for marine turtles. Snorkel around the small islets for the opportunity to swim with fish, turtles and possibly sharks.

Accommodations: Beluga
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Floreana Island: Punta Cormorant, Post Office Bay

This is a peaceful, rolling island dotted with numerous extinct volcanic cones amidst a variety of scrubby vegetation. Disembark at Point Cormorant (wet landing) and walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts, sandpipers, etc. Head down to the beach and snorkel at the Devil's Crown, a submerged volcanic cone. Afterwards, visit Post Office Bay and take part in an old mail swap tradition that goes back to whaling days: leave a self addressed letter and see if it ever gets delivered to its intended recepient; or take mail which has an address near you home and deliver it once you return, keeping this old tradition alive.

Accommodations: Beluga
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Santa Cruz Island: Darwin Research Station, Highlands

Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz's main population center, is home to about 10,000 people. This is a great opportunity to see the famed giant tortoise and visit the world-famous Charles Darwin Research Station. The research center aids the National Park Service in its efforts to save the Galapagos wildlife; the museum at the station has a facility for rearing tortoises, a project to increase the depleted population. After touring the station, visit the Highalands and experience the humid zone with its vegetation of Miconia bushes, Scalesia and inactive volcanic cones. Santa Cruz has more endemic plants than any other island in the Galapagos. This afternoon, there may be some free time to explore the town of Puerto Ayora.

Accommodations: Beluga
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Isabela: Punta Moreno, Elizabeth Bay

Explore Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos Archipelago. The island is comprised of six shield volcanoes that have merged into a single land mass. Isabela is a striking contrast to the lower-lying islands that surround it, and is home to many unique species. Look for flamingos in the oasis-like green lagoons as well as the flightless cormorant, and marine iguanas.

Accommodations: Beluga
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Isabela Island: Urbina Bay & Fernandina: Punta Espinosa

Urbina Bay has a dramatic landscape formed by uplifted corals. Keep an eye out for Galapagos Penguins, Flightless Cormorants, pelicans and other marine invertebrates. Moving on to Isla Fernandina, visit Punta Espinosa. Fernandina 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. 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.

Accommodations: Beluga
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 - James (Santiago): Puerto Egas & Bartolome Island: James Bay

Puerto Egas, with its black sand beaches, was the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960s. A trail leads to the Fur Seal Grottos, one of the only places in the islands where Fur Seals can be seen. Expect to see Sea lions basking on the rocks beneath a natural rock bridge, diving blue-footed boobies, Sally Lightfoot crabs and colorful lava lizards scurrying at our feet. The afternoon will be spent on Bartolome. Most likely the first of the islands to rise from the sea, Bartolome is a small island that has beautiful white sand beaches and green mangroves. Nowhere else is the geological history of the archipelago better portrayed than here. The most impressive volcanic scenerey is viewed from the top of Bartolome: varied lava formations, volcanic peaks and the surrounding moon-like landscape.

Accommodations: Beluga
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Santa Cruz: Black Turtle Cove, Baltra & Return to Quito

The ship anchors in the morning at the entrance to Black Turtle Cove. Take a dinghy ride in the mangrove lagoon and observe Golden Rays, Green Sea Turtles, White-tipped Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Lava Herons, Yellow Warblers and a variety of other bird species. Following this final visitor's site, sail into Baltra Island, transfer to the airport, and board your flight back to the Ecuador mainland.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 11 - Depart Quito

Transportation will be provided to the airport for return flights home or for excursions to Mainland Ecuador and/or Peru: Machu Picchu.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast



Notes on Itinerary: We may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. Our ability to be flexible makes our style of cruising unique.

Single Travelers: There is a 50% surcharge for single occupancy. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, our Roommate Share Program will guarantee double occupancy rates for boat cabins even if we are unable to match you with a roommate.

Family Travelers: Children under 12 receive a discount when traveling with 1 adult. There is no minimum age for children.

Land Cost Includes: Three nights Quito hotel accommodations with breakfast included, all airport/ hotel transfers, Galapagos flight, Galapagos National Park entrance fees and taxes, Galapagos transit card, Galapagos cruise including all meals while aboard and an experienced Galapagos Islands naturalist guide.

Not Included: Airfare from US to Quito; excess baggage charges; airport departure tax from Quito; tips to local staff and items of a personal nature such as soft drinks or alcoholic beverages, laundry fees and insurance of any kind.

Arrival and Departure: This trip begins and ends in Quito, Ecuador. Plan flights to arrive at any time on Day 1 and depart anytime on the last day. Airport transfers are included for travelers arriving and departing on scheduled arrival/departure days. This trip can also be arranged to begin and end in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: We charge a deposit of $1000 at the time of booking with the final payment due 90 days from departure. A special cancellation policy applies to all Galapagos trips, which is stricter than the AdventureSmith Explorations policy. When a trip cancellation is received inside of 70 days from departure, all trip costs are 100% non-refundable. Please see AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with

Accommodations Aboard: The Beluga accommodates 16 guests on 3 decks. Cabins have private bathrooms. There is also a bar, interior dining room, sun deck and shade deck. Life aboard a small boat requires some physical agility and a flexible and social nature. The crew is comprised of the captain, multilingual naturalist guides, cook, barman/waiter, mechanic and two to four sailors. All meals are prepared and served by the crew on board. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on board.

Qualifications: This trip will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health and leads an active life. Daily excursions from the boat to the islands will be made in pangas (dinghies). Trip members will hike from the landing point to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours roundtrip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are "wet", requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist. There are numerous opportunities to swim and snorkel. Easy-to-use, sit-on-top kayaks are also available.

Snorkeling: The underwater experience is an integral part of any Galapagos cruise. We encourage all travelers to try snorkeling. Snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, floating vest and net bag) are available for a fee. Shortie wet suits may be available for rent and are recommended from June to December. If interested, please advise your adventure coordinator upon booking.

Extending Your Trip: Call AdventureSmith Explorations about the possibilities of combining trips to Mainland Ecuador and Peru: Machu Picchu

General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.

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