trip specifics

price

Cabin	Price
Superior	$4,999
Majestic	$5,699
Premium	$6,299
Classic	$6,699
Explorer	$7,199
Titan	$7,999

Watch fur seals gaze at you with trusting eyes as you stroll near them along the beach. Come face-to-snorkel with friendly sea lions in the drinking glass-clear waters. Watch seabirds dance, mate and feed their young just an arm’s reach away from you. See rare birds like the Darwin’s finch, found only in this archipelago, and the waved albatross, which breeds only on Española Island. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to see a place that is unique on our planet. And with Cruise West, you’ll see it all.

Cruise West Enrichment Programs help you make sense of this strange and wonderful world. Your experience will be further enhanced by our signature Enrichment Programs. Our carefully planned itineraries and included shore excursions are designed to give you a more authentic understanding of your destination. When you return to the ship, your “destination experience” continues with ongoing presentations and dialog by occasional guest speakers and our resident Exploration Leaders. These professionals have backgrounds in natural history, botany, marine biology, ecology, and they delight in giving you one-on-one personal attention to satisfy your curiosity.

Day 1 - Arrive Quito Ecuador

Arrive in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and transfer to the Hotel Hilton Colón Quito where you will overnight.

Accommodations: Hotel Hilton Colón
Included Meals: none

Day 2 - Colonial Quito

Enjoy a walking tour of historic downtown Quito, with the best-preserved colonial historic center in Latin America. Drive up El Ventanal for a bird’s-eye-view of the city. You may purchase an optional excursion to the volcano Antisana offering spectacular views of glaciers, wildflowers and the occasional condor. Your included welcome dinner is at the Theatrum Restaurant. Overnight at the Hotel Hilton.

Accommodations: Hotel Hilton Colón
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 3 - Quito, Guayaquil, San Cristobal, Cerro Brujo

This morning we’ll escort you to the Quito airport for your flight to San Cristobal in the Galápagos Islands via Guyaquil. Once there, transfer to the dock to board the M/V Galápagos Explorer II, your all-suite home away from home. We’ll make our way to Cerro Brujo and make a wet landing, giving you time to swim, snorkel or admire the rich bird life.

Accommodations: Explorer II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Española (Hood) Island

The southernmost island in the archipelago, Hood Island has a large population of indigenous wildlife. Watch for sea lions and iguanas, masked and blue-footed boobies, Hood mockingbirds, lava lizards and more. If you’re experienced in deep water snorkeling, head to Gardner Rock, home to white-tipped reef sharks.


Accommodations: Explorer II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Santa Cruz Island, Rabida Island

Visit Darwin Station and the tortoise breeding center, and stroll through Puerto Ayora, the largest town on the islands. In the afternoon head to Rabida Island with its startling red sands and teal waters. Sea lions, fur seals and flamingos are often seen here, and there’s great snorkeling as well. BLD

Accommodations: Explorer II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Santa Cruz Island

Make a wet landing on Santa Cruz Island and divide your time between Bachas Beach and Dragon Hill. Highlights include nesting sites for sea turtles, flamingos, marine iguanas, Darwin finches, sea lions and more.


Accommodations: Explorer II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Bartolomé Island, Santiago (James) Island

Make a wet landing in a cove on Bartolomé Island to see sea lions and a small colony of Galápagos penguins. In the afternoon, land on James Island and hike past the remains of a salt-mining enterprise on the way to Puerto Egas and the fur seal grottos. Watch for land iguanas and birds along the way.

Accommodations: Explorer II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Fernandina Island, Isabela Island

Some of the most unusual Galápagos species can be seen on Fernandina Island, the youngest and westernmost in the chain. As you land near a small mangrove forest look for penguins diving off the rocks into the water. This island is home to the archipelago’s largest groups of marine iguanas, and you’ll likely see them basking in the sand, swimming near shore or grazing on the exposed seaweed. In the afternoon visit Isabela Island with its massive volcanoes. Watch for sea turtles, colonies of fur seals and marine iguanas along shore as we make our way to a large cave. Here you can snorkel with manta rays, sea turtles and even the occasional dolphin.

Accommodations: Explorer II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 - North Seymour, Santa Cruz Island

A dry landing takes you to a sandy beach where sea lions and marine iguanas congregate. Hike inland to a small cactus forest inhabited by blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate bird colonies. In the afternoon, board a bus bound for the Santa Cruz Highlands where about 40 giant tortoises live in the wild

Accommodations: Explorer II
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Galápagos to Guayaquil

After breakfast, head to the airport for your flight back to Guayaquil..

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 adventure travel and cruising unique.

Single Travelers: Single cabins are available for an 80% supplement.

Family Travelers: Children under 12 receive a discount when traveling with at least 1 adult. The Explorer II features some rooms that can accommodate triples in a sofa bed. There are also a couple of interconnected suites that are perfect for families and small groups. An adult must accompany children under 18 years old. Children under 7 years of age are not allowed on board.

Cost Includes: Three nights Quito hotel accommodations with breakfast included, all airport/ hotel transfers, Galapagos flight, Galapagos cruise including all meals while aboard and an experienced Galapagos Islands naturalist guide, land and sea transportation.

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, snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, 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.

Accommodations Aboard: The Explorer II can accommodate 100 guests. Life aboard a small boat requires some physical agility and a flexible and social nature. Accommodations are in double cabins, each with toilet and shower. For the convenience of the guests, the Explorer II has an elevator on board that accesses all decks. The crew of 70 includes: the captain, multilingual naturalist guides, cooks, barman/waiters, mechanics, deck hands and sailors. All meals are prepared and served by the crew on board. Alcoholic drinks are available for purchase on board. Hairdryers are available on board by request.

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 round trip 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

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 this trip with our Mainland Ecuador and Peru: Machu Picchu extensions.

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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