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south america: galapagos

Z-S/S Mary Anne

Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador is an ecosystem among the most unique and prolific in the world: the Galapagos Islands. It was here, in 1853, that Charles Darwin caught the first glimmer of his earth-shaking theory of evolution. We'll follow in his footsteps, with unparalleled opportunities for observation and photography. Walk and snorkel among the island's famed and protected inhabitants - The giant tortoise, iguana, sea lions, boobie birds, penguin, finches, flamingo and more.

Our Mary Anne Galapagos cruise combines enjoyable sailing, simple comforts and delicious meals with the most talented naturalist guides offering a range of activities designed to bring you into intimate contact with the unique creatures and ecosystems of the Galápagos. Spend more time ashore hiking among nesting frigate birds or albatross, more time snorkeling with sea lions, or perhaps just relaxing on a crescent beach.

The Mary Anne Galapagos cruise packages have 7 different itineraries to choose from all of which begin and end in colonial Quito, Ecuador and include Quito hotel accommodations, airport/hotel transfers, round trip flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galápagos 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 Galápagos Islands are the vacation of a lifetime! Itinerary A - The Southern Islands

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: n/a

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 Galápagos Naturalist Cruise cruise.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 3 - Quito to Baltra, Galapagos Islands & Punta Carrión

Arrival at Baltra airport and transfer to the S/S Mary Anne; set sail for Mosquera Islet. After a leisure lunch, we will step ashore (wet landing) onto a beautiful white coralline beach, home to the largest Galapagos sea lion colony in the archipelago. We end the day at Punta Carrión for introductory snorkelling in shallow waters.

Accommodations: Sea Cloud
Included Meals: lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Heading Eastward - Plaza Sur & Santa Fe

This morning start with a dry landing on one of the oldest docks of the Archipelago, colourful Plaza Sur is home to vibrant green prickly pears, deep red Sesuvium and coppery-orange land iguanas; impressive seaward cliffs are excellent for a variety of coastal birds. Arrive at Santa Fe (wet landing) where we will be looking for the endemic species of land iguana, larger and yellower than land iguanas on other islands. The largest prickly pear cacti in the Galapagos are also found here.

Accommodations: Sea Cloud
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Isla San Cristóbal

Begin today with a wet landing onto Cerro Brujo, one of the most scenic white sand beaches of the Galapagos. Black-necked Stilt and White-cheeked Pintail, the only native duck of the Islands, can be found on a picturesque brackish lagoon. Followed with another wet landing onto Punta Pitt; we'll hike up to a spectacular viewpoint and watch seabirds riding the thermals: Red-footed Booby, Nazca Booby, Great Frigatebird, among others.

Accommodations: Sea Cloud
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Gardner Bay (Española) & Punta Suarez

Spend the day in fantastic Española, starting with Gardner Bay (wet landing), an outstanding beach with sea lions, marine iguanas, and the intrepid Española Mockingbird. Followed by a dry landing in Punta Suárez to enjoy a spectacular walk into the intimacies of life at sea, with nesting sites of Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies, as well as the fascinating breeding rituals (April to December) of Waved Albatross. Lined with neon-colored marine iguanas (January), and lazy Galapagos sea lions, walk up to an amazing viewpoint of the famous blowhole.

Accommodations: Sea Cloud
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Floreana & Post Office Bay

Spend the day on Floreana, legendary homestead of infamous Baroness Boise Bosquet de Wagner Whereborn. Wet landing onto the olivine beaches of Punta Cormorant; seek the Greater Flamingos on our way to another special beach with the finest sand, and a sea turtle nesting ground where sharks and rays also visit regularly. End the outing on a short panga ride to Devil’s Crown, an key snorkelling site. After lunch visit Post Office Bay (wet landing), where you can drop your postcards in the barrel as the whalers did centuries ago.

Accommodations: Sea Cloud
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Santa Cruz, Baltra, Return to Quito

Dry landing at Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz Islands, from which we will visit the wet forests of the highlands in hopes of finding giant tortoises (seasonal). Itinerary A comes to an end as we bus ride back to Baltra airport. NOTE: Passengers ending their trip on this day will be transported by bus to the airport at Baltra. We offer additional tourist packages for passengers who want to spend more time at Puerto Ayora. Passengers starting their trip on this day will be transported from Baltra to Puerto Ayora by bus. A certified guide will accompany passengers at all times.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
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. Minimum age on this trip is 7 years old.

*All Inclusive Land Cost Includes: 2 nights hotel in Quito pre-cruise, Quito City tour, 1 night Quito hotel post-cruise, all transfers, RT Galapagos flights, National Park entrance fees & taxes, cruise, all meals during cruise, Naturalist guide.

*Charter Extras: Avoid the hassle of having to pay extras at the end of their cruise and purchase our premium upgrade. For $1600.00 prepay we'll include all gratuities, enjoy open bar throughout your sailing and have unlimited access to wet suits.

Not Included: Airfare from US to Quito; excess baggage charges; airport departure tax from Quito; wet-suit rental ($25); tips to local staff, and items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages 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: A non-refundable deposit amount of 10% will reserve your charter. Full payment is due via check 120 days prior to departure.

A special cancellation policy applies to this special Galapagos charter, which is stricter than the AdventureSmith Explorations policy. When a trip cancellation is received:
120 days or more, prior to departure: 20% cancellation fee applies.
120 - 61 days prior to departure: 70% cancellation fee applies.
60 days or less, prior to 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 Sea Cloud can accommodate 8 guests in simple yet comfortable, appointed staterooms. There are four staterooms, each with private bath/shower. 2 Staterooms, have one large bed. And 2 staterooms have upper/lower berths. 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. The crew is comprised of the captain, multilingual naturalist guide, cook and mechanic. 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.

Extending Your Trip: This trip combines well with our Peru, Machu Picchu 6 Day Explorer. Call AdventureSmith Explorations about the possibilities of combining trips to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos. Machu Picchu Explorer.

General Information: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations 'Terms & 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.

For additional information and reservations, please contact us:

800-728-2875 | 530-583-1775 | fax 530-583-1711 | travel@AdventureSmithExplorations.com