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south america: galapagos

Z-Beagle

The 14 passenger Beagle is a classic traditional steel hulled schooner offering first class Galapagos cruises at an affordable price. The Beagle offers comfortable accommodation, open and shaded deck space, fine cuisine served in the salon or on deck, and personal on board service by a well trained crew and guide. Travelers are accommodated in 6 air-conditioned double cabins with ensuite hot shower and toilet.

Our Beagle Galapagos cruise combines luxurious 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 Beagle cruise packages 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!

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 Galápagos Naturalist Cruise cruise.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 3 - Quito to Baltra, Galapagos Islands & Bachas Beach

This morning depart on a three-hour flight to the island of Baltra in the Galapagos. Meet your Expedition Leader, transfer to the ship, and then set course for your first visitor site in the Galapagos - Bachas Beach. En route, meet your crew, listen to a brief vessel orientation, and enjoy a delicious lunch. Located on the northern shore of Santa Cruz Island, Las Bachas is a white sand beach that is a major nesting site for the green sea turtles. The name Las Bachas (“potholes”) refers to the indentations left in the sand by laying turtles or departing hatchlings. Look for marine Iguanas on the shore and keep an eye out for flamingos that are commonly seen in the lagoon. Enjoy some free time to swim directly from this beautiful beach.

Accommodations: Beagle
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 – Genovesa Island: Prince Philips Steps, Darwin Bay

Arrive at Genovesa Island located in the Northwest of the Galapagos Archipelago. The island of is a collapsed volcano, and ships are able to sail directly into its large breached caldera to anchor at the foot of the steep crater walls. Genovesa attracts vast numbers of pelagic seabirds that come here to nest and breed. This morning make a dry landing and climb up the fairly steep Prince Philip’s Steps and reach a lava rock trail leading you through a Palo Santo forest full of nesting birds including green and blue footed boobies. Keep a watchful eye out for the unique short-eared owl at this site. After returning to the vessel for a delicious lunch and some free time, board the pangas for a deep water snorkel along the amazing cliff sides full of interesting wildlife. Enjoy the opportunity to swim with sharks and gigantic manta rays. Following this amazing snorkeling activity, visit the beach area of Darwin Bay, home to frigate birds, red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, flycatchers, lava gulls, storm petrels and Darwin finches.

Accommodations: Beagle
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Santiago(James) Island: Puerto Egas & Cruising, Sailing

Arrive today at Puerto Egas located on Santiago Island. Puerto Egas was the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960s. An easy stroll takes you near the coast line to observe tidal pools, marine birds, iguanas and sea lions, and often migratory birds are present in this area. Arrive at the Fur Seal Grottos, one of the only places in the islands where Fur Seals can be seen. We may 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. After this enjoyable and leisurely walk, return to the beach to snorkel or swim. Following lunch, the Beagle will spend the rest of the afternoon navigating toward the west side of Isabela Island and Fernandina.


Accommodations: Beagle
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 – Fernandina: Punta Espinosa & Isabela: Punta Vicente Roca

This morning arrive at Isla Fernandina, and visit the spectacular 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, but 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. Disembark and make a dry landing. Enjoy your naturalist led guided walk over lava fields while observing large colonies of Marine Iguanas, Flightless Cormorants, penguins and sea lions. In the afternoon, motor on across the Bolivar Channel to the west side of Isabela island and visit Punta Vicente Roca. This visitor site offers guests a dinghy ride, excellent for marine life observation, and a snorkel excursion to admire the underwater wildlife that relies on the nutrient-rich Cromwell current that upswells in this area.

Accommodations: Beagle
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 – Isabela Island: Tagus Cove, Urbina Bay

Make a dry landing at Tagus cove, Isabela Island, and hike to the top of a cliff for views of the volcanic landscapes of Darwin Volcano and Darwin Lake, the latter an uplifted ultra-saline lake that is saltier than the sea. Tagus cove is a historically significant area as it was used as an anchorage site by pirates and whalers. This site is again an excellent place for viewing marine and land birds. In the afternoon visit Urbina Bay, also located on Isabela Island. At the foot of the western side of Alcedo Volcano, Urbina Bay was uplifted from the seabed in 1954, leaving a shelf of coral heads sitting out of the water. There is a large colony of land iguanas here, whose population has grown since the feral dogs and goats have been controlled through Project Isabela. A visit here also affords an opportunity to see the Alcedo Volcano tortoise in its natural habitat.

Accommodations: Beagle
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Isabela Island: Elizabeth Bay, Punta Moreno

Elizabeth Bay is a marine visitor site. Board the pangas for an excursion to the Mariela Rocks, where there is an important colony of Galapagos penguins. The panga ride eventually takes you guests into a cove surrounded by red mangroves. Here, in these quiet lagoons, there may be green sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, brown pelicans, small shark and flightless cormorants. Take a lava walk to a series of lagoons and admire the Darwin’s finches, Galapagos doves, penguins, blue-footed boobies, mockingbirds and flightless cormorants and other abundant wildlife found in this area. In the afternoon, set sail for Punta Moreno, also located on Isabela, the largest island in Galapagos. Take this afternoon to explore the desolate and pristine landscape of impressive black lava flows affording good views of the Alcedo and Sierra Azul volcanoes.
Accommodations: Beagle
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 - Isabela: Sierra Negra, Volcano Chico, Puerto Villamil

After breakfast head off to Sierra Negra volcano, the world’s second largest volcanic crater, located in the southern part of Isabela Island. Transport will take you to within an hour of the crater rim, where there is a walk to explore this fascinating and surreal landscape. For those interested in a longer walk, continue to hike to Volcano Chico to view the active fumaroles! Return to the Beagle for lunch and spend the afternoon in Puerto Villamil with its long, white sandy, palm-lined beaches and several brackish water lagoons, where pink flamingos, common stilts, wimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules are usually spotted. The beaches and lagoons are home to the best migratory bird viewing in the Galapagos Islands. The afternoon also includes a visit to the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Centre to see Isabela's giant tortoises.

Accommodations: Beagle
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Baltra Island Return to Quito

Enjoy a final morning of exploration, visiting Los Gemelos in the Santa Cruz Highlands and then arrive to the Baltra airport in the afternoon to board your flight back to the Ecuador mainland.

Accommodations: Beagle
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11 - Depart Quito

Transportation will be provided to the airport for return flights home or for excursions into Ecuador's Highlands or Jungle or Peru's Machu Picchu.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

South and Central Itinerary

Day 1 - Sunday - Arrive Quito
Day 2 - Monday - Colonial Quito
Day 3 - Tuesday - Quito to Baltra / Darwin Sation
Day 4 - Wednesday - Foreana: Puerto Velazco, Punta Cormorant
Day 5 - Thursday - Espanola: Punta Suarez, Gardner
Day 6 - Friday - San Cristobal: Galapaguera, Isla Lobos
Day 7 - Saturday - Santa Fe & South Plazas Island
Day 8 - Sunday - North Seymour Island & Bartolome Island
Day 9 - Monday - Sombrero Chino & Santa Cruz: Black Turtle Cove
Day 10 - Tuesday - Bachas Beach & Fly Baltra to Quito
Day 11 - Wednesday - Depart Quito



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. Please note: on this trip the Galapagos National Park entrance fee must be paid directly by visitors upon their arrival.

Single Travelers: Single rooms are available at the listed rate. 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: Child discounts are available for children under 12 years old, sharing a cabin with an adult. Not valid during holiday periods. Minimum child age is 10 years old.

Land Cost Includes: Three nights Quito hotel accommodations with breakfast included, all airport/ hotel transfers, Galapagos flight, transit cards, 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; Galapagos national park fee; tips to local staff and items of a personal nature such as soft drinks or alcoholic beverages, laundry fees and insurance of any kind. Onboard purchases must be paid in cash. No credit cards accepted.

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.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with Travel Insurance. Please note that you must purchase your Travel Insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions.


Accommodations Aboard: The Beagle is a first class vessel and can accommodate 14 guests in 10 double cabins, all with private bathrooms and air-conditioning. There is also a bar, interior dining room, and an open-air dining area. 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 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. Given the islands volcanic origin, and the fact that most walking is done over pristine and irregular volcanic terrain, guests must be in suitable physical condition. Two types of shore landings are planned in the Galapagos Islands. On Dry Landings guests will step from the dinghy directly onto rocks or a dock. On wet Landings, as the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee deep water and wade ashore. There are numerous opportunities to swim and snorkel. Sit on top kayaks are also available. The boat staff will be on hand to assist.

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 provided for the duration of the cruise. 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.

For additional information and reservations, please contact us:

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