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south america: galapagos

z-Mary Anne - West & Beyond / Central & Northern Islands

Venture to the Galapagos’ far west, where astute dolphins, enormous whales and deep sea creatures of all shape and form head to the wild seaward shores of these special islands, some of the youngest, most fascinating and best kept destinations in the world that evoke in their geology the beginning of time. Head to backwater lagoons to enjoy the flamingo’s courtship performances, watch Flightless Cormorants feeding their young at their nests, and swim with sea turtles, penguins, sea lions and hundreds of tropical fish.

In addition, tour the central islands and sets sail to fabulous northern Genovesa, prime nesting site of Red-footed Booby, to enter deep, silent coves where Green Sea Turtles swim, admire the volcanic contours of iconic Pinnacle Rock and red sand beaches where sea lions lazily soak in the equatorial sun. After a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit juice and French toast, a panga ride will escort you inside mangrove canals where White-tipped Sharks and Golden Rays glide alongside.

There are 7 Mary Anne itineraries and itinerary combinations to choose from. Depending on your interests, you can choose from 8 and 9 day itineraries which consist of 4 night/5 day and 5 night/6 day cruises or combine a mixture to create trips of 13, 14 or 18 days in length. The 13 day West and Beyond + Central and Northern Islands itinerary is listed in detail below. Click on the links below to view each of the different itineraries available. Call our Galapagos Cruise experts if you have any questions.

Itinerary A - Southern Islands 9 Days

Itinerary B - West and Beyond 9 Days

Itinerary C - Central and Northern Islands 8 Days

Itinerary A+B - Southern Islands / West and Beyond 14 Days

Itinerary C+A - Central and Northern Islands / Southern Islands 13 Days

Itinerary A+B+C - Mary Ann Galapagos 18 Days

Itinerary B+C - West and Beyond + Central and Northern Islands 13 Days is listed below:

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 Cruise.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 3 - Quito to Baltra, Charles Darwin Research Station

Santa Cruz Arrival at Baltra airport; transfer to Puerto Ayora and embark on the S/S Mary Anne. After lunch, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, home to legendary Lonesome George, the last remaining individual of his species; an inspiring introduction to the ecological relevance of the Galapagos Islands. Breeding and reintroduction programs of giant tortoises and land iguanas have proven increasingly successful. Spend the late afternoon strolling along the main thoroughfare of Puerto Ayora.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 – An Initiation to the Western Islands

Travel to Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos. After breakfast, step ashore at Punta Moreno (dry landing) onto a superb pahoehoe lava flow surrounded by giant shield volcanoes, some still active! Later, enjoy a Panga ride in and around Elizabeth Bay, a salt-water lagoon surrounded by the largest red mangroves of the Galapagos.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Isabela: Urbina Bay & Fernandina: Punta Espinosa

After an early breakfast, disembark at Urbina Bay (wet landing) onto a black sand beach, nesting site for Green Sea Turtle. Take a brief hike inland in search of land iguanas and giant tortoises (seasonal) that migrate to and from the highlands. At the beach, admire the remains of a geological uplift exposing coral heads and marine fossils; a wonderful snorkeling site. Afterward, cross Bolivar Channel to Fernandina Island, one of the world’s most unspoiled sites, and disembark (dry landing) at Punta Espinosa. Strolling along the shoreline, keep a look out for Flightless Cormorants, Galapagos sea lions, sooty-colored marine iguanas and bright red-orange Sally Lightfoot Crabs.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Pirate’s abode

Start with dry landing near Tagus Cove, historic pirate hideaway where names of countless ships are recorded for posterity on the cliff face. Hike through beautiful Galapagos landscapes to Darwin Lake, a salt-water crater lagoon surrounded by tuff stone. Make a dry landing at Punta Albemarle where Flightless Cormorant and the largest marine iguanas of the Islands await to greet you at a site virtually untouched by Man.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Santiago, Espumilla

After three days exploring the fabulous western islands, head to central Santiago to disembark at Espumilla (wet landing), onto a golden-colored sand Green Sea Turtle nesting site. A forest trail winds through some of the largest specimens of Palo Santo on the islands to observe Yellow Warblers, the unbelievably tame Galapagos Flycatcher and the ever-intriguing Darwin’s finches. Follow this with a wet landing at Puerto Egas, to disembark on a dark sand volcanic beach with an interesting history of human settlement. Sleepy Galapagos fur seals lounge under arches of lava carved by the ocean and occasionally dip into the crystalline pools, also known as "grottos".

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - North Seymour & Black Turtle Cove

Prior to reaching Baltra airport, disembark on North Seymour (dry landing), a small uplifted island to walk right up to bird nesting colonies of the two species of Frigatebirds, Blue-footed Boobies and Swallow-tailed Gulls, and experience, depending on season, spectacular displays. After, navigate a short distance to Black Turtle Cove, a large mangrove lagoon on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island. Pelicans and herons roost on the branches, while marine dwellers such as Green Sea Turtle or Golden Ray may cruise right next to the panga as it makes its way through the mangroves.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 9 – Genovesa Island

Travel to Genovesa Island and reach Darwin Bay (wet landing), a unique site lined with red mangrove and soft-haired prickly pear cacti where Red-footed Boobies and Great Frigatebirds perch tamely. Follow this to the Prince Philip Steps (dry landing), and climb the edge of a cliff where Frigatebirds, Nazca Boobies, and Red-footed Boobies nest. Seek out the impressive Red-billed Tropicbird amidst Galapagos Storm Petrels.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Contours of Sullivan Bay

Begin with a dry landing at Bartholomew to climb up the wooden steps and reach the summit of this spatter cone for a most breathtaking panorama of the islands well photographed Pinnacle Rock, views of neighbouring Santiago and many other central islands in the distance. After, head across to Sullivan Bay (dry landing) in Santiago to walk over a recent lava flow, including very fresh pahoehoe lava formations, lava bubbles containing crystallized minerals, and pioneer plants. Along the shoreline, you may find Galapagos penguins and herons going after small fish.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11 - Rábida & Cerro Dragon

Wet landing onto Rábida’s deep-red beaches to explore the red island’s fascinating interior and saltwater lagoon. Darwin's finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, and yellow warblers feed off the vegetation; given the right time of the year brown pelicans nesting on salt bushes that fringe the beach. After, head across to Cerro Dragón on Santa Cruz’s north-west shore (dry landing); to visit a saltwater lagoon, home to Greater Flamingos, Black-necked Stilts, and White-cheeked Pintails. Further inland explore a fantastic land iguana nesting site.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12 - Santa Cruz - Baltra, Return to Quito

Before heading to Baltra airport, circumnavigate the tiny islet of Daphne where the longest ongoing evolutionary field research is being currently carried out. The cliffs teem with Nazca boobies and red-billed tropicbirds, and Darwin's finches have been showing the scientific community how evolution works. Itinerary c comes to an end as we bus ride back to Baltra airport for flights back to Quito.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 13 - 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

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: Single cabins are available for a 75% surcharge. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations our Roommate Share Program guarantees 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. Limit of 1 discount per cabin with a maximum of two discounts per family. Not valid during holiday periods. Minimum child age is 7 years old.

Land Cost Includes: Three nights Quito hotel accommodations with breakfast included, all airport/ hotel transfers, Galapagos flight, Galapagos National Park entrance fees & 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 Alta accommodates 16 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. The crew is comprised of the captain, a multilingual naturalist guide, barman/waiter, cook, engineer and two deckhands. All meals are prepared and served by the crew on board. Soft drinks and beer 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.

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.

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