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2011 Departure Days: 2012 Departure Days: |
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| Day 1(Sat): Los Angeles - Quito (Ecuador) | ||||||
| Depart from Los Angeles on a mid-night flight to Quito, capital of Ecuador. | ||||||
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| Day 2(Sun): Quito Full Day Tour (B) | ||||||
| Explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas. Visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compañía (Society of Jesus Church) and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. Drive through the traditional neighborhood of San Juan. Finish the day at the "Panecillo" hillside with its breathtaking views of the old and modern city. | ||||||
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| Day 3(Mon): Galapagos (Baltra Airport) For a 4 Days / 3 Nights Cruise – North Seymour Island (B, L, D) | ||||||
| Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to
Baltra (2 and half flight). Passengers are picked up at the airport by our
guides and taken to the pier to board the Galapagos Deluxe Cruise. North Seymour Dry landing. Guests will encounter swallow tailed gulls and sea lions. This site is a major nesting colony of blue footed boobies, and has the largest colony of the magnificent frigate bird. Travelers will also spot both the marine iguanas and land iguanas and will have snorkeling opportunities. |
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| Day 4(Tue): Cruise: Santa Cruz (Dragon Hill or Venice) (B, L, D) | ||||||
| Wet landing. Passengers walk to a saltwater
lagoon behind the beach, where on occasion many pink flamingos can be observed.
This trail leads up to Dragon Hill, which offers a lovely view of the bay.
This is a nesting site for reintroduced land iguanas, and there is also
a Scalesia tree forest. Passengers may opt to take a dinghy to Venice islet and observe the vegetation and marine animals like spotted eagle rays, golden rays, mullets, sharks and sea turtles. Land iguanas have often been observed as well. Floreana (Cormorant Point) Wet landing on a greenish colored sand beach. Visitors will hike from the black mangrove beds to a large, brackish lagoon, which holds one of the biggest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. The island is best known for its endemic plants like the Galapagos millwork, passion flower and button mangrove. Novice snorkelers can practice on the main beach with the playful sea lions; experienced snorkelers can roam around Devils Crown. Please keep in mind this is an open-water activity; there is nothing to step on. |
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| Day 5(Wed): Cruise: Española (Suárez Point) (B, L, D) | ||||||
| Dry landing. Visitors will learn more
about the lava terrain and cross the inactive lava fields. Besides the sea
lion colonies, this is a very important site for bird watching. Many species,
such as the hooded mocking bird and red billed tropic bird can be spotted
and observed closely. You will also see a large colony of marine iguanas,
lava lizards, and rally light foot crabs. After a short trek visitors encounter
colonies of masked and blue-footed boobies. The nesting grounds sometimes
overlap the trail. Visitors will also find Galapagos doves, hawks and swallow-tailed
gulls and then reach the world’s largest colony of waved albatross.
A major highlight is their mating season, from May through December. You’ll
visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots into the air about 23 m (75
ft). San Cristóbal (Interpretation Center or La Galapaguera) Dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Passengers will visit San Cristóbal breeding center and learn about the National Park’s breeding program with the giant tortoises. Passengers will observe some animals in their natural environment. |
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| Day 6(Thu): Cruise: Santa Cruz (Carrión Point) - Guayaquil (B, L) | ||||||
| During this visit you can snorkel and
see a variety of fish, rays and perhaps the harmless white tip reef sharks. From Point Carrion the short navigation is through the beautiful Itabaca Channel with its turquoise waters. Return to the Galapagos Deluxe Cruise, check-out and transfer to the airport. Return flight to Guayaquil with lunch on the plane. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel where your afternoon is free. |
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| Day 7(Fri): Guayaquil City Tour (B) | ||||||
| In the morning, you will be picked up
for Guayaquil City Tour, free at leisure. The Guayaquil City tour begins with a visit to the 19th-century neighborhood of Las Peñas, panoramic views of the city and the Guayas River. Walk by the beautiful boardwalk of Malecón 2000, past La Rotonda monument built to pay tribute to the heroes of South American Independence, along the banks of the Guayas River. Visit the famous archaeological museum of the Central Bank. In the evening, you will be transferred to airport for departure to Los Angeles. |
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| Day 8(Sat): Guayaquil - Los Angeles | ||||||
| Arrive in Los Angeles. Conclude the 8 days discovery trip to Galapagos Islands. | ||||||
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| • This itinerary visits
destinations that are at high altitude, which may cause altitude sickness.
Please consult your doctor for preventative treatment. |
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Current Quito weather: |
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APF Travel reserves the right to
make any changes to the itinerary or price without notice, due to any
unfortunate event such as natural disaster, war, strike, and airline
itinerary change or flight cancellation. Copyright APF Travel, Inc. 2011. All Rights Reserved. |
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