GALAPAGOS: WILDLIFE WONDERLAND 2008 ITINERARY:
1. Arrive Guayaquil, Ecuador
Tour begins: Hilton Colon Guayaquil. A transfer is included
from Guayaquil International Airport to Hilton Colon Guayaquil;
most flights from the U.S. arrive late at night. Meet your
fellow explorers in the morning!
2. Learn about the life in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Learn about the history and wildlife of Ecuador today during
a visit to Guayaquil’s colorful Historical Park, an eight-acre
natural mangrove habitat surrounded by swamps, forests, and
indigenous trees. The park is divided into three zones
representing the different lifestyles you will find here. The
Wildlife Zone is home to natural plant life and animals,
including tapir, caiman, deer, and sloths. The Urban
Architectural Zone introduces you to modern-day Ecuador and the
Traditions Zone gives you a glimpse of life in rural coastal
areas of this tiny country, where people still live in bamboo
homes. The remainder of the day is free for you and your family
to enjoy as you wish. Meals BLD
3. Cruise to islands time forgot
The excitement mounts as you board a plane today for a short
flight to Baltra Island, the starting point for your Galápagos
Island expedition and embarkation site for your expedition ship,
M / V Santa Cruz. Settle into your cabin and get your sea legs
ready for one of the most amazing wildlife cruises in the world.
Your first stop is Santa Cruz Island, located in the middle of
the archipelago. This “indefatigable” island has eight different
species of Darwin’s Finches, the tiny little birds that have
become the symbol of evolution in the Galápagos. Put on your
hiking shoes for a guided a walk around a brackish water lagoon;
look for pintail ducks, stilts, and sandpipers. Meals BLD
4. Meet tropical penguins and walk on lava
Even though Bartolomé Island is pretty small, it’s big on
amazing sights and teems with marine animals. We’ll take you on
a hike up to the summit of the island for great views of the
neighboring islands and volcanic features like lava tubes and
tuff cones. Then we’ll take a closer look at one of the island’s
best places to see tropical Galápagos penguins, sea lions, and
sea turtles when we climb aboard a panga for a ride around
Pinnacle Rock. You’ll have a chance to meet these animals
face-to-face from a glass-bottom boat or a snorkeling adventure.
All of the islands were created from volcanoes – join our expert
naturalists on a wet landing for a walk atop the black lava
shores of San Salvador (Santiago or James) Island, learning more
about how these islands were formed more than a million years
ago. Meals BLD
5. Meet the famous Galápagos tortoise
Every day is a different adventure here in the Galápagos,
including how you land on the islands. Today, prepare to get wet
when we wade ashore on the red beach of Rabida (Jervis) Island,
where you may be welcomed by a colony of noisy sea lions. This
island is studded with volcanic craters that mockingbirds and
Darwin’s finches call home. Your cruise continues to the other
side of Santa Cruz Island for a dry landing and a visit to the
Charles Darwin Research Station. Meet the giant tortoises that
have made the Galápagos famous around the world and say hello to
Lonesome George, thought to be the last survivor of his kind.
Enjoy an ECO (Explore, Conserve, Observe) Moment aboard ship
tonight with our on-board naturalists, a great way to share the
many exciting discoveries you made today and to find out what’s
ahead for you to experience tomorrow. Meals BLD
6. Walk among blue-footed boobies and iguanas
Yesterday you had a chance to see the giant tortoises that
live under the care of the Charles Darwin Research Center; today
you will have the unique opportunity to look for them in their
natural habitat in the lush highlands of Santa Cruz Island.
Sharing the spotlight with the tortoises is the eye-catching
Vermillion Flycatcher, an exceptionally bold and curious bird
that often approaches humans very closely without being
frightened. You’ll also visit the volcanic island of North
Seymour today, one of the few uplifted islands in the Galápagos
Archipelago – the surface you’ll walk on used to be on the
bottom of the sea! Look for colonies of blue-footed boobies and
frigate birds, as well as playful sea lions and red-green-black
marine iguanas; watch where you step as these animals are used
to sleeping anywhere they like. Meals BLD
7. Disembark ship in San Cristóbal and fly to Guayaquil
It’s back to civilization this morning as you disembark your
floating hotel on San Cristóbal (Chatham) Island for a flight
back to the mainland. Settle into your hotel in Guayaquil and
join us for more vacation fun at our farewell party this
evening. Meals BD
8. Homeward bound
Tour ends: Guayaquil. A transfer is included from Hilton
Colon Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport; you should
allow a minimum of 2 1⁄2 hours for check-in. Meals B
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