7 nights All Inclusive Cruise in the Galapagos Islands
8 days / 7 nights
From $3,430 per person, double occupancy for 2009

Sunday: Baltra and Santa Cruz (Indefatigable)
Arrival to Baltra, transfer to the Itabaca Canal, cross to the nearby island of Santa Cruz and ride to Puerto Ayora. Cross the highlands of the second largest and most populated island of the archipelago, and hike around sinkholes, scalecia forests, and visit Cerro Chato. Admire the famous giant tortoises and spot many birds such as the vermilion flycatcher and the Darwin finch. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station in the afternoon, where the 11 surviving species of tortoise are studied. Impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forests and many land birds inhabit the area, along with a wide array of other xerophitic vegetation. Arrival to Puerto Ayora, the island’s main town located in the southern coast. Board the M/V Coral I or II and check into your selected cabin. (L, D)

Monday: Espanola (Hood)
Visit Punta Suarez, home to sea lion colonies and one of the top spots for bird watching, including hood mocking birds and red billed tropicbirds. Large marine iguanas, lava lizards and the colorful sally light foot crabs can also be seen here along with masked and blue-footed boobies, Galapagos doves, hawks, swallow-tailed gulls and waved albatrosses. Stop by the blowhole, where water shoots into air at almost 75 feet. In the afternoon, visit Bahia Gardner, with its white coral beach teeming with sea lions. Here you can spot American oyster catchers and yellow warblers, among many, and swim and snorkel, admiring many marine species like king angel fish, Creole fish, damsel fish, parrot fish, manta rays, and white tipped reef sharks. (B, L, D)

Tuesday: Floreana
Wet landing on Cormorant Point, a greenish colored sand beach in the island of Floreana. Passengers will hike a well marked trail beginning in the Black Mangrove beds heading towards the back of the lagoon. The large, brackish lagoon holds one of the biggest populations of flamingos in the Galapagos. This island is best known for its endemic plant life, such as the Galapagos millwork, Passion flower, and unique button mangrove. Novice snorkelers can practice back on the main beach where the sea lions are playful, while experienced snorkelers can roam the waters around Devils Crown. Afternoon visit to Post Office Bay. Located on the north side of Floreana Island, the bay is so-named because in 1793, Captain James Colnett installed an empty barrel of rum which works as an informal post box for the sailors who periodically passed through the Galapagos, taking with them letters for their next ports of call or final destinations. Today, our visitors continue the tradition by placing postcards without stamps inside the barrel which reach their destinations free of charge. Sometimes it takes weeks, sometimes months, and sometimes the cards never get there at all! Do you want to try this easy mail, please be ready your post cards and letters, it is a good way to get Galapagos friends. A short walk from the famous barrel, across typical vegetation of the island, we come to a tunnel formed by lava flows. It’s quite a tricky way down to a path where we can observe land birds such as mocking bird of Galapagos, some species of Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers and lava lizards. After we’ll make a wet landing on “Mirador de la Baronesa”. Your naturalist guide will tell the murder and mystery legend of the Baronesa. This viewpoint is located on the north of the Floreana Island. It is a tuff basalt formation between Cormorant Point and Post Office bay. The climb on the trails is very easy. Steps are placed in this area for security. (B, L, D)

Wednesday: North Seymour – Baltra – Santa Cruz
There is a lot of life around North Seymour's 4100 feet long visitors' path where sea lions waddling on the beach, marine and land iguanas, frigate birds displaying their red throat pouches, colonies of blue-footed boobies, swallow tailed gulls, bright yellow warblers and fur seals can be seen. After a wet landing, passengers walk to a hypersalinic lagoon behind the beach. Observers report a high number of Pink Flamingos. The trail then leads up to Dragon Hill, which offers a beautiful view of the bay. This area is a nesting site for a big number of reintroduced Land Iguanas, again thanks to the Charles Darwin Research Station. There is also a bizarre Scalesia tree forest. (B, L, D)

Thursday: Rabida (Jervis) - Santiago
You will arrive at Rabida (Jervis). This small island has plenty of things to see: pink flamingos, large-billed flycatchers, Galapagos doves and pelicans, boobies and Darwin finches. There is sparse vegetation here except for prickly pear cactus trees. On the northern coast, you may swim with the sea lions on a magnificent red sand beach, which offers an opportunity to observe their behavior. Dominant males mark out territories along the shore and patrol them noisily, defending against other males who might want to invade the "harem." In the afternoon, you'll land at Puerto Egas of James Bay on the west side of the island of Santiago. Here, there is a long flat black lava shoreline, where eroded shapes form lava pools, caves and inlets which house a great variety of wildlife. This is a great place to see colonies of marine iguanas basking in the sun. These fascinating reptiles dive for extended periods feeding on seaweed and are the only lizard known to eat algae. The tide pools contain hundreds of brilliantly colored red Sally-light foot crabs, which attract hunting herons of all the commonly found species. These inlets are also the favorite haunts of the Galapagos fur seal and you can snorkel with them along with the many species of tropical fish. (B, L, D)

Friday: Fernandina (Narborough) - Isabela (Albemarle)
After a dry landing at Espinosa Point, passengers will see the largest colony of Marine Iguanas mingling with Sally-light Foot Crabs. They also will enjoy the Flightless Cormorants nesting sites, the Galapagos Penguins, Galapagos Hawks, and Sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will note Brachycereus Cactus, “pa-hoe-hoe” lava, and other unusual lava formations. Travelers will see recent lava flows from a safe distance. Also numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea, depicting a healthy and thriving eco-system. Another possible excursion is at Point Vicente Roca, on Isabela Island . There are no landings for this excursion. Only open for dinghy sightseeing, snorkeling, and scuba. Travelers will enjoy high cliffs with tuff stone, ash, and other lava formations. Caves and plenty of nesting sites for Brown Noddies and Blue Footed Boobies. Up close encounters with the occasional Dolphin. (B, L, D)

Saturday: Bartolome - Santa Cruz
Dry landing on Bartolome. Arriving on this island, passengers will see volcanic formations including lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. After a hike to the summit visitors will have an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. During the ascent travelers will often see a large colony of Marine Iguanas and Lava Lizards. Red Mangroves, Tiquilla, and various cacti all add to the experience. Visitors also enjoy a chance to cool off while snorkeling. Here travelers often see the Galapagos Penguin, Sea Turtles, and White Tipped Sharks from a safe distance. Arrive in the afternoon at Black Turtle Cove located near Las Bachas beach in the north of Santa Cruz Island. This excursion provides passengers with a "panga" ride though the mangrove, during which the outboard motor of the small boat is turned off. This allows the close observation of Sea Turtles, White Tipped Reef Sharks, Spotted Eagle Rays, and Yellow Rays. (B, L, D)

Sunday: Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) – Baltra
This morning, enjoy a visit to the Island of Santa Cruz. This 968 square km. island is the second largest and the most populated of the Archipelago. Puerto Ayora is the main town along the south coast and it is just a 20-minute walk by road northeast to the Charles Darwin Research Station, one of your visit sites. The Station is a center for research and conservation of the Galapagos species, especially the 11 surviving species of tortoise. Admire the impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. In the late morning, you will transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)

Not included in rate:
Domestic airfare Quito/Guayaquil-Galapagos, Galapagos National Park entrance tax/transit card, fuel surcharges, hotels and services in Ecuador's mainland, tips.

8 days / 7 night Cruise (Sunday - Sunday or Wednesday - Wednesday)