| |
|
Galapagos with the M/V Santa Cruz
Visiting Quito, Otavalo and cruise around the Galapagos Islands
INCLUDING:
Round trip airfare from Miami to Quito via American Airlines. Meeting and transfer service. Tours as noted in itinerary including entrance fees and English speaking naturalist guides. Hotel Dann Carlton or Alameda for 3 nights, 1 night in Guayaquil at Hampton Inn with room taxes and service charges with Buffet Breakfast. The 4 day/3 night Galapagos Cruise aboard the M/V SANTA CRUZ -outside main deck twin cabins-with 2 lower berths. Meals as noted in itinerary B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner.
Airfare from Quito to Galapagos Island. Tips to airport porters.
NOT INCLUDED:
Services not mentioned in itinerary. Passport fees. Departure taxes: Galapagos National Park Tax upon entry $100.00: Airport departure tax of $2.00 in Quito
Insurance. Tips to hotel porters and naturalist guide in Galapagos . USA departure tax $232 (Inc. USA airport tax/security/fuel surcharges).
* As of Aug.01, 2007…..The new international departure tax in Quito will be USD40,80 per person, Guayaquil however will remain at USD26,00 per person.
DEPOSITS: US$300.00 per person at the time of booking. Final payment is due 65 days before departure.
INSURANCE:
Through Insure America, cost for this program starts at US$235-305. Please see information on the Insurance section..(click here)
CANCELLATIONS:
Cancellations must be in writing and received by Tara Tours Inc.
Penalties are as follows prior to departure date:
121 days or more…$100 per person
120-61 days $250 penalty per passenger service charge.
60-31 days 50% penalty
30 or less -no refunds
|
| Call (866) 749-7354 for more information or to book today! Mention code 7417700 | | Tara Tours | | Offer valid through 12/31/2008 | | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | Depart USA | THU. MIAMI-GUAYAQUIL : Depart Miami for Guayaquil, Ecuador. After going through customs and immigration, you will be transferred to the hotel Hampton Inn. | | Day 2 | Galapagos | FRI. GUAYAQUIL-GALAPAGOS : Transfer to the airport for flight to San Cristobal Island and transfer to the MV SANTA CRUZ, which will be anchored at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galapagos Islands. Cabin assignment and lunch. After lunch, introductory welcome talk and boat drill.
PM Isla Lobos - Sea Lion Island & Playa Ochoa (San Cristobal Island)
The ship navigates to a small islet with a sea lion colony, whose shores are also home to many sea birds, including frigate birds and blue-footed boobies, en route to Playa Ochoa. At Playa Ochoa guests walk ashore along the powdery sand, where right behind the beach line a brackish-water pond is found. Ocassionally, flamingos have been spotted here. Animal highlights include sea lions, common stilts, Darwin Finches, and the island endemic San Cristobal (Chatham) Mockingbird. Great landscape photography. These are the shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835, as San Cristobal was the first island where he set foot in the Galapagos. ECO Moment and briefing on the next day's activities, followed by a welcome cocktail offered by the Captain and dinner. | | Day 3 | Galapagos | SAT. GALAPAGOS : AM Gardner Bay (Hood Island)
After breakfast, disembark at Gardner Bay (wet landing) for a short walk along the whitest coral beach you can possibly imagine. You can either take a short walk and watch the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, enjoy the beach, snorkel and swim from the beach, or ride the glass-bottom boat around nearby islets. Rewarding snorkeling at these locations.
PM Punta Suarez (Hood Island)
Afternoon excursion at Punta Suarez (dry landing) for an exciting walk on lava terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April - December) and the famous blowhole. Great hike for blue-footed boobies, swallowtail gulls, the Hood island mockingbird, red-green-black marine iguanas, and of course a rookery of sea lions right at the landing site. For those planning not to walk the entire trail, there will be a dinghy ride arranged along the coastline of Punta Suarez, followed by a very short walk under easy walking conditions. ECO Moment, briefing and dinner. | | Day 4 | Galapagos | SUN. GALAPAGOS : AM Urbina Bay (Isabela Island)
Breakfast and disembarkation (wet landing) for a walk at Urbina Bay. This area went through a volcanic uplifting event back in 1954 leaving gaunt marine skeletons, which make the walk remarkably interesting, specially for understanding island colonization. Those who wish so may take either only a short walk along the beach, or a longer walk towards the interior of the island. This area is also home to land iguanas, and the famous giant tortoises from the population of Alcedo Volcano. Swimming and snorkeling depending on local conditions. Back on board for lunch.
PM Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)
The afternoon brings us to the youngest island, Fernandina. First, a dinghy ride to observe Galapagos penguins, as well as flightless cormorants and then disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barren iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, and hawks. Lava terrain calls for good walking shoes. There is a possibility for snorkeling. Farewell briefing and dinner. (B,l,D) | | Day 5 | Quito | MON. GALAPAGOS-QUITO : Arrival to Baltra and transfer by bus to the airport for the flight back to Quito with transfer to hotel Dann Carlton. (B) | | Day 6 | Quito | TUE. QUITO : Afternoon drive along the northern residential section and see the impressive Parliament Building. Then stroll downtown to visit the colonial temple and monasteries designated by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. Visit San Agustine Convent with its colonial cloisters, coffered ceilings and vast collection of paintings. Continue to the Independence Plaza flanked by the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Municipal Building and Archbishop's Palace. Next, visit the great church and Monastery of San Francisco with the Virgin of Quito at its main altar. Your scenic tour ends at a lookout point with a great view of Quito (B) | | Day 7 | Quito | WED. OTAVALO COUNTRY TOUR : This excursion goes north, to the land of the Otavalos and South America's most famous Indian fair along the Panamerican Highway through dramatic mountain scenery to the textile market of Otavalo, where guests will enjoy visiting the many stalls full of ponchos, scarves, blankets, wall hangings, woven belts (fajas), hats, handbags and much more. Here Otavalenos barter in silence, in marked contrast to the raucous noise of other markets; take your time to negotiate the best bargains. Then, proceed to Peguche, an Indian village very near Otavalo that is home to the artisans who do the weaving in their homes; guests can learn about their culture and everyday life and then take the cobblestone road to San Pablo, with a stop along the way at a weaving workshop specialized in fine backstrap loom woven textiles. Lunch is at one of the charming country inns or haciendas of the area.
Return to Quito and to hotel Dann Carlton or Alameda Real. (B,L) | | Day 8 | Miami | THU. QUITO-MIAMI : Transfer to the airport for flight to Miami and homeward bound. (B) |
| | *From Jan.01 to Mar.31 and from Jun.15 to Aug.15 -please add $100 per person. From Dec.09 to 31 -please add $300 per person.
Rates includes airfare from Miami to Quito via American Airlines. OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO CRUISE THE ISLANDS FOR MORE DAYS.
*Children rate based -sharing room with 2 adults. Note: Upgrade to Boat deck twin std. is $210.00 per person
ADD-ONS & VIA AMERICAN AIRLINES:
For same package add $140 from ORL,TPA, JAX, FMY and Zone 1; $190 from ATL; add $230 from BDL, BOS,BWI, EWR, NYC, PHL, RDU, WAS, + Zone 3 - - Add $290 from CHI, CLE, DTT; - Add $320 from DEN, DFW, HOU, MSY, SJU ZONE 2 & 4; Add $390 from LAX, SFO + ZONE 5; Add $410 from Zone 6. RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME. |
|
|
|
|
